B Minor and SU

Cherish here!

How are you all doing on this beautifully drizzly Washington day? Good? Good! I'm really great today, although I've been fighting off a pretty wicked cold all weekend. I went to Seattle University's fall preview day anyway though,  nothing could have kept me away. It was probably my best experience at SU I met with the head of their Humanities for Leadership degree program, as well as one of the heads of the Public Affairs degree programs, and I tell you what, I am so excited I could probably have a heart attack. Talking to them was really reassuring; they had me believing I'd get into college for sure. In another one of SU's quirks, they gave out umbrellas as gifts for coming. Probably I fell in love even more right then. And I don't even like umbrellas.
Unfortunately on my way home in a burst of inspiration I stopped by the library and checked out a bunch of books on college applications that convinced me that I am, in fact, never going to get into any college. Hint: if you're ever applying for colleges, DO NOT CHECK OUT BOOKS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS!! They'll stomp on your inner collegiate and have you hiding under your blankets while you try to pull yourself together. Not good stuff. Not good at all.

 

 Speaking of school.. I know I wasn't really but now I am. I helped my friend out with her photography project and I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

 We got some really cool photos all though almost none of them are in focus and it took us a long time. Probably it took so long because she wasn't actually sure how to work some of her equipment, but we got it figured out.  The whole experience was fun though, trying to see the camera and make art work with glowsticks at the park in the dark. We made sure to bring strong people with us just in case. 

 

Last weekend I also had a volunteer meeting! The woman who came and spoke at our leadership class was a former clown, apparently a famous clown in the Everett area but I couldn't find any pictures on google, who is now working as an event planner and devotes a lot of time to volunteering in her community. She was both hilarious and inspiring. She couldn't stay with a job that wasn't self-employment for more than six months despite having a degree in advertising. She talked to us about really evaluating what we are looking for out of our education and our lives, and not just doing what other people think we should. She talked about setting goals. We could totally see her as a clown. After her talk and our little class we went to work in the Everett Food Bank. I spent an hour bagging sugar, and I actually had a really good time. I was hesitant because I was separated from my friends within the organization, but I used it as an opportunity to get to know some of the other cool cats involved. We were a wicked efficient sugar bagging assembly line. I also spent a good deal of time papering donation barrels and talking to some other people I'd never met and probably never would have talked to. I had a really good time and we did a lot of good. One group painted the new mural there while another cleaned up outside around the building. It was pretty fantastic.

Today I am being productive. I have a lot of homework to do. I've another piece of music to write for music theory, in B minor. Also some tests and extra credit and research papers. Wish me luck! Also! Districts for diving is this week on Wednesday! I'm nervous and really excited. The coach also put me in a relay swimming! Took me by surprise, honestly. Finals are saturday, wish me luck for that too! Good luck to you all in your pursuits also!

Cherish out!

College Applications and Sylvester Stallone

Cherish here!

It's been awhile, and my last post was pretty down, so I thought I'd finally climb back on the bandwagon and liven things up here. So here we are, dusting off the cyber-cobwebs. How have you all been? I've been much better lately. Although being me, much better still has a whole lot of stress.
I've been filling out college applications and I've run aground on these essays. I am having the worst of times trying to write these stupid things. I don't know why it's so difficult to do. Probably the stress of my future hinging on whether I write about Star Trek or my experiences with community service. Which is stressful! But I digress. I'll get it. Seattle University's early action deadline is November 15th, so I've a few weeks left. I just need to kick it in to gear. I'm also applying to Seattle Pacific University, the University of Maine, and Western Washington University.
I remember when I was a little girl, playing pirate ship on an oversized green hammock. I miss those carefree days. I miss living in Seattle. With luck things will come around soon and I'll be back there. I look forward to the future, but I'm also terrified of it. I lie awake at night with butterflies in my stomach just thinking about the world of possibilities open for me.
At my leadership training/volunteer activity today we had a guest speaker come in who could be making obscene amounts of money doing the job she went to college for. Instead she makes good money as a DJ and event planner, having recently retired from her longtime occupation as Giggles the Clown. She had quite the story and I was inspired by her. She did what she wanted to do, and she was happy doing so. She never stopped giving back to her community. In short she was living the dream, just maybe not the American dream as it's usually interpreted, better I think.
I watched a documentary today on Sylvester Stallone and the making of the Expendables. He's really an incredible person. He's so dedicated. He said something, when they had finished filming and were walking away from set for the last time. The place would not be there tomorrow. The island of Vilena no longer existed. Everything was gone forever. There is no tomorrow, no second chances. It's gone. You only have one chance. He said this as he limped off set with a concussion, injured back, and torn ligament having just filmed the physically intensive final battle scenes. He said that he didn't want to talk to his grandchildren one day and have to tell them he didn't finish it, that he failed. I am so inspired by him.
Now it's back to work fishing for the right words in an ocean of verbiage to get me into the college of my dreams.

Cherish out!