LAZY COLLEGE WEEK IN MY LIFE procrastinating on midterms, senioritis, last months at USC film school
Makayla Lysiak
0:05 Hello.
0:05 Another day on campus, except it's midterm season.
0:09 You can probably tell that it's a lock-in day
0:11 by the iced latte and the red eye patches on my face.
0:14 Okay, that's that's a little bit better.
0:16 Hi guys, it's Michaela Lizek.
0:18 Welcome to my YouTube channel or welcome back to my YouTube channel.
0:21 I took two midterms last week, felt really good about them.
0:23 It's spring break now and [music] I'm still on campus,
0:26 but I spent all my money in Australia, baby, like two months ago.
0:29 So, we don't have any money for spring break this year.
0:31 We're here working.
0:32 Because I have a midterm right when spring break ends on Monday.
0:36 And then I also have a paper due and I also have a pitch due on Monday.
0:39 Like, the work doesn't end.
0:41 It's not a break for me.
0:42 But it's like, why not spend spring break in the place that you go to every
0:45 day and are definitely not sick of and have
0:47 continued to exploit for the past four years?
0:49 Girl, I'm getting my money's worth.
0:51 This is probably the most expensive set I'll ever shoot on.
0:54 On the days where no one's around, it's the perfect shooting day because I can
0:57 put my camera up anywhere and no one cares.
0:59 Even though like when people are around, I don't really care,
1:02 but it makes it extra easy because there's not a bunch of people around.
1:06 I can put up my tripod, film everywhere.
1:08 So, for me, I'm like, I can totally take advantage of this.
1:10 Y'all asked for the college vlogs,
1:12 I'm here for spring break, giving it to you, okay?
1:15 There's a tour group passing me right now.
1:17 It's so crazy seeing the admitted students.
1:19 Hold on, let me shake.
1:20 But the admitted students are always so cute.
1:21 I'm like, baby Trojans, I remember when I was touring the school
1:24 and was super starry-eyed about the campus and like,
1:27 oh my gosh, it's so magical and crazy.
1:29 Cut to four years later, it's normal.
1:31 I definitely have to recognize that I'm in a very privileged position being
1:34 here and that so many people strive to get into this school and program,
1:38 so it is magical, it is sweet.
1:39 Why not soak it in for my last few months?
1:42 Where else?
1:43 Need I say more?
1:44 It's been four years at this point.
1:45 I think we I think we get it.
1:47 It's honestly magical every single time.
1:49 Guys, there's another tour group coming through.
1:52 It's so freaky to me.
1:53 I'm like, you feel so special getting in and then you're like,
1:56 wait, girl, you're not the only one.
1:58 There's many more people that came before and after you.
2:02 Like, okay, look.
2:04 That's so crazy.
2:05 Like, that used to be me, guys.
2:07 Full circle.
2:08 So, I just opened my laptop to like do work.
2:11 Just opened this.
2:12 It's at 3%, so big L.
2:14 I was having a serious online shopping doom scroll on The RealReal.
2:20 I'm trying to find an outfit for first pitch,
2:22 which is like this exit program thing that we have,
2:24 but I'm going to be meeting different agents and managers and all that stuff.
2:27 I'm trying to like figure out my wardrobe and after getting my color analysis,
2:32 we're wearing the wrong clothes.
2:33 That's all I'm going to say.
2:34 My wardrobe is not flattering for me and my complexion.
2:37 I can wear whatever I want, but like,
2:40 there definitely are colors that make me look refreshed.
2:43 Anyway, I had a burrito.
2:48 Oh my gosh.
2:50 Okay, we're upstairs trying to find an outlet.
2:53 I was outside for five minutes and I think I got assaulted by a bug.
2:57 I am itching everywhere, all on my arms.
3:00 Like, I'm itchy here, here, on my hand.
3:02 Like, I don't think my blood is that tasty.
3:05 Do you see this?
