May 01, 2008

A packed schedule and excited thoughts

These next two months will be some of the busiest in my life, but as high school is close to an end, I am glad my last few weeks as a senior will definitely be eventful. With testing, prom, my dad’s fiftieth birthday party, weddings, my graduation, and many other events in the upcoming days and weeks, there is much to prepare for and even more to look forward to.

During this first week of May and then on a couple of Mondays, I have major tests which evaluate what I learned in my advanced classes over the last two years. While I only have tests for English, history, and calculus, the tests are spread over five days and are already under way. Oddly, I don’t feel stressed in the least. Maybe it’s because college plans are almost finalized and I’m looking farther ahead, or maybe it has to do with my typically calm attitude. A major factor is my excitement to get everything done, but still do my best so that I can experience graduation and the great times to follow.

Because the majority of my classes are geared toward these tests, I will have a very light workload and no homework for the remainder of the year. To add to an already relaxed end to school, I will not have any final exams as the tests replace them. This will be a great opportunity to learn even more, as many of my teachers plan engaging class projects and more interactive, less study-oriented activities to close out the school year. Thankfully, this will also give me precious time after school to help out around my house, preparing for family events and other celebrations soon to come.

This coming weekend, my dad is having over two hundred family friends visit to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. While I have been helping to ready the house for so many people—and I also would love to be at the party to enjoy the company of family friends—I will be at prom during the same night. I truly wish I could experience both events, but prom is an important aspect of senior year.

By the end of May, the house also has to be ready for my stepsister’s wedding ceremony and reception. Although this will be another memorable and exciting time, preparing for such large events, on top of testing and other obligations, is something that will definitely make these coming weeks feel extremely busy. With so much going on, time will pass even faster than the already blurring speed of senior year.

As I write this, thinking of how close and packed everything is on my calendar, I am in disbelief at how soon high school is coming to an end. I can honestly say that this year has been full of amazing experiences, memorable times with friends, great family events, getting into college—everything. I am very happy to be where I am in life, and know that my hard work with honors and advanced classes, the ACT test, and school activities definitely paid off by making so many opportunities available to me. The more I look forward to college, the more I also find myself reflecting on these past four years, seeing where I started and knowing how far I’ve come. Most importantly, I look to how far I will go. I hope to progress in life as far as my abilities allow, never settling for a lesser goal.

Graduation is right around the corner, and by the next time I write, I will be a fresh alumni of Granite Hills High School, ready (hopefully!) to take on the next step in education, thankful for all that has occurred, and excited for everything that follows. In this short amount of time, so much is going to happen, and when I write next, I will have so much to tell, including my reflections about high school and my goodbyes for an amazing period in my life.

April 21, 2008

A memorable competition, closing in on testing, and some exciting news

Well, it’s been about a month since I last wrote and there’s much to tell. First, I am happy to say that my team and I survived the California state competition for Destination Imagination and we’re satisfied with our performance. School is changing gears somewhat to prepare for major testing in early May, but it all seems worthwhile as news about college makes me even more excited for what comes next.

On Friday, April 4, I awoke at 4:30 a.m. to board a bus heading for Sacramento, where the state competition for Destination Imagination was held. During the long, ten-hour drive that spanned countless miles of some of the flattest and most repetitive farmland I have seen to date, my team, about thirty other classmates, and I all spent the drive napping or joking around until we arrived at our hotel late in the afternoon. Although the competition was just the next morning, this time around everyone seemed less panicked and more prepared in comparison to the rushed experience back at the regional competition in early March.

After going to dinner with my group, getting excited and mentally prepared for the following day, we returned to our hotel room to get some rest before Saturday morning arrived. When it did, everyone was taken to the school where the competition was held, and immediately some unpredictable, last-minute problems were discovered with the vehicle, obstacles, and props. Although it can be expected that everything will not be working perfectly right before a competition, it is always nerve-wracking to set up all of our props, obstacles, and costumes, fix whatever issues may come up, and still have time to calm down, rehearse, and do our best.

Even though we were pressed for time, almost all of the problems were fixed, which included some circuit board wiring issues on our hand-built remote controlled vehicle and some other motor issues with certain obstacles and props. When the time came, we moved everything onto a stage in front of a decent-sized audience and panel of judges, and our nonverbal performance went by quickly and convincingly, even with some mistakes and improvised moments. The newer vehicle my team and I built over spring break worked impressively better than our previous vehicle, and after the performance, we all felt accomplished and satisfied with our work.

Although we placed fourth in the state, not high enough to move on to the Global competition, my team won a “Da Vinci” award for the most creative solution and presentation out of about 160 teams, which made the weekend worthwhile. With the results of all of our hard work, everyone was relieved. We enjoyed Saturday night by staying up late, playing pranks on roommates, and other activities expected of a group of energetic high school students.

Now that my Science Research Seminar class no longer has a focus on DI, I am working with a few students to design and test virtual bridges on the computer, and even to build a chair entirely out of cardboard that will support the weight of a person, while being creative and aesthetically pleasing. The pace of my other classes has also changed greatly as major tests are nearing in early May, meaning more of a focus on review.

