Student Blog

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.

More counting down

It’s been two weeks since my last entry . . . which means there’s only a month of school left before I graduate and then just two months of summer before I leave for college. Have I mentioned it’s unbelievable? Increasingly, it feels as though my last days of high school are spent just tending to loose ends before leaving the last four years (mostly) behind. Still, there are plenty of things to finish and it isn’t over yet.

]]> For starters, this Saturday is prom, which means a busy week. Not because of the time needed to color-coordinate my dress and shoes; rather, because the senior student council members are responsible for decorating Grand March. This means I’ll have very little, if any, free time available for the next several days. I’ve never regretted running for student council (although you might ask me when it’s time to plan the ten- or twenty-year reunion), but I would prefer if it were at a less important time.

With all the events coming up, I also need to keep up with my GPA. It would almost be an understatement to say most seniors have higher grades at the start of the year. However, I definitely do not want to risk the loss of any scholarships, and colleges notice the lack of commitment when a senior stops making an effort the last part of the year. My English grade is dropping and my yearbook grade needs a little more work before it’s an A. I’ll admit it — it’s hard to make myself care, especially when my Spanish grade is too late to be pulled up to an A, taking me out of the valedictorian race. Speaking of Spanish, there’s one good thing to note. Despite the test date, the class won’t end until about two weeks later, giving me more time to finish with a respectable B.

On the subject of tests . . . advanced class testing is next week. I’m not overly worried about English. I’ve prepared for it fairly well, so the only large concern will be the essays. On the other hand, calculus looks to be extremely challenging. I had hoped it would be easier since math isn’t as difficult a subject for me, but one look at the open questions was enough to know I was wrong. It shouldn’t come as a surprise: if I remember correctly, the math subscore was the lowest of my ACT scores. In any case, they will likely be the most difficult tests of the year at a time when test taking is not at the front of my mind.

The next several weeks may be the hardest so far, but afterward there’s much to look forward to. In about a month, I’ll let you know how well everything worked out.

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.

Less than two months

At this time in the year, most seniors can claim a case of “senioritis” — not wanting to do anything because of how soon they will be entering college. I’m not extremely excited about college yet, but I am enjoying end-of-the-year activities, especially for seniors. For example, the senior trip this year (which I helped plan, I must add) will be three days in Chicago, making it the farthest I’ve been from home and the longest I’ve stayed in a large city. Also, Crittenden has a tradition where parents (including my own mother), with the help of student fundraising, plan a special activity after graduation. This year, that means overnight laser tag in Nashville. Maybe it’s a sign my priorities are off if I’m looking forward more to Six Flags and Chicago than actually leaving high school, but there will be plenty of time during the summer for the reality of moving out to sink in.

]]> Luckily, as the school year comes to its last month, I have much less work to do. Seniors don’t have to take state tests, meaning plenty of free time while other grades are answering open-response questions. Advanced Spanish IV will end entirely after a test date in early May, and with portfolios over at the end of this week, Advanced English IV will begin easier studies. I’m grateful this will give me more time to enjoy activities with friends and family, whether prom and a graduation party, or just being with friends before we go our separate ways, even though many Crittenden students will be entering the same college.

On that note, I can say I’m almost done with preparing for college. The housing application is finally finished and mailed, I’m registered now as a marching band Racer, and the date for my summer orientation and class scheduling is set. Everything else, from financial aid to local scholarships, is a matter of waiting. My efforts have paid off. Not long ago, I received a revised award letter that helped me reach a few thousand dollars closer to my goal.

Meanwhile, this month has been mostly normal so far. Due to the extreme number of school days we missed because of ice and snow, students were required to come to school last Saturday. As a result, this week feels like the longest yet. I believe that could be the reason each week of the final stretch may seem longer than the last.

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.

Waiting for spring

Spring vacation is coming up, and I hope it will mark the end of snow until I’m in college. Last week was the first week since early January that school wasn’t canceled for any days. Other than that, classes have been pretty normal. I missed most of Wednesday to listen to a speaker discuss leadership skills, and of course, on Friday I had to spend part of Calculus celebrating Pi Day.

]]> Recently, a letter came in the mail listing the scholarships I’ve received from the college. Added together, they almost amount to basic tuition for next year (not including housing or meals). I was hoping for more, but this is certainly nothing to complain about. The only concern I have is that one scholarship is based on having Valedictorian status in my graduating class. Since Crittenden doesn’t weight college-level classes, this means I’ll have to pull up my grades a little in Yearbook and Spanish 4 if I want to earn that scholarship.

