Sports

LetsGetSendyy6767Leave a comment

Ojai Valley School is known for its prestigious athletics. Our Division 20 varsity winter sports teams are all incredible options for showcasing talent and getting scouted by top colleges. With the options to choose between basketball, soccer, and weightlifting/yoga, my impulse was, of course, to do yoga.

I am by no means a soccer player or basketball player, which led me to make this decision. In the first week, I experienced pure bliss and tranquility lifting weights and listening to my Drake. Life was perfect until the nightmare of mandatory yoga was inflicted upon me.

I reluctantly walked outside without a mat to participate in, quite honestly, the most excruciatingly painful physical experience my body has ever endured. My knees gave out against the firm brick flooring, and I began to cry as holding the cat cow pose reduced my masculinity to zero. I was humiliated. When I couldn’t bear the suffering much longer, I opted to use a bench press as a yoga mat, which proved to be even more difficult as I fell and was made fun of by at least 50 girls.

At that point, I knew this sport was too difficult for me. I simply could not compete and decided to give up. As of now, I am on the soccer team, which I feel will benefit my future and help me get scouted by a Division 1 college team.

Hatha, Ashtanga : Which type of yoga is right for you? -

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Break

riceandsoysauce4Leave a comment

As Thanksgiving break rolls around, I can barely contain my excitement. Not only do I get a break from school, but I’ll also be able to see my family and friends. It has been over three months since I’ve seen my friends, which, for me, is way too long. I’ll finally get to eat soooo much food, which really brings the whole trip together. Stuffing is my favorite, along with mashed potatoes and turkey, but when everything is piled onto one big plate, it becomes pure deliciousness. I usually won’t eat breakfast or lunch on Thanksgiving Day to build the suspense, making it all that much better. I’m also excited because once we get back from Thanksgiving break, it will be so close to winter break, which is something I’m really looking forward to. I’m going to a resort in the mountains of Canada that can only be accessed by helicopter. We’ll get to snowboard, snowmobile, and play in the backcountry snow. It’s all very exciting.

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My classes

unicorn123Leave a comment

My classes have been intensely harder this year than years in past. My schedule is set up so on my day ones I have every single hard class. I have Government, Business Math, AP environmental science and Journalism. On my day twos I have an easy day, english, art and two free periods. This schedule feels like a blessing and a curse. Every other day all I do is relax and occasionally don’t even have to arrive at school until 11. But on my day ones I struggle. Every class is rough and I have too many tests. I dont understand enviromental science, it is the most confusing class ever, the way things are worded makes it harder to understand. The tests are even worse. They are online which for some reason makes it much harder. Government is also extremely confusing. I dont understand the class at all and I get yelled at for where I sit. I am so exhausted from this. My grades are not even that bad, but it feels like im actually hanging on by such a thin thread. But it’s okay I just need to get through the next few months and things will get easier because I will get college letters back and know what im doing with my future.

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Life after high school

candystealer76Leave a comment

I’m not sure what my plan is when I graduate from high school. The only thing I’m sure I’m doing is leaving Ojai. I don’t want to leave California, but I just want to go somewhere not too far. Santa Barbara or Los Angeles would be my top choices for choosing a college and a place to live. I could still visit Ojai, but I wouldn’t have to live here. I feel like I would have a lot more freedom if I left this town, and I would get to know more people. I know college for me isn’t soon, but it’s something that’s always on my mind. I can’t wait to be independent and on my own for most of my time. The thought of moving away from my family and friends here scares me a little, but it’s something almost everyone does, and I know I’ll get used to it at some point. My biggest fear is that I won’t end up liking the college that I’ve decided on and have to stick it out for however long I go for. Leaving a place that I’m so familiar with is a scary thought because it means I will have to familiarize myself with another area all over again. I can’t comprehend the fact that a big part of my future depends on what I choose to do in high school. I have to remind myself that I’m not the only one making a decision that decides my future, because everyone else is figuring out what they want to do just like me.

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Sleep

myfatcats2Leave a comment

I love sleep, but no matter how much I get of it, I’m always tired at school. That may just be a me problem, but I don’t know. The feeling of being tired is so good yet so bad at the same time. When I’m about to go to sleep, being tired is the best thing, but when I’m tired and I can’t sleep, it’s the worst. Aside from actually sleeping, nighttime is the best time of day. When you look up at the sky, the stars radiate throughout the whole night. Every star is unique in its own way, also the constellations are beautiful. The fact they we are just on a floating rock in the middle of nowhere is so crazy to me. Anyway, back to the original point, sleep is amazing. Everything about and surrounding it is amazing. Sleep rejuvenates my body, most of the time, except for when classes are boring. But sleep is great, it’s necessary for everyone, and is the best feeling ever. I love love LOVE sleep.