3:05 Oh, yeah, I got bit.
3:06 Oh my god, here, too.
3:08 But it blends in with the rest of the acne, so I think we're okay.
3:12 Look it, isn't this freaking crazy?
3:14 Shh.
3:15 Hello, the whole school is empty.
3:17 It's all mine.
3:18 I actually really need to take advantage of this.
3:21 Here I am.
3:23 So, you can get in me watching this back
3:25 when I'm like in my 30s being like, wow.
3:28 How have y'all been doing?
3:29 Is it midterm season for you?
3:30 Are you enjoying spring break like I should be?
3:32 Let me know in the comments.
3:34 I've been feeling so unproductive after this time change, the spring forward.
3:38 I love that now it's sunnier later in the day,
3:40 but I feel so unproductive when I wake up at 9:00 a.m.
3:44 and it's really now 10:00 a.m.
3:46 and I'm like, I lost a whole day.
3:48 So, I've been having to fix my sleep schedule
3:50 and I've been in a rut because of that.
3:52 Okay, so I made a checklist of everything that I need to do.
3:55 Five very specific things that I want to get done in this video with you guys.
3:59 First is working on my pitch for my thesis class.
4:02 I finished writing my pilot, so now I have to pitch the series.
4:05 Number two, I need to work on an eight-page
4:08 research paper for my television history class.
4:10 I'm doing it on Miami Vice.
4:12 Number three, study for my TV history exam.
4:14 [music] This is an in-person written exam.
4:17 The professor did send out all of the questions
4:19 that will be asked on the midterm.
4:21 She expects us to be very thorough and detailed
4:23 in our responses because we get the questions ahead of time.
4:26 Other than that, I want to work on polishing my other
4:28 TV pilot just to get it ready for first pitch.
4:31 And then number five is working on my loglines
4:33 and bios for my first pitch materials.
4:36 Four and five are lower on the priority list.
4:38 One through three definitely needs to be done in this video.
4:41 Okay, so let's work on the pitch.
4:42 Here's a few things that I need to do before I get started on any of my work.
4:46 One, headphones.
4:47 Music.
4:47 I love listening to my writing playlist.
4:50 It just it gets me in the mood, it gets me in the vibe.
4:52 I also need my laptop stand.
4:54 This has been essential for me for the past few months.
4:57 I just get really worried about the tech neck that I already
5:00 have accumulated over the years of looking down and editing and writing.
5:03 I've been loving this laptop stand.
5:04 I'll link it in the description.
5:06 Um, I have my mints and yeah, we're going to get to work.
5:09 In terms of formulating my actual pitch,
5:11 [music] I always start on my like series board.
5:14 I'll go into the doc and try
5:16 and lay out the character's journey throughout the season.
5:19 And then you also have to think
5:20 of your engines for subsequent seasons of the [music] show.
5:23 The really only way a TV show can happen is if it
5:26 has engines to [music] keep propelling
5:28 drama over multiple episodes and multiple seasons.
5:30 I'm thinking about it on a macro level
5:32 in terms of [music] how many seasons it could go.
5:34 It's really important for me to understand so that I can formulate [music]
5:38 the logline and also like the dramatic question of the series helps me.
5:41 Central dramatic question is Bible
5:43 for your show because it frames every character,
5:45 [music] it frames your point of view on the world and also the series.
5:48 So, everything should [music] be consistent with that.
5:51 A lot of writing for me is not really writing,
5:53 it's just thinking and marinating and sitting on it and living with it.
5:57 And things just pop [music] up when they want to.
6:00 Like, things will hit you when you're just not even thinking about the work.
6:04 Bonjour les gars.
6:05 Feeling a little cute.
6:06 This green skirt [music] on, a pink raglan top on and this yellow bag.
6:10 Color blocking for the win.
6:11 I wish this skirt had [music] like a tiny tear so it was asymmetrical.
6:15 I don't know, that'd be cute.