Fortunately, I did complete my taxes and the FAFSA ahead of the April 15 deadline, even though tedious government forms are not my favorite activity. However, these added responsibilities of growing up are not much to ask with the benefits of a college education and added freedoms right around the corner.

To make my expectations of college even more exciting, I have just received news from the college in Utah I plan to attend, Westminster College, that I am a finalist for their Honors Scholarship, which could make up the difference in my current financial aid and tuition costs. This is very exciting news for me and it adds to the fact that last week I was accepted into the Honors Program, which is based on my academic and extracurricular performance and my ACT score. I have an interview next week with a selection committee for the scholarship, so I’m definitely keeping my fingers crossed.

With so much to experience and look forward to in the near future, time is passing by very rapidly. This means that before I know it, I will be writing again in two weeks, with even more experiences and news to tell, and so much to always be thankful for. Until next time.

March 24, 2008

Taking a breath and enjoying time off

Spring break is here, and it’s a welcome change from the daily routine. The free time is allowing me to work around the house, prepare for my next competition in Destination Imagination, and of course, enjoy the warm weather.

March might be relaxed, but just around the corner, May and June will be packed with family and school events. First, my dad’s 50th birthday is in early May, and we’ll celebrate with more than 200 friends and family members. My family will be spending a good amount of time preparing for his birthday.

In addition to my dad’s birthday party, my stepsister’s wedding will be at our house during the last weekend of May, followed by my graduation party and my brother’s 21st birthday the following week. There’s even the possibility of another wedding at our house shortly after. So my family and I are already busy making plans for so many back-to-back celebrations.

May also will be a busy time at school, with testing during the first two weeks that will essentially evaluate a whole year or even two years of learning in only a couple of days. While this testing period is closing in, I’m not going to stress about it. Instead, I’ll motivate myself to think of my high school accomplishments and look forward to the relief I’ll feel when the tests are finally over.

Even though it seems like a massive amount of events are coming soon, it’s a fitting end to a great time in high school. With a little over two months of school left after I return to school in April, everything will go by even faster than it already has, so I don’t mind being busy during this period.

Overall, spring break is a great time to take a breath, take a step back from daily schedules and activities, and enjoy the company of close family and friends before the time to head off to college arrives. During the first weekend of April, I’ll see how far my team’s work in Destination Imagination will take us, as we travel to Sacramento for the state competition. I hope I’ll be able to write about my thoughts on the competition while still in Sacramento, but if not, I’ll share my experiences of the trip and its highlights soon after. For now, I’m going to spend some time doing maintenance on my motorcycle, before going to a friend’s house to barbeque in some great weather. I hope everyone enjoys their spring break.

March 11, 2008

A challenge in overcoming obstacles

The Destination Imagination (DI) competition is over, and I survived the experience with a few important lessons and memories to take along with me. This week I also start my new job, help out a friend with a film project, and set some time aside to be creative with my own work.

To say the least, this past weekend was quite a long, tiring, but beneficial experience. Having worked on our DI challenge for a couple of months, you would expect that my team and I would’ve had everything working smoothly by the time the competition neared. However, the unforeseen complications of creating a vehicle to navigate an obstacle course, and to tell a nonverbal story that represents the obstacles, has been a challenge with many more possible accidents and difficulties than you can imagine. Because of this—even with two trucks full of props, obstacles, and materials—we ran out of time last Friday, with the competition the following day.

Working nonstop until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, our team showed dedication as we finished the needed sections of the obstacle course to the best of our abilities. We all went home tired, somewhat stressed, our brains overloaded with solutions. We learned a lesson: be better prepared in the future. Three-and-a-half hours later I awoke to load my side project into my truck. It was a motorized Ferris wheel built almost entirely out of cardboard. I then drove to meet the rest of the team before making the 100-mile drive to the competition.

The day’s events (and even the night prior to the competition) are somewhat blurred in my mind, because my team members and I continued to rehearse and prepare for the challenge up until the time of our performance. Acting as Charlie Chaplin in an eight-minute play I wrote only two days before, I was a little nervous, but mainly because of the possibility that our vehicle would take a turn for the worse as it attempted to overcome obstacles. Before I knew it, the appraiser called “Time!” and the crowd was clapping. We had made it through the play with few mistakes, and although the vehicle had several difficulties with the obstacles, it still managed to score points.

Later in the day, my team won the first-place trophy for our age group and challenge, and we drove away from the competition with many ideas on how to improve for the state competition next month. I’ve never experienced a competition anything like it. Although I’m used to racing for more than two hours nonstop in the desert on my motorcycle, I’d felt a different type of nervousness, knowing that if my part of the solution didn’t work, I would be letting down my team instead of just myself. However, the competition went well, we all learned some very valuable lessons, and I’m thankful to have gone through the experience. Now I look forward to the state qualifying competition on April 4.

With the worries of DI out of the way temporarily, I was given the opportunity to start tutoring my friend’s brother about two to three days a week, to help him better understand math and hopefully raise his grade. I’m happy to have this new job, because I enjoy helping others, and I’ll enjoy seeing him improve and gain confidence in math.

This week, I’ll also be playing a minor role in a friend’s final film project for her advanced film class. Acting is something I’ve not done very much, but greatly enjoy. Since my friend is also quite artistic with painting and drawing, we plan to spend some time over spring break creating some art together, possibly even doing a collaboration piece to combine our two very different styles, which will probably be a blend of my more urban, abstract work with her very appealing floral and natural style.

