Wow. I never thought the day would come. Nearly 180 school days later and what will be my 90th blog, my job is done! It has definitely been a journey to say the least.
When told at the beginning of the school year that we would have to create a blog that we would have to keep up throughout the year I was a bit nervous. "That sounds like a lot of work", "what am I going to write about", were two thoughts that kept entering my mind. No doubt was it quite a bit of work and it was definitely tough to come up with 90 things to blog about!
Over the course of the past nine months I have written and shared my feelings on a variety of topics. Teen jobs, swimming, school, AP exams, food, shoes, clothes, books, vacations, sports, politics, and so many more! I cannot believe it has finally come to an end. All those times stressing about what to blog about are finally over! I must admit this is much more a happy thing than sad.
Keeping up this blog has absolutely had its benefits. It has taught me a lot about procrastination and time management. I would consider myself to be an extremely dedicated student who manages time quite well. Until it came to blogging that is. It was so terribly hard to sit in a computer lab on a Friday afternoon and just type your heart away. I had to force myself to do it in order to make deadlines.
Or the nights before 15 blogs were due and I was sitting at the computer whipping 5 out just hours before the deadline. That definitely took its toll and I don't ever think I will do that again.
Honestly, I don't think I am going to miss blogging one bit. It was always one other thing I had to do and keep track of. I am thankful for the lessons it has taught me and for having the opportunity to say I kept up a blog for a year. With that my friends, farewell to blogging!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
My Furry Little Friend
A very common get-to-know-you-type-of-question is something along the lines of "Are you a cat person or a dog person?" I would consider myself to be more of a cat person, but by no means do I dislike dogs. I think I feel this way because I have been around cats more and have a pet cat, who is my favorite animal in the whole world!
Cinnamon has been part of our family since the summer of 2002. I am proud to share that he is a mutt we found at the local animal shelter. Cinnamon was a very sick kitten when we first got him. He had to go on lots of trips to the vet before he got better, but since then I could count on one hand how many times he has been sick.
Cinnamon is primarily a white cat with cinnamon colored spots, hence his name Cinnamon. Cinnamon's most defining characteristic is definitely his tail. Cinnamon's tail is cinnamon colored and only 6 inches long. Yes, this sounds very weird and it is weird! It runs in the family because his sister at the animal shelter had 6 toes! I am so used to it that a normal looking tail on a cat looks very strange to me.
Cinnamon is one of the friendliest cats I have ever met. This is what I love about him the most. He is always there to greet you, whether you are just getting home from school or if its a stranger at the front door. He will rub up against your leg and meow until you give him attention, its so cute!
Cinnamon is also the hungriest cat I have ever met. With most cats you can feed them every couple of days because they space out their eating accordingly. Not with this cat! We feed him three times a day everyday because he literally eats all of his food the second he gets it. He has been known to get hairballs because he eats his food so fast that he doesn't even digest it!
Even with all of this quirks Cinnamon is a fantastic pet spending most of this days lounging in the sun, sleeping and meowing for food. I don't know what I would do without this furry little friend!
Cinnamon has been part of our family since the summer of 2002. I am proud to share that he is a mutt we found at the local animal shelter. Cinnamon was a very sick kitten when we first got him. He had to go on lots of trips to the vet before he got better, but since then I could count on one hand how many times he has been sick.
Cinnamon is primarily a white cat with cinnamon colored spots, hence his name Cinnamon. Cinnamon's most defining characteristic is definitely his tail. Cinnamon's tail is cinnamon colored and only 6 inches long. Yes, this sounds very weird and it is weird! It runs in the family because his sister at the animal shelter had 6 toes! I am so used to it that a normal looking tail on a cat looks very strange to me.
Cinnamon is one of the friendliest cats I have ever met. This is what I love about him the most. He is always there to greet you, whether you are just getting home from school or if its a stranger at the front door. He will rub up against your leg and meow until you give him attention, its so cute!
Cinnamon is also the hungriest cat I have ever met. With most cats you can feed them every couple of days because they space out their eating accordingly. Not with this cat! We feed him three times a day everyday because he literally eats all of his food the second he gets it. He has been known to get hairballs because he eats his food so fast that he doesn't even digest it!
