#nerves

The four SMOB candidates.

I keep thinking in hashtags now. I blame Twitter. Actually, I blame my friends for saying, "Hashtag..." in person.

This post is called #nerves due to Thursday's ominous event. Just kidding. I'm looking forward to SMOB Nominating Convention. If you didn't know, NomCon is how the candidates get lowered down to the final two. Delegates from almost every middle school and high school in MCPS are in attendance to listen to speeches and ask burning questions about better cafeteria food and cell phone use.

It really does cover more serious topics than food and phones, but I couldn't resist the urge to use another cliche. You know me...

I am really looking forward to Nominating Convention. Though many are calling this year's a "bloodbath," I know that all of the candidates are trying very hard. This gives me some reassurance that--even if I don't win-- someone great will be in this position (but I really do want to win).

Please feel free to ask me any questions about my campaign. Looking forward to this very busy/stressful/exciting/fantabulous week.

116 Unashamed

Last week I participated in an Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Diversity Workshop at school. I found all of the activities incredibly deep, especially because they were run by other students. I learned that our Communication Arts Program is much more diverse in ways of thinking than I would have ever guessed. This experience was very eye-opening, and it also challenged a lot of my preconceived notions of different people. However, I realized how much I can easily offend people by making a simple joke. This brought me back to James 1:19 (ESV):

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

Many of my classmates opened up about experiences that happened 5+ years ago that still taunt them. I didn't realize until the workshop that I dwell on many of my my past experiences as well. This reminded me of another Bible verse; Isaiah 43:18 (NIV):

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

Because...

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29:11).

This experience also challenged me to "'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation'" (Mark 16:15). I have not been doing this at school, and the Diversity Workshop reminded me that I should not be afraid or ashamed of my beliefs.

**Stay tuned for my media group's documentary about MBHS's Pacemaker-winning student newspaper Silver Chips!**

Living the American Dream

So I haven't posted in awhile... Very very busy with play rehearsals.

My British student, Rachel, arrived on Saturday!!!!

Here's what we've done so far...

• Watched "cool American movies"
• Eaten fried chicken
• Watched the Super Bowl (and the commercials :) )
• Had brunch (complete with chocolate chip pancakes)
• Gone to my favorite boutique
• Gone to the mall. We visited
• Forever 21
• J. Crew
• Hollister
• Abercrombie
• Vera Bradley
• Auntie Anne's 
• THE FOOD COURT
• Gone on "A YELLOW AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS!!!!!"
• School
• Dinner at Macaroni Grill with all the Brits
• Eaten "Real American Hamburgers"
• Learned new words (including "chuffed")
• Rachel met The Amazing One*
• Rachel talked to The Amazing One
• 
  

*This is what Rachel has taken to calling a certain "attractive" American boy.

Dear Rachel...

Here is my most recent independent video project! This time I tried something a little bit different: I shot and edited on my iPhone. I took Mr. Mayo's advice, I bought iMovie. It turned out to be very user friendly. It was much easier to use than WeVideo, and I suggest buying it to anyone who has an iPhone (It's $4.99).

The song I used in the video is the Modern Theme Song from iMovie. This is not one of the most professional-looking videos I've ever done, but I was just getting used to the app. I also wanted to make it less professional because this particular video is for my British student who is coming in 6 days!!! I wanted this video to be very playful and upbeat. It's very cheesy, I know. Enjoy!

The Un-Jewelry Box

The narrators of Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close write in extremely specific detail. I tried to do the same. I am incredibly bad at it, but here it is:

For my birthday, she gave me a box. It was small, the kind of box you put jewelry in. The wrapping paper was thin, like newspaper, and covered in hand-drawn hearts. I tore it open carefully, not trying to save the paper, but because I did not want to show her that I wanted to tear the wrapping. I wanted to rip it away. I contained my anticipation. The box was black and velveteen. I opened it slowly, my eyes trained on the edge, where the hinge would open to disclose the beauty inside. A small piece of college-ruled paper slipped out. It was the size that someone tears out of a notebook to spit a used piece of chewing gum in before putting it with the other rubbish. On the paper, written in her round script, were three words. "I luv u!" it read. I read it over and over, slightly disappointed that the box did not contain what it was crafted for. "I love you too," I said.