6:16 Ever since I got my color analysis,
6:19 I've been trying to wear the brightest colors on Earth.
6:21 Also, there's something going on at the film school.
6:23 I don't know what's happening.
6:24 I see an old school car lights.
6:26 What is going on?
6:27 And then over here, let me give you the inside scoop.
6:29 Let me give you the tea.
6:30 I don't even know if I'm supposed to be like getting up in the shots,
6:33 but through the window I saw somebody wearing a The Pitch shirt,
6:36 which is the HBO show.
6:38 Look it.
6:39 So, I think they're bouncing light into the [music] rooms.
6:42 I don't know.
6:43 There's always something going on at the film school.
6:45 Aujourd'hui, [music] today, guys.
6:48 Take me to Paris.
6:48 I can speak like three different words.
6:50 Today we need to move on to step two of the checklist.
6:56 Just claimed a table outside so I can get ready to do my work.
7:00 Most students panic the night before an exam.
7:01 If you don't know how to avoid that, you're about [music] to find out.
7:04 I'm a film student who's preparing for multiple exams.
7:06 I have pages and pages of lecture notes
7:08 that I need to synthesize before the test.
7:10 That's where my new favorite study partner comes in, Superhuman Go,
7:13 who is sponsoring this segment of the video.
7:14 Superhuman Go from the makers of Grammarly is
7:16 your AI study partner that helps you understand concepts, plan,
7:19 and improve your writing and prep for exams with confidence
7:22 while keeping your work your own across all your browsers.
7:24 First, turn on Superhuman Go in your Grammarly browser extension.
7:27 I'm going to ask Superhuman Go to create a summary of my lecture
7:29 notes so I can efficiently find key ideas that I wrote down.
7:32 This makes the material more digestible.
7:33 I also need to practice defining terms for the exam,
7:36 so I'll ask Superhuman Go to turn these notes into Q&A style flashcards.
7:39 This saves me so much time.
7:41 For my television history midterm,
7:42 I'm working on an eight-page research [music] paper.
7:44 I consider writing an art, so I personally do not use AI in that process.
7:48 However, Superhuman Go is useful to help me proofread
7:51 so I can focus on the flow of my essay,
7:52 not [music] if I used the wrong form of there.
7:54 For students who want to feel confident submitting their paper,
7:56 Superhuman Go has an AI detector that flags
7:59 if parts of your writing sound like AI.
8:00 For example, if you accidentally copy and paste
8:02 a sentence from your AI study summary, it will detect that it's AI.
8:05 You'll want to go ahead and rewrite it in your original voice.
8:07 The most important thing is that your work and voice comes from you.
8:11 If you're a student, you need this tool.
8:13 Try Grammarly's new product, Superhuman Go.
8:15 Okay, guys, I'm back.
8:16 I finished the ad read.
8:16 How did I do?
8:17 You can't tell me the film school doesn't look heavenly right now.
8:20 It's gorgeous.
8:20 The sun is shining, it's spring.
8:22 I got all my spring colors, okay?
8:24 I'm a bright spring color palette.
8:25 This is my season.
8:26 I'm obsessed with the outfit, but it also lowkey doesn't make any sense.
8:29 I also did get a lot of progress done on my paper.
8:31 We have three pages, ish.
8:33 I really just wanted to start, make some progress, so I think that is good.
8:37 Why is there so much filming going on today?
8:39 There's a car parked in front of the school and they're like shooting photos.
8:44 What is happening?
8:45 They really said film school.
8:50 I want this so bad, but it's so expensive.
8:53 Anyway, I'm here for this.
9:05 Hello, guys.
9:07 We're moving on to step number three of our study checklist today.
9:11 I also have a gym fit on because I'm going to work out after I study.
9:15 I want to study outside.
9:16 The weather has been amazing in California.
9:18 We're creeping into the 80s, so it's getting really hot and I
9:21 desperately need to update my wardrobe to match.