These experiences, sometimes only peppered here and there, make high school, and life in general, so memorable. Whether I am learning true teamwork and a life lesson about preparation and the challenges of a competition, tutoring a friend in math, or just enjoying some creative time with a close friend, there’s always an opportunity to learn, expand interests, and find a reason to smile. By the time the 15th of this month flies by, I’ll be off from school for two weeks, so I plan on having many more of these memorable times, and will tell you all about them soon.

February 22, 2008

The payoff of college, the ACT test, and my interests

The time spent searching for, applying to, and visiting colleges was well spent, as I’ve now made my decision about the college I’ll attend. I couldn’t feel more comfortable with my choice.

I accepted the offer of admission to Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have all the official papers signed, and I’ve even filled out applications for the Honors Program, Honors Program Scholarship, and Exemplary Achievement Award scholarship at Westminster. With optimism and relief, I signed my name on the offer of admission, knowing that I’ve found the right college for my educational goals, interests, and future career. Ever since my first visit to the campus last October, I’ve felt that the atmosphere, approach to education, and location of Westminster are a great match for my personality. Making the acceptance official has definitely brought positive thoughts into my daily mood.

One detail that I feel is worth mentioning is that my ACT score qualified me for the college merit award, the Honors Program and the Scholarship, and is included in my application to the Exemplary Achievement Award. Because of this, I’m very happy that I took the ACT, and I’m confident in my score since it has opened so many great opportunities beyond the initial college application.

With the closure of college-related decisions, now I can focus more on current school activities, such as my involvement in a worldwide creative challenge competition called Destination Imagination. I’m on a team with six other students, and we have the challenge of creating a vehicle that can navigate an obstacle course without human intervention, while integrating an unspoken story into the obstacles. This challenge can be met by many approaches, and simply finding a direction and plan can be frustrating. My team has been working hard together, and we all have to spend more time on the weekends building and preparing before the regional competition in March.

Because of the need to think creatively to succeed in this worldwide competition, I’ve been trying to incorporate some of my artistic abilities into my team’s solution, including some stencil art and much of the decorating for side projects. By the time I write my next blog, I will have completed the regional competition, so I’ll tell about my experiences then.

While using my creative skills for this large competition, I’ve also been using my interests and abilities to create a gift for a friend. The charcoal portrait I drew for my friend’s birthday not only brought a smile to her face, but made me feel rewarded for using my art as a genuine, self-made present, instead of giving something store-bought and lacking feeling. I hope to improve my artwork, and I feel I’m making some progress each time I draw, although the technical aspects of my art are not the only incentives to create new works.

I was also able to put my knowledge and interests in computers to good use by building a new custom computer for my dad, specifically for high-end applications and quality video editing. Having built about a half-dozen custom computers for family and friends, I can’t get enough of it, and I’m strongly considering working towards starting my own company for this type of work in the future. Not only could this make use of my passion for computers, but I could also apply my experience and education in business after college to do something I truly enjoy.

I’ll have much to explain in the coming weeks as I hear more from Westminster, and after I’ve gone through the nerve-wracking experience of the regional competition. Although I hope for the best with my creative project, I’m confident and optimistic as I look ahead to college, now that I know I’ll attend the right one for me.

February 12, 2008

Focusing more on my interests

Another month of school has flown by. There are less than four-and-a-half months left in my final year of high school . . . not that I’m counting down excitedly. Recently I heard back from a couple of colleges about the application process, and I hope to hear from more schools soon. I’ve also been keeping busy even after the school day ends, and have been spending more time creating art.

Getting letters, information, and other mail from schools almost daily has become a typical aspect of senior year, but now the mail is more interesting than ever. My applications have been confirmed, and I’ve been accepted to a couple of schools so far. Hopefully I’ll soon hear back from the other colleges I’ve applied to as well. These official letters and thick envelopes of brochures and information make college a reality, so opening the mailbox is definitely a priority each day.

I’m staying active after school with going to the gym, doing homework, and being with friends as usual. Also, the college class I completed last semester, Lifelong Success, is now being taught to a new group of students by the same teacher, one of my high school counselors. I come by on Tuesdays to help out if needed, or just to be part of the class and see how the new students feel about the course, which is mostly online except for the weekly meeting. It’s a different, but nice, experience to be somewhat on the other side of education, observing students learning about their college and career choices.

In addition to these activities, I’ve made it a goal to expand and spend more time with my art. While I mainly create art just for fun, I still hope to continually learn new techniques, in more mediums, and to improve my work. I’ve made portraits for friends in the past, and I’m starting to do so again. I’m trying new styles or approaches with each portrait, which may be made from graphite, charcoal, paint, or other materials if I find something exciting to try. I love working with realism, but I’m also trying more abstract and conceptual styles.

With a deeper focus in my creative work and other interests, I’m considering taking art or computer science classes alongside my business management major in college. I hope to develop my knowledge of art, computer science and business so I can find a fitting career in the future.

