Good evening, folks! This morning I took the SAT for the second time, we got my shoes for Costa Rica (and conveniently here is the link to see the shoes, should you wish), and the WiFi is working again!
I have a feeling that this round of SATs were better than last time - the school was nicer than the other place and we got more breaks - 3 minutes to wolf down whatever food you might have brought and then flush it out of your throat with a quick, vigorous gulp of lukewarm water. Yum.
The first part on the "new SAT" is the essay, and it was on a topic I excelled in: happiness.
After all, I come here every night and preach to you about happiness, and sometimes the lack of happiness.
So it went somewhere along the lines of having limits and happiness. When I thought about it, I immediately thought of Walt Whitman and Thoreau and their carefree, limitless lifestyles. They must have loved it. But when I continued to think about it, limits are what keep us happy.
We are people, and people do not really think in terms of infinite in anything. I listened to a lecture on it in Oxford and it was over my head. Even in math, the only thing we ever say about infinity is that it exists and that we use this ∞ symbol for it. We can't understand something being infinite or never ending.
So we set limits for ourselves and we cannot break those limits and still be happy. I mean, it's good to break the routine every once in a while, but not too often. Think of Lord of the Flies, a paradise gone wrong. Or think what would happen if you didn't have to go to school or your job. I couldn't even take the snow week in January. That was rough. And yet it had been our dream to do whatever we want and never go to school. But by Thursday, we all wanted to go back.
So yeah, it's important to do different things. But complete freedom and no guidance will leave us lost and confused. And that's certainly not happy.
07 May 2011
06 May 2011
the big kahuna: a finished chapter
Well, here it is. Another day in history - literally - come and gone. Today was the AP test for US history, and now we are officially done, except for a project later on.
Anyway, lately I have been feeling pretty unlucky. Nothing seems to go right, and I was really hoping to get further in the drawing contest to win a scholarship. But no.
But today, something sensational happened.
So I was taking the AP test - duh. And we had just finished the multiple choice section of 80 questions. And then we got a 5 minute break in which everyone chatted ferociously about the questions: "ok, that question about so-and-so, whad'ya put?" We were like animals.
Eventually we had to start the grueling 2 hour long essay time. 3 essays, 2 hours. Blehck. The DBQ (document based question; like a research paper with a question and the sources given to you) is first, and we usually have 45 minutes. We are always dying to know what the topic is. And since it's the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War I thought the Civil War would be a good topic for the DBQ. But the College Board wanted to give us a hard time, and for the first time in history (ha ha), the DBQ was on the 1960s and 1970s. They have never gone passed the fifties, I believe. But there's a first for everything, right?
Lat night while I was studying I was watching those presidents videos. And one of the last ones I watched was Richard Nixon. And guess what? It had to do with Nixon. I was so utterly happy. And i nailed it.
So when it really matters, sometimes we can luck out. And that's when we are most happy.
Anyway, lately I have been feeling pretty unlucky. Nothing seems to go right, and I was really hoping to get further in the drawing contest to win a scholarship. But no.
But today, something sensational happened.
So I was taking the AP test - duh. And we had just finished the multiple choice section of 80 questions. And then we got a 5 minute break in which everyone chatted ferociously about the questions: "ok, that question about so-and-so, whad'ya put?" We were like animals.
Eventually we had to start the grueling 2 hour long essay time. 3 essays, 2 hours. Blehck. The DBQ (document based question; like a research paper with a question and the sources given to you) is first, and we usually have 45 minutes. We are always dying to know what the topic is. And since it's the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War I thought the Civil War would be a good topic for the DBQ. But the College Board wanted to give us a hard time, and for the first time in history (ha ha), the DBQ was on the 1960s and 1970s. They have never gone passed the fifties, I believe. But there's a first for everything, right?
Lat night while I was studying I was watching those presidents videos. And one of the last ones I watched was Richard Nixon. And guess what? It had to do with Nixon. I was so utterly happy. And i nailed it.
So when it really matters, sometimes we can luck out. And that's when we are most happy.
05 May 2011
the mad rush
Hello. Right now I’m studying like a mad freak for the “big kahuna”, which is now less than 7 hours away. I wasn’t freaking out before, but I am now. Just to let you know, this might be the lamest blog post of the year because I really just have to study. But hard work pays off, and in July I will have a happy post about my wonderful AP scores – let’s hope.
So I have been studying sans cesse for these exams, mosty this one because the other two don’t test facts, they just test strategies. But we’ll leave those for next week…
So yeah, I’m sorry for the lameness. But I hope this inspires you to do better yourselves.
So I have been studying sans cesse for these exams, mosty this one because the other two don’t test facts, they just test strategies. But we’ll leave those for next week…
So yeah, I’m sorry for the lameness. But I hope this inspires you to do better yourselves.