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I’m Bored

zombiegxrlLeave a comment

I’m sitting in journalism class right now. It’s the first period. I woke up exactly an hour ago. Currently, it’s 8:25 in the morning. I keep getting caught up in a daydream about sleeping in. I usually have a very easy time coming up with a topic for my weekly blog, but something is different today. I can’t focus on anything. I rake my brain but it keeps coming up empty. I assume that this is just senioritis infecting me.

I wish I had gotten more sleep last night. I remember telling myself that staying up an extra hour would be fine. Sadly, this ignorant decision has come back to bite me. I can’t believe it’s only 8:30 a.m. and I get out at 5:00 p.m. I cannot comprehend that I’m not going home for eight hours and thirty minutes. These school days are torturously long.

For the last two hours of the day, I’ll be playing soccer down on the field. Honestly, I enjoy sports. I enjoy how being active makes me feel. I would enjoy sports a lot more if they were earlier in the day. Although I do enjoy that sports occur in the cool of the setting sun, I would much rather have practice start and end an hour earlier. I only say that because I want to go home earlier to have more personal time. It’s exhausting to be surrounded by people all day. I barely have any time to reset after school.

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APES

Soccer11Leave a comment

APES or AP Environmental Science is my hardest class. I think it’s exciting, but I don’t do good on the quizzes or the tests. Right now we a learning about the atmosphere, and I’m also very confused about what is going on in that class. We do a lot of labs, and usually I get a good grade, but my grade overall in the class is not very good. I’m trying to improve my grade by retaking quizzes, but I’m unsure if I’ll actually be able to raise my grade by doing so. Even if I retake my quiz, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to fix it. I also think the way that I do my homework is also a problem because I read what we are assigned and I answer the questions, but I’m still confused, and I think I need to take more notes.

This may contain: the layers of earth's atmosphere with all its major planets and their names in english

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Early Action

riceandsoysauce4Leave a comment

After many nights of overwhelming stress and anxiety-filled days, I finally submitted my early action applications. November 1st haunted my thoughts, creeping up on me silently. I never felt ready to submit—always worrying that something was wrong and reading over my PDF hundreds of times. When I finally pressed the celebrate button, I watched the colorful confetti burst across my screen and felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Still, a hint of regret lingered as I reread my application, convincing myself that something I submitted must have been a mistake. I tend to overthink everything, but I’m learning that it’s out of my control now and that whatever happens is meant to be. On my whiteboard, I wrote in big, bold letters: “Rejection is redirection.” It’s a constant reminder to stay calm. I know the future holds a place for me—somewhere I’m meant to be—but it’s still hard not to wonder what those decisions will bring.

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My favorite Foods

riceandsoysauce4Leave a comment

Food makes me so happy, and I love trying new things, but these are my all-time favorites. Ahi sashimi, lilikoi, bread, acai bowls, pasta, mango, tacos, pho, cucumber salad, caprese salad, goat cheese, tomato soup with grilled cheese, and avocado toast. Some of them remind me of home, and others just make me feel good no matter what mood I’m in. I could honestly eat pasta or mango every single day and never get tired of them.

My favorite drinks are matcha, ginger lemonade, chai, yerba mate, smoothies, London fog, coffee, Mexican coke, and chamomile tea. I drink matcha when I need energy, chamomile when I want to relax, and smoothies when it’s hot outside. A London fog is my go-to on cold mornings, and nothing beats an ice-cold Mexican coke after a long day. I love how food and drinks can hold memories and comfort, reminding me of little moments from my past. 

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Communication and the Lack Thereof

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As obvious and redundant as it may sound, communication is such a significant aspect of social interaction. It serves as the bridge that allows for bonding, understanding, and mutual growth among people. And yet, it feels as though communication is often not applied for these purposes.

More often than not, I sense negativity from those around me through complaints or protests. I admit, I understand it is much easier to complain; it can be fun or relieving to express distaste in the moment, especially if it is something that is weighing you down. However, while I don’t believe it is inherently wrong to complain, it feels as though people spend so much more of their time talking about the things they hate rather than the things they love. Furthermore, it can be difficult to express your passions or love when the voices around you constantly reinforce that the things you love should be hated.

Conversely, there are those who don’t communicate enough, assuming that others will understand their motivations or thought processes without the use of a straightforward explanation. But not everyone is alike and able to come to the same conclusion. Resultingly, lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings, assumptions, and unintended conflict that could’ve been avoided with direct conveying of information.

East Texas Assessment | 7 Essential Social Skills

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