End of Semester

So today the first semester came to a close. When I was doing the registration cards last year, I definitely underestimated the amount of work those classes would entail. Actually, I overestimated my ability to manage time well. But I don't have any regrets about how I've been performing and I am glad about that. It will be interesting how classes shift in the second semester. I would like to see teachers start preparing us for AP Exams as soon as possible.

Students deserve a week off after the first semester of junior year. I wouldn't mind swapping a week of summer vacation for one right now. But I made best of the half-day today by visiting my elementary school teachers. I hadn't visited them since leaving for Oxford so it was a good reunion. I truly believe that elementary school teachers play an important role in a child's development. Teachers can make the process of learning enjoyable for students and get them excited about life. My 4th and 5th grade teachers did that, and I am very grateful to them.

After visiting my elementary, I walked to La Palma Hospital for my physical. This meant I had a chance to walk on the winding trail that cuts across the huge patches of meadows behind the school. It is really fascinating how a faceless chunk of land in the winter transforms as the seasons come and go. It is my only connection with nature where I live, but sometimes it's sufficient. In the spring, you can really feel the vigor of new life as you walk on new grass. Fall brings about the most dramatic changes; green will turn russet and reddish brown, and rings of flower petals form around tree trunks.

Anyway, I digress. Two noteworthy things happened on my way to the hospital. 1) I saw Andrew Park driving a big black van that reminded me of Escalade. He looked like Rambo. 2) A bunch of white guys in a compact car said "Fuck you" as they drove past me. As they stopped at the red light, I actually shouted without thinking, "Manifest destiny can't save you from black people." Their brief reply was the same as their opening argument.

Oh, and Mrs. Spencer now knows two things about me: 1) I like Latinas and 2) I like Hannah Montana. Neither piece of information helps me at all in that class. Have a nice three-day break everyone.

Update

So I haven't updated in a while. School's a drag as usual, and I am falling into the habit of procrastinating which is frustrating. But the first semester is coming to a close soon. I am not sure if it's right that I am looking forward to the end of this schoolyear. As cliche as it is, me as a high school student will be gone soon, never to return, so I should enjoy this. Sadly I have very few special memories of my life as Oxford student. I've been able to meet some great people through Oxford but that satisfaction from forming a bond with nature or spending time with friends has been rare.

Meanwhile after the recent school rally, I wanted to address this issue that our class lacks class spirit. It seems that some people in our class are upset because we never win those fictitious spirit points and because we never cheer as loudly as other classes. To be honest, I think our class cheer rocked at the last rally. You can never go wrong by handing the mic off to Minh.

I think school rallies provide some of the much needed change from monotonous Oxford schedule but time could be better spent. I've never completely understood the purpose of class cheers. In fact, they symbolize everything that is wrong with society. Volume outweighs substance; the louder you shout out the nonsensical phrases, the better. Whenever I find myself surrounded by the yelling masses in the gym, I am reminded of the immense power wielded by an unthinking mob. Chants, loud chants, lull participants into groupthink. The winner of the best cheer is decided arbitrarily by judges with vested interest. The competitiveness of the game also leaves losers with a bitter aftertaste.

Despite my self-consciousness, though, I do try to take part in the rally as much as possible. That's because our class committee is really committed to this thing and works hard every time to try to make up a good cheer for us. It would be disrespectful to not participate. Still, I think we should come up with some laid-back, out-of-the-box class cheer that pokes fun at the whole event.


My birthday is coming up soon, and 18's a pretty significant number so I'm trying to think of ways to celebrate. Any ideas?

- EDIT -

I realized that I let my nonsensical, overblown (Seth would say liberal and anarchistic) comparisons of school rallies to sociological dysfunction distracted me from my main argument. I don't disapprove school rallies because the shouting involved poses some symbolic threat to our well-being. I simply don't feel inspired enough by the substance of a school rally to shout. To me, cheers and little mini-games don't do class competitions justice. They are not worth bickering about with people in other classes.