Just About Turkey Time

So, I'm leaving on Tuesday. It's Sunday now, and I've got ALL of my work done! I'm so excited to come home for almost an entire week.

I was a little stressed this month, though. I went home at the end of October and came back November 2. Between then and now I had six papers to write. I had a five page abstract essay due the first Friday, a two page paper about community service due the next Wednesday, a four page paper about educational philosophy due the second Friday, a six page term paper for humanities due the third Wednesday, and a ten page research report due tomorrow. I also wrote a paper for my observations for my intro to education class which is due when I come back from Turkey Break. Either way, this month was overloaded with reports, and I felt the stress.

I'm finally done with them all! Tonight, at nine 'o clock PM, I finished the ten page research report, works cited page and all. It was the most difficult report I've written all semester, and I'm glad to be done with it.

Tomorrow is my last day of class before Turkey Day, and I've got very little to do. I have to critic a speech in Oral Comm, take a quick exam in Calculus, take notes in Intro to Ed, participate in discussion in Humanities, and cram for a final exam in Comp. After class I have a few hours to work, then I'm done!

On Tuesday I plan on leaving as soon as I wake up. Therefore, I need to do a little preparation first. After work tomorrow I am going to load all of my stuff into my NEW CAR, then take it to the gas station and fill it up. I'll just have to get up, shower, and go on Tuesday morning. I'm planning to be home by 2PM Tuesday, and I can't wait.

Then I don't have to come back till Sunday, and after a week of class and a week of finals, I'll be coming home again for a whole month. I so can't wait for this semester to be over.

Anyhow, I figured I should let you all know that a few weeks ago I bought a new car. The cavalier wasn't working so well, and wouldn't pass inspection, so I figured it would be easier to buy a new car than to put another thousand dollars into the junker. It's a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville, and it's in great shape. The car is in my name, and so is the insurance, and I'm so happy to have it! I can't wait to drive it home as it will be the first time I'll get to drive it for more than ten minutes at a time. Also, it's got cruise control, which is a huge plus because the cavalier didn't.

I guess that's all I've got for now. Thanks for reading.

Later,
Joshua

Almost Half Way

I had a really good message prepared for all of you to read, but blogger deleted half of it.

I don't want to write any more.

Suffice it to say that I am almost half way done with this semester, and I'm testing in all of my classes. By the end of the day Wednesday, I'll have had an exam in Calculus, Humanities, and Communications.

I'm coming home on October tenth to visit my family and Megan and Ollie, and to observe two lessons for my Introduction to Education class.

I'm sorry this post is not as good as it should be. Blame Blogger. I'm really upset right now.

Later,
Joshua

One Week Down

So, I've been at Mansfield for a week now. I have five classes to go to tomorrow, and then I'm done until next Tuesday, when I only have one class.

I'm really happy to be here, and other than this searing hunger that came over me for some reason beyond my comprehension just now, I've had a great week. I've gone through all of my classes at least once at this point; five of them meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and one meets on Wednesday only. Also, I have a lab for Calculus on Tuesday and Thursday. All of my classes are pretty cool, and I'm really only worried about my English Composition class.

I've met quite a few people, and I've made a few friends. In my communications class I interviewed a guy named Andrew, and he seems pretty cool, but I don't know if he's the kind of guy I'd hang out with. I met two really cool people that I do hang out with in my Calculus class, Steven and Alexa. I met Steven at orientation, and he was the same major as me until recently, and Alexa is pretty fun to hang out with, even if she's kind of quirky. In my Intro to Ed class I met an artist whose name is Emma, and she reminds me a lot of a few of my friends from Beaver Falls. Steven is also in my Humanities class and my Freshman Seminar. Also in my Freshman Seminar is Kim, who I met on the first Friday and who is also in the Honor's program with me.

All in all, I'm very glad to be here and I am having a great time. I can't wait to come home for Winter Break, but I'm sure it will be easy to stay here until then.

Moving to Mansfield

So, I'm reporting, for the first time, in Mansfield, PA.

I'm a little nervous. I'm almost positive that I can handle the classes and that I can handle the work load, but what I'm really afraid of is meeting new people. I now have the very opportunity that I've always wanted, and I'm too afraid to take it. There's a dance tonight that I don't think I will attend; it's all just too much for one day.

Either way, I've just taken the next big step in my life: I've moved out of my parents' houses and am now living in a dorm room five hours away. Speaking of the dorm room, it's very nice. There's no carpet, but that's alright because it's very hot during the day and the tile floor keeps it cool. There's plenty of space, but there's not many places to set things down. I've dominated my desk (which was provided) with my computer and printer and clock. My stereo dominated the top of my dresser (also provided). The bed isn't much smaller than what I'm used to, and the closet has plenty of space. However, I couldn't figure out where to put my coffee pot. Also, when I finally plugged the pot in, I realized that I forgot to bring a coffee cup...oops.

With my new dorm room also came my new roomate, Derek. Derek is a Music Education major, and he's pretty cool. He seems to be into a lot of the same things I am, and he's not stuck up or rude in any way that I've seen. He's kind of quiet. Him and I have pretty much exhausted all of the conversation topics that I can come up with, and we are just sitting in silence right now.

