Aquinas!

I'm currently on my fall break! The transition into college went well! I'm really liking it at Aquinas and have made the coolest friends.

I'm currently taking German 101, French 101, Intro to Comm, Intermediate Algebra & Trig, and College Chorus. I was taking an Aerobic Fitness class that started at 7:45AM (!!!!) but it just ended (was only a quad). This adds up to 17 credits. I'm doing really well. The last French exam I took, I got 98%. I also gave my first speech for Intro to Comm and got an A-. Really happy. So, yup... I hope I can keep it up!

I'm planning on majoring in International Business... and, if I can, I want to triple major with French and German.  I've heard it's been done before. So if I can do it in 4 years, I will. If not, I'll make one of the languages a major, the other a minor.

It's really interesting taking two languages at the same time. I like it. So far, I haven't gotten things too mixed up.

My German so far: Ich heiße Frau Biewer. Ich habe blaue Augen und blonde, kurze Haare. Ich bin achtzehn Jahre alt. Ich komme aus den U.S.A. Ich wohne in Grand Rapids. Ich bin klein und schlank. Ich bin attraktiv. Ich esse Brot und Pizza gern. Ich trinke Wasser und Apfelsaft gern. Ich studiere Deutsch, Französisch, Mathematik, Musik, Sport, und Kommunikationswissenschaft in diesem Semester. Mein Deutschklasse beginnt um Viertel nach zwölf. Ich verstehe Englisch, Lateinisch, ein bisschen Deutsch, und ein bisschen Französisch. 

.... And now my brain is too fixed on German to be able to write much French. It's something I have to switch over to gradually. I can't be writing or speaking one foreign language and then jump to the next one quickly. It confuses me. We'll see how having both languages through the years goes! :)

Until next time,
Catherine

Choosing a Major: Help!

I will be going to take tests and register for classes at Aquinas on June 7th. I hope the adviser I get is a good one, because I'm not entirely sure what classes I should pick.

Any advice on how to choose a major and a minor? I know I still have a ways to go before I have to decide, but it'd be nice if any of you readers have some experience on that subject. Did you pick a major based off how marketable in the job world it was or on your own strengths and passions? I'd rather pick one based off the later, but in this economy, it seems wiser to base it off the former. Any advice?

For example, I really like writing and languages, which isn't very profitable compared to computer programming or sustainable business. But I'm not sure if I'd enjoy the profitable things quite as much. I may find if I take a class on them that I could, but for now, I'd rather study languages! Hmm. Decisions, decisions.

I'll figure it out eventually, even if it takes me my whole life. Haha. 

It's Finished!

Today marked my last day of high school and my last and first year of public high school! It was such a crazy ride. It was worth it, for sure. I was a little emotional today, thinking of what I'd been through in such a short time and all the people I'd met. Got a little teary eyed at some points.

My opinion of public school now? I definitely have a different perspective now, now that I've been through it. I saw a lot of what I expected to see, but there were also things in the high school that I was pleasantly surprised about. For example, I had always assumed that the majority of public school teachers were awful teachers. Well, not the case, at least not at the public school I went to. In fact, I believe I'll miss the teachers the most.

The negative things I noticed were plentiful. The one that bugged me the most was that I was always too busy to really enjoy learning. I had to get homework done, read books, do projects, work, and try to have time to be on the Internet and do other stuff that I value. I always felt guilty whenever I decided I wanted to read a book independently or study something unrelated to schoolwork online, which was really hard for me. Before I was used to reading so much every day, but when I was at the high school, I barely read what I wanted to. I was always reading textbooks and books for classes. And of course, I could've just decided to not do the homework and get lower grades, but I'm the kind of person who obsesses over that kind of stuff.

Also, I absolutely hated being in that building. There were many times I just wanted to walk out of the building to escape. There are way too many kids crammed in that building right now. It's so chaotic and loud. It felt like a daycare for rowdy teenagers.

Oh, and the bells. Don't get me started on the bells.

But, honestly, I think going to the high school for a year benefited me a lot. I feel more confident about my abilities now. I got into the National Honor Society, I was Student of the Week, and now I've found out that I'll be receiving an award (not sure which one) at the senior award's ceremony. All in one year. I was scared that I'd not be able to adjust to that environment, but look at all that I was able to do! I'm so happy that it worked out this way.

I'm still very glad that I was homeschooled. I like who I am, and I'm sure I would've been a different person had I not been homeschooled. I wouldn't have the same friends, never would've learned Latin, never would have had the opportunities the Lansing area homeschool group had to offer. I'm very grateful for my homeschool education, especially what it offered me in high school.

I will be attending Aquinas College in the fall. I'm not entirely sure what I'll be majoring in, but right now I'm interested in becoming a foreign language teacher. Possibly German. Because of the influence Latin has had on me, I've fallen in love with languages. Things could always change, but that's what my plan is at the moment. We shall see. I'll keep you guys posted.

