This NCSSM event happened earlier in the year, but it seems appropriate to write about it sooner than later.
For the past several years, the NCSSM student body has organized a senior-junior sibling program. The administrators have nothing to do with this, which makes the program kind of special. To make the mix diverse, juniors and seniors are paired with people of the opposite sex. The job of doing the pairings is passed down each year and the students interested have to fill out an “application” explain their likes and dislikes and interests.
My senior brother and I adopted (rather than paired) each other during the summer because we were both too lazy to fill out the application. We talked during the summer about what type of people we were, what we liked, how we had gotten along in school, and everything else. I told him how I was nervous about the school and he gave me tips and helpful advice. He told me how to arrange my schedule so I wouldn’t be overloaded with stress. We talked all summer via chat and quickly became siblings.
Then we moved in. At the first picnic dinner, we finally met each other in person, and boy was it awkward. It was weird how two people could talk about so much through the internet, but then have to learn to become friends in real life. But as we talked things quickly became normal and he dragged me around campus introducing me to all of his friends. We went out to lunch and he taught me the ins and outs of the school.
As school started we both became busy and didn’t keep in contact as much, but it was always nice knowing that there was someone you could go to. When I became home sick, he told me how my parents would always be there for me no matter where I lived. When exams rolled around, he cheered me on as I went through my textbooks.
He may not know this, but I really looked up to my senior brother last year. That is partly why I decided to be a part of the program this year. This year, I decided to not be lazy and actually apply. Today, I was given my junior brother. And like last year, we talked about schedules and the workload, and our future interests. It was a little awkward today since we were kind of thrown together, but I am excited for a fun year with my junior brother.
We’ll see what this year holds! Oh, and also, wish me luck! I have no idea what a senior sister is supposed to do!
7.24.2010
A Year of Memories_Junior-Senior Siblings
This NCSSM event happened earlier in the year, but it seems appropriate to write about it sooner than later.
For the past several years, the NCSSM student body has organized a senior-junior sibling program. The administrators have nothing to do with this, which makes the program kind of special. To make the mix diverse, juniors and seniors are paired with people of the opposite sex. The job of doing the pairings is passed down each year and the students interested have to fill out an “application” explain their likes and dislikes and interests.
My senior brother and I adopted (rather than paired) each other during the summer because we were both too lazy to fill out the application. We talked during the summer about what type of people we were, what we liked, how we had gotten along in school, and everything else. I told him how I was nervous about the school and he gave me tips and helpful advice. He told me how to arrange my schedule so I wouldn’t be overloaded with stress. We talked all summer via chat and quickly became siblings.
Then we moved in. At the first picnic dinner, we finally met each other in person, and boy was it awkward. It was weird how two people could talk about so much through the internet, but then have to learn to become friends in real life. But as we talked things quickly became normal and he dragged me around campus introducing me to all of his friends. We went out to lunch and he taught me the ins and outs of the school.
As school started we both became busy and didn’t keep in contact as much, but it was always nice knowing that there was someone you could go to. When I became home sick, he told me how my parents would always be there for me no matter where I lived. When exams rolled around, he cheered me on as I went through my textbooks.
He may not know this, but I really looked up to my senior brother last year. That is partly why I decided to be a part of the program this year. This year, I decided to not be lazy and actually apply. Today, I was given my junior brother. And like last year, we talked about schedules and the workload, and our future interests. It was a little awkward today since we were kind of thrown together, but I am excited for a fun year with my junior brother.
We’ll see what this year holds! Oh, and also, wish me luck! I have no idea what a senior sister is supposed to do!
For the past several years, the NCSSM student body has organized a senior-junior sibling program. The administrators have nothing to do with this, which makes the program kind of special. To make the mix diverse, juniors and seniors are paired with people of the opposite sex. The job of doing the pairings is passed down each year and the students interested have to fill out an “application” explain their likes and dislikes and interests.
My senior brother and I adopted (rather than paired) each other during the summer because we were both too lazy to fill out the application. We talked during the summer about what type of people we were, what we liked, how we had gotten along in school, and everything else. I told him how I was nervous about the school and he gave me tips and helpful advice. He told me how to arrange my schedule so I wouldn’t be overloaded with stress. We talked all summer via chat and quickly became siblings.
Then we moved in. At the first picnic dinner, we finally met each other in person, and boy was it awkward. It was weird how two people could talk about so much through the internet, but then have to learn to become friends in real life. But as we talked things quickly became normal and he dragged me around campus introducing me to all of his friends. We went out to lunch and he taught me the ins and outs of the school.