04 May 2011
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
It's easy to win; you feel good, so we think that winning is always better than losing. But when we lose, we learn a lesson. We learn many things from losing.
A while ago I entered the a contest for Google, and I found out today that I didn't become one of the finalists. I worked really really hard on it for like 2 months. And I worked every day and made sure everything was perfect. Here is a picture of it:
So honestly, I'm really shocked and sad that I didn't even become a base finalist. But there is nothing I can do about it now. And I'm not going to say it's "their loss". It's unfortunate, but I can't let the opinions of some judges get in the way of me pursuing what I like to do. If I wrote a song and everyone hated it, but I loved it, would I stop writing music forever? Probably not. It's like when people write controversial books or if presidents make really controversial decisions. Will they stop writing books or stop being politicians? Probably not.
Don't let someone else's opinion get in the way of your pursuing what you love. As long as you are happy with what you are doing, that's all that matters.
That's why if I say I like a Vermeer, and someone else hates it, that's because everyone has their own idea of a good painting, or a good sculpture. Modern artists are not bad because some of their work looks like a kindergartner could have whipped it up in 5 minutes. They like what they do and that's all you ever should worry about.
A while ago I entered the a contest for Google, and I found out today that I didn't become one of the finalists. I worked really really hard on it for like 2 months. And I worked every day and made sure everything was perfect. Here is a picture of it:
So I worked really hard. And this time I was hoping to make it to the next round and hopefully win a scholarship. But I didn't. And last year, when the same thing happened, I got really upset.
I knew it was coming. I knew that out of 107,000 drawings mine would not be chosen. But the thing is, I thought it was really good.
And just because a contest and some judges told me it wasn't "good enough" doesn't mean I have to believe them.
Because I am confident in my work. And I didn't make that to win a scholarship, I made it because I like to draw and I wanted to see what I could make out of the Google logo. And I had fun doing it.So honestly, I'm really shocked and sad that I didn't even become a base finalist. But there is nothing I can do about it now. And I'm not going to say it's "their loss". It's unfortunate, but I can't let the opinions of some judges get in the way of me pursuing what I like to do. If I wrote a song and everyone hated it, but I loved it, would I stop writing music forever? Probably not. It's like when people write controversial books or if presidents make really controversial decisions. Will they stop writing books or stop being politicians? Probably not.
Don't let someone else's opinion get in the way of your pursuing what you love. As long as you are happy with what you are doing, that's all that matters.
That's why if I say I like a Vermeer, and someone else hates it, that's because everyone has their own idea of a good painting, or a good sculpture. Modern artists are not bad because some of their work looks like a kindergartner could have whipped it up in 5 minutes. They like what they do and that's all you ever should worry about.
03 May 2011
reverence for presidents
A couple weeks ago our AP Lang class read part of "Reverence for Life" by Albert Schweitzer. This essay is about having respect for even the smallest and peskiest living things, like bugs and weeds.
As you perhaps know, the day after tomorrow is the "big kahuna" - the AP US History test. And the pressure is completely on because last year I was just hoping to pass but since I got a 5, I have to get a 5 again. Or else I will hate myself.
So I decided to commit the nerdiest act I have yet - I bought the History Channel's special 8-[art feature on all of the presidents. My teacher has these videos and played them in class and I always liked them. So I used part of my iTunes gift card and I bought myself 8+ hours of historical footage. Nerd-alert!
But I like watching them, so it's all good.
They start with Washington of course, and they proceed through like that. I have watched up to Grover Cleveland (his first term, not his second non-consecutive term). And when I watch all of these segments on each president, I realize how hard each decision is - to go to war, to send the troops, to sign the treaty, to intervene, to drop the bomb - or not. And how difficult it is to figure out the right strategy to, say, get the Soviet missiles out of Cuba. Or how to confront the American public about the abysmal state of the economy in the country's worst depression. Or even how to understand the language and nature of politics themselves.
Various sources cite the following presidents as in the top 10 (generally, some are ties): Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln (said to be the best), both Roosevelts, Wilson, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Reagan.
The worst are said to be: W. Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan (dubbed the worst president), A. Johnson, Grant, Garfield, Harding, B. Harrison, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Carter, and Bush (the one we just had). Our current president, Obama, is ranked in 2 polls as around 14 or 15 out of 44.
We say the best are American heroes. They are the glory of the country. We are proud to say Lincoln held the country together and abolished slavery. We are happy to be the country whose president saved the western hemisphere from nuclear destruction. And we are proud to say that our first president held our fragile and vulnerably new nation together and withstood war, conflicting beliefs, and being the underdogs. We were the little nation that could - and did.
But the other presidents in between - the ones when you find yourself saying, "We had a president Arthur? Was there ever a James Garfield? Or a William Henry Harrison? Well, I don't respect you to know the last two - they served for less than a year (Harrison served a month).
