Halftime Report!

Yikes, it has been far too long since I have last blogged! There has so much going on, and so many things to do that blogging has got put on the back burner, but now that everything has calmed down, I can catch up on my blog! The reality is beginning to set in that my Senior year is essentially halfway over. I have mixed emotions about it. I love high school in the fact that I get to be with my friends every day, and that things are a little more relaxed (to a certain extent), and all of the fun high school things like Spirit Week, and my extracurriculars, but I am also ready for a new challenge. I am ready to go and see what else is out in the world; I am ready to have new challenges; I am ready to leave the realm of high school, with its constant stream of drama and pettiness. The only thing I will truly miss from high school is my friends. I know that eventually, we all have to go our separate ways and make our own way in the world and live separate lives. I know that it is possible to remain good friends with people after high school, but I also know that we can't all spend the rest of our lives constantly around each other, and I'm afraid that after we graduate, I will never see my friends again...perhaps this is irrational, but I'm a worrier, what can I say? :) Because of the fear that I'll get on a soapbox, I'll proceed with my class updates!

Government
I am now done with this class, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed it. I learned quite a bit about our government, and I now feel more informed about other political hot topics. The only disappointment of the class was that I was one of the only people in the class that couldn't legally vote because I'm a minor. However, after having this class, I do believe that I will take full advantage of my right to vote (after I turn 18, of course). Also, an update on my argumentative paper...I got a 97 on it!!! I was thrilled when I saw my grade! I suppose that, after receiving my grade, it was worth the effort I put into it, and my grade was also compensation for all of the grief it caused me.

Early American History
As of 9:35 this morning, I am done with this class!! I didn't mind the class, but toward the end, it caused some stress and sleep deprivation. I hated the fact that our teacher waited until about 1 1/2 weeks ago to give us all of our necessary assignments, because they are all very time and thought-consuming. Not to mention, I had other things going on at high school that impeded my progress to an extent. However, I was also guilty of some poor time management and procrastination. However, I pulled it together and managed to complete everything I needed to finish in adequate time...I may have had to lose some sleep, but it is worth it now that I am done!

Band
Last month, we had our annual concert at the grade school, which went wonderfully. Soon after that, we began work on material for our upcoming Christmas concert. For anyone who is interested, the concert is next Monday (the 20th) at about 6:15-ish in Dillard's Court of Oakwood Mall. The choir sings before the band plays, and it is a wonderful evening full of Christmas music! Last Saturday, I tried out for the All-Area Honor Band, and I am proud to say that I received 5th Chair! The Clinic/Concert is right after I get back from Christmas Break, and I am excited about it. Since I made it, I can now say that I have participated in this honor band every year since my 7th grade year!

Botany
Our plant collecting days are long gone, but we ended the semester with a different project. Mr. Norton decided to make everyone in my class give a Powerpoint Presentation over any Nobel Prize-winning Scientist of our choice. I decided to do my presentation over Stanley B. Prusiner, who is an interesting fellow. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology in 1997 (when I was 4) for his discovery of prions. I found his work to be interesting, compared to many of the other scientists. As for my presentation, I think that I rocked it! I am really getting better at the whole public speaking thing, which is a good thing, considering that I want to go into education. Everyone said that I did a good job on it, and that they could actually comprehend it, so I think that I was successful!

English IV
The biggest thing that has been going on in English was the fact that we had to write research papers. Our research papers had to be over a current hot topic. Although I considered doing a redo of my argumentative paper on the drinking age, I decided to write my paper over the death penalty. I caught a bit of the procrastination bug with this, as well, and consequently paid for it by losing some sleep by working on it. However, I feel that the paper I turned in was complete, and I was pleased with it!

Library Aide
Nothing new here...

Athletics
In the past few weeks, I feel like I have been in boot camp. We began our offseason track practices, that were much more intense than anyone envisioned. There were about three days that I could barely move portions of my body, and felt as if I had aged about 30 years. However, I also think that this year I will be much better for everything. Also, now it is much easier. Every time I feel like I felt a few weeks ago, I consider it to be a gut check, of how much I really want to be in track. Truth be told, after this year, I will never run track EVER again. I hope to keep up on a fitness regimen, but I am not dedicated enough to pursue a collegiate career in that sport, or any sport, for that matter. Right now I feel like it is all-or-nothing, and my biggest goal is to make state again, like I did last year. Thank goodness for Tonisha and Mary, my workout buddies!!!!!

Other "Stuff"
-Last Saturday I took another ACT. I think that I did pretty well on it, but I have to wait a few more weeks before I know anything...here's hoping I got a 36!!! Honestly, I just hope that I did as well as I think I did. I feel bad for everyone else in my room though, because my allergies are in overdrive right now, and I spent the better part of the four hours blowing my nose. I felt bad that I caused such a ruckus, but it was better than suffering for four hours.
-This Friday is basketball homecoming, and I am pretty excited. Not as much as I was for football, but, even so, I am excited to get to see Shea dress up since she is a candidate, and will also be her birthday! Also, tomorrow, Tonisha and I are making Spirit Day T-Shirts that have a surprise theme in honor of our favorite Pioneer Basketball player!!
-Tonight I went to see Wyatt perform in his first Christmas program. He was so cute and jubilant as he sang his three songs! I don't believe that he has stage fright, because I could hear him loud and clear!
-I am very disappointed, because I missed the meteor shower on Monday night that Debra was so kind as to inform me of. I was up until around 12:45 working on my homework, and I considered staying up just a little bit longer to see it, but I require quite a bit of sleep so I can properly function and not be grumpy, so I ended up having to forgo that.
-Friday is my last day of school this semester!!!! I cannot wait for Christmas Break at all; I am in desperate need of some R&R!