Yahh! I am getting the itis.! =[

If you are senior, this term is very common for you to hear and even go through. From beginning to end of this year I have been a victim of SENIORITIS. My immune system COULD NOT fight it off, no matter how hard I tried. If you are wondering what this awful virus is well the definition says that it is a colliqual term used in the United States and Canada to describe the decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school, college and graduate school careers. An example of the word in use: "I have a bad case of senioritis"

The symptoms include: procrastination, lack of motivation, a drop in academic performance, a desire to drop out of school, and "coasting", which is the act of going through classes with very little concentration or application of intent along with truancy and frequent tardiness

The medicine you can take: Graduate!

Blast from the Past !

Graduation is on Friday. I will be getting my high school diploma plus I am the Salutatorian for my school. I think that's a pretty big achievement. 
To tell you the truth, even though I only have been in my school for 3 years, it might actually hard to say goodbye to everyone. I think I will genuinely miss both the students and faculty at my school. 
Since I am part of the Class of 2011, I think the best way to go out is a look down memory lane. Just like a series finale on TV, it's time to say Goodbye to a 13 year long series, which lasted from Kindergarten to 12th grade (present).

Kindergarten: First School Experience- private school in Brooklyn. Uniforms, wrongful discipline but memorable friends. My dad's company invested in our class and we all got books published about us personally. :)

First Grade: Still there. My sister started preschool there and as well as my three cousins. We roll deep! Made a best friend named Taylor ( I still remember her like it was yesterday) I think even had 3 boyfriends. One at school, one was my next door neighbor, one was at church. Wow, I got around. I played piano, swimming lessons and did ballet. Everything was perfect ! <3

Second Grade: Parents decided to be separated. Moved to a public elementary school in New Jersey. Living in the suburbs was a new type of life; awesome school system, private school had me ahead of all the students. Easy making new friends- I even found a new best friend.  I was living the good life, better than Brooklyn.  

Third Grade: Learned Cursive, Mastered Multiplication/Division. Started tap and Jazz, more swimming lessons. Easy year. 

Fourth Grade: The school year that changed my life. I started writing in depth essays, I even won 1st place for an essay contest in my town about Christopher Columbus. I have so much work from 4th grade, I definitely grew as a student. My hand writing got better, reading skills was off the roof, and the competitive me became to form. This grade we also started learning about health with girls and boys. I even got my ultimate wish come true, my mom was pregnant with my baby brother.

Fifth Grade: My teacher was a yeller.  I think that's all I can say plus my brother was born ! 

Sixth Grade: Last year of elementary school! I became a published author. Everyone in the school had a chance to write a book and both my sister and I did. My book was about my life and etc. just like my blog :) I sold 4 copies. Kinda cool. I graduated elementary and was ready for the next step. 

More to come :)

That Day You Turn 18...

April 5th 1993.
10am.
First Born.
The story of my life.    

