Back to School

Today was the first day of school and it was mostly unfamiliar.  I guess it's that transition of being a ninth grader to a tenth that feels so different to me.  People so far haven't really changed, my homeroom is still as annoying as I remembered it last year.  I have two classes in which it's all juniors and seniors which makes me feel pretty alone to be honest.  Today just wasn't that fantastic but tomorrow is when we start getting introduced to class so that's always good.  My goals this year is to work hard and try to make more friends. Honestly it's hard when everyone seems to know each other and you only know like four people.  BUT after watching that film I really need to start getting out there so hopefully they will announce clubs soon.  So yeah my only goal this year is to work as hard as my body can handle and we'll see how that goes!  I'm pretty excited with the rigorous courses this year but that excitement will most likely end in the next week or so.  I hope everyone enjoys their new school year!

Sentimental Talk

I was watching this short film on Youtube about college admission and it has impacted me.  For most of us who are in high school we are concerned about our future and how much high school will affect it.  We think good grades and involvement in clubs will get us to the highest ranked colleges and we think being well rounded is necessary for admission.  But does it really matter if we have all A's or if we are in 20 different clubs?  After watching this film I have finally found an answer: not really.  In my freshman year of high school I felt stressed and I felt like I wasn't doing enough to get in college.  We are taught that colleges want the best of the best but really colleges want a hard working, passionate person.  I'm totally convinced that adults have been telling us the wrong things these past few years.  But the competitiveness in admission to colleges pressures us to strive for the #1 position.  I hate how all we are worried about are grades when we don't focus on ourselves and what we are passionate about.  But first I'll share you a personal story.  I was a stressed out person in my first year of high school.  I had high expectations of myself and from others.  I had be the best and rise out on top.  Because of these high expectations I stressed out about every small thing.  I stressed out about time, homework, studying, test scores, report cards, and most importantly my behavior.  I had nightmares at night that I didn't finish homework or a teacher is yelling at me or I failed a test... it was horrifying!  I had dreams about my school and it was a recurring theme.  I would freak out if I had a B in a test or on my report card when in all actuality it didn't matter because it's still a good grade!  These expectations stressed me out that I felt angry and frustrated at myself for not doing better.  And whenever someone congratulated me on getting good grades I felt nothing.  I didn't feel accomplished or joyful I felt nothing.  I didn't feel like I worked hard to get that joy that I look for.  I mean it isn't hard to get A's sometimes and that's what made me feel like I wasn't trying my best.  Having good grades and joining a lot of activities won't guarantee you a spot in a good college, it's the passion and drive you have for something that gets you where you want to be and it has taken me years to figure that out.  The passion I want to pursue is psychology and I strongly believe that Yale is the right place for me.  I devoured their website and whenever I enter it I feel excited that one day I could (hopefully) be apart of it.  They even say on their website that they want an essay that tells them who we really are.  I don't want to be known as that kid who always got straight A's, I want to be the kid who was known for his passion to learn psychology.  Finally I understand what I have to do to enjoy my high school years and that is to do things that I enjoy doing.  I'm not going to take rigorous classes solely because colleges want that!  I'm going to take rigorous classes because I want to.  It's the same with clubs, I want to join the Gay and Straight People club because I want the school to be a more friendly atmosphere for the gay community at school.  I want to join tennis because it's a sport I could be good at.  We shouldn't focus on what they want, let's focus on what we want.  It's my high school time and I should be learning and making friends, not staying up at four in the morning studying for an AP class that I don't enjoy.  If you're in high school or you're going to high school I strongly advise you to watch the film, it's truly inspirational and it makes you look at things differently.  Don't take high school for granted, use it as a chance to learn things not to get a couple A's and not learn anything.  I'll rather get a B in a class that I learned a whole bunch rather than get an A and not have worked for it.  Oh my gosh this post is super duper long but I hope you got something out of it.  The film is 28 minutes long so pleeeeease make some time to watch it, you won't regret it.  Stay motivated!

The short film: Congratulations, We Regret to Inform You: the college admissions secret

2012 London Olympics: Conclusion

The London Olympics are closing today and I'm a bit sad that it has to end.  I just recently started watching the Olympics and I can't believe I didn't start watching earlier!  It was an honor to see hundreds of athletes competing with so much talent.  They trained and trained for hours a day to compete with other countries.  All that dedication to their event makes me inspired to work that hard for a goal I want to accomplish.  But what I'm really impressed with are the amount of countries that came together to compete.  For two weeks we are able to set aside our differences.  If only we could act this way outside of the Olympics!  That's probably my second favorite part about this event.  I love seeing all these people with different backgrounds and I don't just mean skin color, race, or ethnicity.  The biggest inspiration overall would come from Oscar Pistorius.  It was awesome that he had the opportunity to run against other able bodied people.  It wasn't just because he was a double amputee but just the reason that he continued to run and train makes me feel warm inside.  It really does make me a bit teary to think I have to wait another four years for the next Olympics.  Not to sound cheesy or overly dramatic but this has been majorly influential and inspirational.  It kinda makes you want to jump up and do something spectacular!  Of course I have more stuff to type but I can't remember as usual.  My mind is still weeping because all this is over for now and that prevents me from thinking clearly!  I hope all of you enjoyed the Olympics as much as I have!!!

Challenging the Mind Turns One and August Updates!!!

Look at that long title!  I can't believe it has already been a year since my first post!  It feels strange to think I started this blog a year ago.  Although I haven't been active in the blogging world as I would like but it's just me being unorganized.  I didn't plan anything special because to be honest I barely noticed that my blog has turned one.  Technically it was last month but let's just pretend it's this month.  Other than the one year birthday it's also the beginning of August!  This will be my last few weeks of summer vacation until I start school on the 16th!  I'm a bit excited and nervous and weary of this upcoming school year.  I'll explain in a later blog that I did last summer.  Other than the start of a new school year there isn't much I can mention in this post.  So this post was once again pretty lame but guess what happened!  Liek omg man i was on dis bike ride and i saw soembody get arested!  No idea why but I was riding my bike with my sister and we were on this trail and two cop cars were heading our way and they stopped this guy we passed.  That's the only thrilling tale I shared all summer!  Okay I'll be gone!