Hello again everyone. I hope all of you had a magnificent Thanksgiving. Mine was filled with spending time with family and relishing the time away from the hassles of life. We enjoyed the traditional turkey, ham, dressing, rolls, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc. Not only is Thanksgiving an excellent time for family bonding, but it’s a time to remember all the blessings we have here in America. It is truly eye-opening when you sit back and look at all the advantages from which we benefit.

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With only a week left of school in 2008, I cannot believe how fast this year is going. While the homework, tests, and papers make each week go by slowly, the months themselves are speeding by. Although I wanted to be finished with college applications by this time, homework and extracurricular activities — as well as procrastination and the need for sleep — have led to a slight delay. For those of you still working on your applications, pay careful attention to all deadlines. Some schools have early deadlines for applicants who want an alumni interview in their hometown. My experience with interviews has been really positive. It’s best to come prepared to talk about your interests and accomplishments and your reasons for applying to that particular school. Try to relax, be yourself, and keep the ‘likes’ and ‘uhms’ to a minimum.

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Well it’s hard to believe that 2008 is hastily drawing to a conclusion.  It seems that just a few short days ago school was cranking into motion.  As I have confessed, I am ready to move on from the comforts of high school into the uncertainties of college and the real world, but there is still much preparation to be done.  Everywhere I turn I have a college talking to me or a project due or a scholarship application to complete.  The days just aren’t long enough.  Sleep tends to occasionally take the backseat to these necessities. (more…)

Since my last blog entry, our country has experienced a great change. Whether you supported Barack Obama or John McCain, there is no denying that this was a momentous occasion. I missed being able to vote myself by a few months, but did accompany my mom, and pulled the lever– very exciting! I hope that President Obama can improve our economy, our domestic problems, and our foreign relations. (more…)

Hello again! We have now reached the one-fourth mark of the school year! YEA!!! Actually, I have mixed feelings about it. It seems as though just last week was the first week, yet SO many things have already taken place. Last entry, I left with many upcoming events, and they were very enjoyable . . .
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I’ve spent a lot of time during the past few weeks working on my Common Application. I made a lot of progress on my personal statement and list of extracurricular activities. I wrote several essays that were required for scholarships. That extra hour of Daylight Savings Time came in handy. I also took the ACT for a second time on October 25.

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Homecoming week is finally here. For the most part, school stays according to schedule with little adjustments. We have had several “crazy” days—twin day, polka-dot day, crazy sock day, and blue and gold day (our school colors). The major festivities, however, come on Friday. In the morning we have a pep rally and our annual “Mini-Float Parade,” and of course the football game in the evening. As I mentioned in the last blog, I am on the Homecoming Court this year. It is an honor to be chosen, but it is inconvenient timing. You see, our winners are announced just prior to the game, so I hope I won’t be distracted.

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These past two weeks have been the busiest yet. Last week, our high school had its Fall Homecoming. Since I was one of the four people in charge of organizing the events, it was stressful. At the beginning of the week, all of Student Council stayed after school to decorate the halls in our Hollywood theme. We put up movie posters, hung hundreds (literally) of stars from the ceiling, and strung lights throughout the hall. We planned “class spirit days” and it was a blast, seeing everybody dress up in 1980s gear, sports jerseys, and Hollywood glamour.

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And the first six weeks are officially in the books.

It was pretty painless for the most part; however, my dual credit classes are making it tough. Over the past couple years, I have worked hard to maintain my No. 7 class rank, but this year is when it really matters. This leaves no time for slacking off. My classes are going well, but I will be honest and say I can already feel traces of “senioritis.”

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Whew! The first month of school has flown by. It has been a challenge to juggle all of my schoolwork, college applications, studying for the ACT and other tests, and student council planning and activities. One helpful stress management strategy has been to make lists of things to do. This week, on the top of my to-do list, is getting teacher recommendations. I plan to provide my teachers with my resume to assist them in writing their letters of recommendation. Another priority for me is to make folders for each college that I’m applying to with all the deadlines and required materials.

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