14 Days Left of School!

It's been a long time since I've posted. I'm sorry!

Latest thing that's happened is that I took my AP English exam. It went splendidly. The timed essays on the three different passages went well, and I believe I did pretty well on the multiple choice. My AP English class really prepared me to take it. I hope I get at least a 3. That would be very nice. I have to wait until the third week of July to get my results.

I have A's in all my classes for the last tri, which is nice. The hardest class is... uh... actually, none of them are very hard. It kind of makes me wish I had taken more AP classes. It's too late for that now, though.

And... there are fourteen more days left of school. I am starting to get sad. I've met so many cool people this year and now I probably won't see them after this. Aw. Sad. I can't imagine what it's like for some of these people who've known each other since they were little!

Also, I got a job at Burger King. It's definitely a different experience. Right now I'm learning how to take orders for drive-thru. It's confusing, but hopefully it'll get better as I get more experience.

Also... as of right now, I'll be going to Aquinas College. So far, so good. Everything seems to be working out so far!

God bless all of you! :)
Catherine

NHS

This month, I was Student of the Week, which wasn't much of a big deal. Getting Student of the Week merely confirms everyone's suspicions that you're a teacher's pet and/or a know-it-all. I'm completely fine with those titles, though. It's against my very nature to not be nice to teachers and to not try my best. If others feel intimidated by my being that way, that's their own consciences speaking. ;)

I've also been accepted into the National Honors Society, which is more of a big deal. Tomorrow is the induction ceremony. Not sure what to expect.

And the final grades of the second trimester: all A's. I'm so glad. I was worried I wouldn't be able to pull it off. I was this close to getting an A- in Algebra III again. You all know how I feel about A-'s.

This tri, I have Economics, French I, Modern World Literature, A.P. English, and Honors Chemistry. I'm gonna be very busy. I've had homework from all of them almost every night so far. At least French I is not very hard, or I'd be in trouble!

It seems I've done pretty well in the public school. That was my goal, to prove I could. It almost seems strange now, to think I hadn't attended one before this. It no longer feels alien to me; I understand it now. Hopefully it will benefit me in the future to have both experiences. 

Teachers

When I was making my decision to go to a public school, I was very curious as to what I'd think about the teachers there. I'd only experienced teachers online (through Lone Pine Classical School and Homeschool Connections) and for my driver's education. These two experiences were like night and day. My online teachers were very accomplished and challenging, while my driver's ed teacher... well... not so much.

You'll Never Guess

I got a snow day! It's absolutely spoiling me. Tomorrow morning at 6:30, I'm gonna feel it. But for now, I'll contentedly blog and sip my coffee.

Snow! My Feelings on Snow Days

We got snow dumped on us last night, about 6-10 inches I'd guesstimate. Outside doesn't look quite like Snowpocalypse II, but it's a pretty considerable amount of the white fluffy stuff.

Aquinas College

Yesterday, I went to Aquinas College's Spectrum Scholarship Competition. A lot of other kids came, including one of my friends.

Wish Me Bona Fortuna!

I'm going to Aquinas College's Spectrum Scholarship Competition today. It's basically a whole-day affair. I'm really hoping I get one of the thirty scholarships. If I don't, it will still be a good experience. Hopefully I'll meet some new people!

New Vocabulary: TGIF

TGIF! After this day, I'll have a three day weekend to recuperate. Before, "three day weekend" was never in my vocabulary, but now those three sweet words just make me feel so great!

My Two Cents: Trimesters

One thing I just really didn't get when I started at the public school was having trimesters instead of semesters (or just all-year-rounders). I thought it was crazy that I could have French I in the first tri and then not have it again until the third tri. I mean, c'mon, most kid are going to forget everything the second tri anyway.

Good to Be Busy

As I've been preparing to go to Aquinas College in the fall, my life has been increasingly busy. It's not as busy as I should like, since I don't have a job yet (I'm going to look into applying to some local restaurants). Nonetheless, I've been busy with church music, college preparation, retreats, and (of course) the public school.

Life, The Universe, and Everything

I've gotten bored of public school. During school days, I count down until 2:40, glad to get home at 3:00. I've gotten into the rut of counting down until Friday night. Now I'm counting down the days until graduation, when I won't have to get up at 6:10 every school morning and stay in the same building for most of the day. I feel so sorry for the kids who have been going to school since kindergarten. I can't imagine how much the seniors must be looking forward to graduation!

Latin: How It's Beneficial In Education

If anyone knows me, they know I'm a Latin enthusiast. What I've been noticing more and more throughout every public school class I've taken, is how useful it is to have a lingua latina background.