As school started we both became busy and didn’t keep in contact as much, but it was always nice knowing that there was someone you could go to. When I became home sick, he told me how my parents would always be there for me no matter where I lived. When exams rolled around, he cheered me on as I went through my textbooks.
He may not know this, but I really looked up to my senior brother last year. That is partly why I decided to be a part of the program this year. This year, I decided to not be lazy and actually apply. Today, I was given my junior brother. And like last year, we talked about schedules and the workload, and our future interests. It was a little awkward today since we were kind of thrown together, but I am excited for a fun year with my junior brother.
We’ll see what this year holds! Oh, and also, wish me luck! I have no idea what a senior sister is supposed to do!
7.17.2010
RECAP_Week 1
Today I finished my first week at RECAP. I went to UNC’s chemistry lab from 8:30 to 4:30 every day and had information poured into me like never before. In just the past 5 days, I have learned so much about organic chemistry and the processes in a chemistry lab.
The first couple days I felt overwhelmed and kind of useless in the lab because all I did was ask questions, but as time went on, I knew how to use some of the equipment and knew what was happening. This week I worked on several reactions so that in the end I could create a cyclopropane. Cyclopropanes are useful because they have both a positive and negative end so they react with many other compounds. Also, the compounds they create can be used as pharmaceuticals and other biological products.
Friday I discovered that what I had been working on did not work, and that I hadn’t created any cyclopropanes, but my graduate student told me that this happens often in the lab. Next week I will be working on more reactions and hopefully be getting good results.
The experience so far has been so much fun. The part I enjoyed most about my chemistry class was the lab work, and I’m glad that I’m getting to spend so much time in the lab. I feel very independent being away from home, having to find my own meals and various other things. This is a totally different experience from going to NCSSM because I have my own schedule and there is very little supervision.
We’ll see what the next weeks have in store and hopefully, there will be good results in the lab!
The first couple days I felt overwhelmed and kind of useless in the lab because all I did was ask questions, but as time went on, I knew how to use some of the equipment and knew what was happening. This week I worked on several reactions so that in the end I could create a cyclopropane. Cyclopropanes are useful because they have both a positive and negative end so they react with many other compounds. Also, the compounds they create can be used as pharmaceuticals and other biological products.
Friday I discovered that what I had been working on did not work, and that I hadn’t created any cyclopropanes, but my graduate student told me that this happens often in the lab. Next week I will be working on more reactions and hopefully be getting good results.
The experience so far has been so much fun. The part I enjoyed most about my chemistry class was the lab work, and I’m glad that I’m getting to spend so much time in the lab. I feel very independent being away from home, having to find my own meals and various other things. This is a totally different experience from going to NCSSM because I have my own schedule and there is very little supervision.
We’ll see what the next weeks have in store and hopefully, there will be good results in the lab!
7.11.2010
RECAP_Day 1
RECAP (Research Experience in Chemistry and Physics) is a summer program for rising seniors that NCSSM coordinates. Glaxo in North Carolina funds this program, and it allows students to do graduate level research. I was chosen to do research in chemistry with Dr. Jeff Johnson at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Today we all moved in, back to the NCSSM campus, and this was an exciting event. I not only got put on a hall different from the hall I live at, but I get to use a double room all by myself. This means I have two desks, two dressers, and two closets. After my parents helped me unpack, I went to a quick meeting where we discussed the basic schedule of the camp and deadlines for our research. This is when I realized how independent we were and it was pretty much like any college or graduate student work.
Now I am in my new room, with no schedule until tomorrow morning. I could go off campus, study, start writing my paper, just surf the internet, or just go to bed. With all this time on my hands I feel like I should spend my time wisely this summer so I have been making a schedule of how I will be spending my time. I am planning on studying for SAT subject tests, reading the bible, and starting my college applications. We’ll see how this goes.
I am also very excited for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning we will be going to my professor’s lab and starting my research. I am nervous to be working in an actual college lab, but excited to see what I will be doing.
Today we all moved in, back to the NCSSM campus, and this was an exciting event. I not only got put on a hall different from the hall I live at, but I get to use a double room all by myself. This means I have two desks, two dressers, and two closets. After my parents helped me unpack, I went to a quick meeting where we discussed the basic schedule of the camp and deadlines for our research. This is when I realized how independent we were and it was pretty much like any college or graduate student work.
