Welcome to 2009 everybody! This is the last year I will be in high school and the first year I’ll be going to college. Seniors only have a semester of school left!

I was lucky to have a two-week break, but going back to school was difficult. During the holiday, I got used to waking up at noon and going to bed late. I spent some of the break finishing essays for college application supplements, but for the most part, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends and family. The holiday season was peaceful and carefree, as it should be. My sister has been home for a while now. I love having her around the house. It’s weird to think that she’s graduating from college this year.

We’ve had a lot of snow recently. In fact, our last day of school before winter break was a snow-day. I was actually disappointed we had no school because the last day before breaks is always fun. Teachers plan parties in their classes and students bring candy canes and presents for their friends. I got into the holiday spirit by watching movies, baking cookies, and helping decorate the house. My mom had a holiday party for her co-workers at our house and it was fun. We had a magician who performed awesome card tricks and optical illusions. He even bent a fork! For New Year’s Eve, we had a dinner with family friends who are practically like family, which is nice because our family is pretty far away. For many years we haven’t traveled to visit our family in Massachusetts or New York City, so spending holidays at home with friends is a long-standing tradition.

Believe it or not, I’m still not completely done with college applications. While I was happy that a few schools had later deadlines (such as January 15th), I now have to finish those applications. I am extremely thankful for the Common Application, because it made applying to schools easier. During the next few weeks, I have quite a few interviews with local alumni. My best advice from previous interviews is to try to relax, be yourself, and talk about the interests and activities that matter most to you.

I recently found a new TV show to watch: “Superstars of Dance.” It is an international dance competition hosted by Michael Flatley, the most famous Irish step dancer in the world. I really enjoy seeing the different styles of dancing from each country. The Irish dancing in the show is like the theater musical “Riverdance.” Of course, because of my background and experience in dancing, I really favor Ireland and obviously the United States. It’s fascinating to see the solos, duets, and group dances from eight different countries. Because of this show, I want to learn how to tango!

With the New Year, there are new things to look forward to. My mock trial team is really developing and working together well. Our first competition is about a month away. I think the last semester of high school will be full of memories. The time will be bittersweet, because soon people will start verbalizing “this is the last time we’re…” Until next time, best of luck to everyone on mid-terms.