But each had his own accomplishment that nevertheless furthered our country. Let's see: James Madison ends the War of 1812. James Monroe comes up with the Missouri Compromise to please as many people as he can - abolitionists and slaveholders. William Henry Harrison wanted to please the American people so much that he gave the longest inaugural address, caught pneumonia, and died in office. John Tyler annexed Texas. Chester Arthur reversed his ways and built up the Navy. Rutherford Hayes pushed for education reform and civil service reform. Lyndon Johnson had an entire domestic program dedicated to helping the poor and disadvantaged. Gerald Ford got us out of Vietnam. George W Bush, who ranks low on many historian polls, created the Department of Homeland Security. Carter, who had a heart of gold but less skill at politics, tried endlessly to get two rival nations to make peace. Even the worst president, historians claim, secretly bought several slaves and set them free in the north.
I have reverence for all the presidents. They put their careers, their lives, and their time on the line so that we can live our lives the way the Founding Fathers hoped our country would be. Some people aren't suited for the job. Some weren't even meant to become presidents and learned immediately that they were to handle a nation for the next 4 years of their lives.
They are men - and hopefully someday, women - who try their hardest to do what they think is right for the country. And we can only ask for the best someone can do.
* Also, today is my grandpa's birthday! He and my grandma are faithful readers of this fine web publication. Happy Birthday!
As you perhaps know, the day after tomorrow is the "big kahuna" - the AP US History test. And the pressure is completely on because last year I was just hoping to pass but since I got a 5, I have to get a 5 again. Or else I will hate myself.
So I decided to commit the nerdiest act I have yet - I bought the History Channel's special 8-[art feature on all of the presidents. My teacher has these videos and played them in class and I always liked them. So I used part of my iTunes gift card and I bought myself 8+ hours of historical footage. Nerd-alert!
But I like watching them, so it's all good.
They start with Washington of course, and they proceed through like that. I have watched up to Grover Cleveland (his first term, not his second non-consecutive term). And when I watch all of these segments on each president, I realize how hard each decision is - to go to war, to send the troops, to sign the treaty, to intervene, to drop the bomb - or not. And how difficult it is to figure out the right strategy to, say, get the Soviet missiles out of Cuba. Or how to confront the American public about the abysmal state of the economy in the country's worst depression. Or even how to understand the language and nature of politics themselves.
Various sources cite the following presidents as in the top 10 (generally, some are ties): Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln (said to be the best), both Roosevelts, Wilson, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Reagan.
The worst are said to be: W. Harrison, Tyler, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan (dubbed the worst president), A. Johnson, Grant, Garfield, Harding, B. Harrison, Coolidge, Hoover, Nixon, Carter, and Bush (the one we just had). Our current president, Obama, is ranked in 2 polls as around 14 or 15 out of 44.
We say the best are American heroes. They are the glory of the country. We are proud to say Lincoln held the country together and abolished slavery. We are happy to be the country whose president saved the western hemisphere from nuclear destruction. And we are proud to say that our first president held our fragile and vulnerably new nation together and withstood war, conflicting beliefs, and being the underdogs. We were the little nation that could - and did.
But the other presidents in between - the ones when you find yourself saying, "We had a president Arthur? Was there ever a James Garfield? Or a William Henry Harrison? Well, I don't respect you to know the last two - they served for less than a year (Harrison served a month).
But each had his own accomplishment that nevertheless furthered our country. Let's see: James Madison ends the War of 1812. James Monroe comes up with the Missouri Compromise to please as many people as he can - abolitionists and slaveholders. William Henry Harrison wanted to please the American people so much that he gave the longest inaugural address, caught pneumonia, and died in office. John Tyler annexed Texas. Chester Arthur reversed his ways and built up the Navy. Rutherford Hayes pushed for education reform and civil service reform. Lyndon Johnson had an entire domestic program dedicated to helping the poor and disadvantaged. Gerald Ford got us out of Vietnam. George W Bush, who ranks low on many historian polls, created the Department of Homeland Security. Carter, who had a heart of gold but less skill at politics, tried endlessly to get two rival nations to make peace. Even the worst president, historians claim, secretly bought several slaves and set them free in the north.
I have reverence for all the presidents. They put their careers, their lives, and their time on the line so that we can live our lives the way the Founding Fathers hoped our country would be. Some people aren't suited for the job. Some weren't even meant to become presidents and learned immediately that they were to handle a nation for the next 4 years of their lives.
They are men - and hopefully someday, women - who try their hardest to do what they think is right for the country. And we can only ask for the best someone can do.
* Also, today is my grandpa's birthday! He and my grandma are faithful readers of this fine web publication. Happy Birthday!
