Years Later

Birthdays. Long ago, when I was pretty little (yeah there was a time when I was little too, I think) I was asked by a person, "Do you think we should celebrate birthday's?" I replied by saying, "Yes, why not?" Then he tells me "It's another year less in your life time, don't you think you should be sad instead of happy?" Like I said, I was little back then (Yes, I know it might be teeny bit tough to believe so), so I honestly couldn't answer back in anyway.

This year, my homeroom, 902, has decided to celebrate everyone's b-day in the homeroom, and I was having a b-day conversation with someone very close. It reminded me of the above mentioned questions. It also reminded me of how I asked the same questions, about a year or two ago, to one of my friends. And he said, "If you should be sad on your b-days because it's another year less in your life, then you should be sad every second of your life since it's a second less from your lifetime." I honestly felt like I found the answer to the questions I was asked years earlier and well, felt slow about it too, because it wasn't a hard to guess answer.

Too much of reminiscing for me, I think I lost the point of this post. However, by re-reading it, I think I was trying to say that we should look for happiness in every moment, celebrate it on every occasion we can, not necessarily birthdays, but in life generally.

So, after being asked those questions almost about a decade ago, finding it's answer a year or two ago, and reminiscing about it till a minute ago, this can be an example of a thought process of an IB student. A nerd, and, well, a person who actually remembers to answer the questions he is asked, no matter how long it takes.

Extended Ending

It is Over. It is finally over. I turned in the final copy of my Extended Essay in to the IB coordinator. She, considerately, gave us an extra weekend to work on it, which was well, fair and pretty cool. Because I really did work on it that last weekend after stalling the entire last week. About 5 months of work summed up in a 21 page paper. 3,993 words to be exact. + the additional sheets on the front and back of the actual essay. Sounds like a lot? you bet your ass it was. Well, just wanted to share the "good news." Now all i have left is the bunch of papers for other classes.

Hall of Fame

Induction in the Environmental Hall of Fame. I don't whether I felt like a tree huger, a good science student, or just a guy in need of CAS hours. State's best school, suburban school, and well Senn was there as well to receive the induction in the Hall of Fame.

One of the few group pictures that I took

Other mostly irrelevant pictures that we took

Yes, we were required to dress formally
From the right: The Twilighted image of Harry Potter, The Guy from Ghana, The Nose Picking Mathematician, Miss. Stinky Locker. And lastly, the Big Guy with sunglasses.

Oh! did I mention that a friend and I gave a little speech about how Senn have accomplished that stuff that I spoke about. Margaret did good too, she was so natural, it was as if she was at home, how did I know? her clothing told me.

Dumbness

So when is it that you feel dumb? being a part of the smartest student group in the building, it's not necessary for one to be "smart." I realized that long time ago, but was reminded of it not too long ago.

First, a lab, something that an IB senior is expected to know how to do was assigned. Being due on a certain day, like always, I sat down to do it the night before. In my mind thinking that it's reasonable lengthy, hard, and etc. However, I was soon astounded when I, like many others, could not figure out how to do it. Can't speak for other IBians, but I sat down for hours staring at the data, trying to figure out what it meant. I was due past Friday, and I still have no idea what to do or how to do it. I am sure that I am not alone. But this isn't the only part that made me realize how stupid/dumb, one, or more specifically, I can be.

I was talking to a friend online. She left and her little sister starts talking. I've met them before so it wasn't an awkward conversations. I actually talked to her for a little while about her school, about how we boht aer trimendously amasing spellers, and about her Science Fair project that involves diapers. After a nice conversation, I see the the words, "i am back." I thought my friend's back and I tell her how cool her little sister was when I was asked if I was annoyed by the 10 year old. After sayin cool and nice things about the little one, I was told that my friend wasn't "back" on the first place and it was the little girl all along. I was tricked. Sad part is, this wasn't the first time that something like this happened. Got to say, that's one smart way of finding out whats inside someone's head. But, being tricked by a 10 year old, trust me people, doesn't really make you feel like Einstein or Marx (can't think of other intellectuals/smart folks).

Extended Essay is due on coming Tuesday. I don't know what to say. "Yay, about time it's over"? Or "Give me some more time." What I can say is, many of the IB seniors would definitely love to have some more time for it.

Whining. A Right? or Annoyance?

1:30 am of November 19, 2008. I am just sitting here for a friend to finish up some revisions of her Extended Essay. I sit here waiting for a few minutes, wondering how long it has been since we started working on the essay. More than 4 months, definitely. They say, it's a "great experience," and that "it will make other papers seem easy to finish up and shorter as well." While all this might be true, another thing that's also true is that once you become an IB student, It becomes you God given right to whine, complain, and bitch about how much work we get, how many things we are expected to take care of, and how we always have to stand out, because, well, we are IBians.