Even with all of this quirks Cinnamon is a fantastic pet spending most of this days lounging in the sun, sleeping and meowing for food. I don't know what I would do without this furry little friend!
Lifeguard Thoughts
Being a lifeguard is an extreme responsibility and there are not many other jobs out there that come with such great loads of accountability. Lifeguards are there to save lives, well in my case to do everything I can to prevent an episode in which I have to save a life. I became a lifeguard in the summer of 2010, the day I turned 15 (the minimum age to pass the test). Ever since then I have partaken in watching over hundreds of swimmers every week.
When I passed my lifeguarding test, consisting of written exams and scenarios, I felt very accomplished. It takes a large amount of specific training in order to become certified. It takes a minimum of three, twelve hour days of learning and incorporating our skills in the pool. There aren't many positions that a 15-year-old can become certified to do and I achieved one of the few.
On a less serious note there are many things about lifeguarding that the common everyday person (one that is not a lifeguard) wouldn't know anything about. There are other things that are probably quite obvious. One of them being the boredom factor. Yes! Us lifeguards are some of the most bored people around! You can only walk around the pool, check chemicals, count heads, and put away kickboards so many times.
Yes! We probably space off much more than we should. Like I said before being a lifeguard takes a lot of responsibility and we take it very seriously. At times it is nearly impossible to stop the oncoming yawn. You should try sitting in a chair, in a very hot room, doing nothing but watching a few people play in the water, it makes you very sleepy!
I never would have thought I could think up so many stories or analyze something in my mind so much until I became a lifeguard. With endless shifts of just sitting and watching you can basically think up anything you can possibly imagine. Don't even ask about what goes through my mind, its the most random of things.
Here are few other things you may not know about the person carrying a silly looking tube and wearing red:
--Yes! We are probably checking the clock every 5 minutes counting down the minutes until our shift is over.
--Yes! We are probably trying to listen to your conversations, it gives us something to do! (Im pretty much kidding with this one).
--Yes! We probably want you to leave. As soon as everyone leaves we can sit in the comfy chair in the air conditioned office!
--Yes! We probably would love it if you struck up a conversation with us if it looks like we are crazy bored.
That pretty much wraps up my lifeguard thoughts!
When I passed my lifeguarding test, consisting of written exams and scenarios, I felt very accomplished. It takes a large amount of specific training in order to become certified. It takes a minimum of three, twelve hour days of learning and incorporating our skills in the pool. There aren't many positions that a 15-year-old can become certified to do and I achieved one of the few.
On a less serious note there are many things about lifeguarding that the common everyday person (one that is not a lifeguard) wouldn't know anything about. There are other things that are probably quite obvious. One of them being the boredom factor. Yes! Us lifeguards are some of the most bored people around! You can only walk around the pool, check chemicals, count heads, and put away kickboards so many times.
Yes! We probably space off much more than we should. Like I said before being a lifeguard takes a lot of responsibility and we take it very seriously. At times it is nearly impossible to stop the oncoming yawn. You should try sitting in a chair, in a very hot room, doing nothing but watching a few people play in the water, it makes you very sleepy!
I never would have thought I could think up so many stories or analyze something in my mind so much until I became a lifeguard. With endless shifts of just sitting and watching you can basically think up anything you can possibly imagine. Don't even ask about what goes through my mind, its the most random of things.
Here are few other things you may not know about the person carrying a silly looking tube and wearing red:
--Yes! We are probably checking the clock every 5 minutes counting down the minutes until our shift is over.
--Yes! We are probably trying to listen to your conversations, it gives us something to do! (Im pretty much kidding with this one).
--Yes! We probably want you to leave. As soon as everyone leaves we can sit in the comfy chair in the air conditioned office!
--Yes! We probably would love it if you struck up a conversation with us if it looks like we are crazy bored.
That pretty much wraps up my lifeguard thoughts!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Being the Oldest Child
There are many good and bad things to being the oldest child. Some people think it would be neat to be the oldest while others like being the middle or youngest child. Now you can look at the pros and cons of being the oldest child.