As there is still much to decide, the impact of my choices is something I keep in mind. I’m essentially planning for another stage in my education, choosing a career that is consistent with my interests and aspirations. Since my results from the ACT Interest Inventory showed that my interests are balanced in working with people, data, and other areas, I’m looking at different majors to explore in addition to business. My ACT results opened my mind to a wider field of possible majors and careers.

More choices come with age, and I’ll be able to vote for the first time in the presidential primary on Super Tuesday. My decisions each day can be like votes cast during an election: they are all choices that can shape the future, either personal or national. What a future it will be!

January 15, 2008

The Start of a Semester So Soon to End

A month has passed since I last wrote, and there’s so much to tell. The holidays were nothing short of a great time with family and friends, I received my ACT score report, my final semester of high school started last week, and my plans for the future are coming closer to reality at an amazingly fast speed.

Having two weeks off for winter break was definitely a well-needed time to step back from school and enjoy a looser schedule with my family and friends. It was great to spend so much time skateboarding, riding motorcycles, talking, or doing whatever came to mind with my friends.

I’ve never felt closer to my family than during this holiday season, especially on Christmas. I feel that as I’ve grown up, the presents mattered less and less, and the true gift increasingly became the love and company of family. After long talks with relatives and family friends, probably eating too much great food and celebrating the holidays, it will be a Christmas to remember. All the more reason to miss home if I attend a university outside of San Diego this fall.

Another plus to my holiday break was receiving my results from the ACT test. I took PLAN in my sophomore year and it predicted a score around 32. My ACT composite score was 30. I’m satisfied with this score and I feel it properly evaluated what I’ve learned in high school to prepare for college. I did slightly better on the English and Science tests than the Mathematics and Reading tests, but this is consistent with my school experiences, and I’m pleased with my results.

An interesting aspect to the score report is a section called “Planning Your Education and Career,” which provided an explanation and diagram of majors and careers based on answers I gave on the Interest Inventory. While my results didn’t show a preference for a particular type of career, the report listed majors and occupations related to my indicated major and career. That provided me with a wider understanding of business administration and management, which I hope to pursue. This part of the ACT is very useful.

With the beginning of a new and final semester of high school, I’m going to try harder than ever to become more involved in my school and truly see how far I can apply myself. I don’t think I’ll fall into the stereotypical laziness of senior students. I feel motivated to learn and enjoy my education. The almost hurried atmosphere in some of my classes to finish the needed curriculum in time for end-of-the-year tests doesn’t cause stress, but a feeling of excitement. Sure, the assignments and tests are not always events I look forward to, but the fact that I’ll soon be in college causes me to not mind the work because it’s helping me get ready. In fact, I’ve come to like the added responsibilities and experiences even more as time ticks away, and graduation seems sooner than ever.

December 18, 2007

The ACT, finals, and the holidays

Two weekends ago I finally took the ACT, and I was happy with my experience. Preparing with the online practice tests on the ACT website and staying calm helped me to finish the test fairly quickly and without problems.

The Math Test wasn’t too difficult, but still required a great deal of my math abilities to complete. The English and Reading Tests, requiring critical reading skills along with the ability to recognize errors in written excerpts, weren’t too strenuous. I thought the Science Test was interesting, as it focused on abilities with reading and interpreting graphs, charts, and other forms of data, definitely testing my analytical thinking. Lastly, because I took the ACT Plus Writing, an essay followed after the multiple-choice sections. Since I had looked over several examples of essay topics and actual essays online at the ACT website, I was already accustomed to the style of the essay prompts, so the writing portion didn’t have any surprises.

If you’re planning on taking or retaking the ACT, I would advise you to spend some time occasionally in the weeks leading up to the test looking over sample questions and taking practice tests. That way you’ll have a prepared, test-taking mindset already in place before the test begins. Another important suggestion to keep in mind is to not become stressed over the test, and to be relaxed before, during and after the test. During the test, take time to thoroughly read directions, problems, excerpts, and data, but still maintain a consistent speed so you can complete most, if not all, of each section.

Overall, my experience with the ACT was comfortable, quick, and just what I expected. I took PLAN, a type of pre-ACT, in 10th grade, so that also gave me a good idea of what to expect with the ACT. I’m confident in my results and hope my score will add a noticeable and positive addition when I send updates to colleges I’ve already applied to.

After the test, I began to focus on the end of the semester for my high school classes and my final exams. Because of my somewhat easy schedule, I’ve already finished my finals for the week, even with two more school days to go. So, I completed my finals for my advanced English and calculus classes in one day, and now I can enjoy the last couple of days before Winter Break, which I’m definitely looking forward to.

My family loves to celebrate Christmas, so I’ve been helping my dad string lights around the house until it seems we’ve illuminated nearly every palm tree and roof edge. Decorating adds to the anticipation and excitement of the holidays.

Although winter vacation is a time of relaxation and little activity, I’m going to be busy. That’s OK, though, because I’ll be busy riding motorcycles in the local deserts between Christmas and New Year’s, spending time with family and friends, and working for my dad to help wire a large computer system being installed in my dad’s office building.

With so much to look forward to and even more to reflect on during this amazing year, I can’t help but smile when I think of the holidays and the New Year. The year 2007 has been awesome, and I know 2008 will have even more new, great experiences. I’ll write again next year, so until then, happy holidays!