So right now since I am just waiting, I thought, I might as well exercise my right and whine a little about the Extended Essay, or simply about how much, us, IBians have to work compared to other students. I mean c'mon, this just isn't cool. Over 4 months of work for one paper, who are we kidding, that's too much work. Omg, this just isn't fair.

1:40 am. Still waiting for my friend to finish up her revisions. Did exercise my right, but what good did came out of it. We all at some point whine about how much work we do, and how the work load isn't always fair. We never, however, complain about how we are somewhat privileged compared to other students, at least in Senn High. We never complain about how we get special attention, labs when needed, or just simply the fact that we'll have the college's preference when it comes to that. I guess what I am trying to say is, whine, always do it. Because exercising your rights isn't something bad at all. But! at the same time, consider the fact, what good is it going to do? Is it going to change anything? or will it just make you an annoying person?

1:45 am. She's done with her revisions for time being. More revisions will be made for sure, by almost all of us. Exercise your right. But! don't over do it, because, well, it doesn't do a damn thing and it's annoying.

Finally a Reader?!?

Known among my friends as one of the people who "can't be a reader for shit," I think I have finally decided to prove them wrong.

When I first came into the IB program itself, many teachers did not hesitate to imply how "not good enough" I am for the program. Even today, a teacher tells me how she thought that I was simply dumb to be in 902. I wasn't good enough, they say.

Similarly, and moreover, I've heard things about and admitted as well towards me not being a reader. So for the first time, just like I proved those teachers wrong, I was somehow convinced (by a friend of mine who isn't a reader at all) to prove those people wrong who think that I "can't be a reader for shit," by actually reading a book for fun.

One of my friends gave me an overview of this book, which isn't too thick and doesn't sound boring as well. I really like the idea of reading it, so I will definitely make time and read it. The mere thought of making time to read a damn book sounds too much effort considering the senior IB year work.

I plan to get the book next week from the library. Oh! the name of the book is The Big Friendly Giant (lol?).
So do you get an idea of why I would want to read it?? if not, then you don't know me and you must ... hm well ... suck...

Strangely Weird

I am in Biology class. Don't know what to do since I am not doing the actual lab, instead just am collecting the data. The teacher is teaching, the students are learning, but what am I doing?

Sitting in a class of smartest students in the building, staring at this window trying to hide it from the teacher, thinking, just wondering what the next point of data I need to record

Waiting, for the class to end, for the bell to ring, for this one voice in my mp3 to sing, looking for the color pink to highlight this one link on my lab along with trying to not smell the stinky sink.
Just waiting, to see how things go down. Does my experimented peas stink?, couldn't take on the "constipation sensation" on the teacher's computer for more than a eye's blink because it made me think. Think what? That I need to work, people around me, might suck, but we all need to work.

So, I'll try and work, try to not suck. Because the one's who suck confuse a swan with a duck. Wait, I think I did that myself not to long ago. Does that make me weird? Nah, everyone confuses birds at some point, right? I can't remember anyone who did, but I got to say, if you haven't confused any birds, then my friends, you are missing out on a very important phase in life.

Self-Image

What happens when something so little as a phrase "I don't care" makes you realize how nice or horrible of a person you are? What happens when u look at yourself in a complete different way, not voluntarily, yet not regrettably either.

Something very similar happened with this person I know. He couldn't be where he wanted to be. He couldn't be there for the person he always wants to be there for. He just couldn't fulfill a little promise of being caring towards someone. What happens when this sort of things occur?

He pauses and wonders what he thought about himself, about his personality, about his mentality, was he wrong about all of it? what kind of wrong self-image had he created, for maybe his own convenience?

I know a guy who has all this going on. He is stubborn, not understanding, and yet isn't too bad. He is, however, confused and admits it probably for the first time in life.

Only reason I am talking about the person is because he doesn't seem very different from others, he seems normal. So, do we all create an image of ourselves for our convenience? and do we then forget about what reality is and start looking at ourselves as that image we create for our convenience and selfishness?

I am not a good a story teller, definitely not a preacher. However, I do think that by looking at this person I mentioned above, we all can learn to be honest with ourselves. And by being honest we can avoid the possibility of doubting our own self image, for we all know, our actions can be dictated by our emotions and if emotions are true, then actions would turn out pretty well. (Now you all IBians, don't go all ToK about it, and just try to get the message that i am tryin to give).

Camping

Many said, "don't go, it won't be all that fun." I must say, it wasn't as good or better than the previous one, but it wasn't too bad at all. We went to Turkey Run in Indiana. It was fun, especially during the night when everyone chilled around the fire pit.

I saw some of the most beautiful trees

Some more ...

And a lot more ...

Hiking was fun as well as tiring ...

Some other pretty cool pictures ...

After being done with the trip, taking the quarterly tests the next day, I now look forward to the next camping trip which will supposedly happen in the spring. Anyways, still trying to digest the tough Spanish test I took today, I'll work on other H.W. or even better, sleep.