Now I am in my new room, with no schedule until tomorrow morning. I could go off campus, study, start writing my paper, just surf the internet, or just go to bed. With all this time on my hands I feel like I should spend my time wisely this summer so I have been making a schedule of how I will be spending my time. I am planning on studying for SAT subject tests, reading the bible, and starting my college applications. We’ll see how this goes.
I am also very excited for tomorrow. Tomorrow morning we will be going to my professor’s lab and starting my research. I am nervous to be working in an actual college lab, but excited to see what I will be doing.
7.07.2010
A Year of Memories_Speech and Debate
Ever since I was little, I enjoyed my share of time on stage. I had been in countless violin, piano and ballet recitals since I was 5. I enjoyed being in musicals and plays. And I was even a varsity cheerleader. But when I decided to join the speech and debate seminar, that, made my stomach churn over and over. Why I decided to join this seminar, I don’t remember. But I did. And every Tuesday evening was a huge challenge for me.
I knew how to project my voice from cheerleading and I had gotten over stage freight from my many recitals. But public speaking was something else. In speech and debate, we did exercises that helped us speak boldly and confidently, we did mock debates that helped us think quickly on our feet, we also watched speeches to learn tips on public speaking. A whole trimester of these exercises should have helped me get over my fear of public speaking, but I still have it. But I don’t think I didn’t learn anything from this seminar; rather I have a new bit of confidence knowing that I have all the tools of good public speaking somewhere under my belt. Also, I now know that I have a weakness in public speaking and I will constantly try to get better at it.
Another confidence this experience gave me was that I learned how to distinguish what I enjoyed and what was good for me. Because my mom wasn’t there to do it, I had to force myself to go every Tuesday. But after I came back I felt accomplished for even just going. I always had fun at the seminars, so I’m not sure why the next Tuesday I didn’t want to go. After the seminar was over, I feel like overcoming such a challenge helped me mature because I learned that sometimes I need to battle with myself to make myself a better person. I also learned that battles with myself are much harder than with, say my mom, because I could always talk myself out of something. After all, I was only on person and one half of my body could drag the other half to the seminar. Speech and debate was a difficult experience, but I learned so many things, some things unrelated to speech and debate itself.
I knew how to project my voice from cheerleading and I had gotten over stage freight from my many recitals. But public speaking was something else. In speech and debate, we did exercises that helped us speak boldly and confidently, we did mock debates that helped us think quickly on our feet, we also watched speeches to learn tips on public speaking. A whole trimester of these exercises should have helped me get over my fear of public speaking, but I still have it. But I don’t think I didn’t learn anything from this seminar; rather I have a new bit of confidence knowing that I have all the tools of good public speaking somewhere under my belt. Also, I now know that I have a weakness in public speaking and I will constantly try to get better at it.
Another confidence this experience gave me was that I learned how to distinguish what I enjoyed and what was good for me. Because my mom wasn’t there to do it, I had to force myself to go every Tuesday. But after I came back I felt accomplished for even just going. I always had fun at the seminars, so I’m not sure why the next Tuesday I didn’t want to go. After the seminar was over, I feel like overcoming such a challenge helped me mature because I learned that sometimes I need to battle with myself to make myself a better person. I also learned that battles with myself are much harder than with, say my mom, because I could always talk myself out of something. After all, I was only on person and one half of my body could drag the other half to the seminar. Speech and debate was a difficult experience, but I learned so many things, some things unrelated to speech and debate itself.
7.06.2010
A Year of Memories_Extended Weekends
A big part of the NCSSM life is the time spent away from the school, extended weekends. Extendeds happen about every 3 weeks and it is an extended weekend, meaning we get one extra day in our weekend to go home. Every time I got back from an extended the count down to the next extended would begin. And for me, if there was an extended that week, I had an overflow of energy just because I was excited to go home.
Although I loved the weekend with my new friends at NCSSM, family and friends time is always needed. Whenever I came back for the extended weekends, I would either go to a basketball game, go out for movies and ice cream, or just go out to dinner.
Before my first extended I was very nervous that something would be awkward with my friends because I hadn’t seen them in a while. But I’m glad I was proved wrong. When I got back from school I had just enough time to go to the last half of a home football game. I was greeted by my friends and many hugs. I then knew that my friends had not forgotten about me and that we were still best friends. After the game I went to the dance and we all forgot that I now went to a different school. My friends and I got to talk about everything and they constantly asked me for more and more stories about my new school.