9:24 A quick OOTD, tank top is from Tank Air,
9:28 sports bra is from Gymshark, these like running shorts are from Young LA.
9:32 Then I have my Nike tennis shoes on and a Stanley cup to match.
9:35 I'm very black and white color coordinated.
9:38 Studying for the written in-person TV history exam.
9:42 Whenever I need to study for an in-person written exam,
9:45 Notion is my best friend because that's where
9:47 I take all of my notes for my classes.
9:49 This is the Notion area for my class and I
9:52 have all my notes from each of the lectures inside here,
9:55 so I have to go through,
9:56 look at all the notes that I've taken, and reference the study guide.
10:01 This is the study guide.
10:02 The essay questions and everything we need to know are already listed here.
10:06 So, like I'll put the section for identification questions,
10:09 we'll label the section, and then paste all the things from the study guide.
10:13 So, I'm just copy pasting into my own document so I can write about everything.
10:17 My professor put three of the essay prompts onto the study guide,
10:20 but there's only going to be two on the actual midterm,
10:23 and she's not going to tell us which ones are getting chosen.
10:25 I was ready to lock in on my work,
10:27 but I checked the corner of my laptop and saw that it was dying.
10:30 9% battery, and I was nowhere near an outlet.
10:33 So, I packed up my things on a mission to go find one.
10:35 That looks closed.
10:36 I don't know where I'm going to find an outlet.
10:38 I circled the entire campus hoping to find a building that was open.
10:41 With no luck, my last hope was the film school.
10:43 After trying multiple doors and multiple buildings,
10:46 they all seemed [music] to be locked.
10:48 Well, looks like everything's closed.
10:51 I'm just going to have to go to the gym and procrastinate.
10:53 Love how the gym is my version of procrastination.
10:55 Instead of studying, I went over to the campus gym,
10:58 and to my surprise, it was packed.
11:00 There were so many students getting a workout in.
11:02 Today, I decided to focus on cardio.
11:04 I was on the treadmill for about an hour and a half.
11:06 I started with a walk for a mile and a half,
11:09 and then I sped things up to run a mile and a half.
11:11 I finished out the workout with some incline [music] sprints
11:14 that I didn't get on camera because they're so intense,
11:16 but I was sweating after this workout.
11:17 After the gym and a nice warm shower, I cozied up in my AV set and a bonnet,
11:22 and I did not feel like doing any work.
11:24 Instead, I felt like scrolling on my phone, watching TikToks,
11:28 seeing Barry Keoghan look really disturbing on my For You page.
11:32 Like, what is this?
11:33 I felt like putting on my headphones,
11:35 opening Spotify to listen to Jack Harlow's new album,
11:38 and quickly turning it off because I got bored and I wanted to watch TV.
11:41 I felt like clicking on Hulu to watch Tell Me
11:44 Lies to see Lucy spiral and Steven keep gaslighting her.
11:47 In short, I felt like procrastinating.
11:51 I've been procrastinating all day.
11:53 That run, ooh.
11:54 I think I [music] might get back to work a little bit.
11:57 Can we talk about my apartment?
11:58 The fact that I've been here for 8 months
12:00 and it still looks like I just moved in.
12:03 Like, what is this?
12:04 That is not a TV stand.
12:05 This is a cubby that I found in my parents'
12:07 garage that I used as makeshift TV stand.
12:09 I haven't ordered a TV stand.
12:11 I have no plans to.
12:12 I definitely will in the future, but like furniture's expensive.
12:16 I still don't have any bar stools for my kitchen.
12:18 I feel like this is part of being young.
12:20 It's a 22-year-old apartment.
12:22 Like, I don't know.
12:22 I think there's a little bit of a charm to it.
12:25 Looking unfinished.
12:26 And furniture's so expensive.
12:28 Like, $1,000 for a couch?