As for Spanish, I’ve been doing better in the class lately, and I’m starting to consider taking it, or at least another foreign language, in college. It’s not the language I dislike, but rather, the extremely fast pace expected of students in the class. I could easily add language study together with my interest in visiting other countries and turn it into a career. I think differently than a lot of students in my school. I’m not sure if it is the same in other small towns, but many of the students who go to a foreign country as part of a class or club in high school here tend to act as if it’s the only time they’ll be able to do so. It’s an idea that I’ve never been really able to understand. Then again, I guess I also never truly ruled out being an astronaut.

Regardless of my eventual career choice, my education still needs to be funded. Not long ago I applied for financial aid through the college. Since I filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) much earlier, I only had to fill out the college’s form. (By the way, if you haven’t filled out your FAFSA yet, be aware that several of the state deadlines are coming up or already passed.) I’m hoping for a Pell Grant, but I also selected that I was interested in loans if I don’t receive grants. Finally, I’m going to fill out the local scholarship forms. Even though none of them are large, I think a few essays and forms are worth a good chance at an otherwise free few hundred dollars.

No matter what, there are some costs; for example, summer orientation. The earliest scheduled one is next month, and I’ve already had a call asking if I’d registered yet. Class scheduling is done during summer orientation, so I plan on registering within the next few days. Once that’s done, I’m hoping it will be the last of the forms for a while. Well, except for the housing application.

Whenever I complain about the seemingly endless forms, the teacher I’m an aide for likes to remind me that certain colleges (like her favorite one) would practically guarantee a full scholarship to students with a certain ACT score (like mine). Still, even though it’s easy to say when all the funds remain to be decided, I’m confident in my decision.

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.

Learning more

Only three months of high school left, and I guess graduating is not so unbelievable now. Or, rather, it’s impossible to ignore. It seems like every class makes some mention of “next year,” which then reminds me how I won’t be spending next year at the high school (not that that is or isn’t bad thing). Maybe the weather is playing its part, too. Today is the first day in a long time that feels like spring instead of the middle of winter. Ironically enough, due to the two weeks or so we missed because of snow this year, I won’t be graduating until the first week of June. It would have been very nice if the ice storms could’ve waited for the class of 2009, but I suppose that’s how it goes.

]]> The storm did take its toll on my Governor’s Cup score—I was one place short of qualifying for the state competition. This is very frustrating, especially given that the same thing happened at district level last year, but in the end, my score was nothing to be ashamed of.

To finish off with the bad news, I didn’t receive the Presidential Scholarship. It’s disappointing, but not unexpected. There were only 10 scholarships and what looked like a few hundred students applying, some of whom I met from other states or the other side of Kentucky when I was at the college for the interview. I think the scholarship committee might have been looking for students with a more specific goal in mind, or perhaps a stricter work ethic. In any case, there’s not much point wondering about it. There are still many scholarships that haven’t been decided yet, and I have a list of local scholarships to start applying for.

Despite the result, I don’t regret applying and going for the scholarship interview. Besides the excellent meal (possibly the most formal I’ve been to—upon reaching the cheesecake I realized I had used the dessert fork for dinner!), I picked up a lot of useful information at several booths set up for students to visit before the interview. I gathered information on the study abroad program, the honors program, the band program, and just about any other program you can think of. This includes academics, too. When I approached some of the academic department booths and said I didn’t know what I wanted to study, and didn’t even have a preference between biology and physics or English and history, the college officials made suggestions or simply handed me a stack of pamphlets, brochures and papers. I’m not any closer to deciding what I want to study, but as soon as I do decide, at least I’ll know exactly who to contact to answer my questions.

You could say this visit also put some of my doubts to rest. I was slightly worried that after half a year or more without seeing the college, I would find out my opinion of the atmosphere had changed. As I first saw the campus from a distance, though, I decided that seeing this sight—for at least the next few years—is something I look forward to.

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.

A return to normal

Not much has changed in the last few weeks, mainly because this week’s weather made everything slow to a standstill. An ice storm hit the area Monday afternoon and caused thousands of homes to lose electricity, in some cases for several days. Homes along my road in particular lost power early that night and didn’t gain it back until Friday morning. Luckily, my family was able to take refuge at my grandparents’ house, which includes a wood stove so we could get warm without electricity. For others, however, the elementary school was turned into an overnight community shelter on Wednesday. Simply because of the great number who still didn’t have electricity at different times, Crittenden students haven’t had school since Monday was cut short in preparation for the approaching storm.

