The Last Summer

        Senior year of high school is just on the horizon. This past year as a junior has been the toughest year by far in high school. The year of deciding what you want to be when you grow up, what colleges you want to go to, SAT's, drama, year-end tests, and possibilities. Toward the middle of the year, I received a nomination to apply for National Honor Society, encouraged by my teacher, and then was turned down. If I wasn't so much of a coward, I would have asked him, "why would you encourage me to do something like this and turn me down, enveloping me in an emotional roller coaster?". I did learn a big lesson this year, however. I learned that you do not have to take the hardest classes and all of the college-credit courses to make it look good on your transcripts. Sometimes, you need to focus on your own well-being and just focus on what you can handle and what is too much. 
       I would say the hardest class I had this year was concurrent chemistry. I did not necessarily like the teacher and the way she only focused on the kids who did not need help. In her class, I was a mediocre student - some units I did fabulously, others I struggled a lot with. 
       The most infuriating class I had was AP english. All throughout the year, we were being taught based on a test at the end of the year. We went through multiple essays, readings, and discussions. When we took the test at the end of the year, it was supposed to reflect our learning and how much we have accomplished this year. When I received my score in July, I was disappointed and very upset. On a scale of 0 to 5, 5 being the best - I was scored as a 2. If this was a history or even a science test, I wouldn't have taken it so hard because it would be based on actually studying for concepts. With english, it's based on if that person likes your writing or not. 

      
      With summer ending, school starting in one week, I glance back at my summer and wonder if my last summer as a high school student was spent with fun......

      On the last day of school, I traveled to Moscow, Pullman, and Couer d'Alene. The trip was mainly about seeing my cousin graduate from high school, but I was more focused on the fact that it would be my turn next year. I really want to go to WSU for college for Pre-Vet Medicine, but right now it does not look promising. However, seeing the college and all of the beautiful campus made me really want to go there, or at least to dream about it. I also visited North Idaho College, which was very spread out and pretty small compared to WSU. It was such a blast so spend some time vising sites I have never seen before and seeing different colleges to ponder. The only decision I have come across is that I will not be going to BSU for college. Right now, ISU is a very promising university and the tuition rates are amazing! Who knows which one I will actually choose next year?

       Just last week, I finished a great series on Netflix. Roswell based on the UFO crash in 1959 was not a typical series I would normally watch. However, it was the best show I have ever seen! It aired from 1999-2001. It was cancelled too early for how good it was. But with it being supernatural, it was too early during that time period for something like that to be successful. If it had played right now, people would be all over it! With only three seasons, it definitely hooked you into the plot and made you want to keep watching until you found out what was going to happen. With a rushed finale, it closed it up as best as it could and I was glad I took the time to watch it and have some laughs. 

My next year at school looks way more promising and less-stressful than last year was, for sure. I have decided to only take one concurrent class. Although I will be stuck with the same english teacher for one more year... he is a great teacher and gives great advice, I just have to learn when to ask for help. :) I have decided (with the help of a great registrar) to take online zoology. It is supposed to be for those students who want to later become a veterinarian, which is a positive point. I had to finagle my schedule to make sure I had enough credits and complete necessary courses. To do that I had to drop my biology class which I was looking forward to. I was kind of upset that I had to drop biology just to take government, but I knew I did not want to take an online government class. I would rather be in the class with my crazy, eco-friendly teacher. The positive part of this year is all of the fun classes I am taking. I will take art, zoology, and history of American music. After not being in an art class for a year, I am so glad to go back!

Overall, I think it was a great summer! Although I did not get to go to a water park, or somewhere exotic, I think it was one of the best summers! I mainly spent my time reading, applying for scholarships, trying to stay in touch with my friends, and overall just having some laughs and some fun! 

Although it is not a new year, it is a new school year, so I am going to make a resolution. I want to increase the amount of times I go running, since I have almost come to liking it thanks to my awesome PE teacher! I want to go jogging before school every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Hopefully, I can drag myself up in the cold. I know this will make my day go by so much smoother and make me more relaxed. 

Here's to another great year! :D