December 03, 2007

Gratitude

The first semester of my senior year is already nearing its completion, and with most of my college applications finished, along with some major assignments for my advanced classes, I can again move my focus primarily to high school work and other obligations.

Although it may sound as though I’m quite busy with school, I’ve actually been able to set time aside each weekday and weekend to be with my family and friends, which are growing even more important in my daily life as we all realize that in less than a year’s time, we won’t be able to see each other as much.

My dad and stepmom were out of town for a week until this past Saturday, on vacation. While I’m used to my family often traveling and leaving me home alone, this time it seemed my dad and I had longer conversations over the phone at night, just talking about college and the day’s events. As thoughts of leaving for college near, I want to show my family (including siblings, parents and stepparents) and friends that I really do appreciate everything they’ve done for me, and that they’ll definitely be missed when I’m away at school next year.

Part of this appreciation comes with talking to my family and friends about more meaningful things or past times and just enjoying their company. Another part of my gratefulness comes from simply being involved in more activities outside of my regular school life, so that I can make up for being occupied with more homework or projects in the past.

This past Saturday night was the first night of December, and our school held its Winter Formal dance at San Diego State University, which I had never gone to before. I couldn’t be happier that my friends convinced me to go instead of staying home as in past years. Seeing us teenagers, who are usually informal and sometimes reserved, dressed in tuxedos and elaborate dresses, being loud and excited throughout the night, was definitely a fun experience. Even though I didn’t see most of my close friends very much at the dance, I had a great time with my date and will definitely remember dancing with friends and joking around in the limo before and after the dance. Because of the great time I had, I now will be more involved with school activities such as a spirit days and prom, because the memories and lessons of high school matter the most.

Getting back to academics and plans for college, I’m relieved to have submitted most of my college applications within the last two weeks, and I’m confident that my accomplishments and responses to essay questions will make a strong application. I was somewhat nervous each time I was ready to click the button to submit an application online, but after each submission, I felt more and more relief. Some of the colleges I have applied to so far are Westminster University of Utah, University of California Davis, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and some other universities of interest to me. Overall, applying was not very stressful and was straightforward once I organized all of my needed information into one folder for reference.

I’m also reaching the end of my Tuesday afternoon college class, Lifelong Success, which focuses on preparing for college and future careers. The class takes place online, which is a new approach to education for me. I’ve enjoyed taking it and have been able to benefit greatly from the insight of fellow students who share their opinions and experiences each week in an online discussion board organized by my teacher.

Finally, my ACT test date is almost here. On Dec. 8, I’ll be able to take a test. I’ve had to reschedule a few times due to complications, so I look forward to seeing how the test evaluates my learning. I definitely will be fitting in some more practice tests in the days leading up to the test, and I’m hoping for the best. In two weeks, I’ll be able to write about my experience with the test, which I’m confident will be positive. But for now, I’m going to lunch with a close friend of mine, and will enjoy talking about whatever comes to mind, appreciating one of the great people I’ve known in school. Because it will soon be over.

November 26, 2007

Great Times at Great Speed

Time must be accelerating, because it feels like each day is shorter and shorter, each week is quicker and quicker, and each year flies by faster and faster. Maybe time is related to perspective. The longer I’ve been alive, the smaller a day is in respect to the total time I have lived. Whatever the reason may be, these last two weeks have passed at an unbelievable rate, not to mention this year as a whole.

I’ve mostly been busy finishing up some college applications, working on a school project for a competition, and enjoying my senior year with friends, skateboarding or just talking and having fun.

The majority of my college applications are now out of the way, and they really weren’t very stressful or difficult, as many students claim. I found that if all the needed general and academic information is organized and ready at hand, a good portion of an application can be completed in less than an hour. Essays for applications required some time to think and carefully choose a topic that could be written about passionately, but after some contemplation, the writing seemed to flow because I cared about my subjects. Each completed step in this application process opens up more time to look at possible scholarships and opportunities to help pay for college, which all students should take advantage of.

A lot of my weekend and after-school time has been dedicated to a school project for my first period class, Science Research Seminar, which is involved with challenges and competitions from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a worldwide competition called Destination Imagination. The assignment was to create a musical device that could play the C major scale and the first 10 notes of a song in a set amount of time, without human interaction. After a long process of conceiving ideas and approaches, and many frustrating moments of changes or adjustments to plans, my team completed our device to our best abilities before the competition last Saturday.

Even though our team and two other teams from the same class didn’t make it to the finals, experiencing the regional competition on the campus of California State University, Fullerton, was an educational experience. I enjoyed the pressures of showing our device in front of a crowd and judges. And I was able to laugh and appreciate the opportunity to compete even when our project experienced some problems and didn’t perform well. I had a great time just watching other teams’ inventions work (or attempt to work), and I feel this first challenge has prepared me for the Destination Imagination competitions later in my senior year. I now have more experience with an open-ended, creative approach to solving a problem.

It’s unusual at times to see how my friends and I have changed throughout high school, and I’m glad to say these changes are for the better. Most of us seniors now have jobs, driver’s licenses, busy schedules and more obligations. Although that means I’m not able to see my friends as often as in previous years, it makes the time spent with them even more memorable.