After my first extended, I was always excited to go back and see my friends again. Some extendeds I went to watch a movie with my friends, and some weekends they would just come over and talk about every aspect of life. No matter what we did, the fact that I lived 5 hours away was always forgotten. Whenever I came back to school after the extended, I was always thankful for my friends and parents for always being there for me.
Extended weekends. Always too far away, and always too short, but always needed. I cannot even put into words how much excitement extends bring to me, but I know that everyone who has been through NCSSM knows the extended weekend feeling.
Although I loved the weekend with my new friends at NCSSM, family and friends time is always needed. Whenever I came back for the extended weekends, I would either go to a basketball game, go out for movies and ice cream, or just go out to dinner.
Before my first extended I was very nervous that something would be awkward with my friends because I hadn’t seen them in a while. But I’m glad I was proved wrong. When I got back from school I had just enough time to go to the last half of a home football game. I was greeted by my friends and many hugs. I then knew that my friends had not forgotten about me and that we were still best friends. After the game I went to the dance and we all forgot that I now went to a different school. My friends and I got to talk about everything and they constantly asked me for more and more stories about my new school.
After my first extended, I was always excited to go back and see my friends again. Some extendeds I went to watch a movie with my friends, and some weekends they would just come over and talk about every aspect of life. No matter what we did, the fact that I lived 5 hours away was always forgotten. Whenever I came back to school after the extended, I was always thankful for my friends and parents for always being there for me.
Extended weekends. Always too far away, and always too short, but always needed. I cannot even put into words how much excitement extends bring to me, but I know that everyone who has been through NCSSM knows the extended weekend feeling.
7.02.2010
A Year of Memories_Ups and Downs
The next few weeks were the craziest ups and downs I’ve ever been through. After every class I came to my room balling my eyes out ready to go back home. But after every fun activity with my roommates, hallmates and new friends, I got my confidence and excitement back.
Weekends were the best part. There were endless dances and mixers. There were late nights of watching movies and eating ice cream with the girls, early morning expeditions to get coffee, and many exciting things.
Then there were the weekdays. There were still late nights, but usually with textbooks and flashcards. And there were still early mornings, but it was expeditions of rushing to finish homework. I earned my first failing grades these weeks and I also pulled a couple all nighters.
But I also had some of the greatest sense of accomplishments. Whenever I took a test, regardless of the final grade, I felt accomplished. I had studied as much as I could, read as many pages as possible, memorized everything that went into my brain, and I had done my absolute best on the test. After a test, just knowing that I had simply understood the material made me happy.
During these weeks I also realized why I enjoyed learning. It obviously wasn’t because I was good at it; I was no longer an A student. It wasn’t because learning was always fun; sometimes I had to just sit there and read a textbook. I learned that I enjoyed learning because I liked that I could figure out new things on my own, with the help of my teachers, and that I was become more knowledgeable.
I also learned what success was. Or rather, I learned how to define success for myself. I realized that grades, SAT scores, and numbers of volunteer hours weren’t everything. True they are all very important, but I realized that those were all other people’s ratings of success on me. I had to form my own and rate my own success. This led me to set my priorities and think about what truly mattered to me. This was a very humbling experience because I realized that others mattered much more than I did. I realized that sometimes it wasn’t always about how I felt or what I wanted, but how to could be there for my family and friends.
More of what I learned is to come...
Weekends were the best part. There were endless dances and mixers. There were late nights of watching movies and eating ice cream with the girls, early morning expeditions to get coffee, and many exciting things.
Then there were the weekdays. There were still late nights, but usually with textbooks and flashcards. And there were still early mornings, but it was expeditions of rushing to finish homework. I earned my first failing grades these weeks and I also pulled a couple all nighters.
But I also had some of the greatest sense of accomplishments. Whenever I took a test, regardless of the final grade, I felt accomplished. I had studied as much as I could, read as many pages as possible, memorized everything that went into my brain, and I had done my absolute best on the test. After a test, just knowing that I had simply understood the material made me happy.
During these weeks I also realized why I enjoyed learning. It obviously wasn’t because I was good at it; I was no longer an A student. It wasn’t because learning was always fun; sometimes I had to just sit there and read a textbook. I learned that I enjoyed learning because I liked that I could figure out new things on my own, with the help of my teachers, and that I was become more knowledgeable.
I also learned what success was. Or rather, I learned how to define success for myself. I realized that grades, SAT scores, and numbers of volunteer hours weren’t everything. True they are all very important, but I realized that those were all other people’s ratings of success on me. I had to form my own and rate my own success. This led me to set my priorities and think about what truly mattered to me. This was a very humbling experience because I realized that others mattered much more than I did. I realized that sometimes it wasn’t always about how I felt or what I wanted, but how to could be there for my family and friends.
