The Ways of Wheelock

To my liking, Wheelock College is mainly a "Mac school", meaning that all of its computers are Macs, and generally the technological help they have is for Macs, though they help PC's as well. They do not require every student to have a laptop, though I know that most of the students have them. I do not know their rules and policies, but Wheelock seems pretty serious and tough about them.

School Policies

As I was reading these policies, I figured I would find some leigh-way with somke of these offenses. "Maybe 'inappropriateness' in blogging is just freedom of speech", "maybe we need to send our home address to someone for a certain class", but then I stopped myself. The only way to protect the students in this school is to enforce safety regulations. I think these rules seem fairly reasonable. In simple words: if you're doing something you know you shouldn't be doing, the school will punish you. Burlington has been pretty low-key about cell phones, iPods, and Facebooking. I would love to talk to students who have problems with these rules, because, let's face it, they're really not that bad. They're not telling us to pretend we don't have a Facebook or Twitter, but these policies are simply telling us, the students, to be smart on the internet.

Senior Countdown: 5 Days

In just five days, my fellow classmates and I will be done.

After four long, and what seemed unbearable years, we will no longer be students at Burlington High, but rather alumni. Though my friends have become sentimental about the situation, I know it comes with the territory. I've taken it pretty well - surprise, surprise. I know that once graduation comes, so will the tears, but for right now, this is quite an exciting chapter for my class :)

Food Feud

Cafeteria food is notorious for being unhealthy. It's not that the cooks, or lunch ladies, don't care about what they're giving us, but when all is said and done, it comes down to money. They're more willing to serve unhealthy foods at a cheaper cost than more organic, healthy foods that are more costly. It's sad that that is what our generation has come to. Just recently in health class, we watched "Fast Food Nation", and I learned a lot about food, and what we think is healthy and what actually is healthy. Not only that, but the way the animals are treated before being killed is terrible, disgraceful, and nonethical. That's what made me stop and think about what our world has come to. As for cafeteria food? I never bought lunch. Yeah, I had a few french fries here and there, but my mom has always packed my lunch - peanut butter and jelly sandwich, iced tea, and either cookies or chips. It's always been that way. I don't know. Call me cheesy or corny, but I like having my mom make me a sandwich, because it really is made out of love, whereas my friends who eat hamburgers (with questionable meat) get it from ladies who just make them in piles, and not made specifically for them.

Senior Reflection

Last night, as I read my senior speech to my parents, my mother's eyes started to fill with tears. Though it was not my intention to make her sad, it hit me: college is the time, not only for new experiences, but to become an individual. This was the first time I actually thought about what I was going to do in college. I've had my parents by my side for the past 18 years, but when September comes, I will be on my own in Beantown. Unlike my friends, I haven't cried about leaving everyone, because it still just hasn't hit me yet. In addition, I'm more thrilled for new experiences. I've spent the past 7 years here in Burlington, and before that, I was in Brighton since birth. I haven't had much change. Don't get me wrong - I love Brighton and Burlington, but this is a time to become anything we want to be. My English teacher gave my class a speech about how this is probably the last time we can define ourselves. Last time we did that, we were 4, being walked into school by our parents, and friends just came automatically. I'm really excited for September to come. My school immediately allows interns, which I think is the best preparation for the 'real world', I will be in Boston - my favorite city in the world, my friends will be in nearby schools, and I will be studying something I want to study - special education. I am truly excited!

30 Goals Challenge: Goal 8

For goal #8, I have to choose the theme song of my life. The theme song of my life has to describe my personality, the way I am, and how I interact with the people around me.

As I have blogged about numerous times, I love Taylor Swift songs. They embody the lives of every  girl out there in an honest and up-front way. I can't pick just one song of hers, though. I don't have just one soundtrack song to my life. For instance, her songs "Long Live" and "Fearless" are about being, well, fearless and going after what you want. You don't take no for an answer. And some days I'm like that. Other days, I'm not. Other days I'm wishing I was the girl with the typical football player, and that's why "You Belong With Me" and "Sparks Fly" would apply to my life. There are other times when I've been hurt by others, and "Tell Me Why" and "You're Not Sorry" are the perfect fit. That's why I love her music, because on any given day, I can relate to any one of her songs.

My newest music influence is Robyn, and up-and-coming indie singer. Her song "Dancing on My Own" is great, and I really suggest that everyone listen to it. My friends don't like her, but her music is so unique. This song is about a girl who sees her love at a party dancing with another girl, but her angst and sadness portray the realism in this situation. By the end of the song, she begins to scream, and it's my favorite part, because that's when I can feel her emotion. That song is very relatable to my life.

John Mayer, my newest obsession, has a song "Half of My Heart", which is very honest - you love someone, but you don't love them enough. It's hard to realize, but he sings it in such a beautiful way. In addition, I'm a little biased because Taylor Swift makes surprise vocals at the end of the song. "Half of My Heart" is so sad, but it's so true. I know so many people, from myself to my friends and siblings, who have "loved" someone, but they didn't even realize that they can't be together because the love isn't strong enough.