In exactly 4 days, I will be eighteen years old. The age where many Americans believe that you are considered an adult. SO.. This is what I can do:
1. I can vote (No more voting with my dad)
2. I can smoke ( I don't though, because it messes up your lungs)
3. Truancy cannot pick me up ( HA! in their face)
4. I can buy lottery tickets (I am one step closer to being a billionaire)
5. I can go clubbing. (Parties are for teens, clubs are for adults)
6. I can go to a strip club (Not planning to, anytime soon unless it's the men that are stripping)
7. I can get my official license ( Yay! No more backseat driving for me)
8. I can sign up for the military ( Not happening anytime soon, I doubt I will even survive one day in the army)
9. I can sign a legal contract.
10. I can work more hours. ( First I need to actually have a job to work more hours than zero)
11. I can be convicted as an adult. ( That does NOT seem like any fun)
12. I can obtain a credit card. ( I am super duper fine with the debit card I have already. I cannot be trusted with a credit card as of yet)
13. Pay taxes ( I kind of dislike the paying stuff)
14. I can finally enter contests and sweepstakes. ( I use to act like I was eighteen and just check the box that I was, now I can legally do it)
15. I can order stuff off the TV. (That might hurt me more than benefit me, I am one of those people that want every thing on the informercials except the stupid stuff)
16. I can own a weapon. ( Caution: Anyone who has messed with me in the last eighteen years, better beware)
17.  I can get a tattoo. ( I am getting my first one before I go off to college and in my pelvic area)
18. Pay bills. (Bills, Bills, Bills- Destiny's Child)
19. I can get more piercings. ( Only one more, which is my bellybutton)
20. I can sue and get sued ( I already know who I am suing, this shall be fun)
21. Jury Duty. ( I always wanted to try it, imagine being responsible if someone is guilty or not; that is power!)
22. I can change my name. ( Any ideas? I kind if like the name Christina)
23. I can be on Jerry Springer ( Who wants to go with me?  I will be that person in the audience always commenting on everyone that comes on the show)
24. I can adopt a child. ( I am flying back to Thailand and adopting the baby I wanted from the beginning in the orphanage)
25. I can get a hotel room. ( This shall come in handy when prom comes around)( Hint, Hint, Wink, Wink, Shoulder, Shoulder)
26. I can finally make my own decisions. ( Hint: to the people at my school & my parents that might be a little confused on what this means)
27. I can have the freedom and independence that I didn't have before. (This is more of a wish than a thing that might actually happen)

This list can go on for minutes, hours, days, weeks but these are the ones that matter to me now. You    only turn eighteen once, I am going all out. ! 

Take this quote that came from The Wonder Years, Remember that night you either turn 18 or will be: “Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been, and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves... for growing up.”  

When I Grow Up...

                                  

  I had the amazing opportunity to attend a YMCA Youth & Government conference in Albany. Y&G is a civic engagement and service- learning program in the United States that offers both high school and middle school students the opportunity to serve in a model government process at the local, state, national, and international levels.

                                                          

 Albany is the capital of New York where our New York State government meets to discuss the issues of the state and make crucial decisions. I walked into the Desmond Hotel (many government officials stay here) with my suitcase in one hand and my purse in another. I felt like a true assembly women. The same night we arrived we all attended the Governor's Ball with our cocktail dresses, tuxedos, high heels shoes, looking our best. I felt so honored to attend this ball because not only did it have a Gala feeling with a jazz band but it was the 75th anniversary of Youth & Government in New York. The night was great but the best was our room. I shared a room with my best friend and we had the chance to sleep in this huge king size bed, we had the whole room to ourself. It was a lot of fun, I believe that was the night where had gotten closer and had the ability to see each other's vulnerable sides. Friday was just the beginning of our long but exciting journey.

                                    

         Saturday morning, we woke up at 5:50, dressed in our personalized sweater vest, bills in our hand and just ready to be heard. The feeling that I got was happiness and excitement, I was ready to be heard. Finally  my voice and personality was going to be shown one way or the other. With the support of my team on my side, we sat in the real assembly chambers in the capitol ; at that moment I knew exactly what I needed and wanted to be. I always knew as a child that I wanted to be an obstetrician/ gynecologist but at that moment I wanted to be something else, something more. I wanted people to benefit because of the bills that I have created; I want to give back to New York State. The teen delegates from other districts sat among me. These other teens inspired me with their thoughtfulness, honesty and knowledge of the state and the world that we live in. We argued and questioned each bill; some passed and some failed. The only thing that really disappointed me was that I knew our bill was good but why was it so low on the docket. The only question in my mind was "why?". I wanted to present and show people that this bill was a great idea and that we are helping the students of New York... The night came and it was the elections that highlighted my day. I had teen role models for the first time, I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I wanted to think on my feet or have a wide range vocabulary just like them. The debate was the best I have seen better than some adult debaters who are running for presidency. I was proud to be a teen watching them. At that moment I knew our generation was the one to make a big change in this world. 

