Its almost the end of the year and im sitting here looking at the graduating seniors wishing i was them. Starring out the glass window that separates me from complete freedom. I mean, I already have a good job and all the education i need. So why can i not just go to Automotive technical school and get my certificates to show i can do work on cars. I mean, I have all the skills i need, I just need the certificate to say I actually do. At this point i just want to get everything over and done with and get out of high school. Sure some of the stuff they teach us is worth learning and it does keep us doing something five days a week, but to me some of its just a big waste of time. I could be doing a lot more productive things than learning about atoms and quadratic roots and whatnot. Kids should be able to pick what they want and not have to take useless classes about stuff they dont really need to know about. I want to lean more about engines and the mathematics needed for transmissions and differential gear ratios. or the size bolts needed for certain parts for the headers and exhaust and the amount of stress each size bolt can take before breaking.
Most Senioritis is caused by the feelings they get because they finally get to go out and party in college without parental restriction. I obviously want to do the same but im eager to leave because im ready to work my ass off to be a successful auto mechanic and have my own shop. I want to go out and live my dream and the earlier you start to learn, the better. I want to have my own cars that i can say "I built that from the ground up, literally". I want to pass down my knowledge to younger kin and fortunate people ready to wirk on cars just as hard as me. I want to be known as the car oracle. The guru of all things with engines. I just want to be happy and thats what would just about do it.
Many others may not be ready yet. Some may be nervous, as am I to make it big in the world of millions of people. I just feel that if i were to leave now and get all the knowledge i could that i could excel much greater tan someone who were to wait few years to get started because of the sheer amount of knowledge i can gain in the earlier years. I'm ready to graduate because i have a plan, not because i want to party. I have a chance at making my own future bright because there is no real model for me to pave the way or to send me off to a million dollar college and that makes me want to be better than anyone else could with all the money at their finger tips. It makes me want to be that great role model for other great mechanics in the making. It causes my severe case of Junioritis.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Dream Do Come True
Have you ever had dream that you never thought could come true? Well, I had a dream that I never thought could come true, and it did. Let me tell you more.
About a year and a half ago, the school consolers were coming into our humanities classes to educate us on the big, sometimes daunting, journey for the college. I began early with searches and made impressive lists of all the qualities and values I wanted in my future educators.
I found that I expected much more than the average Joe college could offer me. As I made appointments to tour schools and attend college fairs, I realized I wanted a professional and well organized liberal arts school where I could excel in the subjects I was strong in. I also discovered that physical surroundings of nature, beauty, and peace were also important to me. I needed a college that was not too close, but not too far, not too rich and not too poor. Not too big, but not too small. Not too smart, and not too dumb. I needed a school where I could grow, learn, develop, and enjoy. And so, the search for the impossible, perfect college began.
My Mom and I started in Maine, right on a beautiful lake. We had five colleges and universities lined up from Maine to Rhode Island, and they all looked pretty hopeful. St. Josephs College in Maine was the first one. It was everything I could've dreamed and hoped for, but I didn't like it. Don't know why, I'm not sure. My Mom started to understand that, after that first college, if it didn't feel right, it was a no go. I am sometimes a complicated person, and if it didn't fit right and I couldn't see myself enjoying college there, it wasn't the school for me.
So we visited another in Maine that left the same impression, so off to RI we went. There was one school in particular that I was excited about, Salve Regina University. It was a beautiful, Catholic school right on the ocean, and I was very hopeful. And so, our next day rolled around and we strolled through New Port, RI to Salve Regina. Guess what happened? Yep, I didn't feel it. So far we had seen three out of five, and I didn't like any of them! I started to worry and my Mom had gotten used continuing on, so we cramped in a swing look at a school 20 minutes away.
It was the kinda school that just appeared on my list. It wasn't one I had my sights on, I had never really heard of it. So, Roger Williams University we stopped at and now guess what? I LOVED IT. Crazy for me. We had a scheduled tour the following morning and we proceeded with much excitement. I loved everything about it, the size, the distance, the quality, the location, the campus, the academics, EVERYTHING. But, everything that seems like a dream, and a little too good to be true, was. This school costed money that I didn't have.
Applying season came around and I had three schools, one was Roger Williams. I applied to two, in such hope that I would qualify for enough financial assistance so I could attend. When I was accepted, I didn't receive as much money as I was hoping, but it's okay. I never thought I could go anyway. So, for the last five months, I've been weighing my options. And some how, some way, my dream came true. I will be attending Roger Williams University this 2014-2015 academic season as a freshman, class of 2018. Dreams really do come true.