And with the holidays coming up, I hope everyone can spend some time with relatives, having long conversations around the dinner table while eating a lot of home-cooked food. I’m thankful for much in my life, including family, friends, opportunities, and so much more. I hope everyone can find many reasons to give thanks as well.

November 01, 2007

Seeing the good in others

Words can explain even the most elaborate thoughts, but it’s hard not to feel limited by words when summing up the events of the last two weeks. Living in the San Diego area, I’ve been affected by the recent southern California wildfires. School was cancelled for a week, my ACT test date had to be rescheduled and I spent time taking precautions because of the situation and helping others who were affected by the fires. On top of all this, I turned 18 last week.

I’m fortunate that the fires did not harm my home, nor did they consume the homes of close friends, but they affected my hometown and activities last week nonetheless. Memories of a similarly severe wave of wildfires in 2003 caused Southern Californians to dread this situation. The 2003 fires destroyed many homes and businesses. In fact, I have friends who only recently finished reconstruction on their homes from the first disaster, because of slow insurance payments, and were forced to evacuate because of the recent fires. They feared that their rebuilt homes would once again be destroyed. Now it seems that many families are experiencing the same difficulties of being without a home for some time, as insurance companies will once again be overwhelmed with claims.

Classes were cancelled all last week, which was disappointing to me because of the great importance of time in my advanced classes. Missing class time cuts back on time to prepare for the end-of-school-year testing. Cancelling classes is understandable due to the situation, though. So, with no school to attend, I spent most of the week with my dad, seeing if we could help out those who had lost their homes.

Last Monday I went to Qualcomm Stadium to help put up tents and organize huge amounts of food onto crates for the 10,000-plus evacuees staying there. By the middle of the week, that number increased to around 25,000. The following day, my 18th birthday, my dad and I helped out by providing supplies for people staying at my high school and various evacuation centers around the city. We did what we could to make sure that people who needed water, food, and other goods received them as quickly as possible.

The rest of the week continued with uncertainty, as the fires still were able to move in any direction with shifting winds and extremely low humidity levels. Even in this horrible situation for the city and surrounding areas, I could see an amazingly positive aspect in the caring, selfless and cooperative acts by everyday people. It brought an appreciation that every person could make a difference as I saw the help of thousands of volunteers providing anything they could to make things better for evacuees, and as the firefighters’ efforts saved countless homes, businesses, and lives. It’s unfortunate that the good in everyone is only most noticeable during a terrible situation, but the fact that the caring of others, when needed, exists, is certainly something that will affect my outlook on humans as a whole.

As I mentioned before, my ACT test was forced to be rescheduled due to the fires, so it is now scheduled for the 17th of this month. However, I’m competing with a team in a Jet Propulsion Laboratory challenge on that day for my Science Research Seminar class, and unfortunately have to reschedule yet again for the December test. On a positive note, this will allow me more preparation time to use the practice tests provided by ACT, even though I wish I could’ve taken the test at an earlier date.

Living through such a dramatic situation that affected an entire region is giving me a better perspective on my life. Acknowledging the importance of many everyday things, I won’t have a negative attitude towards daily obligations or assignments, or allow responsibilities to bring stress into my life. Because in the end, they are all just necessary aspects of ordinary life, and I’ve witnessed the true extent of caring, concern, and taking responsibility that took place as everyone worked to handle the unfortunate events of last week.

October 16, 2007

Experiencing colleges in Utah

So I’m back from my brief trip to Salt Lake City, Utah, and to say the least, I had a great time looking at campuses, exploring the back roads of the countryside, and strolling through the city with my dad.

I visited Westminster College and the University of Utah while in town, and both campuses helped me understand the idea of a college atmosphere and feel. The fact that the colleges are essentially opposites in their size and style also allowed me to refine my preferences for selecting my future school, where I’ll study for the next four or more years.

This past Friday afternoon, I visited the campus of Westminster. The flight into Salt Lake arrived earlier than my dad and I expected, so we had enough time to drive to the comfortable, modern campus and go on a relaxed walking tour with a current student. I immediately felt welcomed, and the friendly guide showed me a typical classroom, the housing for both freshmen and upperclassmen, the athletics building, and many other buildings, new and historical, which make up the great campus.

About 2,500 students are enrolled at Westminster, and a typical class has around 15 to 20 students. The intimate social experience at the school would be reassuring, since I know I wouldn’t be lost in the crowd of a large student body. The smaller size of this private college also would make it easier for me to become deeply involved in the community, since I would be more inclined to join clubs and meet people, knowing that I’d be able to see them around campus.

Although the University of Utah is only a short drive away, the contrast between the cozy campus of Westminster and the huge college grounds of the “U” is very noticeable. The University of Utah is an enormous campus, with a very spread-out, almost city-within-a-school feel. Each building is dedicated to a specific field of study, and with more than 28,000 students enrolled, it’s no surprise that the many buildings are quite large. It was difficult to know where to look, with so much to take in at once. Simply driving along and looking at each building was overwhelming in a way, but not intimidating.

Even though the school is large, I felt welcomed by the community, natural surroundings, modern facilities and bustle of people around the campus. Since it was a Saturday, football fans swarmed into the campus parking lots, showing their support of the team. Everyone was covered in University of Utah red merchandise, carried Utah chairs and drove cars with university license plate frames, displaying their pride in the school. It definitely seemed to be the type of college portrayed in movies, but this comparison didn’t take away from the appeal of the school.

