Taking the SAT was hard for multiple reasons.
First, the test is long. Really, really long. As in 3 hours of sitting on your butt, staring at a booklet full of questions, bubbling in your answers (be careful, don't want to finish only to find out that you accidentally filled out question 5's answer in the space for question 6...), and trying to remember everything you've ever learned.
And by everything you've ever learned, I mean all the spelling and grammar rules. The worst part of taking the SAT is coming out of the testing room and back into the real world of improper grammar and incorrect spelling.
For example, after sitting through 3 hours of SAT, I came out only to hear someone say, "Yo, man! Where you at?"
It's WHERE ARE YOU not "where you at"!
Frustrating.
There are other instances where I just feel myself slipping back into SAT mode for spelling corrections. In fact, some of these instances are so common for so many people, that they have become their own internet meme (definition of internet meme as provided by Wikipedia). One such is Asian spelling mistakes. In other words, when something is imported from Asia, the English spelling of all words is not necessarily correct.
I was (un)fortunate enough to be able to experience this phenomenon first hand at a Grand Mart (Asian supermarket).
Example 1:
I guess you could just focus on the artwork...it is a cute picture...
They did put the correct form of you're/your, so not a complete and utter failure.
"You're my sunchine"
Although, why a dead fish and another fish about to die is suitable for the quote "You're my sunshine"...
Examples 2 and 3:
They were very inventive; they were unable to spell "cushion" not on one flyer, but two and two different spellings...
I have to give them some credit, though. They got it on the third try.
Anyways, I guess the whole point of this post was to show you just how important it is to follow proper grammar and spelling rules. It just makes life easier.
Off to spellcheck my essay,
Little Star
The first day of school is always kind of nerve wracking.
Did I do a good enough job remembering where my classes were from yesterday's walk around campus? When I scheduled my classes, did I leave enough time to get from place to place and enough time to get something to eat?
Did I have anyone to eat with...or would I be a loner?
As a college freshman, it's both better and worse than in high school. In high school (or at least, at my school), all of my friends and I had the same lunch block. In college, classes are self-scheduled and you don't always have lunch with your roommate or with your other friends.
In high school, the classes were all in the same building, and the maps would show classrooms and classroom numbers. In college, classes are all over campus in multiple buildings, and maps show buildings, but never classrooms. In high school, the farthest distance you had to cross between classes was the length of the building. In college, the farthest distance you have to cross between classes is the length between the two farthest buildings you have classes in.
What I'm trying to say, though, is that the first day is the first day. Whether it's the first day of school, first day of work, first day of any other sort of engagement, we all go through the same anxieties. Eventually, we find what works for us and settle in...until the next new challenge, of course.
As my housefellow said, a situation is only as awkward as you make it. Take time to meet someone new, no situation is too awkward as long as you say it isn't.
It's inevitable. One day, everything that was there before will change. Everyone will one day face a change in their life...in fact, will face many changes. Some will be for the better, others for the worse. It all depends on how you view it (and life). In other words, do you think the glass is..
The Optimist (also called...well, just called The Optimist)
The Pessimist (also called The Realist)
or that the
The Scientist (also called The Real Realist)
Anyways, the point of today's post is that changes happen. One of the biggest changes in a person's life is the moment they graduate high school. It's as if, suddenly, the person is now an adult with adult responsibilities (though, it's sad to think that responsibilities only magically appear after graduating).
Depending on how you look at it, you could be happy (ready to move onto a new chapter in your life), upset (not ready for everything to change yet and holding on to the past), or resigned (it's going to change regardless of whether I want it to or not, so I better prepare).
As I was preparing for my own graduation, my thoughts were a rollercoaster - swinging one way then the next. First, I was happy that it was finally over. All of the work that I had put in, would be finally paid off. Then, I was upset, I wasn't ready for everything to change. Going to college in a new city (in an actual CITY - even more shocking to a girl who has always lived in the suburbs) was frightening.
However, in those few days between the end of attending classes (yes, I went to every class: I only skipped twice - once for Senior Skip Day and the second time to prepare for prom) and the actual graduation ceremony, I decided to let myself get really sad (and sentimental). For the five days leading up to graduation (with the fifth day as the day of the actual ceremony), I posted one song for my friends and family to see. For each song, I chose a video that included the lyrics.
