My existence has been overshadowed by the chaos that comes with being a senior. Twisting, churning, and evolving into stressful days, and an overbooked agenda. I love it! Running around interviewing people for the newspaper; taking photos of this memorable year for our yearbook; fulfilling my dreams as a Jewelette every single time those half time lights hit me. It’s amazing!
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Fortunately, at the end of each October, my school has a week off called Fall Break. Many juniors and seniors take advantage of this unique time off from school to go visit colleges, as I did. There is no better way to get a taste of what a school is like than to go visit it yourself. Since college will be your home for the next four years, if you have the chance to take a day or two to go visit, it is well worth it.
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My school newspaper, the Union Street Journal, has been my greatest passion and my greatest challenge in high school. Being the paper’s editor has taught me as much about leadership and life as it has about editing and writing. The late nights in the newsroom with Dave Mathews blaring from the same obsessed editor’s computer have provided me with some of my greatest frustrations, and my best memories. And that is precisely why I am sad to say good-bye.
I never thought time could be capable of flying by so quickly. It is now my fourth week of school and I feel so overcome by progression that I need to stop for a breather every once in a while. So much has happened in such a small amount of time. This past week, I was appointed editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Howler, and sport/academics editor of the yearbook, El Coyote! I was elated and taken over with joy and pride. It’s such an honor for me to be part of the La Joya High School legacy.
Jamás pensé que el tiempo pudiera pasar tan rápidamente. Ya voy por la sexta semana del año escolar. ¡Tantas cosas han pasado en tan poquito tiempo! Hace tres semanas fui seleccionada para ser jefe de redacción del periódico de mi escuela, The Howler, y editora de la sección de deportes y asuntos académicos del anuario El Coyote. ¡Estaba exaltada! Es un honor para mí ser parte del legado, y de la historia de mi escuela.
I have decided to take advantage of early application options for a few of the schools on my college list. Although this decision has accelerated my application deadlines, ultimately I think the reward of hearing back early is worth the extra time I have to spend on applications now. Plus, I’ve got to finish these applications eventually, right? So I figure I might as well get them out of the way now instead of later.
Wow! The smell of new books and paper, the shuffle of thousands of feet in the halls, and the smiles and sighs as we all find our way back into a routine. I have just completed my first weeks back at La Joya High. Things went quite smoothly. The transition from long, lazy days into the hustle and bustle of immediate homework, dance practice, and catching up on my social life, was not as horrible as I thought it might be. All my classes have been major successes. I quickly began to anticipate the bell for my journalism course, and I have already dived into the library to catch up on some reading.
El olor a libros y papel nuevos, el sonido de miles de estudiantes caminando y corriendo por los pasillos, suspiros y sonrisas, todo indica que ya estamos de nuevo en la rutina. Mis primeras semanas en La Joya High School han estado bastante tranquilas. La transición de los días largos y de ocio en verano, a este ajetreo de tareas escolares, la práctica de baile, y el volver a ver amistades que hace tiempo no veía, no fue tan horrible como pensé. ¡Todas mis clases me encantan! De inmediato comencé a esperar con ansias la campana que me indica que mi clase de periodismo está por comenzar; y hasta ya visité la biblioteca para comenzar a leer de nuevo.
The first couple weeks back in school were bittersweet. On the one hand, ruling the school and being the top class was great — we have the best hang-out spots, parking spaces, teachers and classes. But on the other hand, the absence of a class ahead of us, a buffer between us and a life away from home, made things a bit lonely.
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And in the blink of an eye my summer is practically gone. Lazy days and long nights, lost under the start of school deals and panic! Okay, allow this ranting stranger to formally introduce herself. I’m Lisa Cantu, coming to you straight from La Joya, Texas, otherwise known as “The Valley.” A senior from La Joya High School, your average 17-year-old, minus the attitude, plus the poignant view of everyday situations.
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