About a year and a half ago, the school consolers were coming into our humanities classes to educate us on the big, sometimes daunting, journey for the college. I began early with searches and made impressive lists of all the qualities and values I wanted in my future educators.
I found that I expected much more than the average Joe college could offer me. As I made appointments to tour schools and attend college fairs, I realized I wanted a professional and well organized liberal arts school where I could excel in the subjects I was strong in. I also discovered that physical surroundings of nature, beauty, and peace were also important to me. I needed a college that was not too close, but not too far, not too rich and not too poor. Not too big, but not too small. Not too smart, and not too dumb. I needed a school where I could grow, learn, develop, and enjoy. And so, the search for the impossible, perfect college began.
My Mom and I started in Maine, right on a beautiful lake. We had five colleges and universities lined up from Maine to Rhode Island, and they all looked pretty hopeful. St. Josephs College in Maine was the first one. It was everything I could've dreamed and hoped for, but I didn't like it. Don't know why, I'm not sure. My Mom started to understand that, after that first college, if it didn't feel right, it was a no go. I am sometimes a complicated person, and if it didn't fit right and I couldn't see myself enjoying college there, it wasn't the school for me.
So we visited another in Maine that left the same impression, so off to RI we went. There was one school in particular that I was excited about, Salve Regina University. It was a beautiful, Catholic school right on the ocean, and I was very hopeful. And so, our next day rolled around and we strolled through New Port, RI to Salve Regina. Guess what happened? Yep, I didn't feel it. So far we had seen three out of five, and I didn't like any of them! I started to worry and my Mom had gotten used continuing on, so we cramped in a swing look at a school 20 minutes away.
It was the kinda school that just appeared on my list. It wasn't one I had my sights on, I had never really heard of it. So, Roger Williams University we stopped at and now guess what? I LOVED IT. Crazy for me. We had a scheduled tour the following morning and we proceeded with much excitement. I loved everything about it, the size, the distance, the quality, the location, the campus, the academics, EVERYTHING. But, everything that seems like a dream, and a little too good to be true, was. This school costed money that I didn't have.
Applying season came around and I had three schools, one was Roger Williams. I applied to two, in such hope that I would qualify for enough financial assistance so I could attend. When I was accepted, I didn't receive as much money as I was hoping, but it's okay. I never thought I could go anyway. So, for the last five months, I've been weighing my options. And some how, some way, my dream came true. I will be attending Roger Williams University this 2014-2015 academic season as a freshman, class of 2018. Dreams really do come true.
First World Problems
To be honest, I have plenty of them. I have lots of large projects to complete, a Senior Project to finish, a graduation party to plan, a summer pre-calculus to sign up for, and a once dislocated and now healing knee that needs to be drained of whatever gross fluids accumulate after a dislocation injury. Ugh.
I think the one thing I hate more than having all of these problems in the first place is the fact that I have myself riled up over them. I am certain that I am a lot better off than almost anyone living in a third world country, and better off than at least half of the people living in first world countries. Nonetheless, this fact really doesn't make me feel any better.
Even though I certainly feel like all of these things are a pain, deep down I know these are simple and even silly things. Sure, senior projects are stressful, but graduation parties are supposed to be fun. Signing up for a pre-calc class shouldn't be too difficult and my knee will definitely heal with some rest and rigorous physical therapy. What I am trying to say is that there is a far greater reason as to why I am stressed out over such trivial things.
My reasoning behind this kind of anxiety and fatigue is that with great success there comes expectations. Why on earth am I talking about this? Because I believe that everything I get done in the present greatly effects how my future plays out. If I don't finish my senior project, I will most certainly fail, and then I won't graduate, which means I wouldn't be able to go to an amazing college this fall, which would be incredibly embarrassing. When you are as well off as I am (and you want to remain well off), you can't afford to be an embarrassment. If I don't help my mom plan that graduation party, she would be upset with me and the party wouldn't be any fun for me, which would suck because you only get one high school graduation party. With all of the stress you feel every single day during school, you need a nice party to blow off steam. If I don't sign up for a pre-calc class, I won't be taking a pre-calc class, so I would be very much behind when I get to college, which means I might be set back by a whole semester, which would make for a very stressful 4 years of my life. Another four years of stressful catch up and high demands would be terrible. As for my knee, it's just a complete pain. No one likes to dislocate anything.
