Day 83

Sorry, didn't go to school today. More tomorrow!

Day 82

I feel VERY confident about my Modern Lit and Biology test. Yeah, I studied until my brain was about to explode, but I feel like I really did well, though I don't doubt Ms. Johnson might find something to mark off just for the hell of it. Today I was very irritated by Ms. Hazard, because we sang Christmas carols around the school for ninety minutes. It was ridiculous, especially when I had to sing Tenor the entire time and Ashley (one of the vice-principals' daughter) decided she was going to lead us all around the school to sing when she only had six places picked out so we kept singing in the exact same spots.

Yes, a lot about our Christmas caroling irritated me. Not only was the timing wrong (finals week, seriously? why couldn't we have done it earlier in December?) but the carols weren't even fun, they weren't full of Christmas spirit and joy. The ones we sang last year were just that, and we walked and sang at the same time, but Ms. Hazard just had us stand in a spot and sing a song and then move, so my friend and I started singing fun Christmas carols and she told us to stop singing because we were disturbing classes. Let me tell you, I had the BEST bitch face on because we were already disturbing classes with our singing, and it was her fault that we were singing during the Finals week and that the carols were shitty. I promise you that I am usually fine with Christmas, I actually love Christmas, but when I have all of Christianity stuck down my throat like bad medicine that makes me spiteful towards it. I don't celebrate it for Christ, I celebrate it for joy and family. If Ms. Hazard makes my choir sing more Christian songs or anything to do about Jesus after I have told her several times of how uncomfortable I am of it, I will bring the issue directly to the principal. It's just I'm tired of being forced to do this when it's obvious I am way too uncomfortable with it.

Day 81

Biology I was studying like crazy! Just kidding, we spent most of the hour just talking and being pretty chill before the big test tomorrow. Mythology we didn't have a lesson plan actually planned, so we didn't do anything thing. Modern Lit we studied for our test tomorrow as well. I think those are the only tests I'm freaking out about. In American gov we finished our movie and then we got our study guides and we were put into groups for this stupid review game we've got to do before our test. We didn't do much of anything for choir or creative writing. It's just been a long, slow day today.

Day 80

The concert was fantastic! Women's Choir has advanced so far and the Men's chorus was pretty funny, and, of course, I was a bit envious of Monumental Singers, but two of the songs they sang was...ridiculous? Stupid? I don't know, but it wasn't befitting of them. I mean, singing Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies was a good idea, but I don't feel it was fit for a choir to sing, and when they suddenly did a song with singing and dancing, it wasn't that great, especially when you couldn't make out the words because you're taken aback with all the ridiculous dancing. It's really too bad that Monumental singers is so stuck up and make it seem like they're better than the other choirs, because it makes them very cruel, especially when they act like bitches to the people I care about. Of course, Monumental Singers is an auditioned choir, a mixed auditioned choir, but Las Cantantes is an auditioned choir and you don't see a lot of them acting like stuck-up bitches - yes there are some that do that who belong to mainly the Sopranos. Still, there's no need to be better than the other, it's just disrespectful. Anyway, when my choir sang - Las Cantantes - it was awesome! We didn't mess up our words, our pitches were great, and we had such a blast!

Biology we got the notes for our Final on Tuesday, and we got to pick our Urban Myth for Mythology - of course I picked Bloody Mary, though I might see if I can do another one for extra credit. We finished Black Like Me - book and movie - and got the notes for our Final on Thursday. Also, still watching Lincoln. And I kinda ditched Creative Writing to go see one of my old teachers at the 8/9. Yeah, it was an okay day.

Four and a half days until Christmas break!

Day 79

In Biology we finished the notes for our Unit test that's next Tuesday. Really worried, especially since it's Finals week and I'll have other tests that I have to memorize information for. When I say memorize, I mean exactly that and then forget most of the things that didn't stick out to me. It really sucks to admit that. Took some notes on Native American mythology that I found to be really interesting, and we're also getting started on our Urban Myths final presentation, which I imagine will go very well. In Modern Lit we have continued watching Black Like Me and the movie representation of the novel is very interesting, I'm really enjoying it.

American Gov we are still watching Lincoln and it's really good. Choir we got to practice for our concert in the auditorium - finally! - and with the boys dancing to one of our pieces. I'm super nervous, but I have all my music memorized, so I'm pretty happy - and excited - about that. And in Creative Writing we spent our time in the library and I turned in my twenty poems and short story a day early - I was excited.

So excited for the concert tonight!

Day 78

I am so, so very tired. This morning the air was bitter with frost, the only sign that winter had laid its claim in the Grand Valley. My partner and I gave our presentations on the Kikuyu mythology and found another tribe that was closely similar to it. We took our government test today for the Judicial branch and I feel very confident about it, but I'll probably get a C like I always do on the Government tests, but we're starting to watch the Lincoln movie which makes me really excited.

Also, I talked to my counselor today and tried to get three/four releases since I only need two classes left to graduate and am graduating with 32 out of 25 credits, but she told me I could only have two releases. What?! Really?! Only two?! But, I only need two more classes! I only need to show up TWICE to school! I worked hard to get those releases! Why don't I have them? Because the school is using me and all the other students as tickets to get more money for the school. See, the more students a school has in session, the more money they get. I understand, totally, especially when they put the money more towards the sports programs than the musical, but I get it. Except for the fact that I have to still be in school. I could have graduated early, but my counselor put all my required classes into my second semester, but I didn't mind because I was told that for first semester we were required only two releases, but second semester we could get more, and now I'm getting denied something I worked really hard to get.