]]> Living without electricity and running water was difficult at times, but manageable thanks to people working together. The most difficult part was being isolated; the roads were covered with ice, and most radio news don’t mention places as small as Marion specifically. Of course, no electricity meant no TV or Internet. In addition, although friends and family help you through such a crisis, it’s hard to get along with them when you spend days together in a small area. However, in the end, it’s the lost time that bothers me more than how I spent the days. This is a huge setback to Spanish, and a large one to Yearbook as well (I can only be glad I’m not one of the editors). It’s the same for the other classes — one less week to prepare for the upcoming band concert and the English IV test in May. On Monday, the math teacher was so determined not to lose time, he told the class he expected the homework done even if it was by candlelight.

I’ve also lost some study time for the next level of the Academic Team competition, which will be next Saturday. At the District level I placed three spots below what was needed to advance to Regionals for science, but I went far beyond my expectations in math, earning second place with a score perhaps 10 points higher than I was planning for. It’s a score that could get me to state if I match it next Saturday, but the next test will also have more difficult questions.

In the more immediate future, tomorrow is the interview day for two of the most important scholarships I’ve applied for. I’m fairly nervous. Besides an interview, the itinerary includes time for several seminars and an hour-long essay. I’m not extremely bad at on-demand essays, but they’re certainly my least favorite out of every possible type of academic testing. Still, I can be glad the electricity is back — at least I don’t have to face an important interview knowing I picked my clothes and did my makeup using a flashlight.

Wish me luck! Hopefully I can tell how it went in the next entry. Also, Happy Belated Valentine’s Day!

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!

A chance to catch my breath

Snow! Both yesterday and today I didn’t have school. This was an eventful week early in the week, and the latter half would have been the same if it hadn’t been for the snow. Our girls’ basketball team was going to state and we had a pep band performance scheduled for a Friday game. I also had a yearbook deadline and last-minute studying for the Academic Team competition, the Governor’s Cup. Because I was so busy, I’ve enjoyed my unexpected free time from the snow days by relaxing, hanging out with friends or listening to music. Today I even went sledding in what little snow we had left.

]]> Still, I’m a little nervous about tomorrow’s academic competition, not because of the actual tests, but because my senior year means it’s my last chance to reach the state level. Last year I did better in science than math. This year, I have an advanced math class but no science class. I’m wondering how that will affect my scores, but I can’t do much more than try my best.

I received my acceptance letter from Murray State University shortly after I wrote my last blog entry. I also received some information for incoming freshmen. As for scholarship applications, I think I’m almost done—all that’s left is to apply for some local ones and interview for two others. I’m not looking forward to the interview, but if I do well, it will certainly be worth more than one lost Saturday. The local scholarships are relatively small and not due for a few months, so I plan on waiting to find out how much I receive from scholarships from Murray before writing more essays for other scholarships.

For anyone else applying for scholarships, I’d recommend giving yourself plenty of time to make corrections or to send in papers you may have forgotten. Communicating with your high school counselor is also important, as certain applications will require a recommendation from him or her, and others require a transcript or other information. Most people around you—parents, teachers, employers, college officials, etc—will be more than happy to help you with your essay, write a letter of recommendation, or clarify what needs to be turned in. Just make sure you give them enough time to write the letters of recommendation.

I’ve also filled out my FAFSA. Surprisingly, it wasn’t nearly as confusing as I thought it would be. The online site has help sections for each step and describes where the information is likely to be found on your tax form. I was able to finish it in close to an hour, only needing to ask my parents the occasional question and getting my mom to “sign” it with her own PIN since I’m not 18 yet.

I’m happy to say I did fairly well with the Spanish conversation I was so nervous about a few weeks ago. If there’s one thing I learned at all from last semester, it’s that the worst mistake is being too afraid to try. With that idea in mind, my biggest goal for these important last few months is to push my limits and enjoy it all the way until graduation.

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.