Looking back on it, five years later, I have learned to appreciate my friend's gift. It wasn't jewelry. I couldn't wear a pair of sparkly earrings that would make my eyes light up. I couldn't receive complements on them as I walked through the hallways at school. But I could wear it. I could wear her "I luv u" in my face. I could wear her "I luv u" in my eyes. I could wear her "I luv u" in my smile. I could wear her "I luv u" every day in my heart. I could keep with me the the sense of love and acceptance. Somebody luved me.

They say the best things come in small packages. It's a cliché, I know. It's a cliché, which I hate. But life is full of clichés, which are actually just wisdom contained in a tiny phrase. A phrase you're likely to hear a googolplex times (notice the reference?). Repeated wisdom, that takes an instant to understand. Because that small package might have changed my life.

This Year I Will...

Today my friend Leigh asked me if I had made any new year's resolutions. I've never made any, or at least I had never taken the opportunity to document them in some way. I sat down and typed out 23 resolutions that I am pretty proud of. I tried to stay away from the clichés, but a few of them snuck their way onto the list. Here are my resolutions (in no order of importance):

1. Do all of my homework the day it is assigned. This is one that I always plan to follow through with, and it hasn't ever happened. However, this year with all of the craziness in my life (and the craziness that is sure to be added), I have decided that I will finally stick with it.
2. Go in for math help at least once a week. I have been struggling in Honors Precalculus and not giving it the attention is deserves.
3. Become SMOB. I am running for Student Member of the Board of Education. Visit my website, like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter!
4. Get a lead in a school musical/ play.
5. Keep my room clean. I have been organizing and cleaning this break. Fingers crossed it will continue!
6. Bring a friend from school to church.
7. Pray every day.
8. Further develop my relationship with Jesus Christ.
9. Start writing music again. I am happiest when I have an outlet. Music is very close to my heart, and since I have stopped writing, I haven't been as happy. Not making any promises, but some of my music could end up on this blog :)
10. Be more spontaneous. NOT risky. I don't want to be too impulsive, and do something I might regret, I just want to be able to say what needs to be said, and not hold my tongue.
11.  ...
12. Learn how to knit. This is the latest CAP obsession... I must admit, people are making some pretty amazing things. I got needles and yarn from my Girl Scout Secret Santa, so here's to being crafty!
13. Lose 15 lbs. I am not dissatisfied with my body. I just set this goal to encourage me to exercise and eat healthily (something that definitely was the last thing on the list during the holidays).
14. Make my 17th year great. April 3rd. I turn 16.
15. Start looking at colleges.
16. Decide what I want to do in college.
17. Read at least 25 books outside of school.
18. Read more classics (starting with Les Mis which I got for Christmas)!
19. Tell my dad how I feel about things with him.
20. Impact someone's life in a BIG (and positive) way.
21. Start dressing nice for school. NOT exam days. Those have to be chill. 
22. Be a better person. What does this mean? Truth is, I don't know. Just in general. Maybe become a philanthropist (Henry David Thoreau would hate me...).
23. Be levelheaded and not react poorly to things. This almost counteracts #10, but whatever. I like it.

It's a mix of goofy, serious, difficult, and easy. I'm not saying everything will happen, but it never hurts to set goals. It gives me purpose.

Wandering Eyes

Wandering eyes.

The pressure to succeed leads to this.

Passing notes.

Whispering secrets of great writers 

and founding fathers.

Watching the time tick by

as they peek at others.

There are no innocents in this great sea of people.

We have all been the victim or the criminal.

Both in the wrong.

The guilt disappears for

Success.

Approval.

Glory.

But why does Integrity
s
  l
    i
      p
our minds?