The weekend trip was a great opportunity to familiarize myself with two different types of colleges and to get a better idea of what I truly want from my future school. The helpful experiences didn’t end when I flew from Utah to return home because I had the opportunity to meet with a Westminster admissions counselor yesterday.

Perhaps by coincidence, the admissions counselor is in San Diego this week to meet with high school students. She and I made plans to talk about the school when I returned home from the college visit. So yesterday we met. Her kind personality definitely helped me feel even more comfortable with the school, and I learned a lot about the application, tuition assistance, honors program, and college experience offered by Westminster.

Although my visits and meeting with an admissions counselor have left me with positive impressions of these campuses, I’m still planning on visiting Stanford and UC Davis in November, along with keeping other University of California schools in mind as application deadlines near.

On an ending note, I’ve continued to prepare for the Oct. 27 ACT test and will be taking it before I write again. I feel confident about the test and look forward to telling you next time about my experience.

October 01, 2007

A guarantee gives a little breathing room

Senior year is continually proving to me that the experience of a great education and the memories of growing up are not limited to academics and classrooms. While both are very important aspects of these years in high school, there is so much to add to life and learning outside of daily classes and assignments. I have realized that the activities after the final bell rings each day, or after that anticipated final Friday class is finished, can bring value into my life.

This past Saturday I spent about 10 hours helping a close friend of mine paint her senior parking space. We worked together, preparing the spot, laying out the design, painting each layer and detail, and enjoying every minute of it with friends walking over to talk and joke around as everyone brushed on their own creative coatings of color. And with the late afternoon sun setting, despite sore knees and backs, and some sunburns, we took a step back and felt the joy of being finished.

The genuine fun of this day is just one of the many great memories that complete the meaning of growing up. Hopefully it will remind me that the fun of these youthful years doesn’t have to stop with adult life, nor does the opportunity to learn each day and gain from ever-expanding experiences. I’m confident that college will offer even more opportunities to have a great time in and out of the classroom, as I learn more of what my true interests are and how I can benefit from them.

College seems more attainable than ever, and this definitely brings an increasing amount of excitement and anticipation into my life as I think about it. Only a few days ago I received a letter accompanied by a number of brochures and information notifying me that I am guaranteed admission to one of nine University of California institutions of my choice. To say the least, a great deal of uncertainty has been lifted, as I’m now sure that I’ll be accepted to one of my top choices for college, hopefully UC Davis, UC San Diego, or maybe another UC school I find interesting as I continue researching colleges. I guess hard work really does pay off. Because of this, I can’t slack off, even if I have a guarantee of admission.

Although my choices of UC schools look promising, I’m not neglecting my interest in the two Salt Lake City universities I’m considering: the University of Utah and Westminster College. I want to experience the environments of these campuses, so I’m taking a weekend trip to the area with my dad from Oct. 13 to 15. This trip also will allow me to familiarize myself with the city, which would help greatly if I’m accepted and decide to go to one of these universities.

After my trip in about two weeks, and after seeing how the campuses suit me, I will share my impressions of the two universities, and hopefully have a clearer idea of my top college choice. Until then, I’ll continue to appreciate the great experiences of each day, probably occupied with the usual gym visits, skateboarding, creating art, and whatever else makes my time in high school feel, well, how high school should feel in my mind—memorable, useful, and always significant.

September 15, 2007

Choices awaiting an answer

Colleges, scholarships, majors, future careers, and much more are all floating around in a pool of decisions, and it’s time for me to realize my opportunities and be decisive.

I’ve decided to limit my college choices to the West Coast, since I don’t want to live so far from home that I would only be able to see my family and friends during Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break. I’m focusing on California, with a lot of great colleges not too far away, and colleges near Salt Lake City, Utah, because I am surprisingly comfortable in the area. My dad also happens to have a house I could live in that is within 20 minutes of the city. The majority of colleges offer my major, business administration, so my options even in these locations are still open.

While preparing for college applications by gathering information such as transcripts, test scores, and notable achievements, I’ve also been looking at possible scholarships. There are a lot of great programs available, so I’m mainly looking for scholarships that fit my experience, background and interests, and would allow me to use my talents, such as writing or artistic ability, to help me earn a scholarship.

I’m getting ready to register for the next ACT test, and I’ve begun to use the practice tests provided on the student website. The practice tests are helping me a great deal not only to become more comfortable with the style of the test, but to gain confidence from more experience with practice questions and prompts. If I dedicate myself to preparing for the test, good results can definitely make my college choices seem more attainable.

Thankfully, my senior year schedule leaves me with enough free time to use for college planning and to enjoy my afternoons doing whatever else I wish to do, which usually involves art, writing, spending time with good friends, exercising, skateboarding, and just being appreciating San Diego’s year-round, comfortable weather.

A big activity in my life at the moment is racing at motocross tracks and in the nearby deserts. I’m going to be more dedicated during the upcoming race season because I have sponsors to represent. Besides, I have an appetite for challenge.

With the amount of free time I have, I’m also looking forward to becoming involved in volunteer opportunities and community service projects. I feel that I might as well put my time to good use helping out others and gaining experience in an adult situation other than my summer job with my dad’s companies.