More of what I learned is to come...
7.01.2010
A Year of Memories_First Day of Class
Tuesday morning I got up and put on the outfit I had carefully planned the night before. Today was another day of first impressions. First day of class!
My first class, Junior Student life. After a round of name games and introductions, we went over the syllabus. We were going to do some readings, journal entries, and a final project. This class seemed pretty straightforward. I knew I could handle it just fine.
After class I raced off to find my next classroom. Watts 055? American Studies was a joint class of US History and Junior English. We were given a syllabus and went over how the class would work and what assignments were due when. We also played a name game to learn each other’s names. Our class was full of dynamic people and both of our professors were very enthusiastic. This made me excited too.
Next was chorale. I was slightly nervous because it had been a while since my last chorus class, but quickly got over it. We went over a few warm ups, learned correct posture and breathing, and got some music that we would perform later on. Our director was very easy going and had very original ideas. This class would be very fun, I already knew.
Then came lunch. I ate with my hall mates and talked about our classes so far. This was just like my old school. I could manage this new life
Afterwards, I grabbed my calculator and went to AP Calculus. When our professor walked in, he handed us the syllabi and began teaching. Teaching? What? We all rushed to get our notebooks out and started scribbling everything down. I soon realized that I understood nothing. I had taken Pre-calculus a while ago, but I couldn’t even follow. Was I in the right class? What was going on? I decided to take as much notes as possible and I would have to learn everything tonight.
I had never struggled in a math class. Feeling dazed and a little less optimistic I walked to AP Chemistry. I had never taken chemistry before... why I was in an AP class? But hopefully I would have some talent in chemistry. When the professor walked in, she handed us the syllabi, quickly went through how the class would work and started a power point. Mass and matter, check. SI units, check. Sigfigs... whats that? Nomenclature, no! go back! I stopped taking notes and just sat there. Words flowing in one ear and out the other. I had 20 minutes left. 20 long minutes of holding back tears.
Why couldn’t I understand? What if I wasn’t smart enough for this place. I would have wasted so much of my parents’ time for just coming here. I didn’t know what to do. After class I ran back to my room and started bawling. This had been the worst first day. And I had already been through 11 others. This is how I started my first day at NCSSM. But, to be continued...
My first class, Junior Student life. After a round of name games and introductions, we went over the syllabus. We were going to do some readings, journal entries, and a final project. This class seemed pretty straightforward. I knew I could handle it just fine.
After class I raced off to find my next classroom. Watts 055? American Studies was a joint class of US History and Junior English. We were given a syllabus and went over how the class would work and what assignments were due when. We also played a name game to learn each other’s names. Our class was full of dynamic people and both of our professors were very enthusiastic. This made me excited too.
Next was chorale. I was slightly nervous because it had been a while since my last chorus class, but quickly got over it. We went over a few warm ups, learned correct posture and breathing, and got some music that we would perform later on. Our director was very easy going and had very original ideas. This class would be very fun, I already knew.
Then came lunch. I ate with my hall mates and talked about our classes so far. This was just like my old school. I could manage this new life
Afterwards, I grabbed my calculator and went to AP Calculus. When our professor walked in, he handed us the syllabi and began teaching. Teaching? What? We all rushed to get our notebooks out and started scribbling everything down. I soon realized that I understood nothing. I had taken Pre-calculus a while ago, but I couldn’t even follow. Was I in the right class? What was going on? I decided to take as much notes as possible and I would have to learn everything tonight.
I had never struggled in a math class. Feeling dazed and a little less optimistic I walked to AP Chemistry. I had never taken chemistry before... why I was in an AP class? But hopefully I would have some talent in chemistry. When the professor walked in, she handed us the syllabi, quickly went through how the class would work and started a power point. Mass and matter, check. SI units, check. Sigfigs... whats that? Nomenclature, no! go back! I stopped taking notes and just sat there. Words flowing in one ear and out the other. I had 20 minutes left. 20 long minutes of holding back tears.
Why couldn’t I understand? What if I wasn’t smart enough for this place. I would have wasted so much of my parents’ time for just coming here. I didn’t know what to do. After class I ran back to my room and started bawling. This had been the worst first day. And I had already been through 11 others. This is how I started my first day at NCSSM. But, to be continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)