FINAL

          During this semester, I have become a better writer. I have really focused on getting to the main point of my subject while still providing adequate background knowledge and plenty of supportive details that keep the paper and writing interesting. A good majority of the focus is centralized in the thesis and beginning paragraph, as well as the overall structure of the paper; all of which I practiced in class and applied to my writing.

            Before I was able to really improve any specific points in my writing, I had to develop the skill of critical thinking. I really had to practice getting more out of the articles I was reading so as to improve my supporting details and sources in the informative and argumentative essays as well as the research-based blog posts. Part of that was learning to ask the right questions to get the right angle for the paper. Another part of the process of developing critical thinking was taking a step back and acknowledging some of my weaknesses as a writer.

            I found that a major point of weakness for myself was that I rambled quite a bit when I wrote. I would evade the subject of my paper without even meaning to, adding random details and facts that had nothing to do with the matter at hand, and it made for a choppy essay that did not flow at all.

            The final part to developing the skill set I so desired was thinking things through clearly on my own. I found that writing out all my ideas, regardless of if they fit or not, helped to empty my head enough that I could weed out the ideas that wouldn't work with my main point. I was able to draft an outline quickly and then fill in the details as needed with relative ease and quite a bit more efficiency.

            Soon after I began practicing and applying these steps, I noticed improvement with my writing and gradually I was no longer practicing because the steps became habit. This proved to help me feel more confident in my writing and actually enjoy the process more as I became aware of the process. 

We Need a Break!

Every once in a while, students just need a break! We go a million hours a day (mine typically starts at 6 am and finishes around 11:30, although tonight will be later because I forgot to do this post! Silly, busy me.) and get very little sleep, proven in a post several days ago. Between school, extra-curricular activities, maintaining good grades and good standing with teachers, family time, work, and what little social life there is to be had in high school, there is just no time for relaxation!

School holidays provide some relief. Thanksgiving break was just two weeks ago and it took care of some serious stress. However, it seems to me that all teachers' minds work the same and right around holiday time they all get the same brilliant idea: "You know what? Those students are going to have (insert amount of school vacation here- ranging from three days to two weeks) with nothing to do! They will most likely sit around and waste the day pining to come back to school….. I should give them 6 books, 15 pages of arithmetic, and a science experiment so that they won't be so bored!"

NOOOOOOOOO! WE DON'T WANT IT!

Please, dear teachers, give us our break. School is hard. Clubs are hard. Work is hard. We need this break so that we don't break!

Since teachers don't seem to understand that a vacation is a time for relaxation and enlightenment- as well as a fairly large debate as to whether it is worth it or not to return to the dreaded school- students sometimes need to take matters in to their own hands. There is a very simple term I like to use for gaining control of my breaks and that is Ditch Day.

Today was a Ditch Day. I have been having reviews for finals in my college classes all week, I have had to get up insanely early to make it to all of my early morning classes (one of which is a high school course that goes in the morning because my credits are all full), and I just did not have it in me to go to all of class today. So, I went with my mom on a Ditch Day Adventure.

First, I came home after my early morning psychology class and did math homework. Lame, right? But, c'est la vie and I can't fall behind in math if I want any chance at maintaining my 3.9 GPA. Anyways, after math was finally finished, my mom came into my room and said that since I had been working so hard, I could take a day off! GO MOM!

We went down the canyon and she took me out to breakfast, then we drove around for a while and listened to Christmas music, and I got to end my relaxing Ditch Day with a nap before I went back for math class and a huge choir concert this evening. It pays to take matters into one's own hands when one's sanity is at risk. ​

Another Student's Opinion

I have decided to interview a fellow student on his opinion of high school, that way this blog is not just my opinions and topics that I have researched, but insight from another student as well.

Question: How would you rate your high school experience?

Answer: It's been good. There have been ups and downs, but in my opinion the ups outweigh the downs.

Question: What sort of clubs and sports have you been involved in? (extracurricular)

Answer: Choir and diplomacy club have been my main focuses over the past four years, however I enjoyed many of my classes such as film appreciation.

Question: What has been the most challenging thing about high school?

Answer: I would have to say, the most challenging thing for me in high school has been juggling my time between the honors classes and my jobs after school.

Question: How many hours have you been averaging on your job throughout high school?

Answer: I average 25 hours a week for 3 of the past 4 years.

Question: How much time do you spend on homework on average?

Answer: I would say about 2-4 hours a night on homework.

Question: And how many average hours of sleep do you get a night?

Answer: I get about 3.5 to 4 hours of sleep a night.

Question: What are your feelings on school dress codes and uniforms?

Answer: Uniforms, I dislike very much because there is no self-expression in them. I feel that the dress code at Wasatch is just fine for a predominately LDS society.

Question: What are your feelings on teachers carrying guns?

