AP Exams

aka the death of a student's social life

    Hey guys! So just recently I participated in my very first AP exam. Let me just be straight forward: it was awful. I spent countless hours reviewing and cramming information into my brain and then used a mere fraction of that knowledge to complete a 4 hour long standardized test.
    Though this is a grueling process, it does have some benefits if you study hard enough and make an effort. If you score above a certain grade you can potentially exempt out of some required courses your freshman year of college. So the big question is, is it all worth it?
    In my opinion, AP classes are definitely worth the stress. Not only am I challenging my mind, but I am preparing myself for college course-loads. Even though there is a huge exam at the end of the year and a ton of social events I missed out on to study, I think that my AP classes are preparing me to get serious in college and to get my work done on time. Though there is a lot of stress involved in pushing yourself to the AP level, it is worth every minute. So don't shy away from an AP class. If you are considering taking one, go for it! It will 100% help you in college. pinky promise.

Bree

College

Hey!
This post is just a little update to let you know about my spring break! I have spent almost the entire break going on college tours. I know, crazy, right? It kind of hit me this week that I am getting older, and soon I will be out there on my own. That in itself is scary and exciting and all sorts of other things.But I have enjoyed envisioning my future and seeing all of the viable options out there for my education.
    I know that college is not for every one, but this is my PSA telling everyone that college of some sort is highly recommended. It is literally almost impossible to find a job in today's work place without a degree. So even if you feel like a four year degree isn't for you, go to community college and get and Associates degree. Education is super important and I think America kind of takes these opportunities for granted. Anyways, this was just a quick update and my thoughts on college. Enjoy your break!

Bree

FAME

Hey!

So I'm not sure if I mentioned it in any of my past posts, but for the past 2 months I have been part of the musical production at my school! My school performed FAME the musical this past weekend and it was a blast! Of course I wasn't on stage, I was back stage playing in the orchestra. My friend Leah, from Love Ling, was one of the leads in the show! She has an incredible voice and totally crushed the role of Carmen Diaz.
    I really enjoyed my time working with the cast and crew of FAME, even with all of the frustrations, I had fun working with some amazing and talented people! I would recommend anyone to join their school musical, you will have such a great time. I think that this has really inspired me to be myself. If all of these theater kids can get on stage and do such incredible things, why can't I just be my crazy self in real life and own it? I loved working with the musical so much that I am actually considering joining the cast next year! So I encourage you guys to go out and be yourself. You do you, and maybe even join your school musical(:

Bree

Finally!

Hey!
    So recently I have been doing a ton of stuff in school, and I joined the musical with my friend Leah from Love Ling and I also took the SAT and ACT within a little over a week. To put it simply, I have been exhausted. I just thought that I would finally post for you guys again!
    This post is just a little update of my life. I joined the orchestra for the musical being performed at my school, and it has been a good experience so far. Our show is coming up soon so it is time for 5 hour dress rehearsals! In addition to the musical, it was apparently standardized testing time. Ick. Those tests make my brain melt by the end of them, but they are over and I will find out about my scores soonish.
    I think the thing that has made me the most excited recently is this lovely weather. I have missed the sunshine and I can't wait until everyday feels like spring! I can finally break out my chacos and capris, and that makes me so happy. Well I just wanted to give a little update. Check back for more later.

Bree

Junior Year

Hey!

    So today is going to be kind of a rant. I haven't really been posting lately because of one simple fact: Junior year kicks butt. It needed to be said. People will tell you how hard it is, and not to scare you, they will be telling the truth. Junior year has been brutal so far, but it is over half way over! Since I didn't have anyone to give me much advice on how to survive the year of death, I thought I could give some to you guys!

1. It's going to be rough, that part is inevitable.
     Junior year is the year that all of the colleges look at, so you are already going to be pushing yourself academically. On top of all of it, you have to start studying for the SAT and ACT. In addition to that, you have to start looking into colleges and basically planning your whole life. You have to set up and go to college tours, and start looking into summer internships and jobs. Let's be honest with each other, that is a ton of stuff! So go into the year knowing what you have to accomplish and set aside a few Saturdays to get things done. I recommend doing that before 2nd semester!

