Drivers License

I’ve been waiting to get my license since before I can even remember. As soon as I turned 15 and a half, I immediately got my permit. When I failed the first time, it was really discouraging. But a week later, I retook the test and passed. As soon as I got my permit, I wanted to drive right away. I wasn’t aware that you were supposed to have lessons first to legally be able to drive. As soon as I got my lessons I begged my mom to drive everywhere.

My permit had been stolen from my mom’s car, and I had to do driver’s ed twice. So it hasn’t been the most positive journey, but I have gotten through all of the tough parts. The part that I am most stressed about is taking my actual license test and failing. Though more than half of people fail their first time I’m eager to drive and be on my own. I don’t know what it is about driving that I love so much, I just love doing it. The feeling of being free and being able to drive yourself to and from school feels so nice.

As soon as I get my license, I’m never going to stop driving. At least until I get sick of it, but I know that won’t happen for a while. I just believe that whatever happens is meant to happen and I’m grateful for that. I just want to be able to go see my friends and go places without worrying about rides. Ever since I was little, I have always been friends with older people. But my freshmen year is when I got friends who could drive. Which influenced me way more. Luckily my birthday is in 3 days so the time is coming closer. I couldn’t be more nervous or excited.

Drive Car” by Humphrey Muleba/ CC0 1.0

Studying

I’ve learned this year that actually taking time to study has helped my grades a lot. Usually I’ll go over my notes and pray for the best, but I regret it the morning of the test when I don’t know most of the answers. Last night I scanned the internet trying to figure out the best way to study so that I can actually retain the information in my brain up until I take the test. One thing that I found very helpful which made me confident on taking my test was writing flash cards with key terms and definitions on the back. I think that tactic worked the best for me because I was writing down what I needed to know and also quickly studying it over and over again. When I took my test I was more confident in my answers than I usually am and if I was unsure about an answer it’s because I didn’t even think of going back and studying the topic. The worst thing I can do when I’m studying is study in a group, especially if its my friends because either I cant focus or I’ll procrastinate it until I’m alone. Procrastination is usually what sets me back to being my fullest potential school wise. I’ll put every piece of school work off to the side for later and end up having to stay up late trying to get it done. I think I’m doing myself a favor giving myself less stress when I leave it to do later but instead I’m setting myself up for failure. I wouldn’t mind staying up late to study, but the only reason it doesn’t work for me is because I cannot focus when I’m the slightest bit tired so I end up going to sleep and putting it off even longer. Hopefully I don’t fall off track this year because if I do it’s over for me.

Student School” by Tamarcus Brown/ CC0 1.0

Government Give Me Money

For this week’s blog, I’m complaining yet again. I’m applying to my first five colleges this Thursday!! Very exciting stuff. I’m also applying to the FAFSA and CSS profile; financial aid. I need as much help paying for tuition as possible. Those who seek a higher education through college or university are often praised for their effort. If going to college is so important and everybody is expected to do it, then why is it so expensive? I’ve toured many campuses and been enthralled by their beauty and opportunities. I want so badly to study and gain the knowledge I need to pursue a career I’m passionate about. I know so many people who share this goal with me, but it’s just too expensive. To get the best and most prestigious education, it seems you need to be a millionaire or have invented the cure to cancer; I sadly haven’t done either. Financial aid and scholarships are the holy grail for college students today. With the cost of living rising rapidly, education has gone to the back burner for many Americans. It’s sad because knowledge is the key to freedom, and so many people are denied this right simply because they need to prioritize putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads. Like I previously said, financial aid and scholarships are brilliant, but are they enough? I don’t think so. Education shouldn’t be so expensive. Fundraisers, private donations, campus stores, etc., should fund colleges and universities. Everyone deserves to study at Pepperdine or Oxford, whether or not they have the funds. University is about being smart, innovative, and determined, not economic standing.

pc – google

AP Lit.

Photo Credit: Google

I’m not sure why I chose to take AP Literature and Composition. Yes, I do like English, but not enough to torture myself. Yes, it’s just the beginning of the class, but I’m not meant for the timed writing lifestyle. It gives me too much anxiety and makes it hard to focus on the task and hand. I’m not going to sit here and lie, but I thought I would be doing better. I currently have a grade in the B range, which I’m usually ok with, but recently B’s have been looking awful to me. 
I should have had this mindset in my Junior year. If I had, I would have had higher hopes of getting accepted into better colleges.


I digress. Every time we do timed writing in class, I always end up reading the prompt way too many times, and even then, I might still not fully grasp what’s needed. 

When I get to the writing segment, I often find myself forgetting what I was thinking about and having to go back and read through it.  By the time I’ve gotten started and have set a rhythm, I have like 5 minutes left. Once I hear “you guys have five more minutes,” the rhythm I had disappears into thin air, and I’m trying to type whatever comes to my head, but yet again, my brain has nothing to write.