One advantage of being oldest is the chance to do things first. Some of the events are becoming a teenager, going to high school, driving and leaving the house all before a younger sibling(s). Another positive idea to being the oldest child is the ability to do more things and have more opportunities. An older sibling can leave the house more, do more activities at school, and there might be the chance of being invited or going to more parties or events. Another plus is sometimes younger siblings look up to older siblings. This might not sound good but it is exciting when it happens. It feels good to be able to help someone, who asks for help. The last advantage is that one’s parents sometimes trust an older sibling more than they would their youngest child.
While being the oldest has many advantages it also has plenty of disadvantages as well. A big negative of being the oldest child is getting in trouble more often. Parents expect more out of an older child so they notice more when they do something incorrectly quicker than they would a younger sibling. Another downside to being the oldest is that there is a greater chance you will be stuck babysitting. This is because it is an easy way for the parents to get a sitter and they (parents) don’t have to pay their own child. Another disadvantage of being the oldest is that many people pay more attention to the younger kids of the family, because they might be cuter or funnier. The last con of being the oldest child is parents expect the older sibling to be more responsible. That is another reason why the older sibling gets in trouble more often. Parents know you’re older so they think you should have better behavior, which is hard sometimes.
Now as one can see, it is hard to decide if being older is good or bad. There are many things to know before you make your decision.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
What's In a School Lunch?
As soon as the bell rings hundreds of students all rush to the same place. Where is that place? The cafeteria. The cafeteria is a place to catch up with friends, quickly finish up last night's homework, but most importantly it is a place to relieve your hunger and eat some lunch.
Sometimes I wonder if whatever is being served in the cafeteria should really constitute as a meal. Even though breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, lunch is what gets students through the rest of the school day and through the afternoon. Typically I do not think that the school provides a sufficient healthy meal for students.
There are many instances in which I go to the cafeteria for lunch absolutely starving and there is not much of anything that would truly fill me up. Being an athlete I burn a lot of calories and like to watch what I eat. One Subway sandwich and a carton of milk is not going to get me through afternoon practice. Buy something extra you say? In my opinion you shouldn't have to pay extra just to fill yourself up. We are very fortunate at Kennedy that we have so many lunch options. Most of these options though aren't a full meal.
I'm not going to lie every now and then a slice of pizza, cheeseburger, or chicken sandwich sounds good and I'm willing to pay extra for it. But most of the time there aren't many side options such as fruit or vegetables with these choices. So then we get back to the situation in which one slice of pizza isn't going to fill me up.
I've gotten to the point in which almost everyday I just head straight to the main line. Why you might ask? This is nearly the only line in which I can almost be guaranteed a vegetable and a fruit. I believe that teenagers can't get enough of their fruits and vegetables and they should be more readily available. When I am able to eat a fruit and vegetable I actually feel like I am eating a real meal.
So what's in a school lunch anymore? I don't even know if I can answer that question. Just today the main dish was nachos, is that considered a meal now? Not in my opinion. Or what about the popular Italian Dunkers, cheese bread dipped in marinara sauce, how is that considered a meal? I just wish that something could be done and there could be more healthy and complete meals available at school for lunch.
Sometimes I wonder if whatever is being served in the cafeteria should really constitute as a meal. Even though breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, lunch is what gets students through the rest of the school day and through the afternoon. Typically I do not think that the school provides a sufficient healthy meal for students.
There are many instances in which I go to the cafeteria for lunch absolutely starving and there is not much of anything that would truly fill me up. Being an athlete I burn a lot of calories and like to watch what I eat. One Subway sandwich and a carton of milk is not going to get me through afternoon practice. Buy something extra you say? In my opinion you shouldn't have to pay extra just to fill yourself up. We are very fortunate at Kennedy that we have so many lunch options. Most of these options though aren't a full meal.
I'm not going to lie every now and then a slice of pizza, cheeseburger, or chicken sandwich sounds good and I'm willing to pay extra for it. But most of the time there aren't many side options such as fruit or vegetables with these choices. So then we get back to the situation in which one slice of pizza isn't going to fill me up.
I've gotten to the point in which almost everyday I just head straight to the main line. Why you might ask? This is nearly the only line in which I can almost be guaranteed a vegetable and a fruit. I believe that teenagers can't get enough of their fruits and vegetables and they should be more readily available. When I am able to eat a fruit and vegetable I actually feel like I am eating a real meal.
