1. First, I texted some friends on social media and asked them politely to do me this favor.
2. I copied and pasted all my text messages in my gmail and emailed them to myself.
3. I created a google document to put them all together as I received the messages.
4. After gathering all the text together I attempted word cloud to form my cloud. At first it was difficult because it would not let me save the file.
5. Couple Days later I attempted again, and succeeded.
6. Final Result.
Many students take the Ag Welding class to learn how to weld. To be able to weld, they have to learn the basics and have knowledge about the equipment before grabbing it. Having few guys, 5 to be precise, in my Ag Leadership class who have taken the Ag Welding I or Ag Welding II is a challenge. Most of them are usually working on making a stage, props, and such things we could use for the meeting. However, a couple of them, mess around or ditch the class.
With not many hands on deck to help with the job, a brave girl volunteered herself.
Taking initiative as a close friend of hers, I offered to learn and help her build the trophies from scratch. There was other things I could help with like making posters with the whole chapter team. However, I personally did not think they needed more than 8- 10 people to work on it. In addition, as the chapter reporter, an officer, I decided to bring forth my duty. I am suppose to help and expand my knowledge. I learned how to cut 13 FFA emblems with a Christmas tree inside with a laser light (not the proper term, I believe, I mean I did not take any of the classes before). The brave girl who stepped up and a team of other few girls joined her to sand down the cut metal to have nice medallions without any sharp edges. She cut out a 3 rectangular pieces from a rectangular tube. She sanded the edges and started to weld on the first trophy.
On Tuesday afternoon, 12.10.19, I wanted to finish the trophies in order to paint them the next day and have them ready by Thursday for the meeting. Mr. Guerra only had an hour after school. I had finished cutting the emblems, however I could not keep going without welding the parts together. I proposed the idea to myself and was determine to finish. He demonstrated how to weld the part together and we practiced for the first 20 minutes taking turns between Monica, Jessica, my sister, and I. I was glad they joined me. Eventually we got the welding done in time before Mr. Guerra left. Our trophies had a few flaws, but was exceptionally great. Being exposed to it for the first time and having determination produced an amazing product for the FFA joint meeting of the year.
Like anyone else, first day of back to high school is kind of boring in addition to the craziness of homework. Any class you come in, it is expected to present yourself, create some type of name-tag, or just go over the syllabus. (The only interesting thing is the people around you)
As I entered my AP English class, I instantly felt that it was going to be boring, judging by the looks. First of all, it was 5th period and it was far from the cafeteria which meant I would have to get into the line to get lunch. It seemed really far away. Secondly, this English class was so distant from the crowds as well as it was one of the portable classrooms with an ordinary boring blue ramp. As I entered the class, I was confused. Was this teacher really going to seat us like a college setting? All the seats were scattered facing the front of the class with a blank whiteboard and the only thing written was on the left which were the teacher's social media/ references.
As the teacher started talking and introduced himself, Dr. Preston, I got anxious to get out of the class. It was first day of school and most likely it was going to be introductions or syllabus to kill time because there was not much to do. Despite being the first day of school, Dr. Preston gave us a speech. He read our minds, you can say, as he talked about what other teachers will be doing or have done throughout the day. It literally blew my mind how passionate he seemed and excited for this school year even though he talked with a tone which could be misinterpreted as being monotone at some parts of his speech. The whole class seemed to be engaged and Dr. Preston knew how to keep their attention. At last, he described our options: Textbook and paper or Open Source Learning and Blogs. He used psychology to express and lead us to our option in an indirect way. His diction about each option showed that he was bias to Open Learning Source. Without a doubt, I also wanted to do something new like these "blogs". I did not want another class where I would have to carry my textbook or read from it everyday and write summaries in my dull room as the sun seemed to be gone and be replaced by her sister, the moon.
I could never write a story like my companions in 4th grade. They would come up with funny stories about a socks monster and bring socks to school to throw at the audience. Sometimes, they would all bring props.
My stories were just complicated.
I struggled and struggled. And STRUGGLED. How could I ever make a story that made the students laugh.
In addition, how could I ever even speak loud and clear with confidence. I always felt my cheeks turn hot, maybe even be a little red. Then, the tears in my eyes would form and I was not even crying.
Well, Kate became a great writer. So did Goku. He is a senior now at another high school and in the Drama Club, I believe so. He was really creative as well. In 5th grade he would come over from his 6th grade class to share his stories.
Now, I open my eyes and I see many youth my age being activist, owning businesses, forming a social media platform or doing what they love.
I wonder where I am. I will admit, one of my flaws is being indecisive. I love reading of course, so I did end up buying books and eating them up as fast as I could. I also started playing the ukulele in 4th grade. I started when I was in 6th grader and now as a junior in High School, I am painting canvases with acrylics and composing songs. I also care about my community and want to educate myself more as well as get other involve.
However, Singing and music just makes me happy anyday.
Like the real meaning of HAPPY. Not just plain old boring happy, but an unexplainable Happiness.
So, I might not be Greta who is traveling all over the world to spread awareness about the Climate Change, or I might not be Shin Lim or even Kodi Lee who have won America's got talent..
but I am ME.
A little misunderstood me.
A little too curious.
A little too confused.
Perhaps a little too much.
But still, I am creative in my own way.
😨 How did I possibly manage to sustain my memory and learning momentum this 2019 Thanksgiving Break?
Well after long hours (during the whole week, even Saturdays and Sundays) of chores, babysitting, cooking, and spending quality time with my family and extended family, I took most (maybe fewer than most) of the afternoons for me. Despite the work and studying I needed to do and wanted to do, I still managed to tie it in within my daily life and routines.
For example, the mornings that I was not in a rush and I was making homemade tortillas, I watched on YouTube a video or two about history (for my APUSH class) or a video about religion to help me increase my knowledge and be more prepared in these topics when I have to discuss it with my father or committee. Sometimes I rewatched the videos to go over facts and capture something I had missed before. During the day when I was trying to do some homework while watching my sisters in the living room watch T.V., I would try to do everything with one hand (such as typing or reading). My youngest is super active and loves jumping around so much. I have to lie her down and massage her feet so she can relax and watch t.v. or take a nap. This shows how I tied my daily routines to my education. Yeah, you might probably ask why not hurry up and then afterwards concentrate fully on studying. Well, there is dead time when the tortillas are cooking and when the other meal on the side is done as well. In addition, free time, or me sitting down is not really an exception when you have three younger siblings wanting to play all day with you and fighting for your attention. I really try hard to give them my attention equally but as always the oldest gets the least and the youngest the most. Instead of going out with my parents on Saturday's afternoon, I asked to stay home and work on some research and homework. It was great especially late at night I got to concentrate way better. However, I did spend quality time with them on the days they ]] Overall it was a great and I'm thankful for my family. They really are a part of me and a great motivation. They made this Thanksgiving week memorable with the many smiles and laughs we shared which made this week living for... 💖