12:30 I had no problems or complaints buying this Rimowa suitcase,
12:33 but I'm going to complain about buying a couch.
12:36 Okay, Michaela.
12:37 This conversation is just another way of me procrastinating.
12:40 So, let's open the laptop and just do some school readings.
12:43 It's about dang time.
12:44 I opened my laptop coming to terms with the fact
12:46 that I have to get these required readings done,
12:48 but after [music] scrolling and scrolling,
12:50 my eyelids got heavy, the words got blurry,
12:52 [music] and I felt like using my keyboard as a pillow.
12:55 Maybe we'll try again tomorrow.
12:57 Good morning, everybody.
12:59 New day, same hair, new outfit.
13:01 I didn't get anything done yesterday, but that's okay because today's a new day.
13:05 We have another chance to start over,
13:07 and I want to go work somewhere out in the city.
13:09 I think going to a vacant campus is making me feel a little
13:12 depressed that I'm still there and everybody else is out having fun.
13:16 The past few days off camera, I've actually been driving around the city
13:18 just feeling inspired by looking at the sites,
13:21 [music] the palm trees, like driving down Rodeo Drive,
13:24 and just soaking in the sun.
13:25 I'm going to pack my MZ Wallace bag.
13:27 This is my go-to if I need to pack a bunch
13:30 of stuff in a bag because I throw everything in it,
13:33 and for some reason it fits everything.
13:34 Mike's, I did end up charging my laptop.
13:37 We're not going to make that mistake again.
13:38 Charger cord.
13:39 I also want to bring a book.
13:41 I've been reading The Deal by Elle Kennedy.
13:43 It actually just got made into an Amazon [music] movie or show.
13:46 I'm not too sure.
13:47 Uh it was recommended to me by a friend.
13:49 I'm about 80 pages into it, and I will say it's not my favorite.
13:52 I think it's a little [music] cheesy.
13:54 So, I'm learning my taste in reading.
13:56 I also bought La Roche's book on Amazon.
13:58 I'm so interested to see what he has to say.
14:00 Small book.
14:01 I'm also going to bring a journal with me.
14:03 I want to make it a habit of bringing [music]
14:05 a notepad and pen everywhere I go cuz sometimes I'll have thoughts,
14:08 ideas, or just little things I'll notice that I
14:11 want to write down and remember for future story.
14:14 So, I'm going to bring this with me.
14:15 I feel like this is the perfect size as well.
14:17 There's just so many other things I want to do today other than studying.
14:21 I want [snorts] to look at flights to Paris.
14:24 I want to find French classes in LA.
14:27 I don't know.
14:27 I just want to find a place to work around the city.
14:29 Let's try now with using "easy if that" and saying
14:34 "easy if that you are going to do it." Say, "Are you going to do it?" Now,
14:40 turn it round and say,
14:41 "Are you going Are you going to do it?" Currently driving on the 10,
14:49 and I'm listening to my French lesson show podcast.
14:53 It's Learn French with Paul Noble.
14:55 I've been listening to that whenever I'm driving just to practice my French.
14:59 I already know what the words look like because
15:02 I studied French in high school for 4 years.
15:04 So, like I can envision the words.
15:07 It's been really helpful.
15:08 Oh my god, I just got the best freaking parking spot.
15:13 It's going to be a good day.
15:14 I found a meter.
15:16 Look what's right outside.
15:17 La La Land.
15:18 Throwback to when I went to that La La
15:20 Land before I interviewed Joachim Trier for sentimental value,
15:23 and flash forward to now,
15:25 Joachim Trier wins an Oscar for Best International Film.
15:29 I was in his presence for 4 minutes, okay?
15:31 Thank you, Neon.
15:32 I was so excited for him when I was watching the Oscars.
15:35 Hopped out the car, walked across the street over to Cafe Du La La.
15:39 La La Land.
15:41 Me practicing my French in the car,
15:42 and suddenly I have a French accent everywhere I go.