So what's in a school lunch anymore? I don't even know if I can answer that question. Just today the main dish was nachos, is that considered a meal now? Not in my opinion. Or what about the popular Italian Dunkers, cheese bread dipped in marinara sauce, how is that considered a meal? I just wish that something could be done and there could be more healthy and complete meals available at school for lunch.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Swimming: 2012 Olympic Preview
For many athletes watching their sport on television is no big deal. Okay so you watched football or baseball on television last night? Big deal. Tell me the last time you saw swimming on TV! It happens about once every four years during the Olympics which is why the 2012 Olympics are highly anticipated by swimmers. Its exciting and a lot of fun to be able to watch the best of the best compete at your sport. I highly recommend tuning into the London Games come July there is so much to watch! So here I am going to highlight a few main competitors who will most definitely be making a splash in the pool....
--Michael Phelps: I might as well get started with the name everyone knows. Last Olympics Phelps won a record of eight gold medals which caught the world's attention. This year might not be so exciting, Phelps is not going to be quite ambitious for his last Olympics, as he is just focusing on a few main events. Most definitely the butterfly, sprint IM, and mid distance freestyle.
--Ryan Lochte: My predictions are that Lochte is going to be one of the top few starts of the 2012 Games. He has shown multiple times throughout the offseason that he is swimming faster than ever and is ready to take on his good friend and teammate Michael Phelps. Lochte will be specializing in the IM, backstroke, and freestyle.
--Nathan Adrian: Right at the prime of his career Adrian will no doubt dominate the sprint freestyle events while representing the USA. Adrian who wasn't a major part of the Beijing team will contribute a great deal to the 2012 squad. Make sure to check out the 50 and 100 meter freestyle races for a chance to watch Adrian do some damage!
--Dara Torres: For anyone who followed the 2008 Olympics you probably have heard of this wonder woman. Torres will be in her mid-forties come the summer of 2012. She is aiming to make the Olympic team in the sprint 50 meter freestyle. She will be competing against girls half her age! Definitely someone to cheer for.
--Janet Evans: Evans is also another comeback queen. Evans made her mark in the swimming world in the 90s primarily and is shooting for a shot on this year's Olympic time. Evans, like Torres is now a mother on top of training for the Olympics. Watch for Evans in the distance freestyle events such as the 400, 800, or 1500 meter freestyles.
--Rebecca Soni: I would consider Soni to be one of my favorite of the American swimmers. Soni is a one stroke wonder-queen of the breaststroke! She will be looking to sweep both of the breaststroke events (100 and 200) along with being part of the American women's medley relay while swimming the breaststroke leg.
--Natalie Coughlin: Coughlin is a very experienced swimmer at the highest level, as this will be her third Olympics. Known for her backstroke, she is definitely one to keep an eye on. Coughlin will most likely be part of the medley relay and 100 backstroke. There is a possibility of her competing in the sprint IM or sprint freestyle relays as well!
Well that wraps it up folks! This covers just a few of the many American swimming stars who will be competing in London this summer!
--Michael Phelps: I might as well get started with the name everyone knows. Last Olympics Phelps won a record of eight gold medals which caught the world's attention. This year might not be so exciting, Phelps is not going to be quite ambitious for his last Olympics, as he is just focusing on a few main events. Most definitely the butterfly, sprint IM, and mid distance freestyle.
--Ryan Lochte: My predictions are that Lochte is going to be one of the top few starts of the 2012 Games. He has shown multiple times throughout the offseason that he is swimming faster than ever and is ready to take on his good friend and teammate Michael Phelps. Lochte will be specializing in the IM, backstroke, and freestyle.
--Nathan Adrian: Right at the prime of his career Adrian will no doubt dominate the sprint freestyle events while representing the USA. Adrian who wasn't a major part of the Beijing team will contribute a great deal to the 2012 squad. Make sure to check out the 50 and 100 meter freestyle races for a chance to watch Adrian do some damage!