02 May 2011
drop off your sandbags here
I have noticed that blogs all have a certain tone - sardonic, somewhat self-deprecating in certain blogs, and at times, filled with screwball comedy. Blogs are heartfelt and true, the way writing should be.
Here is the moral of my post: Grievances are better on paper than in the heart.
You see, today has been a mathematical day. First, I vanquished math. Then, I was confused by math. And ultimately, math vanquished me. Now tell me something I don't know.
Here is the good part: I got an A on my math quiz! Hooray! The glory moment I had worked so hard to live to see!
Glory only lasts so long.
In class we got some new foolishness. And apparently there's a test on it soon. So this came with me to my tutor. And as we were doing it, I realized I didn't know as much as I thought I did. And we had to get down to the basics of logarithms to understand it.
But I didn't know what he was talking about. Was this English? Was this even legal math?
I told him I didn't know it. And so we would have to review it. I didn't know the basic properties of logarithms. I can't believe I am doing them but I don't even know what I am doing. I got so mad and sad and I just hated everything.
The Battle of Math at Fort Tutoring had been my defeat. And so fall my spirits.
So I decided that I was going to write down what I felt. And just writing it down, not sending it to anyone (yet...) pulled the negativity right out of me and I felt more at peace and ready to conquer the problem.
You can't fly out in your hot air balloon if you don't drop your sandbags.
Here is the moral of my post: Grievances are better on paper than in the heart.
You see, today has been a mathematical day. First, I vanquished math. Then, I was confused by math. And ultimately, math vanquished me. Now tell me something I don't know.
Here is the good part: I got an A on my math quiz! Hooray! The glory moment I had worked so hard to live to see!
Glory only lasts so long.
In class we got some new foolishness. And apparently there's a test on it soon. So this came with me to my tutor. And as we were doing it, I realized I didn't know as much as I thought I did. And we had to get down to the basics of logarithms to understand it.
But I didn't know what he was talking about. Was this English? Was this even legal math?
I told him I didn't know it. And so we would have to review it. I didn't know the basic properties of logarithms. I can't believe I am doing them but I don't even know what I am doing. I got so mad and sad and I just hated everything.
The Battle of Math at Fort Tutoring had been my defeat. And so fall my spirits.
So I decided that I was going to write down what I felt. And just writing it down, not sending it to anyone (yet...) pulled the negativity right out of me and I felt more at peace and ready to conquer the problem.
You can't fly out in your hot air balloon if you don't drop your sandbags.
01 May 2011
frisbee!
Happy Sunday folks!
A relaxing end to a relaxing weekend. But I have to say that in 12 hours when the first exam starts, that will all change. It's craziness.
Today we finished the day in a most wonderful way - Frisbee! After a day of studying for history, we went outside and played. And even thought I knew I had to study, sometimes we have to force ourselves to go outside and enjoy the nice weather. Because in a few months we can't. You see, it gets to be in the 100s by next month or the month after that, and you can't go outside in such ridiculous weather. We can barely go to the end of the driveway to get the mail before we start sweating. You can only walk outside to the car to drive to the pool and walk outside from the pool to the car. Those are the options.
So we made sure that we got out before the sun released its wrath for about 5 months. And we had a fabulous time. Sweating was never so much fun.
I think too many people think that getting active has to be a chore. That's when it becomes not-fun. But when you play while you are active, it becomes much more fun. That's why kids are usually so fit, because they love to run around. They don't go to the gym and lift weights, but they get a lot of exercise - more than the average American.
And happiness is related to exercise. It helps improve not only your physical health, but your mental health - it is a great way to relieve stress and remedy depression.
If you don't believe me, just go and try it for yourself. Trust me, it works.
A relaxing end to a relaxing weekend. But I have to say that in 12 hours when the first exam starts, that will all change. It's craziness.
Today we finished the day in a most wonderful way - Frisbee! After a day of studying for history, we went outside and played. And even thought I knew I had to study, sometimes we have to force ourselves to go outside and enjoy the nice weather. Because in a few months we can't. You see, it gets to be in the 100s by next month or the month after that, and you can't go outside in such ridiculous weather. We can barely go to the end of the driveway to get the mail before we start sweating. You can only walk outside to the car to drive to the pool and walk outside from the pool to the car. Those are the options.
So we made sure that we got out before the sun released its wrath for about 5 months. And we had a fabulous time. Sweating was never so much fun.
I think too many people think that getting active has to be a chore. That's when it becomes not-fun. But when you play while you are active, it becomes much more fun. That's why kids are usually so fit, because they love to run around. They don't go to the gym and lift weights, but they get a lot of exercise - more than the average American.
And happiness is related to exercise. It helps improve not only your physical health, but your mental health - it is a great way to relieve stress and remedy depression.
If you don't believe me, just go and try it for yourself. Trust me, it works.
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