My classes

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

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.

stack old suitcases“/ CC0 1.0

APES

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

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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The future

In the past few weeks, I’ve had an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. I haven’t fully come to terms with the fact that I will be going to college and changing my entire life in less than a year. Everything I’ve grown up with and experienced my entire life is about to be turned around. I feel nostalgic towards the past three years here. All of my funny memories with my best friends. Having sleepovers every night, laughing until we cry. While I feel so sad about having to leave all that, there is nothing I’m more excited about than moving on with my life. I feel like I’ve gotten to a point where I am ready to figure out my future career and a new life. I can’t wait to move away and get away from stupid, immature, petty high school drama. There is nothing more draining than dealing with some stupid drama every few weeks. I hope that in college, that stops happening because it’s actually so unbearable. I am excited for the future, but I will miss everything I will leave behind. 

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Spuddy

Yesterday, the OVS Cross Country League Championship took place at Soule Park, where I was honored to wear the school mascot, Spuddy. Wearing Spuddy is not easy, especially on a hot sunny day.

My only goal was to encourage the runners and stay out of trouble. The task was magically given to me after receiving 12 laps, which adds up quick if you don’t go to breakfast check-in.

Wearing Spuddy is a serious job. Giving high fives to all the runners was their most significant encouragement and was the only reason they pushed themselves further. Parents screaming their kids’ names couldn’t compete with the embracing slap of a potato’s hand.

Spuddy became an iconic figure for the team. My motive was to encourage all runners, but I may have come across in the wrong way to some. One girl, confused, looked at Spuddy and ran faster when he offered his encouragement.

After the race, I had the vital duty of handing out the medals to the top finishers. Some people didn’t like my costume, but the positivity outshone the disapproval.

Even though I wore the costume due to a mountain of laps, I played my part professionally and was even told by former Spuddy, Mr. Williams, that I did a great job.

Amazon.com: Disguise Potato Head Costume, Official Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head  Costume with Detachable Features, Adult Size (Teen 14-16) : Clothing, Shoes  & Jewelry

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Motivation

Lately, I feel like I have been losing motivation for almost everything. Even just getting up out of my bed and getting a glass of water. I don’t know if it’s because winter is creeping up, or if it’s because I work myself out of energy. But I think about when I was little and how much more energy I had. Clearly, kids have a lot of energy, but it feels different now that I’m older. I miss being a kid so much, but growing up has just been dreadful lately. I remember when school used to be fun. It would just be a place where I would see my friends. But now the only thing that motivates me to get out of bed in the morning is if I have a free block that day. I usually don’t, but sometimes I wait until the last minute to do my homework or anything else I need to do before bed. I’ll be lying down on my phone, and when the clock hits 9, I say 5 more minutes. Next thing I know, it’s 11. Hopefully, I will get my motivation to do things back soon.

November 1st

I don’t think I’ve written more in my life than in the past few weeks. I had eight college deadlines on November 1st, and I decided to complete my work at the last minute. I just submitted half of my college applications, and I’m honestly done. I feel like the amount of work students do building up to applying to college is enough. Going through a tedious process of reviewing everything I’ve done with my life over the past eighteen years, with a word limit, feels impossible. I’m trying to manifest that I will get into lots of colleges, but I’m also not delusional. I missed one of the best weekends of the year, sick and doing college work, and I just hope that I get good karma from this. On top of all of this college work, I keep forgetting that I actually have school work, but that seems more like a tomorrow problem.

Working Typing” by Bench Accounting/ CC0 1.0

Sharing Snacks

Woke up this Wednesday and I had an orthodontist appointment, I knew today we had no sports, so why not treat myself and prepare a lunch with some snacks for myself. So I grabbed my retainer case and headed to pack my lunch. I first grabbed two bars because I know my friend Jay will want one, so I grabbed one for him. I opened to fridge for a wild surprise of a premade sandwich that I instantly put into my Trader Joe’s lunchbox. (Shoutout Ms. Ruby u da goat fr) I also grabbed my Burt’s Bees chapstick for my chapped lips. (Shoutout Ms. Ruby u da goat for getting me da chapstick 2 fr) Then, finally, I got a big ziplock bag and jammed it full of red grapes, cold, crunchy, tasty red grapes. Delicious.

I then finally got to school, and when my friends Nola, Savannah, Bennett, and Leia saw my lunchbox, they grew brimful with curiosity about the contents encapsulated in my lunch pail. I opened and their jaws dropped at the sight of a bag overflowing with red grapes, cold, crunchy, tasty red grapes. Delicious. So I shared some of them, and I shared my Chapstick with Nola.

My shorts are untied, and my shirt kind of has a collar but also doesn’t, it’s weird. I’m also wearing white socks and some fuzzy slides. I’m sitting next to Bennett, too. Eat some grapes if you read this.

Hammer out.

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Vacation or School?

This week I’m writing from Mexico. The crystal blue ocean, the coarse seashell-filled sand, and the clear scorching skies surround me. I’m missing a few days of school to take this vacation, which has really got me thinking. As I splashed in the waves and sipped down cold, icy drinks, I had a realization. Right now, I could be sitting in class, sipping on stale water from the cafeteria, writing an essay about a book I’ll forget I even read in about a year. Sadness drapes over me like the heat of the sun when I think about the stress I’ll soon have to return to. I don’t want to go back to the boring, cold, and monotonous life that school induces. I sit here in Mexico, doing the same schoolwork I would be doing in class, but instead I’m outside, enjoying myself. I envy homeschooled kids who can do this all year round. Travel, be outside, be free, but still learning. Many kids claim that being homeschooled isn’t ideal because it’s difficult to make friends, but I think I’d be fine if I joined a few clubs or sports. Anyways, I’m not homeschooled nor will I be. For now, I’ll just be content knowing I’m not sitting in class and I have freedom for a few more days. When I’m back at school and sucked back into the dreaded lifestyle of a high school senior, just know, I’ll be wishing I was back in Mexico.

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