I know it sound like I'm saying "it's hard being smart and fortunate," but no matter where you are in life, there will always be challenges to overcome and plenty of stress. I do recognize that the fact that I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of perks with my situation, but sometimes life gets a little overwhelming and you just want to let out a cry of frustration.
I guess what I'm saying is that I have a right to complain about my first world problems and at the same time, I don't. We all do, all of us first-world natives. I guess the best we can do is go easy on ourselves and try to be thankful for what we have. Life is stressful and fun.
Cheers to life in a first-world country!
I think the one thing I hate more than having all of these problems in the first place is the fact that I have myself riled up over them. I am certain that I am a lot better off than almost anyone living in a third world country, and better off than at least half of the people living in first world countries. Nonetheless, this fact really doesn't make me feel any better.
Even though I certainly feel like all of these things are a pain, deep down I know these are simple and even silly things. Sure, senior projects are stressful, but graduation parties are supposed to be fun. Signing up for a pre-calc class shouldn't be too difficult and my knee will definitely heal with some rest and rigorous physical therapy. What I am trying to say is that there is a far greater reason as to why I am stressed out over such trivial things.
My reasoning behind this kind of anxiety and fatigue is that with great success there comes expectations. Why on earth am I talking about this? Because I believe that everything I get done in the present greatly effects how my future plays out. If I don't finish my senior project, I will most certainly fail, and then I won't graduate, which means I wouldn't be able to go to an amazing college this fall, which would be incredibly embarrassing. When you are as well off as I am (and you want to remain well off), you can't afford to be an embarrassment. If I don't help my mom plan that graduation party, she would be upset with me and the party wouldn't be any fun for me, which would suck because you only get one high school graduation party. With all of the stress you feel every single day during school, you need a nice party to blow off steam. If I don't sign up for a pre-calc class, I won't be taking a pre-calc class, so I would be very much behind when I get to college, which means I might be set back by a whole semester, which would make for a very stressful 4 years of my life. Another four years of stressful catch up and high demands would be terrible. As for my knee, it's just a complete pain. No one likes to dislocate anything.
I know it sound like I'm saying "it's hard being smart and fortunate," but no matter where you are in life, there will always be challenges to overcome and plenty of stress. I do recognize that the fact that I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot of perks with my situation, but sometimes life gets a little overwhelming and you just want to let out a cry of frustration.
I guess what I'm saying is that I have a right to complain about my first world problems and at the same time, I don't. We all do, all of us first-world natives. I guess the best we can do is go easy on ourselves and try to be thankful for what we have. Life is stressful and fun.
Cheers to life in a first-world country!
The Day Before I, Sweeney Todd, Take the Stage
"It's time. It's time." A comment spoken by Sweeney Todd after he gets his new barber chair and is invigorated to get back on his goal of revenge. Those two words are spoken by me as an actor, but as a human I currently feel a similar way about this comment. It has been four months of intense practicing to get to this point; the day before my performance. Four months of pushing my voice to the limit and beyond because I knew that I could do it. Four months of memorization alongside school work because I accepted the challenge and I knew that in the end I would succeed at both.
Though I've come so far, it's still frightening when I think about messing up. for the past two weeks the only thing on my mind has been the fear of forgetting a line or falling flat on a note. It's like a pin is being pressed through my belly-button through to my spine and my throat throbs as though I have an air bubble stuck that I can't quit burp up. Even with this fear I still know, I know that when I take to that stage my nerves will calm and the routine of going over lines and repeatedly singing the songs will carry me through the show. With the pin finally removed I know I'll feel steady, instead of feeling as though my legs decided to fall asleep.
I know everyone has worked very hard on this, and I have too. This is one of the few things that I can feel completely proud of myself for carrying through to the end and trying every step of the way. I'm amazed when I think back and realize that I have never gone to rehearsals bummed out or tired of doing what I do; entertaining.
With my throat cleared and my diaphragm clenched I will sing out to the world my achievement: "I have done it! I have conquered a goal, no, a DREAM of mine! I have risen above my fears!" I have risen above my own walls to take destiny by her soft, forgiving hands and look into her eyes to thank her for all the help and chances she has given.
I will remember this for the rest of my life, it will motivate me to do better as well as remind me that I do have the ability. I CAN DO IT!!!
Though I've come so far, it's still frightening when I think about messing up. for the past two weeks the only thing on my mind has been the fear of forgetting a line or falling flat on a note. It's like a pin is being pressed through my belly-button through to my spine and my throat throbs as though I have an air bubble stuck that I can't quit burp up. Even with this fear I still know, I know that when I take to that stage my nerves will calm and the routine of going over lines and repeatedly singing the songs will carry me through the show. With the pin finally removed I know I'll feel steady, instead of feeling as though my legs decided to fall asleep.
