For my memoir project the six words I decided to choose are "only dangerous when something goes wrong." As a last remembrance of of my time in high school I am going to tell everyone my biggest secret, I drive a race car and just plain like doing dangerous things. I know it's a big shocker to everyone but it's the truth. Anytime I can put my life on the line for an adrenaline rush I have no problem doing it. In fact for my 18th birthday I got to fly in an acrobatic glider pulling g's and doing various flips. I've had crashes that most shouldn't walk away from yet the very next day I'm back in a car ready to race and go as fast as possible. I don't know why I like to do what I do, but all I know is I cant get enough of it. I believe if you live life in safety, you aren't really living life at all.
-Brent S.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The "H" Word
For the last week Pavneet has been asking me where I’m headed for college; I reluctantly answer with “I don’t know,” and she has to drag out the truthful response out of me. I respond and act in such a callow manner, not because I want to feel more accomplished by expanding the length of the response, but rather because I feel hollow inside when I say the name of the college I’ll be attending: I feel that I didn’t deserve to be admitted.
I was amazed when I got in. I sat in the
What I thought was going to be the most exciting opportunity of my life, slowly began to look to be the most stressful. Suddenly, people began to notice me, randomly giving me high fives down the hall. And, with my newfound attention, came expectations: People expect me to be perfect and know the answer to everything. In government, where I am known to make inappropriate and immature comments to provide comic relief, someone asked, “How did he get into Harvard?” after I suggested we should bring a strip pole into the class after the AP test.
Don’t get me wrong, I am honored to have elected Prom Prince and to receive random high fives, but I’m sure, unless you knew how awesome I was before my lucky accomplishment, I would have never been selected as Prom Prince or received random high fives and congratulations. Moreover, I am still trying to come into terms with has happened. Yes, it’s exciting to be going where I’m going, but it’s also overwhelming. I don’t consider myself special (besides, my sexy seducing looks), so, first, I don’t even know if I should have gotten in. Second, going away to a new environment—yet again—knowing that I probably won’t see most of my peers ever again, since I might not be able to visit, is far most stressful and agonizing knowing that people expect me to act in a certain way so their perception of the college is maintained.
Furthermore, to address the fact that I refrain from saying the name of the college I’ll be attending, I do so for two reasons. The first one, as I stated previously, is because I doubt my abilities and, thus, don’t think I should have been admitted. Moreover, although I am happy I was admitted, I’m also distraught: Not all of my friends were accepted into the colleges they wanted to and I feel it would be inconsiderate of me to go around saying where I’m going, as I feel I’m “slapping them in the face.” I consider them far more amazing than me and, though I know they will shine wherever they go, I can’t help to be mad and cautious. Already, I lost my lovely wife, Jennifer, since she felt our marriage wasn’t going to work since I was up to “bigger” things.
Just because I am going to Harvard, doesn’t mean I’m anything special. For all I know, in ten years I’ll probably be working for someone currently reading this. Hell, I might even be a stripper in ten or, finally, decide to pursue my underwear model career.
For know I just want to be the same-old Carlos. The one that smile and waves when someone calls his name; the one that wants a strip pole in government class; the one that calls everyone “gurl;” the one that was unnoticed (for the exception of his random antics); the one that talks ridiculously fast; the one that lashes out—as any hardcore feminist would—against misogynist comments; and, apparently, the one that has a class –action suit against his persona for emotional distress and sexual harassment, courtesy of Elise.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
And so, finally...
It feels awkward to make a double post at the very end of the year, but I suppose that's just the way things happen. Since English class is almost at an end, I'll just be writing about whatever floats to mind.
I'm sure for every senior at Los Osos, if not the entire country, things have gotten a little hectic. College decisions, college acceptances, college choices. All these things throw a huge wrench into our usual routine. However, all of us have managed to keep our wits about ourselves and push through the entire school year without any major hang-ups. The way we all have approached the year are infinitely varied; I know some who have spent this year just like any other, and I have seen people visibly stressed by the idea of the end of high school. However, it is not just the top of our class that are stressed, and it is not the lowest who do not care. Despite this, I think all of us have matured since we first walked onto the campus of Los Osos High School into somebody worth being, whether we realize it or not.