That's called bullshit, my friends.

Instead of wasting my time for four hours I could be doing a four hour shift at work or even an eight hour shift and get home before ten at night. Instead, I have to take more classes that I don't need all for the sake of my school that wants to use me as a money cow. They tell you that high school is supposed to be the best time of your life, that being a teenager is supposed to be the best time of your life, but we were just being played so people could use us to their advantage instead of helping us to achieve our ambitions. That is what the American public school system is like and, on several occasions, it's almost ended my life. No matter how much I try, I will always be average in the eyes of my mentors who push me to be better than what I am. What if I don't want to be better because being what I am is the best? As good as a thought that is, it's either push to get to the front or get pushed aside and be left behind, thinking you were a failure when, in reality, it was the system that failed us.

We were being played all along.

Day 77

Best. Day. Ever!

Why? Because in Biology we dissected a cow's heart!!! It was totally awesome (though we had never done anything like it - neither did our teacher) and I really, really wish we got to do something like that again! My partner was pretty grossed out by it, but I had fun cutting the heart apart for the first time. There was only one group that seemed to be following the directions and it kind of looked like they were frustrated as hell about it, but Sasha and I did our own thing and learned what the heart was like in our own way, and it turned out pretty fun. We took the heart over to our other science teacher, Mr. Fox, and showed off how totally awesome Mr. Miller's Bio class was (and I got to learn some cool stuff about the heart from Fox too!).

Fifth hour Modern Lit we started a movie made in the 1960s about Black Like Me, and the adaptation is surprisingly good.

Seventh hour we spent working really hard on our music; my biggest thing is that I have to memorize everything - or just the words. No worries! I'll be able to get it done in two days! I'm a natural!!!

Day 76

I am completely heart broken; my Mp3 player didn't survive the washer or dryer. The one that I have has lasted me for almost two years now - the longest of all my players - so it really sucks, especially since I won't be able to get one for another couple weeks. Anyway, we had a sub in Biology today, so we watched a video about Medicine and how far its advanced. Mythology we're still working on our African PowerPoints, Modern lit everyone is slowly catching up and the worksheets are endless. Government we had PowerPoints over cases that the Supreme Court ruled on that affected our Amendments and freedoms for the people. Very slowly we're finishing our way to our Christmas concert, but I'm actually spending most of my time writing twenty poems and perfecting my short story for Adv. Creative Writing. I'm really excited! Only five more poems to go!!!

Day 74 - 75

The past couple of days have been riddled with coughs and homework. I'm so happy it's the weekend, I couldn't stand another minute having to be at school when all I want to do is sleep! In Mythology we've started a new until, this time on African Mythology. My partner and I are to research a group in Kenya that call themselves Kikuyu and find their creation myth and an adventure myth. So far it's hard to find the both of those, but I finished the PowerPoint today (Friday). In Biology we just had a counselor come in to have us sign papers that we're going to stay in Biology for next semester. We're still reading Black Like Me (though I've already finished and the class is still making their way to page 83), but so far I'm just ready for school to be over with.

12 Days until Christmas Break!!!

Day 74

Mythology, since we read King Arthur, we watched the movie, the Keira Knightly one though it wasn't an adaption that was close to the story line very much. Still, it was pretty good. In American Government we took some more notes but we also are doing a presentation on court cases that have affected our nation. The one that my group got was Texas v. Johnston, it's about flag burning and if it's unconstitutional or a part of the first Amendment. Eighth hour we're watching a movie that goes along with scripts.

Also, my prayers go out to the protesters and to the family of Eric Garner; a horrible nightmare that justice will not be served the way it should upon those who have inflicted the cruelest of pain.

Day 73

I didn't go to school today, I actually helped out my sister as she moved out of my dad's house and into her own place. Don't know if she knows it, but I'm pretty proud of her.

Day 72

Oh my gosh! I have not been asleep for almost thirty-six hours now and I had to close last night and I am really sick! Being a teenager sucks, but I had to push through it, even though sleep was the only constant on my mind. I spent third hour watching an almost twenty year old movie about Ebola and found it quite terrifying and interesting. In Mythology my group acted out our scene for King Arthur and it looked like my group was the one who tried the hardest. Fifth hour we just went over a poem written by a black women in the 1950s and how its theme fit in with the novel Black Like Me.

Sixth hour was VERY important for me today, because I was very interested in what we were talking about. We were talking about the different cases that the Supreme Court was a part of and how it helped to shape the Supreme Court and our society today. All the cases were interesting, like the ending of segregation - especially in public schools, when women were given the right to have an abortion, etc. I was very grateful for those people that fought for the rights that I have, and it makes me humble. Also, Mr. Stockert opened my eyes - and the class' - to what was happening today; people are trying to limit our rights. His words sparked my curiosity that I spoke to him after class about it. I asked him that, even though our government was a democratic one, wasn't trying to take or change our rights illegal. The look he gave me was like "Ah! You get it." Then he told me how it was. I then asked him, "Wouldn't that make our government tyrannic?" Then he smiled at him, telling me that it would indeed. My perspective has changed a bit, and I'm glad Mr. Stockert has opened my eyes to it.

Seventh hour was full of music and eighth hour was surprisingly dull. I actually got pulled down to the councilor's office to talk about how I need to raise my ACT score or take a placement test in order to take a college Algebra class. I keep trying to set a time to take the ACT, but it's just been misplaced. I'll have to call soon.

Until tomorrow!