Answer: I feel that when a teacher is responsible and able to hold a gun, where they would feel comfortable around their own children carrying that gun, and they feel emotionally and mentally stable about themselves, then there is no restriction holding that weapon from them. Those teachers would need a gun safety class and a concealed weapons permit and class I would suggest they take to show that they are qualified. The school should also run background checks on that teacher. I would personally feel a lot safer if certain teachers that I trust had guns.

Question: What has your college application experience been like?

Answer: Because of the help from college representatives, the college application process has been made easier for me. There are many resources out there to help high school students apply for college that I have been able to take advantage of, it is only a matter of the student taking initiative and looking for aid from these resources. ​

What Does It Really Cost?

In one of my college classes, taught through the high school by a University professor, we had a discussion about the cost of our "free" public education. Our professor asked us what we thought the average cost for a Utah high school student- or public school student- was. Our guesses averaged around $500. I think I can speak for the class when I say it was astonishing to learn the true average was in the thousands. This free public schooling that I have been receiving for 13 years has cost me and my parents thousands upon thousands of dollars- and I am only one of their children! The prices for class fees, sports fees, and textbooks will continue to rise each year, and the school may continue to tack on extra prices like they did when it became necessary to purchase insurance for the mandatory devices we use in class- about $25 per student per year right now.

The professor continued to show us averages for alternative forms of schooling. Private schooling is a much cheaper way to go. Even with all costs- uniforms, transportation, etc.- there is a significant decrease in the average cost of private schools from public schools.

Given all of this information, we must weigh in the fact that some states will charge less for their schools and others will charge more. There is financial aid available for students and families that are low-income or have special situations that require assistance so that their children can be properly educated. And, of course, there is always the difference in cost for programs that a student chooses to participate in. A sports fee at my school is $50 while a choir participation fee is $35.

However, all of these fees add up very quickly. As students, we are encouraged to participate in anything and everything that we possibly can. Yet almost every club has a fee between $10-$15. (When I started the French club, I purposefully stated that there would be no fee for the club because I know first hand how frustrating it is to have to pay for so many of these clubs. Yet even with my trying to make everything as free as possible, the students will still end up pitching in money to cover cost of club shirts and club activities.) All sports are $50, textbook fees are $25, choir is $35 plus a robe rental of $10 for some classes, computer insurance, standard class fees, supplies, lunch, uniforms- all of these cost.

I will say that there is one way that my school is especially great at giving me the most for my money, and that is through their partnership with the universities in our area. I am able to take as many college courses as I would like (that the university offers to high school students) and only be charged $5 a credit hour. I paid $60 at the beginning of the semester and am receiving a $3,600 education. This almost outweighs the cost of those thousands for the early years. ​

Beauty Pageants and Their Effect

Sivamani, Raja K., Lori A. Crane, and Robert P. Dellavalle. "The Benefits and Risks of Ultraviolet (UV) Tanning and Its Alternatives: The Role of Prudent Sun Exposure." PMC. N.p., 01 Apr. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2692214/>.

Tanning has become a more common practice- statistically from 1968 to 2007. People state that they feel like they are more attractive and they feel better when they are tan. Most people that do tan are light skin, with 0% of people with dark skin tanning. Outdoor tanning can increase happiness levels and provide essential vitamin D, however it increases the risk of developing cancer (specifically Melanoma). Indoor tanning, or UV tanning, serves as a base line for a tan and can act as a sun protectant. Even with use of sun protectant, including tanners and sunscreens, there is still a risk to tanning of any sort.

Park, Madison. "From 234 Pounds to the Miss America Pageant." CNN. N.p., 26 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/25/health/beauty-queen-weightloss/>.

Miss South Carolina went from being a 234 pound 17 year old, to winning pageants. She says that there was no need for extreme dieting, there was only determination. She worked slowly to lose the weight once her doctor told her just how dangerous it was. Since then, she has never promoted extreme diets and holds a firm belief that no one needs to be a size 00 to be perfect or beautiful. She has worked her entire pageant career to send the right, healthy message to other girls.

Nadine DeNinno. "The High Cost Of Beauty Pageants." International Business Times. N.p., 08 June 2014. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://www.ibtimes.com/high-cost-beauty-pageants-1595724>.

Interviewing several professionals, we learn the true cost of a pageant and often times it is much more than the award money at the end. Dresses can cost up to $1,000, and entry to the pageants is usually $500. Plus there is the cost of makeup, hair, tans, extensions and wigs, swimsuits, other outfits for interviews and the talent portion, and finally any trainers that are hired to assist the girls and women in their exercising. One runner up from Provo says that she doesn't pay as much as "normal" runner ups do and she also does no extreme dieting. A professional pageant organizer says that she does not condone extreme diets either. Overall, they agree that the pageant is not for the money, it is for the publicity boost.

The Week Staff. "5 Reasons Child Pageants Are Bad for Kids." The Week. N.p., 14 Mar. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://theweek.com/articles/477311/5-reasons-child-pageants-are-bad-kids>.