When I started off here, I was awkward, quiet, and unused to people. Since I grew up in an environment with a very small amount of children, I wasn't quite sure how to talk to people. I spent almost all my time at home, playing video games and reading manga online. In four years, though, everything has changed, but I am still the same person. I still play video games, and I still read manga online. Doctor Who has become my guilty pleasure, and I still prefer being alone to being with a large group of people. However, I have friends that I love dearly and would do everything and anything to aid them. Also, I have recognized where my interests lie, and where my limits are. Talking to people still isn't a strong point of mine, but I can do it without much of a problem anymore.
It is imperative that we mature and grow as we get older. Without doing so, we remain childish, and never truly realize what it is to live in the world. As a child I was always logical; I never did anything without a good reason, and only replied to things when it required an answer. Decisions were always tough for me to make because I would always try to weigh the pros and cons of both things in question. However, leading a logical life is obviously accompanied by a bit of tedium. Now, I try to combine my logic with instinct to make quicker decisions, and sometimes act on impusle just to see what happens.
Obviously, we as high school seniors are not at the peak of our mental growth. We still have so much to learn, and so much to discover. However, we ARE at a point where we are conscious of what goes on around us, and how we affect our surroundings. We have reached the crossroads of life where we dictate which path we want to embark on. Some of us have already decided which path to take; some are still on the first step, unsure of where to go. Hopefully, all of us will choose the path that suits us best, and will reach happiness and success in what is to come.
Best of luck to you all.
Byron Choy
I'm sure for every senior at Los Osos, if not the entire country, things have gotten a little hectic. College decisions, college acceptances, college choices. All these things throw a huge wrench into our usual routine. However, all of us have managed to keep our wits about ourselves and push through the entire school year without any major hang-ups. The way we all have approached the year are infinitely varied; I know some who have spent this year just like any other, and I have seen people visibly stressed by the idea of the end of high school. However, it is not just the top of our class that are stressed, and it is not the lowest who do not care. Despite this, I think all of us have matured since we first walked onto the campus of Los Osos High School into somebody worth being, whether we realize it or not.
When I started off here, I was awkward, quiet, and unused to people. Since I grew up in an environment with a very small amount of children, I wasn't quite sure how to talk to people. I spent almost all my time at home, playing video games and reading manga online. In four years, though, everything has changed, but I am still the same person. I still play video games, and I still read manga online. Doctor Who has become my guilty pleasure, and I still prefer being alone to being with a large group of people. However, I have friends that I love dearly and would do everything and anything to aid them. Also, I have recognized where my interests lie, and where my limits are. Talking to people still isn't a strong point of mine, but I can do it without much of a problem anymore.
It is imperative that we mature and grow as we get older. Without doing so, we remain childish, and never truly realize what it is to live in the world. As a child I was always logical; I never did anything without a good reason, and only replied to things when it required an answer. Decisions were always tough for me to make because I would always try to weigh the pros and cons of both things in question. However, leading a logical life is obviously accompanied by a bit of tedium. Now, I try to combine my logic with instinct to make quicker decisions, and sometimes act on impusle just to see what happens.
Obviously, we as high school seniors are not at the peak of our mental growth. We still have so much to learn, and so much to discover. However, we ARE at a point where we are conscious of what goes on around us, and how we affect our surroundings. We have reached the crossroads of life where we dictate which path we want to embark on. Some of us have already decided which path to take; some are still on the first step, unsure of where to go. Hopefully, all of us will choose the path that suits us best, and will reach happiness and success in what is to come.
Best of luck to you all.