Ingrid Michaelson's "Maybe" is also, sad. (I'm seeing a trend with these sad songs...) She sings that she will be the one to end their relationship, but if time figures itself out, they'll be together in the end. I don't know if the song to my life, but the message has been really inspirational for me. Many times with boyfriends I thought were "the one" turned out not to be, but the only way to figure that out is to take time apart. If time sorts itself out, and the "one" comes back to you, then it's true love. This song is extremely sad, because it's so true about real life. The line "the only way to really know is to really let it go" is a great line - the only way you'll know it's true love is if you let it go.

"White Horse" by Taylor Swift is probably the best representation of who I am. To begin with, the music video is extremely sentimental. It starts out with Taylor singing about hiding her sadness, trying to be happy for herself and her boyfriend, being a naiive teenage girl. The chorus emphasizes that she knows fairy tales aren't real, however it changes in the end, when she changes the words in the chorus, singing that she knows there is someone out there for her, and he is not the guy. I feel like this song is very relatable to who I am. I am the type of girl who wishes for that Prince Charming, but soon enough, every girl has to realize that there isn't a prince who will save you on a white horse, but the world is huge, and there is that man for you. That is the soundtrack to my life.

My Own Personal Challenges

Instead of listening to someone else's list of challenges, I will make my own, that I can hopefully accomplish by the end of the summer.

1. take a risk
2. stand up for yourself
3. become a mentor to someone
4. make a new friend
5. try something new
6. make a dish from a different country
7. support a movement
8. travel somewhere
9. spend a day on photography, just taking pictures
10. teach someone
11. learn about someone else's life
12. volunteer to at least 1 place
13. open up to someone

30 Goals Challenge: Goal 3

For goal #3, I have to start an adventure. My adventure will be occurring this summer, and it terrifies me yet excites me at the same time. My uncle, aunt, brother, and cousins have all worked at a volunteer special needs camp, Camp Fatima, for numerous years. No one gets paid, and each adult is given a special needs child, adult, or senior citizen, to be the counselor for an entire week. Though it may sound terrible and easy to some, it is extremely difficult but quite rewarding. Now that I am 18 years old, I am able to be a counselor. Because I want to major in special ed at Wheelock, I will be working as a counselor this summer. I am frightened, knowing that a person's life is in my hands for an entire week, but I know this will be great preparation and a good indicator of what kind of special education teacher I will be. Luckily I will have my uncle and brother this summer with me, but I will not know anyone else, and it scares me. That will be my adventure for the summer, and hopefully many more summers to come.

30 Goals Challenge: Goal 1

Well, for goal #1, I have to write a diary. I'll be honest, I keep a journal at home to write down some of my thoughts. To be even more honest, it's the best therapy for myself. Whenever my friends are upset or sad, I tell them every time to write it down. Firstly, it helps you look back later on about what you were so mad about. Secondly, when you write, you're telling yourself things that you know already, but by literally showing it on a piece of paper. It really helps me think.

Obama finds Osama

Last night was just like any other Sunday night - procrastinating doing my homework, listening to music, and catching up on life on Facebook. As I was talking to my brother, I turned back to the computer screen to find three statuses: "Bin Laden is dead", "good job USA", and "God bless America". I jumped on ABC News to find out that Bin Laden has been killed by US troops. My brother and I were shocked for two reasons: 1) the man America has been trying to kill for nearly a decade, the world's most wanted man, is finally dead, and 2) we discovered one of the most historic, thrilling, and shocking events of our lifetime through Facebook. I have never been more thankful for having a computer as I was last night. Because I was procrastinating doing my work, I was able to find out about Bin Laden's death, learn more information on ABC News, and watch Obama's message on the TV. Then, I immediately thought about the next presidential election and how this will affect his campaign. Perhaps Republicans who don't like him will reconsider, now knowing that America's #1 target is no longer alive.

College vs. Facebook

Though I do believe Facebook can be extremely distracting, I also feel that the people who use it can't take advantage of these social network websites. I've learned throughout my four years of high school as well as the four years of having Facebook, that I need to know the difference between work and laziness, and I think I've managed to distinguish the two.
Whenever I have an important paper to write, I sign off Facebook, sometimes I even hide my computer. One time, in fact, I deleted my account for the time being. After I felt I did a successful job, that's when I went back to my Facebooking. Those who can't determine what's important - completing homework or updating a new status - that's their own fault for not being successful in college.

