Happy Randomness!

So, Speech Nat Quals are this Friday and Saturday. I am so nervous. I hadn't looked at my piece since State Quals, and I worked on it for the first time since then today. Luckily, I think that working with Mrs. G today made it about 10 times more powerful that it was before. I am pretty excited...it would be so amazing to go to Nationals without going to State. And I have a decent chance...41 entries in Drama, and the majority of those are probably fillers, and sending three to Nationals. I'll let you guys know how I do as soon as I know myself.

Don't you just love how everything hits you in the face right when you least expect it? Such as actually getting an A on an AP Chem test. But then there are those things you know you have to do in the back of your mind that seem to linger there until it is almost too late. Like my HOBY Junior Staff application, which is due Sunday. Or AP tests, which are just a little over a month away. Ahh, how I long to sit back with a good book.

Speaking of good books, I finished The Picture of Dorian Gray the other day. I absolutely LOVE the ending. All of you MUST read it, just so you can see how amazing it truly is. I think Wilde is one of my new favorite authors...now I just have to read some of his plays.

Well, the procrastinating has been fun, but I really must go clean out my backpack now...you would not believe the junk I have accumulated in it. Ta-ta!

My One Year Anniversary

So, I realized late last night that I had been blogging for one year. I can't believe it! Time has passed so quickly. I just glanced over my past blogs, and I realize now how much this blog has helped me over the last year. It has been there for me through interviews, Speech tournaments, frustration over classes, and really happy times. When I have had no one to talk to, I would just come on and shoot of my thoughts into cyberspace. And I really love it. So, happy one year anniversary to me!

Also, some super exciting news. I get to go to my first concert since Cher's first farewell tour. Yeah, I know, that was a very long time ago, I don't need to be reminded. But on Tuesday I get to go see Barenaked Ladies! Woo-hoo! So I bought their new CD today so I can learn their new songs in time for the concert. I can't wait!

Also, today was HOBY day. I had a meeting with the new nominees and told them how beyond incredible HOBY is. I miss it so much....I have to get working on my community service hours so I can turn in my Junior Staffer application by April 15th. Hopefully I'll get to go back.

Arggh You Ready Kids?

So, happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! This has got to be one of the coolest days out of the year, and I forgot about it until I signed into my email today and looked at my homepage, and there it was. I was compelled to send an eCard to all my HOBY group buddies, because we were the pirate group at our conference back in June. I miss HOBY.

One would think that with today being such an awesome obscure holiday, it had to have been a good day. Not so. I am so wiped out, and the only reason I am posting is because I am beyond stressed out and I needed to vent a bit. I technically should be doing some AP Chemistry homework right now, but I can't bring myself to look at it, and instead of surfing my favorite websites, I figured I'd do something slightly more constructive. So here I am. I don't know how else to describe today except for "one of those days." You know the ones I am talking about. Your alarm clock doesn't go off, so you are running late to a before school meeting and therefore forget money for lunch. You stayed up late the night before trying to finish your Trig homework, so you are about ready to fall asleep during 2nd hour as you are watching a quick film. You end up having to stay at the school until 5:30 pm because of some PSAT/SAT seminar you signed up to take, only to come home, rush through a quick dinner, and delve into approximately four to five hours of homework, all the while adding more things to your mental To Do List without ever actually getting to cross anything off. Yeah, I'd say it has been "one of those days."

I just wish I could go back to that weekend in June. HOBY was the best time I have ever had, and I need that pick-me-up from all my groupmates. Plus, cheering at the top of your lungs really helps keep you awake when you are functioning on very little sleep.

ARGHHH!!!!

Junior Year: My Next Frontier

It has begun.

School officially started Thursday. My Junior year. I am now an upper classman. That means I get to sit on the other side of the gym for assemblies. It may not seem like much, but I've been awaiting this day since my first Homecoming assembly as a Freshman. But with this new year comes a lot of responsibility. This is the year that colleges look at. This is it, the year you either make it or break it. My classes are much harder, and in order to balance my time and workload, I had to leave two of my Honors classes due to my two AP classes. For me, it's all about prioritizing this year. I've really begun to focus on what I love and what I want to pursue, and I am working my hardest to make all those dreams of mine become closer to reality. Last year was a real growing and learning year. But, even though I was always so incredibly stressed out, I think in a way it was good for me to experience that. Now I know exactly what I can handle. I know my limits, and when it is possible to push them the slightest bit. I know what is worth it and what is better to not try now, but later. This is my big year, I can feel it. Last year was full of disappointments, but this is the year I am going to work my tail off to make things happen. That's what my HOBY conference in June told me. Just take small steps, and you CAN make big changes. I want to make those changes. I want to be a part of something big...

...and this is the perfect year for me to do just that.

I Got It (Well, Almost)

So, about HOBY. On Tuesday We were supposed to find out about who would be the HOBY representative. I hadn't heard anything by lunch, and neither had Ian. We were wondering about it, so I asked the counselor who was in charge of it. She said I would find out 4th, 5th, or 6th hour. I had 4th hour off, and PE 5th, so I didn't find out till 6th hour, my American Literature class. Ian is in my class, so I asked him if he knew anything. Turns out he got it, which is awesome, but I was a bit bummed out. Then I got my note. Turns out I am the #1 alternate, so if he can't go, I can. So, in a sense I got it, even if I really didn't. I've been kind of floating on air since then.

Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program

So, two weeks ago I found out that I had been nominated for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Program (aka HOBY) for my school. I was one of nine sophomores selected to continue on in the selection process to get down to the one representative. Last week I had to write a resume and a short essay. Today, I had an interview with eight members of the school staff. I thought it went rather well, I wasn't too nervous and they were all very nice. I'll find out how I did tomorrow, so I am really excited. Here is a link to HOBY's website if you wnat more information:
http://www.hoby.org/index.shtml