Byron Choy
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Amidst the Worry
By now, most, if not all, high school seniors have chosen what college they wish to attend, and are eagerly awaiting the new year following the end of this one. However, I am slowly realizing that I have mixed feelings about leaving school. There is quite a bit of comfort in following the monotony of a school day, and living with parents leaves only a fraction of responsibilities for us. Despite this, I know that it is impossible to stay in this peaceful, dependent state forever, and that the day that we, as seniors and adults, step out into the world on our own is fast approaching.
On a related note, I am fairly intimidated about the amount of money that must be invested in my own education. Sure, half tuition to USC is much appreciated, but with parents already burdened enough with two daughters to take care of and almost no money to spare, I find it pretty tough to find a way to make up that $30,000 deficit. How does everyone else deal with this problem? Does everyone have a magical bank of money that they kept just for this occasion?
On a related note, I am fairly intimidated about the amount of money that must be invested in my own education. Sure, half tuition to USC is much appreciated, but with parents already burdened enough with two daughters to take care of and almost no money to spare, I find it pretty tough to find a way to make up that $30,000 deficit. How does everyone else deal with this problem? Does everyone have a magical bank of money that they kept just for this occasion?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The Dread of Blog Posts
Yesterday Mrs. Elliott warned us about our blog records being due in a week, with at least 2 blog posts attached. I cringed at the thought, simply because I knew my own blog record was untouched since February 28. I was not very good at this blogging thing. I was unable to keep up with posts until she announces the due date of our records, in which I still Facebooked instead of commented. Yet whenever I come to blog I always find myself enjoying the blog posts of other teams, ceaselessly venting on the comment box, unaware that I had fulfilled my 8 comment requirment. Nonetheless these feelings come in waves. So I attempted my blog comeback today; I was worried my team's blog was deleted due to inactivity (but thanks to Alex Chang for keeping up with it). I had not posted since January 31, and I completely forgot my team's email to login to the page! Simply said: I suck at blogging.
So I decided to comment first instead, and I was immediately affected by Mariah Neilson's blog about her new diet. Not about the giving up sweets parts of course, but I was influenced by her determination and ability to create her own blog and update it daily. Much like Mrs. Elliott, she blogs each day about her new diet, recipes, and cravings as they occur. I admire thei persistence simply because I cannot do it. I mean I can barely keep up an ASSIGNED blog, how am I supposed to do one for fun?
Thus I set my goal: this summer I will start my own blog. An old friend once told me her goal in life was to have one job starting with each letter of the alphabet, and I always wanted to write about it. Perhaps this summer I could try to accomplish things starting with each letter of the alphabet. I.E A) Angels Baseball game. B) Broadway musical... and so on. I plan for this blog to not only test my endurance on writing, but to truly allow myself to open up to strangers about my daily events. I thank Mrs. Elliott for incessantly requiring comments and blog posts because only now do I understand the use of it. Whether you follow Mariah's vegetarian lifestyle, or my alphabetical adventures, know that it was prepared through the dread of posts like these :)
Jacy W
So I decided to comment first instead, and I was immediately affected by Mariah Neilson's blog about her new diet. Not about the giving up sweets parts of course, but I was influenced by her determination and ability to create her own blog and update it daily. Much like Mrs. Elliott, she blogs each day about her new diet, recipes, and cravings as they occur. I admire thei persistence simply because I cannot do it. I mean I can barely keep up an ASSIGNED blog, how am I supposed to do one for fun?
Thus I set my goal: this summer I will start my own blog. An old friend once told me her goal in life was to have one job starting with each letter of the alphabet, and I always wanted to write about it. Perhaps this summer I could try to accomplish things starting with each letter of the alphabet. I.E A) Angels Baseball game. B) Broadway musical... and so on. I plan for this blog to not only test my endurance on writing, but to truly allow myself to open up to strangers about my daily events. I thank Mrs. Elliott for incessantly requiring comments and blog posts because only now do I understand the use of it. Whether you follow Mariah's vegetarian lifestyle, or my alphabetical adventures, know that it was prepared through the dread of posts like these :)
Jacy W
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