EyePad

I've noticed from these iPads that they're mainly used for games and tools, which makes it difficult to type papers, for instance, which a laptop can offer. Don't get me wrong, I love iPads. I'm completely a Mac girl, but for these instances, I find it difficult to say that I would totally change my way of learning to iPads, because it's very different. However, my uncle, who you can call the "Mac Expert", got a portable keyboard to plug into the iPad, treating it like a laptop. I think that's a convenient method.

iPad Apps

The iPad app "Simply Find It" is not only educational, but fun too. To be honest, I only installed it because it was free, but I grew to really like it. It's a game of multiple levels that gives you 2 pictures, and asks you to find the differences between the two. Though it seems easy, the levels advance more quickly. It works the visual senses and the mind, because you're being timed to finish the level, otherwise you start back at square one. I truly enjoyed playing this game, because I love being raced against time.

Contradiction Conversation

For the past two days in my English, we've been having class debates. Not just any debates, though. The first day, one half of the classroom had to defend its side that the government should not have any control of the media, such as books, television, and video games. The other side was given the argument that government should have control. The next day, the pro-control group had to become anti-control, and vice versa. It was interesting seeing my classmates contradict themselves from the day before, however, it did teach me a lesson. I actually discovered that the people that were on the opposite side of their actual beliefs defended themselves better than if they were on the side they actually supported. For instance, for my pro-control side, I came up with better arguments than if I were on the anti-control side, because I wasn't biased. I used sensible ideas, because I'm not so attached to having control over media. This, quite honestly, was my favorite lesson I've learned this year, because it was so much fun, yet it was extremely educational.

iPad Apps

"Speak It" is great for changing text into speech, to help read back notes:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speak-it-text-to-speech/id308629295?mt=8

"Note Taker" takes advanced notes by providing charts and shapes as well:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/note-taker-hd/id366572045?mt=8

"IM+" combines Twitter, Facebook, AIM, Skype, Yahoo, Google Talk, and more into one app:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/im/id296246130?mt=8

"Shakespeare Pro" provides numerous sonnets, plays, poems into one:

http://www.playshakespeare.com/news/4783-shakespeare-pro-now-available-for-the-iphone

"TAO" translates over 20 languages, beneficial for any foreign language class:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tao/id297842740?mt=8

School Tour in Pictures

Picture Tour Ideas

• my caf table
• my homeroom
• photo room
• main lobby
• parking lot
• people walking down the hall
• school clock
• outside of school (the whole building)
• my senior rock
• my favorite teachers
• my favorite class

Media's Take on History

Growing up with semi-old parents who were alive and remembered having JFK as a president, they rant and rave about their favorite president all the time. Because I've been exposed to his life ever since I was little - watching shows about the 1960's, frequently visiting the JFK library, and watching an immense amount of documentaries and films about the Kennedy family - I've grown my own admiration for the former Boston president. Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear that ReelzChannel was broadcasting its new miniseries "The Kennedys".
I never got the chance to see the show. And I don't think I will, either. After reading numerous articles about the factual inaccuracies, the phony accents, and the horrible acting, I became furious. The Kennedy family rejected the idea of a movie being made about their family, and then this miniseries was made. Which is probably more of a disgrace than the movie could have been.
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I hate how truly good people get bashed by media in an inaccurate way. Sure, you can make fun of Britney Spears's "shaving head scandal" or Charlie Sheen's obvious continuous drug use, but those are pretty factual. This miniseries is ReelzChannel's biased view of the Kennedy family. I was just disappointed to know that people are watching a show that is hurtful, mean, and just not true.

School Changes

For the past 2 weeks in my psychology class, we have been creating our own high schools, in relation to brain development studies and our own personal experiences as high school students. As I worked with 2 other people, my group and I decided that school should begin at 8:30 and end at 3. Though an hour may seem minimal, it is effective. Speaking on behalf of my fellow students and myself, I know that an hour longer to sleep would wake me up greatly for my 1st period class. In addition, ending at 3 doesn't drastically affect sports, jobs, and other extracurricular activies and obligations. Especially with the workload juniors and seniors face, realistically, we're not all asleep by 10pm. Sorry, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. On a good day, I am in my bed by 11. If I have this "good day" every day, going to bed at 11 each night, and wake up at 7:15 in the morning, I get more than 8 hours of sleep, which is much more than I currently get now. I think this is the first change that needs to be made, because it's not like students want to fall asleep in their classes - we don't learn anything and it's embarrassing. If we were given just one more hour to sleep, that would make all the difference.

Swiftly Winning

I love all types of music. I can tolerate pretty much anything, however, I'm notorious among my friends for being the "country music hater". I don't know what it is, but I just can't seem to find any interest towards it. However, among my group of friends, I am also known as "Taylor Swift's biggest fan". I love everything about her, especially her attitude towards love and life, though her past relationships have been famously known for ending badly. Last night was the Academy of Country Music awards, and my girl Taytay won Entertainer of the Year. It's such an achievement because this award is completely voted by fans. No one else. Around 600,000 people voted for her. That is something to be proud of. So, as the "country music hater", I actually did watch a country music awards show. And to my idol and favorite musician Taylor Swift, congratulations.