PSAT, Fiddler, Florida

Today has been an exciting sort of day.

I started it off with the PSAT. I wasn't nervous going into the test, and I didn't need to be because honestly, it was pretty easy.... I felt really really good about the reading and writing parts especially and the math was easier than anticipated. YAY.

The really exciting thing that happened today was that they posted what the musical is going to be for this year along with the cast list. Last year was Les Mis which was simply incredible and this year it's time for....

*drumroll*

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!

I'm really excited. Fiddler is a great musical and I really like it so this should be a lot of fun. Bring on the pit rehearsals!

Another really cool thing that's been happening that I don't think I've told you yet is that I'm going to Florida over February vacation - with the band! We get to do some performances and workshops at Disney, and spend time at all the theme parks there, plus spend a day at Universal at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. SO EXCITED. It's going to be an amazing trip, and I've been feverishly fundraising for it. I made my first payment today, so it's now official. Florida, here I come!

Only bad thing today is that I've felt awful and sick. Of course this has to come up when I have tests tomorrow auditions for All-State and districts on Friday and Tuesday respectively and a show on Saturday. This better clear up, NOW.

Four Down

Oh finals week...oh joy. 

Finals are extremely miserable and annoying and they take a long time, but at least once you're done, you're done.

With the way my finals schedule, I ended up having six finals (I have 8 classes but there obviously was no final for study hall and playing at graduation was our band final)

Yesterday my first final was French, and I'd say that that was probably my easiest final so far. It was basically a common assessment measuring speaking, listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing. It wasn't bad at all- although I don't have my grade for that yet...there's always the possibility that I will change may mind about it being bad or not ;)

Next I had a free block so I went and chilled in the library before my second exam which was English. That wasn't bad either, so yesterday wasn't bad at all in terms of test difficulty! (Although I don't have grades for either test yet, so...)

Today, goodness, today.

I began the day with a very hard history final. Way over 100 questions, multiple choice, matching and a TON of short answer/essay. It was brutal, but I got a 95 which made me really happy :)

I had the second test block free and my mom took me to this coffee shop place where I got this really delicious coffee/chocolate drink that had whipped cream and was quite marvelous. I also got a really yummy everything bagel with veggie cream cheese and I ate these wonderful food items in a squishy chair and read Harry Potter 7 and emptied my head of history. There is really not much that is better.

Later I headed off to my geometry exam which went quite well too, and which I got a 92 on, so I'm happy.

Four finals down, two to go tomorrow (gym and biology) and I'm not terribly stressed about either and at eleven tomorrow morning....I WILL BE FREE.

A sweet sweet feeling. To celebrate, my friend Haley and I are going to get ice cream, and then it is just sweet sweet summer. Yayness.

And my brother has to go to school the next day...and I am SO going to laugh evilly at him on Friday morning when he has to get up and go to school while I have to do absolutely nothing.

SAT (i survived)

As you can see, because I am typing this....

I SURVIVED THIS MORNING'S SAT!

That makes me quite happy. Now I just hope that I got a god score....I would love to get a 700 or above, we'll see if that actually happens.

The test wasn't that bad though. There were some questions I had no clue what the answer was but for the majority of them I knew the answer or could eliminate several choices and then make my guess.

I'm pretty relieved that it's over....now I have to study for finals because those start in a little over a week.

Also later today is my second actual driving lesson on the road. I had my first one on Thursday, and it went very well! I drove all around and didn't hit anything which is always good. After today....6 more driving hours and 21 more classroom hours, and that permit should be in my hand by 5:30pm on June 20th.

Also, I can't believe how soon the school year is to ending! I mean, finals in a week or so, SAT today, last night I played Pomp & Circumstance with about 20 other people (in a space that was about 20 square foot area) for the senior awards night and tomorrow is their graduation which I'm playing at too.

The end sure is coming quickly!

Studying Hard

I got a present yesterday!

In a way it was welcome, in another it was not.

It was *drumroll*..........

SAT STUDY/REVIEW BOOK AND PRACTICE TESTS.

Blah........

Yep. Only *gasp* 17 measly days left before test day, which means lots of hard studying is in store for me! I've been working my way through this giant study book, and today I worked through the biochemistry chapter, which wasn't too bad. I got most of the practice questions correct, which was good. i'm going to have to work through one or two chapters each day if I want to have the book done by June 4, which is test day.

THAT is a lot of studying.

Plus homework.

Plus trumpet and musical stuff.

Oh well, I can do it. I just want to d really well on this test....and not fail miserably. That would NOT be cool. Not cool at all.

