GUYS IT'S BEEN LIKE FIVE MONTHS SINCE I STARTED SCHOOL I'M SO SORRY BUT I SWEAR I CAN EXPLAIN. The computer I had been using to run this blog got a virus or something, and now my parents said we can't use it for anything else but school work, and I don't have enough space on my phone to download the app. I have so much to tell you guys about though, it's going to be fun.
Okay, I know second semester is already under way, but it just gives me that much more to talk about. Starting high school wasn't as hard as I thought. I had orientation 3 days before school started, or somewhere around there, and then I started 9th grade. I didn't walk through my schedule after the end of orientation, which we could have done, because my friends wanted to go home. I was kind of stressing about finding my classes because of that, but it was no big deal. I'm taking pre-IB classes, to prepare for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) so there was quite a large increase in homework. I went from occassionally having half an hour-ish in middle school, sometimes a little bit more, to having a couple hours a night. I've always started my homework as soon as I get home from school, or very soon after, so that wasn't a problem. Marching band was great, I had so much fun. I really miss it because I made so many great memories, but pep band started in December, which is a blast too. I love the atmosphere, and some of the songs we play have singing parts, and the whole band gets really into it.
I did join the debate team, which was kind of fun. It was a very intellectual activity- you had to know a lot about the subect or else you'd fall on your face. I did end up quitting though, because it was taking time away from band, homework, my friends, and my family, all of which come first. I liked debate, don't get me wrong, but I didn't like it enough compared to how much time it took. It's kind of hard to explain, but basically, what I'm trying to say is, I didn't want to spend as much time as I was on activity I didn't have a passion for.
I recently finished my first semester of high school, and everybody knows what that means- finals. I had winter break from December 23- January 3, and over that week-ish, I studied probably around 12 hours. I actually ended up getting my backpack taken away for studying so much, if that tells you anything about my personality. In between January 4, when classes started, and January 14/15, when finals were, I studied for another 7 hours, somewhere around there. All that hard work paid off though- I'm really pleased with my scores. They were all somewhere in the 90% range, but that's all I remember.
I think, in a previous post, I said something about getting involved in theater, which I didn't do this semster. I wanted to focus on getting my feet on the ground and making sure I could focus on band and school. I'm actually considering auditioning for the spring play though, now that I know I can handle high school. I'm not sure of anything yet, but I'll be sure to keep you posted. I promise to start posting more often, it's just a matter of finding a computer I can use. It shouldn't be a big deal though.
My school has this class that all freshmen have to take, called C3 Foundations. I heard from some of my friends that had it first semster that it was basically another study hall, but so far I disagree. The 3 C's are college, career, and I can't remember the third one for the life of me. I'm in the ELP C3, so the work is going to be a bit faster-paced. I have to write a paper on my learning philosophy, which is basically just me talking about how I learn best, why I learn, what I do with my learning, and what I learn. It sounds pretty easy but it was actually a little bit harder than I thought. I actually need to get that typed this weekend, but I'm at my friend's house right now and I don't have my backpack with me. I stayed the night at her house, and I've been up by myself for two hours and probably will be for four more. Anyways, that's off topic. I also have to write 3 participation papers. For those, I have to participate in 3 school related activities, and describe what I did at said activity, and reflect on the experience- would I do it again? The first one is due March 1, the second one is due April 1, and the third and final one is due May 2. I have the first one done already, that one was about pep band, and I want to try and get the second one written today, about my school's hockey game last night. The third one will be about my band concert February 22, and then I'll have all three done- before the first one is even due. Yes, yes, I'm a nerd, I know. My friends never let me forget and I also accept my fate as such.
Wow this is kind of a long post. I owe it to you guys though, to make up for not posting in 5 months. Now I'm going to walk you guys through my schedule, and tell you about each class. I'll start off with first semster, and then discuss some of the changes made to my schedule for second semester. Before I start, I want to clarify that I took all my 9th grade classes in 8th grade, so this year I'm taking advanced 10th grade classes. I'm one credit away from technically being considered a sophomore, but that's a technicality. These classes, with the exception of seminar, driver's ed, C3, and band, are all pre-IB, but I don't feel like addinf that in every time.
Period 1: Seminar. This is basically a study hall.
Period 2: Adv. Bio. This class has a lot of homework but I like how the material is presented, and I'm really interested in what I'm learning.
Period 3: Adv. English 10. Personally, I don't really like this class, which is a shame. English was my favorite class all through middle school. My teacher is just very monotonous and bland.
Period 4: Spanish 2. I took Spanish 1 before school my eighth grade year, so I'm in Spanish 2 now. I love this class so much- I love what I'm learning and the people I'm learning it with.
Period 5: Lunch/Driver's Ed. First I went to lunch, which lasted about half an hour, and then I went to driver's ed. I honestly hated that class, it was so boring but I needed to take it so I can get my liscense next year.
Period 6: Geometry. This class took me a while to adjust to, because the teacher doesn't teach math how I learn math. It's a very self-taught class, with lots of exploration and group work. This semester will go better, I'm determined to make it so.
Period 7: Adv. World History. I don't really like history in general, but my teacher is crazy, which makes it a little more interesting.
Period 8: Band. I love band a lot too, as anybody who knows me (and maybe some who don't know me) can tell you. For my concert next month, I'm going to play the piccolo for one song, which'll be great. For those of you who don't know, I play flute normally- I'm not sure if I've said that before or not. I probably have, but better safe than sorry. Anyways, that's my schedule. For second semester, I have C3 Foundations first period, and then seminar fifth. C3 and driver's ed are only semester long classes, so it all works out great!
As always, leave any questions you have down below in the comments, and I'll be sure to answer them. Again, I'm so sorry for not posting, I've been so busy with school and stuff, and I can't use the computer I usually have access to. That shouldn't be a problem anymore though, so I have high hopes for the future of this blog.
-Eliza