I know everyone has worked very hard on this, and I have too. This is one of the few things that I can feel completely proud of myself for carrying through to the end and trying every step of the way. I'm amazed when I think back and realize that I have never gone to rehearsals bummed out or tired of doing what I do; entertaining.
With my throat cleared and my diaphragm clenched I will sing out to the world my achievement: "I have done it! I have conquered a goal, no, a DREAM of mine! I have risen above my fears!" I have risen above my own walls to take destiny by her soft, forgiving hands and look into her eyes to thank her for all the help and chances she has given.
I will remember this for the rest of my life, it will motivate me to do better as well as remind me that I do have the ability. I CAN DO IT!!!
NCAA Tournament
Its the march madness season and for me it's the most exciting national sports event. In my opinion, college athletics is much better than that of professional sports for one reason. College athletes do not get paid which means they have a lot more to play for than that of professionals. They are playing their hardest all the time and the game is never slow because of it. The up beat pace throughout, the constant roars from the crowd, players diving for loose balls, consistent hustle plays and seeing the fire of all the players true competitive nature come out and it really has you out of your seat for the entirety of the games. The NBA can't match the intensity of a the NCAA for the simple reason that they have it all. They have so much money they could pay college athletes on a salary and still have millions for themselves. The excitement the March Madness tournament gives me and millions of americans is not to be compared with. Yes, there are millions of devoted and enthusiastic NBA fans but without question the Nation Basketball League has changed significantly from it's glory days. There is more money in the NBA and the players have a salary, a hefty one at that. These college kids are striving for that paycheck at the professional level, therefore they have a lot more to play for and it certainly shows. Post- Jordan era the NBA has become a flashy league and the intensity has deflated. But the level of college sports has heightened and athletes are getting better. The level of competition has heated up because there is more which translates to more of higher level of play. March Madness is the essential time of the year where all eyes are on these young kids determined to fulfill there dreams of the next level. During this period of the tournament two of the great things that happen and that you can watch are players making a name for themselves and schools making their names heard. You find yourself wrapped up in these games rooting for these kids and these schools, maybe they're underdogs, maybe they;re the favorites but regardless the thrill that you receive from cheering them on is unlike any other sporting spectacle. Yes, these things can happen for a lot of sports and the NBA but knowing that these kids are working their way to make it, like actually make it, makes it all the better. Things like the upsets from the underdogs, scrums for the ball and buzzer-beaters are just some of the elements that make March Madness truly, mad.
Graduation
Walking the halls of BHS the past few days has been bittersweet. I really can't wait to get out of here, don't get me wrong, but it is crazy how time flies. I'm finally graduating after what feels like an eternity. I'll never have to go to Mr. Dempsey's office again, and that is a great feeling. I feel like I have been waiting for this forever, and now that it's finally here it doesn't feel real. I will miss a lot of the teaching staff here at BHS for certain, but I will not miss the administration. I also feel like I didn't exactly get the classic high school experience. I feel like BHS is a school thats different than most high schools. The education I got here was valuable for the most part, and I got to partake in many classes that really interested me, that I know other school's do not offer. I will definitely remember all the good and bad times I have had here. I've laughed really hard, and cried really hard, and hopefully, I'm prepared enough for college next year.
Bob Marley:The Legend
Bob Marley and the Wailers' album Exodus is an inspirational album for the people of Jamaica. On December 3, 1976 Bob Marley was struck by a bullet in his arm. This was an attempted assassination which grazed his chest causing him to survive this incident. After this incident Bob left Jamaica and was exiled to London where he recorded Exodus. Him leaving Jamaica is Why I think the album is named Exodus. This was one of the first albums that propelled Bob Marley and the Wailers to international stardom. One of Bob's most inspirational song form the album is Exodus. This was Bob's response to the ongoing elections that were occurring in Jamaica during this time. “Open your eyes and look within, are you satisfied with the life you’re living?" He was telling the people to not forget their roots and were they came from. After the release of Exodus the album Exodus peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 and at number 15 on the Black Album chart, as well as remaining in the UK charts for 56 consecutive weeks, where it peaked at number 8. Today Bob has passed and the Wailers are still touring to share their music with others. Last summer my friend Eric and I went to The Wailers concert at the Casino Ballroom at Hampton beach. As the may have aged their music still sounds young!
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