First, I wanted to remind my underclassmen friends that, though I was leaving and wouldn't see them as often, they should enjoy every moment they had together -- especially my rising-senior friends who only had one more year before they, too, departed our high school.
On the second day, also the last day of classes for seniors, it was my chance to say a final goodbye to my underclassmen friends. This time, I also wanted to remind them that I cherished our time together and that we will meet again!
Next, as the reality began to really set in (no more high school, graduation is real), I reminded myself that I should be looking forward to new experiences, though our parting may be bittersweet.
One day before graduation, I had my graduation party (my family's final send off for me because I'd be at our All-Night Grad Party the night of my actual graduation). On this day, I wanted to sum up the four years. The title says it all, it was the "Time of [MY] Life".
Finally, the day of graduation came and I just had to post The Graduation Song. The guaranteed tear-jerker. The classic. I had been banned from including it in our yearbook's playlist that we used in class as we worked. Yet, it was too quintessential to leave out of my own personal musical graduation countdown.
Looking back, three of the songs were in the "country" genre - not one that I tend to listen to often. Yet, the lyrics just seemed right. The last two were tried-and-true graduation songs that were still were fitting though they've probably been played millions of times. I suppose that I had been trying, consciously, to make myself cry. Crying is therapeutic, you know?
By posting this, I guess I'm finally saying to myself that it's time to move on. I've become resigned to the fact that though I may not want to move on, time was going to pass with or without my consent. I might as well make the most of it and enjoy the time I have before leaving.
I'll draw you a picture to make up for my absence. Yes, it's random. It's because I felt like it.
I'm thinking of doing a photo logo for the background. I've always shied away before because I feel that it would be too cluttered. Yearbook has trained me (slightly more) in the details of good designing.
Looking at my drawing, I'm going to guess that I need to do a little more work to make up for my long absence. It's not quite drawing so much as good placement of letters and shapes.
I'll try again in a bit. Right now, I'm swamped with getting ready to move. One thing I'm not looking forward to is meeting my roommate and falling short of her expectations.
My (recovering) germaphobia doesn't necessarily make me a neat freak. It's unique. My germs (and mess) are my own germs and therefore pose no threat. Other people's germs (and mess) are the problem. So, to sum it up: I'm messy, but I'd like my roommate to be neat (and not care about my messiness). In other words: possibly the worst roommate ever?
Waiting for inspiration means having to wait anywhere from 1 minute to 1 year (or longer). Luckily for you, I managed to find it within 3 (or more) days!
Actually, I'm not sure it's really good inspiration. In fact, it wasn't really even inspiration at all. I just thought it was funny.
Thinking about it, why do princesses always have perfect eyesight and perfect teeth, their hair never gets messed up (or if it does, either it still looks good or is fixed with one swish), perfectly fitting (and for the most part, flattering) outfits, and can sing?
Little Star
So. This is a double post to make up for no post yesterday and a post that could be barely considered a post on the 13th, but really the 14th (12:06am - I count it as night time and my "tomorrow" doesn't start until I wake up from sleeping...). This post also has a ton of photos and my own drawings to make up for the fact that none of my friends (even the artistic ones) had Valentine's Day artwork!
So, without further ado... a V-Day recap.
It was a good Valentine's Day, even though it doubles as Singles Awareness Day...because I made delicious treats for Valentine's Day!
Chocolate covered marshmallows with sprinkles. Pure sugar? Yum!
I was bored and said to myself, "Why not make 36 (or more - I lost count) little marshmallows covered in chocolate in sprinkles?"
So I did.
Here's the fruit of my labor.
Ready to be refrigerated so the chocolate can harden...
...and done refrigerating!
All wrapped up and ready to go!
Different lighting - look at all of those sprinkles!
30 of them were on lollipop sticks (from Michael's). The other (more than 6 now that I think about it) were just wrapped into little bundles of sugary joy (sorry, no photos).
Speaking of sugary things...the nice thing about the day after Valentine's Day is that all of the V-Day specific (and some non-V-Day specific) candies and chocolates go on sale! It's like the week after Halloween, but instead of being black and orange, all the packaging is pink and red!
One example of the V-Day specific candies is (or is it "are"?) conversation hearts candies. If you still don't know what I mean, just keep following along, it'll all make sense as soon as you see it. A lot of people think they taste like chalk, but I actually really enjoy these!