                               

          So much happened this weekend, disappointment because since our bill was low on the docket we didn't get to present it at all, to neither senate or assembly chambers. I was confused, surprised and very hurt that I didn't get to show the others how important our bill really was. The people from this conference and our district are really great genuine people. This one teen sensed our emotions and volunteered to sit and hear our bill. From that moment on I knew I was in the right place. 

             I have learned so much from this conference... I learned about patience and honor. I learned new things of New York State that I was unaware of before the presentations of the bills. I now know for sure what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be...

Dadadadaadaada..........

a politician, maybe the next governor of New York State.

                                     like Shirley Chisholm!

Take this quote and live by it: "Democracy must be learned by each generation" - Y&G

Being Class of 2011 : Not fun!

Is the Class of 2011 present? Class of 2011 here! Senior year is the most expensive, nerve racking and bittersweet experience that I have ever had as a teenager. I think I can speak for all seniors that those three emotions are brought up the most and the most consistent in your final year in high school. I am going to break down each of my emotion and try to explain it to you.

Most Expensive:

• College application admission fees
• Senior Trip
• Senior Dues
• Prom x2 (w/ a date)
• Prom Extra Fees
• Senior Pictures
• Tuition for College
• Transportation
• Everyday Living Cost
• School Trips
• Since I am going to West Africa this summer on community service I have to pay my remaining balance which isn't decreasing. That is a extra fee to add to my senior fees above.

Nerve Racking:

     After you apply to all the colleges of your choice you feel independent and you start to feel more like an adult. After I applied to my colleges I felt a breath of fresh air, I saw my dreams at the end of the tunnel, but they were not too far away like when I saw them as a freshman . After my first acceptance, I was on "top of the world". Knowing that a college wants me to attend their school boosted my already high confidence. I became more anxious on my other college acceptances. I went to the mailbox every night and would search to see if their was a BIG envelope in my name. Regular sized envelopes scared me, but then it would be just information on the college for me to read. Colleges  are most likely done with their decisions by April 1st and the date is so near yet so far away, I just want to be accepted to all my choices! The hardest part of the decision making is actually not the decline but the wait in between. I am really happy that April 1st is near so I can make my decision. Let's see where my future takes me! 

Bitter-Sweet:
 I am going to leave this one for the day of my graduation. =D

The Class of 2011 : "Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go,
be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and
one chance to do all the things you want to do."
Take this quote and try to live by it!

Oh na na, What's My Name?

        SO ... my name we might have to keep a secret but everything else is total honesty. Right here is the beginning of our "Moment of Truth". This is harder than I thought, how am I possibly going to start and tell you everything about me. All i know is that this blog shall be much fun because many have said that I should have my own talk show so why not start here! I guess I could start by saying that I am a senior in high school, with the typical problems and stress as everyone else. But I am more than a "typical" teenager, I make actual changes in my life and others on a daily basis. (More Later ON..)
        I wish that when I started high school or even started my senior year, I would've had someone helping me throughout the way with the same problems I have. Well, Guess What? That's what I am here for. We are going to go through the journey of my life as a senior transitioning in to college and on... We are going to work through my trials and tribulations but celebrate through my achievements. My dream is to help young strong women like me to prosper and learn to live with life.
       Every week is going to be a different story, not only because I am a random person but because I am always on the move. Living in New York as a seventeen year old could have its positives and negatives! We will talk about that later. 
        Boys Boys Boys!!! That is a topic by itself. Oh golly, they are another thing that have their positives and negatives. Another day, another time.
        Travelling is my number one hobby. I am packing my bags and getting ready to go to Senegal this summer on community service with the Global Teens- International YMCA . I am so ready but these trips aren't cheap so I am going to fund raise my behind off so I have the opportunity to go. Not only do I need money, I need to get myself emotionally and mentally ready and you guys are going to help with this long but fun process.

   My life isn't perfect, all I really need is a guide or some help living through it. I guess it's time for you to be Keeping up with Christina! :)