5 reasons why pageants are bad for children. 1, the girls are not old enough to stand up for their opinions and say no. Often times, they don't want to be in the pageants and their mom's force them to do things they don't want to. 2, pageants sexualize young girls. In fact, France has banned all child pageants because of the way the young girls behave, very suggestively at a very young age. 3, There is a strong correlation between pageants and girls that suffer from eating disorders and depression. 4, using too much hairspray on a young girl can actually stunt her growth. As an adult, there is not as much fear for health but the chemicals can react negatively with the child. 5, some of the dress can have negative effects on the child as well. High heels can damage the way a young girl's feet form and even prevent her from being able to wear other shoes off the stage.

Stephen Huey. "Beauty Pageant Contestants Remain Underfed." Womensenews.org. N.p., 04 Dec. 2002. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. <http://womensenews.org/story/commentary/021204/beauty-pageant-contestants-remain-underfed>.

The line between "skinny" and "fit" is very blurred, and lots of women who enter in pageants have begun to mix them up. They are either not skinny enough, or too skinny to be fit. Swimsuit portions of the pageants have been made to include a specific title that includes the word "fitness" so as to promote healthy dieting and activity, since so many pageant runners are of an unhealthy weight and BMI. There is also a mandatory portion of the pageant that is a video of the runner working out in a healthy way.

Emotions are Real

Depression is a huge problem among teens. I did not notice just how far the pain traveled until it began to affect me and my friends personally. It comes in slowly and no one really notices at first. I did not notice when my friend began to suffer, and still- after months of treatment- I have a hard time realizing when he is facing a bout of sadness and when he is just fine.

Over the weekend, I watched the movie Paper Towns. I had read the book and really fell in love with the characters and the story. There were so many parts that I could really relate to. Many times, one of the main teen characters would say something very profound about their feelings and I could not help but think that that particular character was something like me. However, one of the adults that was in the room while I was watching commented in a way that really burst my bubble. He said, "No teenager could ever think or feel something that profound. It's not possible." Let me tell you, that really ticked me off.

I get really tired of people saying that teens do not have mature emotions. They do. The teen years are full of ups and downs and they are the highest highs and the lowest lows. There is so much pressure put on a teenager now that it would be impossible not to expect them to feel something besides the basic happiness, sadness, or anger.

In my four short years of high school, I have felt heart break, and loss, and earth-shattering sorrow. I have jumped for joy and felt my heart skip beats as I fell in love. I have been the very angriest at my family and my friends and at myself. I have been ecstatic on several occasions. Days later I felt like the world was coming to an end. I have ridden the roller coaster that only goes up, to find that it inevitably comes back down, and it comes down hard and for a really long time. Eventually, though, it all evens out and I lead a good life. I would not trade any of these emotions for each one has taught me a very valuable lesson.

Adults need to remember what being a kid was like. It is not easy. (There are easier things. I do not have a house payment yet, nor do I have to feed my family and pay for their needs. Yet I still have the stress of school, family, college, work, sports, clubs, and performing arts.) Do not take for granted a teenager's emotions. They could be feeling more in ten minutes than an adult has felt in a year, and it is all very raw and it is all very real. ​

College Applications- A Tiresome Process

​I recently finished writing my college application essays. Let me tell you: after revising, and revising again, and revising again, and leaving to take a breather and coming back to revise on more time, they are finally good enough to submit! The process is so time consuming and really made my brain fuzzy- and that was just the essays for one application! Not to mention the rest of the application and the others that I filled out! 

Getting out of my own way has proven to be a most difficult challenge. Throughout my life I have thought of myself as a leader. I enjoy taking charge and serving others through the titles given to me in church callings and school positions. I apply for every leadership position I can and expect to get them. 

Inevitably, this attitude leads to some disappointments. Recently, I applied for several high leadership positions in student government and National Honor Society and others were chosen. I was devastated. I felt that I could not serve my classmates well if I didn't have some sort of title to accompany my actions. The lesson of humility and service was a hard one for me to learn at that time.

Gradually, I realized that I didn't need a title to go out and tutor or to head up a community service project. I must be willing to respond to the call of service, whether it be through the grand and widely acclaimed effort, or as is much more likely, through the small myriad  (indeed, a lifetime) of small, yet significant acts of kindness and caring. Selfless service becomes sacred when there is a far greater focus on "self". In the final analysis, I will better serve myself, my family, my church and my world, if giving, serving, caring and loving are my titles. 

Sometimes, we simply must get out of the way of our own potential.

Given the choice, Brigham Young University is the CES school I would most like to attend. Many generations of my family have attended BYU and I have seen the great impact it has made. Grandparents, great grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles have told me so many stories about how wonderful their experiences at the University were- spiritually, academically, and socially. I want to be able to not only have the same experience, but be able to carry on a family tradition.

I also love the idea of being at a campus that is so diverse. With a large community, a wide variety of post-graduate degree programs, and so many majors, BYU provides the exposure to students pursuing a wider variety of subjects. I want to be able to experience Saturday night football games with my fellow classmates and roommates, surrounded by school pride.​