And after the SAT you know what happens?

FINALS.

Yay.

I just looooove tests...... (not)

But speaking of tests and a slightly more fun test, I am starting driver's ed really soon and if all goes well, I'll have my permit before the end of June!

The End Is Near

I would love any proof that the end of school is fast approaching. Talk of Memorial Day parades, and announcements of next year's marching band show (Music from the movie National Treasure, by the way. Going to be AWESOME!), working through our last unit in most classes, counting down the days left....anything but what my math teacher told us to copy down today.

Schedules for final exams. Yay...

Pretty much in my school we have eight classes, or blocks (periods) rather because study hall isn't really a class. Four 85 minute blocks a day. We have red days with four blocks and the white days with the other four classes. 

Our exam schedule is as follows: 3 days (June 14, 15, 16), 3 testing blocks each day, and you don't have to be at school during the blocks that you don't have tests. 

Actually, my schedule really isn't that bad. I only have two tests each day and my free blocks are the second test blocks so a get a break between tests.

Day one is White 3 (French) White 1 (Study hall, no test) White 2 (English)

Day two is Red 3 (World History), Red 2 (Band, but playing at graduation is our final so it's a free block) and White 4 (Math)

Day 3 is Red 4 (Gym; why we need a final for this, I have NO idea....) and Red 1 (Biology) and the last block is for make-up if you missed the test.

Ugh.

Finals....

Turning the Tables

When you accidentally wake up at four-thirty in the morning, an hour too early, this could be a sign that your day might not be the best.

If you accidentally wake up at four-thirty in the morning, AND it's raining, your day probably won't be so great.

If you accidentally wake up at four-thirty in the morning, and it's raining, AND you are all happy because it's finally Friday, but then you realize it's only Thursday, your day has taken an almost certain downhill plunge.

And, if you accidentally wake up at four-thirty in the morning, and it's raining, and you are all happy because it's finally Friday, but then you realize it's only Thursday, AND you have tests or quizzes of some sort in three out of four classes that day....you just know that it's going to be a bad day.

I was ready for one of, you know, those days. Like the one pictured in this cartoon:

I did not, however, have a terrible day. My powers of telling the future of this day were wrong. The first very good thing was walking into second block English class I saw, not my usual, extremely annoying, gets-on-my-nerves-so-much-every-class teacher, but a very funny substitute. Score one for a good day.

All my quizzes and tests were not hard either....and I was assigned minimal homework. Two more bonuses. The day was really looking up, and so here I am now typing this post and the rest of my day doesn't seem that awful either.

I'm just going to do my minimal bit of homework, chill and head to spring jazz rehearsal. I'm excited for this because (assuming my brother brings it home) I get to play trombone :) 

I haven't gotten to play some decent 'bone in quite some time and I miss it, so this will be good.

The moral of this post? Don't make assumptions. They can be very wrong.

If Just Signing Up for the SAT is Stressful....

The penultimate day before April break, in my first block 10th grade honors biology class I was handed a thick paper booklet. 

It was emblazoned cheerfully with the words "Getting Ready To Take The SAT Subject Tests!"

I groaned. The SAT was probably anything but cheerful, but I knew I should take it now, even though I'm only a freshman, rather than wait and forget everything I learned this year and do terribly.

Still, I put it to the back of my mind in Paris, but yesterday I finally figured it would be good to sign up for the darn test already and so my dad and I went into our office to sign up.

I had figured on it being a pretty easy, fairly painless process. They'd ask me to put in my basic personal information, I'd choose what test I was taking and when and where, and then we'd pay and print my admission ticket.

Let's just say....signing up for an SAT, is a nightmare.

First they just asked for basic information.

Name, address, grade, school, etc.....

And then more basic information.

Race...religion...blah blah blah.

Oh and so then it's like 'build your college profile!'. And I'm thinking, I don't want to fill out a college profile, I'm a freshman, I just want to sign up for the stupid test.

But it makes me fill out the college profile.

What do you plan on majoring in?

What is your GPA?

What is your class rank are you?

What size college do you want to attend?

What is the highest level of education you want to have?

What are all the classes you have ever taken or plan to take?

Which of these subjects are you an honors or AP student?

What is your average grade?

Are you top 10%, above average, average or below average in these subject areas?

On

and

on

and

on.

Oh and it repeatedly keeps asking me if I am indeed Sally {insert middle initial and last name here} like on every page.

Finally it lets me actually choose my test and test center....

And pay...

And get my ticket...

The whole process literally took an hour.

If signing up for the SAT was stressful....well, I can't wait to see the actual test.