Libraries and parks are the greatest places to be with people. :) I think I’m too awkward for fancy dinners or marble halls.
Fearless by Taylor Swift. I know, this is so embarrassing.
It’s something you have to work at. Happiness doesn’t magically come.
It is very easy to make me laugh—I laugh at almost everything and there was a point in my life where I thought everything was cute. (Weird, I know.) But I really prefer clever and biting humor since I’m more of a high comedy kind of person.
My friends :) I also like listening to music and politically infused poetry, and on a really bad day, I just like to lie on the ground and sleep fetal position.
stress levels.
off the chart.
5 ap exams in 2 weeks. finals. projects. signing up for college stuff.
i’ve been working harder than i ever have in my life the past few weeks
and i have pretty damn good work ethics
but it’s not good enough and i’m pushing myself to my edge
at least i’ll be prepared for college rigor right?
it scares me that i’m going to a college where some privileged people have taken like 13 ap classes
but well, it’d be pretty lame of me to give up at this point
gotta finish strong
people using yolo as a rationale for doing stupid things.
Officially moving past this blog for a new college-oriented blog.
As for the 25 day challenge, well, you guys know my piece of mind about high school.
Follow me here:
http://staceythetextbookslayer.tumblr.com/
I think I’ll keep this blog just to remind me how past crazy I am.
Okay I will snazzify everything once I finish chem homework hohoho
I don’t know how I can put it. I’ve always studied hard, for most subjects. I am a studier. Mr. Elwell calls me the book lady because I have a ridiculous amount of AP study guides. I’m not as bright as my peers, but I do well because I push myself to do well. Intelligence will get you nowhere. You don’t need to be the most talented or the smartest. You need to work the hardest and you need to take advantage of all the resources you have. Call me a nerd, but I really love being excited over learning.
English is probably the only subject that I don’t study for, and it’s because I love the material so much. My habits have really slipped this year, but I have studied hardcore, especially for information-based classes like AP Biology, AP Psychology and APUSH. I feel like my good work ethics, coupled with the experience I gained from phenomenal teachers at Independence, will really help me in college. Seriously, you have no idea how underrated Independence’s AP/Honors departments are. I will have taken 8 AP classes at Independence, and I’m not lying when I say that all my teachers have been phenomenal in helping me reinforce the material.
IAP! I am in love with IAP and UC Berkeley, and I cannot imagine myself anywhere but at Cal. The campus has such an intellectual vibe to it, and everyone is so AWESOME! Aesthetically, It has this antiquated, outdoorsy, and urban beauty to it. I’ve seen more hobos and smokers than I ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE, but in a strange way, they add to the diverse environment at Cal. Everyone I’ve met thus far is a go-getter. People grasp opportunities and everyone is so open to making new friends. All the people I’ve met in the program are not only hardworking and bright, but also passionate and extremely open-minded. I cannot stress enough how strongly I feel a sense of belonging at Cal. Cal really does have everything; the body of students and solicitors is like this super eclectic mix. I’ve literally become colorblind the last few days because the racial diversity of the scholarship program is so wide. I don’t know. It’s amazing how much room I have to be myself here. I’ve never felt this accepted in high school. I just feel like everyone WANTS to hear what I think, and that my opinion actually matters in this crazy, crazy environment.
It really helped that I had a really sweet host who is like, the much more mature version of me. Yong Yu, you’re too awesome and helpful :) I feel like everyone here is really helpful, yet able to accept the fact that I’m becoming an adult. And like I said, everyone embraces brand new experiences and learning.
So, what did I do these past few days? Got on the bus at San Jose, which was literally across the street from my house. We arrived at Berkeley, visited the bookstore (where I befriended Brian, Lily, Michelle, and Julie), and had a super awesome, filling lunch. One of the admissions people came and talk to us, and the IAP staff introduced themselves. We took a campus tour/scavenger hunt and one of our guides was a Neurobiology major!!! :) We threw up a lot of twos and took like 20 pictures…yeah.
Then I met Yong Yu, my super duper awesome hostess :) We chilled a bit at her apartment and I dragged her all around campus. She’s really nice, and so gracious man. Plus she has a bunch of cute things, hehehe AND she listens to indie music. Talking to her was really helpful, and man, I probably asked more questions this weekend than in my entire life! We had dinner at Crossroads (a buffet style cafeteria which I really wouldn’t recommend to you if you want to stay healthy in college) and I talked to Vincent’s host and Julie a little bit. Then, IAP threw together this really nice talent show which made me realize how AMAZING my peers at Cal will be. Seriously, this 4th year scholar named Autumn Chang stood up and recited a poem about healthy body image and people actually treated her with courtesy and even SNAPPED.
Oh yes, then Yong Yu brought me to her co-ed fraternity’s talent show, which was less rowdy than I expected. It has this nice sense of bonding, hahaha. She took me out before they revealed some sort of big secret, and we walked home in the dark. Berkeley is surprisingly safe and peaceful at night. The campus is quite beautiful in the dark as well, with the towering buildings dimly glowing.
Slept around 12 and woke up at 9. We grabbed breakfast at the Cesar Chavez Hall, and then attended a bunch of workshops regarding financial aid, CalSo, Summer Bridge (which is NOT a remedial program), and different services available. Talked to another neurobiology major and Helena and Vivian at lunch and then talked to my family, who came at around 10:15. Yeah, I don’t even have to say how delicious the food was, hahaha. There was a panel at lunch and we went on another campus tour before the bus arrived. AND, I will proudly sport my Cal shirt on Monday.
So much raw talent and love. I can’t contain myself.
GO BEARS. (The jingoism is ironic because Cal is such a liberal environment. But it’s funny. And I like it.)
PS: Everyone uses “hella” there.
PPS: I also saw JBui & Brian (Hsieh) at Sather Gate today, hahaha! :)
well, kinda nervous
Hmm, lately, I’ve been starting out my days with some mellow Boyce Avenue/instrumental songs. And then, when I actually start working, I listen to some of The Killers/The Strokes/Razorlight/Arctic Monkeys. I like going to sleep listening to songs with folksy feels; I’ve recently discovered Ivan and Alyosha and the Moondoggies :)
My favourite season is fall. Spring is too lovey-dovey, winter is too cold, sumer is too warm. Autumn is…mature.
I think fall is the perfect season to go on a date at the park and watch the sun set or something. The leaves are vibrant and crisp and the sky is this hazy rose color in the evening. It’s perfect weather to stay inside with a cup of cocoa or take a contemplative walk.
Plus it’s when school starts, and I love school.
PS NOT DOING CHEM HOMEWORK L O L
I really love libraries. They’re the perfect places to find peace of mind and friends. When I have a free day (those are pretty rare), I really enjoy relaxing in the downtown library with a cup of iced tea and a good graphic novel.
I should sleep.
One word: Interact.
During my freshman year, I had this preconceived notion that anyone who did community service was a college-application kiss-up. Since my friend joined the club at another school my sophomore year, I decided to give it a shot at Independence. Well, now it’s three years later, and I’m an experienced board member for the club. I just love how I’m able to be myself and how the club makes me a whole less cynical about the world. There are people who genuinely want to help others, and that’s really awesome.