Off to a great year

The new year has made it apparent that college is coming ever closer. Today, a representative from Murray State University talked to perhaps a fifth of our seniors about college applications of all types. This was a great relief to me—she cleared up most of the confusion I had concerning applications for scholarships, financial aid, and housing, and what was specifically required for each. The housing application can be completed much later, and the one for financial aid should be done quickly, but it’s OK to wait until my parents prepare their tax return, which we need in order for the FAFSA to be accurate.

]]> Of course that leaves the application for scholarships, due in less than three weeks. My main concern is the essay, which should be 250 words about a current event. The war in Iraq immediately comes to mind, but I’m hoping to think of a unique topic that involves more of my personal thoughts or experiences. I’ve asked the guidance counselor for a letter of recommendation and to send my high school transcript to Murray. (I’m not sure of the policy of other colleges, but Murray requires a copy be sent to admissions and one to the scholarship department.) Unfortunately, the counselor will be gone for the next two days, and I’d like to check my GPA before filling out forms. For the most part I’ve earned A’s, but I received an 87 for last semester in yearbook, and I doubt I’ll ever forgive the biology teacher who gave me an 89 one semester of sophomore year. At the beginning of the year, the school required seniors to list all their high school activities, and so for the resume part of the application I’ll only have to remember my work as a senior.

Unfortunately, I was slightly late to the college presentation because I was taking yearbook pictures. The school load hasn’t slacked off any with the new semester; deadlines for the aforementioned yearbook remain more or less steady until late in the year. Although marching band is long over, as well as our holiday concert, I still have to attend several of the home basketball games as part of pep band. Between yearbook and band, I’ve been to more school sports events this year than all the rest of my years put together.

Spanish might be giving me the most stress right now—the entire class is playing catch-up at this point. My first long conversation with the teacher will be coming up soon, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that I would rather repeat biology many times instead. I once wanted to study several foreign languages in college. Hopefully, this experience will make that easier, rather than make me dread those courses instead.

Most people will tell you it’s important to make the most of your senior year by attending any events your high school offers. Last year was the first year I even knew what Grand March was (it’s the procession of couples before prom), and this year, as part of student council, I’m helping design it. By joining many more clubs, running for office, and making several new friends, maybe I took the advice a little too much to heart. Still, that’s not what bothers me. It’s that I didn’t do these things earlier in high school.

I’m also waiting. Murray’s admissions response should come any day. Although I’m mostly confident in what the answer will be, time will tell.

Making this the best year yet

The start of the year may be a momentous occasion for some. To me, it mostly means I’ll date my papers incorrectly for the next three months. Jan. 1, sadly, also marks the last day of Christmas break.

]]> Although I spent most of my free time simply relaxing at home, something I haven’t done much of this school year, I was able to relieve some of my college concerns. Except for sending my high school transcript, I don’t have to worry about entrance applications anymore. I decided not to apply to Vanderbilt. I only applied to Murray State University. This may seem like an odd decision, but in the end, it was for simple reasons. I prefer normal classes to advanced classes, and I appreciate meeting people with other beliefs or cultures. Even if Vanderbilt is possibly the most prestigious college in this part of the country, it’s not a good fit for me in those aspects. It’s important to always have a backup, and in case I have a last minute change of heart or am not accepted at Murray, I can apply for the engineering program through the community college in early March.

I’ve also looked through a large number of scholarships. Something I didn’t expect was the large number based on certain majors—for example, many scholarships were only for students intending to work in dentistry, journalism, nursing, etc. I’m glad I didn’t plan a major because I would hate to find out I disliked my chosen field after working towards a degree for any length of time. But you could say it’s annoying to see I don’t qualify for so many scholarships. I can still apply for scholarships and financial aid through the college itself, though, and I plan on doing that as soon as I can fill out the FAFSA.

I was able to find my results on the December ACT test online about a week after I took it. I was able to raise my composite score and writing score by two points! I believe the only subject test score that went down was Science, and I think that was because I made a mistake when figuring out how much time was left near the end of the test. I don’t believe there’s any real way to avoid easy mistakes like that, but at least I used my last five minutes well because the proctor called out how much time we had left. In particular, I’m happy that my Reading score went up three points. I’m also happy to report that some of my friends who took the test the same day did well—one made more than the 30 that’s required for some scholarships, and another made 21, which is needed to enter the education program to become a teacher.

To wrap up last year, all of the holiday activities went well (although the Christmas parade was a bit colder than I would’ve liked, and I’m still hoping for snow). Today is the start of the new year, and I want to make the most of it.