AiriZel: Thoughts

It’s a really sad thing when you’re sick. I really haven’t been sick in a really long time, and I have to say, I don’t remember it sucking so much! In combination with swim (that is the whole waking up way early to swim in a cold outdoor pool), the healing process has been slow. On the other hand, the amount of work I have has not by any stretch of the imagination been reduced.

The first and most important thing that’s looming over my head is my application to the NSFI-Y program. When I first heard about this program a month ago, I was very excited at the prospects of going overseas to learn a language. With the application due in little under 4 days, I’m at a loss as to how I’m going to manage to perfect the essay in tiem. Not that I haven’t done it in less time (considering one of my best college essays were written in a span of one night, although to be fair, I felt that the struggles of the week prior to that moment of epiphany aided my discovery of the perfect esasy topic), but there are other things going on that put stress andp ressure on the entire process.

For example: Debate. The big Stanford Invitational Tournament is just around the corner (the corner being about 7 days) with the practice(ish) league varsity tournament starting in about 36 hours. That’s something I need to work on given the fact that my case structure has yet to crystallize fully in my head (and myself being a month or two out of practice as a result of Science Bowl practices and scrimmages). I need to work on this ASAP (meaning probably tonight and tomorrow night), but I have to study for the Government test tonight as well.

Another upcoming event that I’m preparing for is the Pauper weeekend event. With great timing, the Pauper event is on a terrible day in terms of timing (with the Super Bowl, first weekend in Feburary, and my own personal due dates in place). That said, I’m committed to taking my Gro-a-Shade deck that I’ve been testing there and hopefully pilot it to great success. The deck is a control deck, but the fixes the common problem of most pauper control decks. Pauper cotnrol decks at this point are known for their lack of pressure. They grind the opponent into the ground trying to A) counter everything or B) destroy everything or C) try to gain incremental advantage in order to slowly secure a victory on the back of 2/2s. Let’s just say my Gro-a-Shade deck maintains the controlling aspect that a control deck should have while possessing the ability to win within 3 turns as soon as board position is gained. Personally I see that as a good way to win.

Lastly, the Superbowl is the Pittsburg Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner is my all-time favorite quarterback, given his story and his extraordinary ability to play smart (although this ability doesn’t extend  to holding onto the ball). I feel that with a win, it’ll give him the strange honor of being the most underrated quarterback of all time. That said, in his way are the Steelers, who I strongly believe to be the favorites going into Sunday. Between H. Ward leading an explosive big play offense and the strength of T. Polamalu’s historically amazing defense, the Cardinals are going to have to play the best game of their lives and hope to capitalize off of Steelers mistakes to win this one.

Although it seems overwhelming at first, I really do live for these kind of situations. High pressure times when I really don’t have a spare moment. Hopefully I’ll get through it all winning the Stanford Invitational, the Pauper Weekend PE, and getting into NSLI-Y (written out in reverse alphabetical order. I would think the NSLI-Y program is #1 on the importance scale).

Well off to debate practice.

-Sebastian