2. Study. For Real.
     If you don't start getting into good study habits this year, college is going to hard for you. You have to start buckling down and getting work done. You are going to have a ton of homework and other stuff to do, so make sure that the time you put in is worth while.

3. Don't Forget to Have Fun.
     It can be extremely stressful trying to coordinate your entire future. Understandably. But you need to find some time to sit down with a friend and watch a movie, or go get coffee, or just walk around the mall. Time to not think about the hours of work you have left to do before next week!

4. Smile.
    High School is supposed to be fun, right? Colleges will be looking for you to be involved in your school, so make sure that when you do get involved it is something that makes you happy. If you don't smile when you are doing this extra curricular then drop it and find a new one!

That's some of the best advice I can give you so far. I am currently still trudging through the last part of my junior year, and it is kicking my butt. So don't hesitate to start pre-planning! It will seriously help! Check back for more later!

Bree

Stress Sickness

Hey!

    Over the course of this school year I have already been sick 4 times. That's insane, right? I mean what is going on with me. I talked to my dad about it and he said that high stress levels can lower your immune system enough that you can get sick more often. It turns out that junior year is literally making me sick. I have had the flu, two chest colds, and my throat is currently sore. So what are you supposed to do when stress sickness hits?

    The first step is to take care of your health. Eat a ton of healthy foods, especially oranges, to keep your immune system running smoothly. But you also have to take care of your stress level too. Personally, I have a lot going on and when all of my schedules start to collide my brain explodes. Apparently this ruins your immune system, so make sure you build in relaxing days on your weekends. It also helps if you get all of your school work done early so you don't put as much pressure on yourself later on. 

    The main thing to remember is: don't make yourself sick with stress. Like I said in an early post, school tends to run your life, but don't let your performance in school hinder your emotional health. Check back for more later.

Bree

Socializing

Hey!

    With the start of the new semester I have found out that in some of my classes, I don't have anyone who is really my friend to talk to. Starting in a new class is always hard, but it's even harder without your best friend by your side to struggle through it with you. So I have made the decision to use this semester to make new friends. That's right. I said it. New. Friends.
   I know that it might sound dumb, but making new friends is hard, you have to continually put yourself out there to even talk to new people.Socializing with others is not only difficult, but it is essential. So I am going to challenge you. Right now. We are all going to make at least one new friend this semester, and who knows, they might end up being another one of your best friends. Well, this is just a short post, but check back more for later.

Bree

A Fresh Start?

Hey!

Where I go to school, we are currently in between semesters with 5 days of down time. I have successfully wasted a ton of this time laying on the floor and binge-watching Netflix shows, but there is still one more day to prep for the new semester. You might think that I'm crazy, but I like to start the semester fresh. A fresh start.
    I start by cleaning my room and organizing any clutter that could be distracting. This probably sounds ridiculous, but having a clean room keeps my head clear and tends to postpone stress. So go put all of those clothes away and dust off that desk, because this semester could be the start of a new you! I also have a little farewell ceremony for all of the assignments from last semester's classes. This is my absolute favorite part because it's like a giant weight lifted off of my shoulders... literally. And lastly I like to take the time to sit down and organize new binders for the upcoming classes. Creating new binder covers and labeling tabs helps me get excited about the semester to come.
    If you felt like you left first semester with some room for improvement, this is your time to show the world just how hardworking you are! So go for it, and be the best you can be! Check back for more later.

Bree

Don't Let School Ruin Your Life

Hey!

    If you just read the title you might think I'm a little bit crazy. What I'm trying to say is that school is stressful for everyone. Getting good grades will get you into a good college which will lead to a good career, so we all base our success on grades. I do it too, almost everyone does! The flaw in this mind set is that you are going to have off days where you don't do well on a test, or get an awful grade on something. I just recently found out about one of my grades in an AP class and flipped out. But you have to remember that you are taking hard classes, they don't expect you to get 100s, they are ecstatic  if you get As or Bs! So don't stress over the small stuff. And maybe I should take my own advice sometime aha. Check back later for more!

Bree