--Dara Torres: For anyone who followed the 2008 Olympics you probably have heard of this wonder woman. Torres will be in her mid-forties come the summer of 2012. She is aiming to make the Olympic team in the sprint 50 meter freestyle. She will be competing against girls half her age! Definitely someone to cheer for.
--Janet Evans: Evans is also another comeback queen. Evans made her mark in the swimming world in the 90s primarily and is shooting for a shot on this year's Olympic time. Evans, like Torres is now a mother on top of training for the Olympics. Watch for Evans in the distance freestyle events such as the 400, 800, or 1500 meter freestyles.
--Rebecca Soni: I would consider Soni to be one of my favorite of the American swimmers. Soni is a one stroke wonder-queen of the breaststroke! She will be looking to sweep both of the breaststroke events (100 and 200) along with being part of the American women's medley relay while swimming the breaststroke leg.
--Natalie Coughlin: Coughlin is a very experienced swimmer at the highest level, as this will be her third Olympics. Known for her backstroke, she is definitely one to keep an eye on. Coughlin will most likely be part of the medley relay and 100 backstroke. There is a possibility of her competing in the sprint IM or sprint freestyle relays as well!
Well that wraps it up folks! This covers just a few of the many American swimming stars who will be competing in London this summer!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
A Time to Cherish
The end of May. The end of the school year. At the end of May and at the end of the school year comes a time to cherish. This time is called graduation. Graduation is a time to be excited, a time to be proud, a time to be sad, and a time to reflect.
As a junior I have a few thoughts and words of advice that I would give the seniors who are graduating in only two days. Enjoy your time! As much as you are probably anxious to get the heck out of school and out of town I think it is important to enjoy every last minute of it. Most seniors will probably complain about how long the graduation ceremony is or how they don't want to go to rehearsal. This could very well be the last time you see some of your classmates and teachers! My advice is to slow down and take it all in.
Don't regret anything! What's done is done and there is nothing you can do about it. Don't let a mistake from high school interfere with anything in your future. Also don't regret anything you didn't do! The summer after your senior year is the time to be impulsive, be a kid, have the time of your life!
Remember to say your thank-yous! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't take the initiative to say thank-you. Seniors you have so many people to thank, teachers, parents, friends, grandparents, pastors, coaches, basically anyone who has helped you get to this point of your life. Don't get caught up in all of the celebration without thanking the people around you.
Lastly, come back and visit!! All of us underclassmen want to hear from you and learn what the college experience is like. Basically don't forget your friends back at home and where you came from. I bet college is super exciting but its important to keep close ties with family and friends at home.
As a junior in high school I obviously look at graduation very differently than a senior would. I am the one going to graduation parties rather than throwing them. I am sending cards rather than opening them. I get to go to school a whole week longer. I look forward to a year from now when my role changes. As much as I want to walk across that stage I definitely want to take in and enjoy every moment of my senior year!
As a junior I have a few thoughts and words of advice that I would give the seniors who are graduating in only two days. Enjoy your time! As much as you are probably anxious to get the heck out of school and out of town I think it is important to enjoy every last minute of it. Most seniors will probably complain about how long the graduation ceremony is or how they don't want to go to rehearsal. This could very well be the last time you see some of your classmates and teachers! My advice is to slow down and take it all in.
Don't regret anything! What's done is done and there is nothing you can do about it. Don't let a mistake from high school interfere with anything in your future. Also don't regret anything you didn't do! The summer after your senior year is the time to be impulsive, be a kid, have the time of your life!
Remember to say your thank-yous! One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don't take the initiative to say thank-you. Seniors you have so many people to thank, teachers, parents, friends, grandparents, pastors, coaches, basically anyone who has helped you get to this point of your life. Don't get caught up in all of the celebration without thanking the people around you.
Lastly, come back and visit!! All of us underclassmen want to hear from you and learn what the college experience is like. Basically don't forget your friends back at home and where you came from. I bet college is super exciting but its important to keep close ties with family and friends at home.
As a junior in high school I obviously look at graduation very differently than a senior would. I am the one going to graduation parties rather than throwing them. I am sending cards rather than opening them. I get to go to school a whole week longer. I look forward to a year from now when my role changes. As much as I want to walk across that stage I definitely want to take in and enjoy every moment of my senior year!
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