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.”

School activities are also beginning to crank into full motion. Last week was one I’ll never forget. It was filled with exciting news and events. We had our first pep rally this past Friday. It’s always neat to see everyone crowd into the gym and hear the band and feel the excitement . . . not to mention miss a little bit of class! Our first National Honor Society meeting was last week and there are several upcoming events. Class officers were elected and I was chosen Senior Class Vice-President. I’m not quite sure what all that entails, but I look forward to the opportunity. Another neat thing I learned was that I was one of the four finalists for Homecoming King. (Yes, there is also a queen . . . but every queen needs a king, right?)
Football continues to be the highlight of each week, however. We are now 5-0, and ranked around number 13 in the state (depending on which poll). This week is our bye week though, and we are getting the afternoons off of practice. While I’ll miss the game on Friday, it’s a nice change of pace to allow me to rest and stay caught up on all my other responsibilities. I might even be able to go support some of my friends from church at their game in town.

A few days ago, I pursued the idea of getting a small job a local Baskin-Robbins with a few of my friends, just to make a little extra money. I filled out the application and began to plan my weeks. But after talking to my parents, we decided it would be best if I wait until a more opportune time. I already have limited free time with all my extracurricular involvement and added job hours would only complicate things further.
Our school’s daily morning newscast includes registration deadlines for college admissions tests. Several of my classmates have asked a few questions about my opinion of them. (I sarcastically reminded them I write this blog twice a month for that very reason!) But I gave my thoughts about the ACT and they seemed pleased. Mostly they asked about how to prepare, or the difficulty level. I encouraged them to keep asking around and obtaining as many tips that they could to maximize their confidence. Another thing students should do is set a certain score as a goal. If you are interested in a certain university or college, research their required scores and aim to hit that or even higher to gain scholarships.

Well the second six weeks is beginning as the Thanksgiving break looms in the distance. I hope all of you have each adjusted well to the new school year and are looking forward to the rest of it. For all of you graduating in the Class of 2009, all I can say is, “Eight more months!” May you be blessed this week.

P.S.
I’d also like to remember a girl who is in my class at school, Felysha Villa. She passed away on Friday, Sept. 26. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.