Derek is pretty lucky, though, because his girl friend is also going to school here, and he knows at least a few other people here. I'm pretty much alone. I don't know anyone. I miss my girl friend dearly, and meeting people is really difficult for me. I don't know what I'm going to do...

I also really miss Ollie, my puppie. I didn't post last week, but I got a puppie a week ago. His name is Ollie and he's a Jack Russel. He's stolen my heart and I miss him very much. I've set it all up that my step-father (Jeff) will be watching him and training him while I'm gone.

Otherwise, I've been setting up all my stuff and trying to catch up on paper work. I've got a lot to do, and I'm going to get going.

The Scores Are In

So, today I returned home from camp to visit and go to my sister's birthday party. When I finally made it to my dad's house, I found that I had quite a bit of mail waiting for me. I got a few important letters, but the most important envelope contained my scores from the AP tests I took back in May.

Of all of the scores, the only one I was upset about was my English score. I knew I did poorly on the test, but I thought I did at least enough to get a four. By the way, for those that don't know, a five is the highest score possible, a four is accepted by most colleges, and a three is still alright. A three is like a high C low B. Either way, I got a three on my English score, and I'm upset about that.

However, my other scores were fantastic. I got a five on my Physics exam! I was so excited to see that. My Chemistry score was also awesome. As far as I know, I think that my score was the best Chemistry score in Beaver Falls in a long time. Because of the scheduling issues, AP Chemistry class cannot finish all of the book, which must be finished to know all of what will be on the test. We went through about fourteen of twenty one chapters or so. For this reason, most people are lucky to get a two on this exam. I got a three! I know it sounds like I'm denying a three above and excited over one now, but I felt a lot more prepared for the English exam and a four was a possibility, while a three for the Chemistry exam is pretty unheard of.

I'm still really pumped about my physics score.

Either way, I just wanted to let everyone know how I did.

Later,
Joshua

I'm Getting Old

Wow, I feel old...

Tonight I sat in on my scout troop's committee meeting. My father asked me to be there to take notes as he was unable to attend.

All the boys in the troop were having fun, as I was sitting there shivering. It got really cold, really quick.

There was no picnic table, so we sat on the bleachers. The other members of the committee passed the time by telling stories. I feel really, old...

Man, I'm already eighteen. I cannot believe it...

Senior Day 2008

April 18th, 2008 was officially one of the most anticipated days of my life so far. Basically, this day decided whether or not I graduated. I had to prepare a portfolio to present to a group of teachers and members of the community. I also had to present my graduation project to another group of individuals. Finally, I had to take interview in which I was asked questions about my academic career so far and my future plans.

The stress of this enormous work load coupled with my school work and a part-time job was almost enough to make me give up, but I didn't. I rose to the challenge, and prevailed.

Each of the three presentations is scored on a rubric. There are five areas for each, and each area is worth four points. Therefore, each presentation is graded out of twenty points. An eighteen or above (at least 90 percent) is considered passing with honors. Between eight and seventeen is considered satisfactory. Students must have at least a satisfactory grade to pass the portfolio and project. The interview is only taken by students who are hoping to graduate with honors. Therefore, students must pass the interview with honors to graduate with honors.

I'm jubilant. I not only received passing grade on all three, but I received perfect scores, not only on one or two, but on all three! I almost can't believe it. Very, very few people ever get perfect scores on all of their presentations, but I did. I stressed and worked so much to earn those scores, though, so I am very proud of them.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I made it past senior day on top. Getting past that means that no matter what I do now, I graduate. However, as I just fought my way back up to first in my class, I will not be quitting any time soon.

Mansfield U

Well, I know it's been a long time since I posted last, but today was the first noteworthy day I've had in a long time.

Today my father and I drove five hours to visit Mansfield University, a university in northern central Pennsylvania which has accepted me. I wanted to get a look at the campus, and so we began our adventure.

I was a little nervous at first, because we didn't really plan it out that well. It was all sort of last minute, and we didn't call anyone ahead. Anyhow, when we got into the first building, the Student Union, it was completely empty. There were computers, and video games, and televisions, and pool tables, and they were all empty. Not one person was in the building. If that's not disconcerting, I don't know what is.

Well, from there we went to the library. It was HUGE . There were four floors of books, and each of them was bigger than any library I've ever been to. If I stood at the end of one row, I could see row after row after row down the room. I've never actually seen that many books, but it was quite exciting. I wish I had had some time to actually see all the books and figure out how they were set up.

After the library, we had lunch in the cafeteria. It was good.

We then went down to the fitness center, and talked with a senior. She was a secondary education major for history, and the other girl working at the center was an education major as well. Both of them said it was a great education school, which is good for me.

After that, we walked back to the car, and drove around to all of the tougher places to get to. It was getting cold and I had forgotten my coat in the car. The campus is beautiful, and quite large.

I was upset mostly by the fact that neither my father nor myself remembered to bring a camera. I didn't get a single picture all day.

We are planning to go back in March on a scheduled visitation day. This time, I'll get to see the dorms, ask more questions, and take pictures!

Later,
Joshua