15:45 Okay, birthday latte.
15:47 Maybe I'll try that.
15:48 I was intrigued by the advertisement and thought I would get the birthday latte.
15:52 I was worried about it being too sweet,
15:54 so I only got half a pump of the sweetener.
15:56 It normally comes with two, and it has a cream foam top,
15:59 which is sweet, so I didn't want sweetness overload.
16:02 It was nice and sunny outside,
16:03 so I grabbed a table facing the street and was ready to do my taste test.
16:06 [music] I would give it a 7 out of 10.
16:09 It was still really sweet even with the adjustments,
16:12 and to be honest, it tasted exactly like the La La Latte.
16:15 My latte.
16:15 Obviously, I enjoyed it because there's only a little bit left.
16:19 There's sprinkles in it, and they've all migrated to the bottom of the cup.
16:22 But, I'm going to do a little bit of reading,
16:23 and then probably go get some food right across the street.
16:25 I sat outside for an hour just enjoying this book,
16:28 but it did start to get a little hot, and I checked the weather.
16:30 It was 92°.
16:32 I needed to grab some water and a quick
16:34 bite across the street at Jones on Third.
16:36 Okay, I'm at Jones on Third.
16:38 Got an Arnold Palmer.
16:40 Instead of calling this a midterm study vlog or a midterm week vlog,
16:44 I should just call it a procrastinate with me vlog.
16:50 It is so hot out.
16:52 I'm dying.
16:53 I want to go to the beach.
16:54 I do not want to open my laptop.
16:56 It's funny how when I need to do work, my laptop is dead,
16:58 and when I don't want to do work, the laptop is fully charged.
17:01 I'm going to be reading.
17:02 I'm actually really entertained by this book.
17:04 The meal has arrived.
17:06 I don't know what I got.
17:07 I just asked the cashier what they liked.
17:09 So, I guess I got a chicken sandwich.
17:10 Some arugula on there, I see.
17:12 And a side of fries, of course.
17:21 Guys, I just read this.
17:23 This is so true.
17:25 I really believe that the universe gives you exactly
17:27 what you need when you're supposed to have it.
17:30 Period.
17:31 I went back to campus and decided to do work at the ultimate lock in spot,
17:35 [music] Leavey Library.
17:36 If I can't get work done here, I'm a lost cause.
17:39 Thankfully, I was able to be productive,
17:41 got most of my readings done, addressed the study guide.
17:44 So, I think we can check off step number three on our work checklist.
17:48 Hi, guys.
17:48 Okay, so I was able to make it to the library and be semi-productive today.
17:52 I did some work, studied for the midterm that I have on Monday.
17:55 Even though in this video we didn't get
17:57 everything done on our checklist, I still feel happy.
18:00 That's what sucks about to-do lists.
18:01 Sometimes they can make you feel bad about yourself for not
18:03 getting every single thing done because really it's a dream list.
18:06 It's been a good freaking week.
18:08 It feels different here.
18:09 The last thing I want to do is study.
18:10 [music] I've been studying and doing midterms for the past 4 years.
18:13 So, this also has made me realize the amount of senioritis I have.
18:17 The fact that I took the first week of school off to go
18:20 to Australia is very telling of how I feel about being in school right now.
18:23 I'm ready to just like do my own thing, and I don't want to be in my books.
18:27 I want to be getting inspired by other artists, and you know,
18:30 just travel around the city and travel the world,
18:32 and there's just so much to come.
18:34 That's the universe agreeing with me.
18:37 I just have this lust for life as of recently,
18:39 and I want to take you with me through it all.
18:41 So, that's a great way to ask subscribe
18:43 so you don't miss the future, the journey,
18:46 the last 2 months here, and the rest of my life there, everything in between.
18:50 I'd love to have you here.
18:52 If you like this video, be sure to leave a like,
18:54 and I guess I'll see you in the next vlog.
18:56 Bye, guys.