Even with my college and working career basically mapped out, (I’ll most likely use my business degree and work my way up at one or more of my dad’s companies) I have to live in the present and focus on each day. That means continuing to apply myself in my classes, but also enjoying the current pace and freedom of my senior year. With that said, I think I’ll work on some art, read for my English class, and think about what choices I need to make next to bring my college goals closer to being realized.

August 30, 2007

Back in the routine

I’ve been back to school for almost two weeks now, and so far, I can say that my senior year expectations were true to how the school year has started. There seems to be a new atmosphere around school, and maybe it’s just something I’m imagining, but the people I know all seem to be in a positive mood and are more relaxed about dealing with homework and usual daily obligations. This is refreshing, because we teenagers are usually characterized as complaining or apathetic.

Although this air of a more responsible, more accepting, and happier group of students is a new aspect, it mostly feels the same as previous years in high school. I’ve walked around the campus for a little over three years now, and the routine of seeing familiar faces in familiar settings seems to carry over each year. Sure, people grow up and change, some more than others, but the changes are not difficult to adapt to when the hundreds of people surrounding me are the same people I first saw as a freshman.

Or, perhaps there is so much change that it becomes routine in high school, and even the largest differences become commonplace and subtle in the mass of students. I guess a sure way of realizing change is to reflect on the changes I have been through since I started high school. I’ve gone through the typical change of growing a little taller, I hope I have matured a little, and most notably, I’ve learned what’s important in my life and even who I am.

My family and close friends have made my high school experience great, and their influence in my life is a major aspect of how I view high school. Besides the obvious educational focus, high school is an opportunity to learn from others. High school is also a time for me to realize my true interests and thoughts about my future. And my senior year is a time to wrap up the experiences and countless memories of high school, pack them in my luggage and get ready to head to college.

The classes I am taking this year serve as a bridge between high school and college. My teachers seem to focus more on lecturing and notes over busywork, much to my approval, and they generally expect more from me and other students, but trust that we’ll succeed. Although they place more responsibility on studying outside of class and focus less on class work, it helps to be given an extra push in motivation to not let them down, and to especially not let myself down.

It’s just the start of the school year, and I am already talking as though it is the end. Time is moving quickly, and the end of the year is closer than I expect. Senior year may feel different because of the excitement and the countdown to graduation, but it simply is a part of the routine of growing up and nearing adulthood. And with a routine, I need to get some sleep for tomorrow’s classes and live another great day, another mark on the calendar, which brings me closer to life’s next step.

August 20, 2007

Ready to start my senior year

The final year of high school is on the horizon, and as the sun sets on my high school years, the dawn of college will rise and probably be here before I even realize how quickly time has passed. My name is David Luhr, and I’m a senior at Granite Hills High School, in El Cajon, Calif. El Cajon is in the East County of San Diego, so a mixture of lifestyles is within a short drive from home. The big city life is downtown; the relaxed lifestyle is around the beach; the country lifestyle is around my home; and most any other style of living can be found in this Southern California locale. Even with this diversity readily accessible with a quick drive in my truck, I’m ready for a new experience in a different city, and college seems to be just what I desire.

This summer has been a great time, but I am ready to start my senior year and enjoy high school to the fullest. I spent most of my time this summer working for my dad’s three construction-oriented companies full time—my main summer activity for the past four years. It’s a great opportunity, and I love to gain experience, but I actually have a more open schedule during the school year.

When school is in session, my life is mainly homework, since school is a main focus in my daily activities. Second to my learning is racing and riding my motorcycle at motocross tracks or at the various deserts in Southern California. Riding motocross requires a discipline that is a true personal challenge. I’ve learned many lessons of perseverance and endurance in my riding that I’ve transferred to my work ethic in school and my job. It’s time for this hard work to pay off, as my high school career is reaching its final stage. I’m looking forward to a great year to end my secondary education.

Many students associate stress and concern with the fall semester of their senior year, but I’ve never been a person to worry or panic, because in the end, those who are dedicated will make it through most any workload, any circumstance, and any challenge. I think of myself as competitive and determined. I don’t necessarily care to be the best at everything; I simply want to do my personal best and be myself at all times.

I haven’t taken the ACT yet, but I’m optimistic about it because I received a projected ACT score around the 32 range after taking PLAN during my sophomore year, and I’ve kept taking challenging courses since then to be ready for the ACT. Some of the colleges in the states I’m interested in (mainly California and Utah) are making the ACT a requirement, which is a definite plus. I think the ACT seems to have a style that more accurately displays a student’s capabilities when compared to other tests. So, I’m not worried about taking the test, and I feel that having an ACT score on my college applications will be a benefit.

This year will be the easiest yet when it comes to my classes. I have advanced classes, but only over a five-period day, with a weekly college course on the side. I plan to do more extracurricular activities, such as getting more involved with charity events my dad’s companies host. I also will generally have more free time to write stories, poems, lyrics, and to create more artwork.

With so much to look forward to and experience, the beginning of this school year will be a welcome event. My education, my creative work, my social life, and my success are all looking to continue to grow as I go through my senior year. It’s time to challenge myself and love life while high school nears its close.