Boxes and Stars

I'm struggling with my "2oo9 Checklist". Tsk. It's March already and I still haven't decided on my targets. I guess 2008 was such a productive (and exhausting!) year for me that my indulgent psyche just wants to kick back and cut me some slack. But noooo, some innate anal force has been bugging me to commit to a few specific, measurable, tangible objectives. Blame it on the college education.

I just started this goal setting habit last year, so it's still a little scary for me. Seriously, I treat it as an 'event'. For somebody who spent her entire late adolescent life inclined to avoid any form of commitment (and succeeded, though rather ungracefully), this is a HUGE change. Writing my targets down is like setting it in stone. From here on, I have to hold myself accountable whether I'm able to tick off that checkbox by the end of the year or not.

Grown up stuff, I know. Hey, I needed to mature sometime, right?

Okay.. so here's my 2009. *inhale*

1. Finalize the evaluation of my Ateneo credits so that I can figure out which classes I still need to take to qualify for an MBA in UCLA, USC and Loyola Marymount. I already sent my transcripts to the evaluating agency. Hopefully, I'll be getting them next week. I don't plan on jumping on the MBA train too soon, though. I just want to get a head start on the application process. I still need work experience and what else.. oh yeah, MONEY!!! Guess I'll be saying hello to the world of student loans sometime in my bright, bright future.
   
2. Review for and take the GMAT. I'm aiming for a score above 600. Eep. Kaya ko 'to.
   
3. Refinance my car for a better rate. I don't know how to do this yet. Maybe through work? I'll get back to this.
   
4. Build my credit. I began doing this with a secured credit card from WaMu last year but they had to close that service due to the WaMu-Chase transition. Boo. So I'm taking my business to B of A. They just approved my application for partially secured credit so.. yay!
   
5. Double my emergency fund. I've been spending too much lately. Control!!!
6. Complete the petition process for my dad. We already filed everything on the last week of January. He'll be doing the biometrics this month. If all goes well, I can tick this off my list by June or July. Woopeiii!
   

*exhale* Whew!

Alrighttt.. enough with the serious stuff. I need 'stars' on my list, too! These are the things I'm actually looking forward to doing this year. :)

1. Take a sit-down Spanish course in a local community college. I was taking tutorials last year but the setting was too casual. A classroom format would probably be more effective.
2. Back to capoeira! I want to do my first batizado and earn my first corda. :) Hopefully get a cool apelido, too!
3. Watch a live Lakers game at Staples. I need to save up for the playoffs!! I miss the ADMU-DLSU Araneta games soooo bad!
   
4. Go beach hopping and learn to surf this summer. I want to visit all the L.A. beaches first. There's Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach, Malibu, San Juan Capistrano and also visit the Catalina Island.
5. Volunteer as a Festival Builder for the 18th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture. I wanted to volunteer last year but learned about the event too late. I'm really excited about this. I've been wanting to work with the Fil-Am community since I moved here! I'll be sending in my application next week.
   
6. Grow out my natural curls. I've been straightening my hair since sophomore year in high school. Ack! That's seven years already??! I don't even know how my curls look like anymore. But, I'm really excited to wear my hair just loose and natural. :) Embracing my true beauty (uhh Dove ad??!).
7. Update my blog at least once a week. I hope to become a better writer. In order to do that I need to write, write more, write even more, write even more than that, write when I don't want to, write when I do, write when I have something to say, write when I don't, write everyday, keep writing (those are the '10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer' according to Brian Clark). Hmm I need to apply that to exercising..

So there it is. My balls and chains.. erm, I mean, boxes and stars for 2009. "I'll hold you to it!" ...Nice, I'm talking to myself.

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay