Emily's Journal (original) (raw)

I hope that Lela and Lily still read this thing. I've been reading about their lives, and I kind of want them to know what's happening with me. I guess I'll start with the classes I have this year.

AP Calculus AB - I was pretty intimidated about this class, to tell the truth. I'm really proud I have made it this far, considering the crap me and Paige went through in eighth grade. However, I am finding it pretty manageable. There have only been a few tricky things, which I have smartly received help from a math major friend of mine... :D In fact, I am making over a hundred in this class as of right now. It's making me feel really confident about my current career choice: civil engineering.

JROTC - I am the battalion S-3, or Logistics Officer. I have to plan EVERYTHING. I make the program look good and all of that jazz. It is a lot of work and responsibility. But I like it. I've learned A LOT. I am so much less shy, and I am actually quite comfortable with speaking in large crowds (in fact, I did just that last night). I think the Sarge and the Colonel are priming me to be the battalion commander (the highest position there is), but they're always so secretive about that stuff... My grade for that class is just to wear my uniform, which is uncomfortable but not unbearable.

AP European History - This class is kind of meant to be an indoctrination to AP, if you will. It feels like a sped up honors course to me, with a lot of extra work to offset any bombed tests. I am the only senior in the midst of all of these sophomores, and there is a large part of the class that really does not like me. I do not mind, though. This class is an EASY A. And the teacher, she's REALLY sweet. However, I really miss my history teacher from last year. Now THAT class was an AP class.

Economics - Oh goodness. This one is SUCH a joke. I pretty much do my IB Spanish homework in this class. I so do not care. I never pay attention, I barely look over the chapters and the notes - and I am making a 100. It is the first regular class (besides JROTC) that I have taken since freshman year, and let me tell you, it is SUCH a shock. The kids in there take the tests, and are happy if they make above a 60! Jeez, it makes me weep for southern education. Really, it does. However, I change to American Government next semester, and it will be more of the same, just a different subject.

AP English Literature and Composition - Man, last year I could not WAIT for this class, but I actually like the course material from last year better. Not to mention the teacher. Don't get me wrong, Mrs. Hawkins is excellent, but I do miss Mrs. Buckner so much. She pretty much left us to our own devices, and I really thought it made us better students because of it. This year, it feels like there is only one right answer, no matter what you say to back your argument. That pretty much stinks. I mean, I'm rocking the subject, and the assignments are a lot better than last year... but I don't know. It just feels like more of the same BS. However, this research paper we are doing is absolutely the most entertaining English assignent I have ever had. :D

IB Spanish 5 - This class is HARD. I really put a lot of effort into this class. Mr. Miesch treats us like we are college level Spanish students, and my grade is showing it. This is the only class that I had a B in last semester. I am working my butt off to bring it up so that my semester average is an A, but we just did subjunctive, and I don't know if I can recover. I really wish I could get some extra credit in there, because without it, I won't be able to bring my semester average up. However, this is my favorite class. I have a love/hate relationship with it. The chemistry of the class is AMAZING. There are only ten of us, and it is all the same people from last year, except for two new people ( that we all know from other classes). And Mr. Miesch really likes us. He's very partial to the IB Spanish kids because we put up with SO MUCH "abuse" from him, in the form of grade deflation ( he thinks that only one or two people should make an A, or else he has failed as an IB teacher). I feel like an idiot in this class most of the time, but then there are those times when Mr. Miesch is like, guys, you really know SO MUCH. I dunno. It depends on the day, really, but since it's sixth period sometimes I don't have the mental patience for it. However, I get extra time to study and do the homework! :D

On a not-really-school related note, we had a military ball yesterday. Me and the battalion commander have been working on this thing since September. We wanted this to be something people will talk about for years, and I honestly think we pulled it off. I won't get into the details of the ceremonial stuff because it's kind of a JROTC thing, and it's hard to understand unless you see it for yourself. But the decorations were really good (and all for a little over $100) and it was just a very well put together event.

I mentioned the fact that I recently spoke in public. The military ball had over 160 people attending, and I had the part of Master of Ceremonies. Basically, it was my job to ensure all facets of the ceremony were performed. Maybe it was the dress, but I spoke more eloquently than I ever had before. Appearance really does affect your confidence. And there's this auction for the first dance, too. Five girls and five boys get auctioned off, and I got sold for the most amount of money. Hee. Chandler didn't bring enough money to buy me, but it's okay. I had a good time regardless. The dress that I wore, my mom and I had had that picked out since June, and it was incredible to finally be wearing it and being at the ball that I had put so much effort into for months. The perfect ending to the evening was this slow dance to "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith. Gag if you will, but it was very pleasant. Many of the cadets had left by that point to go to their afterparties and whatnot, but I had to do an english outline when I got home, and of course partying isn't really mine and Chandler's thing.

A funny side note: Two years ago, when I was a sophomore, I ended up dancing at the military ball for most of the night with this boy named Nathan Howell. It was extremely romantic and lovely, and it was one of the most perfect nights that I have ever had. We dated for a while, but it didn't last, and anyway he was not that great of a boyfriend. More of a fling, I would say. Anyway, he has since met another girl who he seems to be quite serious about. She has apparently "saved" him, and now he is "right with Jesus." Well let me just tell you, what I saw between the two of them last night, there was absolutely NO ROOM for Jesus. That couple was ALL OVER each other. It was quite shocking to watch. Like sexual intercourse with clothes on. It was ridiculous. Me and Chandler just made fun of them with Crabtree (the battalion commander) and his date. It's just another reminder of how glad I am not to be dating him anymore. I don't know if you guys, Lela and Lily, have ever heard of the song "Unanswered Prayers" by Garth Brooks. It's a country song. But it has a lyric in it: "Some of God's gratest gifts are unanswered prayers." I wanted Nathan back so badly when he broke up with me. It's kind of embarrassing to think of it now. But seeing him last night made me so so happy to be dancing in the arms of another boy.

Other than the military ball, my life has pretty much revolved around homework, studying, and work. I work around 8-10 hours every weekend at Little Ceasar's, and I think my hours are about to increase. Other than my actual paying job, I do tutoring and community service hours for the honors clubs and JROTC. Beyond that, it is just basic homework and studying. I have been spending a significant amount of time on college and scholarship applications, but I am pretty much done with that. Now I just sit and wait. After all of that, I play rock band and watch movies and stuff with Chandler when I can. We don't get to see each other as much anymore, and I know that it will get even less next year, but we are managing. It's still difficult, but we just have to accept it. If we can't hack it later on, I'm sure we can part amiably and maybe try it again later. I don't want to think about it, but I know that we can.

Lela and Lily, you guys should try to get jobs. Really. I know it seems like you don't have the time, but you really can make the time. And the experiences you gain from it... it's so so so worth it. Not to mention a bit of extra pocket change! And when you are trying to look for something part time later on, maybe in college, you'll have the previous experience to back you up. Plus, it looks great on college applications! :D Anyway, I love hearing from you guys, and I thought maybe you'd like to hear a little update from me.

I guess I'd better do some homework. I don't want to be overwhelmed tomorrow, what with exams coming up.