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!