The Evolution of the Conversation Heart Candy (as seen/analyzed by Little Star)
So, it started with "Kiss Me" hearts...
Then phones became popular, so they made "Call Me" hearts...
Then internet became popular, so they made "Chat Me" hearts...
Then cell phones became popular, so they made "Text Me" hearts, but they decided to use texting shorthands so it became "Txt Me" hearts...
Then, Twitter became popular, so they made "Tweet Me" hearts...
I have some amazing photos (not to compliment my own--very amateur--photography skills, but I am proud of the way these came out) of the cute treats I made for Valentine's Day.
As soon as I have a bit more time (aka, not 12am), I'll upload and actually post.
Yes, I know, 12:06am is technically already Feb. 14 so I missed Feb 13, but anyways...
I was thinking of what to do for yesterday, I just never sat down to type it all up.
Anyways, yesterday I watched Despicable Me for the 4th time! Yes, the fourth time...but, honestly, you can't help but love the minions! So, that's what I did instead of post.
Moving on to today's post.
As we approach Valentine's Day, couples everywhere are re-evaluating their relationships. It's like tax-filing day...but for love, not money. It's a time of forgiving, and a time of letting go.
While couples break-up or make-up, the singles in the world are watching: some with jealousy (how do some people find love early in life and others find it on the deathbed...or just later?), others with hope (if they found happiness, I can too), and still others with glee (ha! I knew they wouldn't last long. He/She had it coming! That *%$&@ (I have no idea what word that's supposed to mean. Fill it in yourself if you're so inclined--by the way, this is a double parentheses!) cheater).
Single on Valentine's Day
What are your plans for the rest of V-Day (ha, makes it sound as impressive as D-Day) weekend or Valentine's Day itself?
Anticipate the Valentine's Day post! It's a mini-history lesson (hopefully also illustrated!)...
Little Star
Let's see how long I can keep this (a post a day) up for...
Ambitious, but I think it'll be worth it if for nothing else but to aspire to have a readership like that of Hyperbole and a Half or The Oatmeal.
Anyways. I shall also do some drawings - but my artwork is nowhere near the level of The Oatmeal's nor near the level of crazy (but also amazing) of Hyperbole and a Half's Allie's.
Long introduction aside (I just realized how much I enjoy putting spaces between every new idea - makes for a longer post...), there really is no other topic for this post besides saying I'm trying to post all the time. I really dislike posting trivial things like the songs I'm currently listening to (my brother's music in the background and the humming of my laptop in front of me). Or what I'm eating (leftovers from Ruby Tuesdays - surprisingly, the Parmesan Shrimp Pasta was really good!). Or what I'm doing (I thought that would be kind of obvious considering I'm writing right now). Or my current problems (like scheduling interviews)...actually, I guess I do blog about current problems.
Eh, this post is going on too long. Talk to you soon,
Little Star
January 1st is a low because that's the day most of my college apps were due (granted, I got them in before the deadline, but for the sake of example...). January 2 is the day I thought began my freedom. As the month of January progressed, I realized...there was still more to do. By the time February 1 rolled around, I was at the same level as January 1st because I realized just how much was still left to do...
Just as I was getting ready to heave a sigh of relief (or rather, I did begin to sigh in relief when I realized that...), the work never ends.
The college application process really never ends until you're actually at the school. The second you finish your regular essays for supplements and common apps, you start working on financial aid applications (who knew how hard it was to figure out just how much money you had saved up?). Or essays for scholarships. Or videos for scholarships. Or science fair projects for scholarships.
After you get accepted, you go on visits to decide which one. When you decide, you have to start figuring out tuition and room and board and classes. Meanwhile, you're still frantically finishing scholarship applications. Finally, August rolls around and it's finally here. Then you start school and the homework and classwork begins. When you graduate from college it's back the drawing board: graduate school or a job.
Whatever it is, the work just goes on.
Anyways. Enough depressing thoughts of never-ending work. My little brother started posting more frequently than I did on his blogs (yes, blogs. He has three - even more than I do! His latest endeavor--and the blog I think he'll update the most frequently because there's a definite focus--is williamsmusic101), so I took that as a sign that I should probably increase the number of postings I have for my two blogs...
Little Star's Random Thoughts, Questions, and Answers
Little Star
Yay! It's me! And I promise, no stencil, this was drawn entirely freehand by me! :D Why don't people believe me??
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