Last week was the end of miniterm. Miniterm is a week and a half between 2nd and 3rd trimester where we do not take any formal classes. Instead, we take an intensive class on any topic we choose. We can even make our own course! Courses range from Animal Behavior to Cryptology, Aviation to Teen Movies. I created my own course with a group of friends called Psychological Disorders through Film. We watched 6 different movies based on various psychological disorders. We watched A Beautiful Mind, Sybil, Fight Club, Girl Interrupted, Identity, and Rain Man. After watching each movie we discussed the film and wrote an analysis about the disorder portrayed in the movie.
I had watched some of these movies before, but the discussions were very different. Rather than just talking about what was apparent, we dug deeper. My favorite part of each discussion was talking about how the other characters and the society treated the character with a psychological disorder. We realized that treatment had changed so much based on time period and that much of the change in treatment was due to our growing knowledge about the disorder.
Outside of “class time” I spent my times our in Durham, sleeping, or just relaxing with my friends. Since this is my senior year, I had a mission to make miniterm the best it could be. My friends and I made a bucket list of things to do during the 10 days and checked them off our list one by ones. Some of the things on our list were: have a girls night out, bake cookies in Hunt Kitchen (the common kitchen open to students), ride the DATA bus (the public bus system in Durham). We also went on visits to UNC and Duke to see our seniors from last year, and look at the schools. We had a “photo shoot” in Duke Gardens, tried out the local eateries near UNC and the list goes on and on. Some nights a group of friends sat outside on a blanket and talked while looking at the stars. All in all, this miniterm was truly amazing.
A phrase my friends and I kept repeating was, “This is why I love NCSSM.” And it was true. At NCSSM, we come for the education, but stay for the people. Even if we do something as simple as talking about our futures, the topics we cover are very different. Not better or worse, just different. Maybe a little more intellectual. Visiting Duke and UNC made me excited for college, but it also made me nervous. I worry that in college, I wont be able to find people like I have met here at NCSSM.
3.10.2011
1.25.2011
Peer Pressure
Ever since elementary school, I have learned that peer pressure is a bad thing. I was always told, “You should never give in to peer pressure. It only leads to trouble.” Then yesterday I learned something new.
At NCSSM we have a class called Senior Student Life 201 (juniors have 101). In order to receive credit we must attend seminars, in short, listen to several speeches about living a healthy and balanced life. Yesterday, I was not feeling it at all. Another speech? And the topic was on sleep, stress and drugs. I already knew I don’t get enough sleep, more than enough stress, and I didn’t plan on doing drugs ever. I decided that an unexcused absence was well worth the 30 extra minutes I would get to study for my Spanish test. But when 9:00 rolled around, one of my hall mates came knocking on my door to walk to student life together. Bless her... I really didn’t want to go. But somewhat ashamed to have thought about skipping I walked down with her.
Student life was actually a lot of fun this time. There were funny people in my class, which made the time more enjoyable, and I learned some new things. I learned that it is better to have a normal sleeping schedule rather than trying to “catch up on sleep” during the weekends. This extra sleep throws off your sleeping pattern and confuses the body, causing you to feel even more tired.
In the end, I was glad that I went to student life, and glad that my hall mate came and got me. Positive peer pressure. One of the things I enjoy about living with my friends and classmates is that we push each other to do the right thing and to give our best effort. Thanks Dee!
At NCSSM we have a class called Senior Student Life 201 (juniors have 101). In order to receive credit we must attend seminars, in short, listen to several speeches about living a healthy and balanced life. Yesterday, I was not feeling it at all. Another speech? And the topic was on sleep, stress and drugs. I already knew I don’t get enough sleep, more than enough stress, and I didn’t plan on doing drugs ever. I decided that an unexcused absence was well worth the 30 extra minutes I would get to study for my Spanish test. But when 9:00 rolled around, one of my hall mates came knocking on my door to walk to student life together. Bless her... I really didn’t want to go. But somewhat ashamed to have thought about skipping I walked down with her.
Student life was actually a lot of fun this time. There were funny people in my class, which made the time more enjoyable, and I learned some new things. I learned that it is better to have a normal sleeping schedule rather than trying to “catch up on sleep” during the weekends. This extra sleep throws off your sleeping pattern and confuses the body, causing you to feel even more tired.
In the end, I was glad that I went to student life, and glad that my hall mate came and got me. Positive peer pressure. One of the things I enjoy about living with my friends and classmates is that we push each other to do the right thing and to give our best effort. Thanks Dee!
1.24.2011
Senioritis
There is a disease common in senior students. This disease has a wide range of symptoms but the main symptom is a serious lack of motivation to do anything related to school. This disease is called senioritis.
As an underclassman I had always heard about this phenomenon, but could never understand it. Why would seniors, the students so close to graduation, stop caring about school? Why would seniors, the students who had had so much practice as students, not be able to find any motivation? How could you just give up like that? With this wonderment I started my senior year, determined to not let this infection crawl into my system. I would finish strong and push until the end.
Now I am halfway through my senior year. My college applications are done, my grades no longer affect my admission to college, I have all of my graduation requirements completed, and I will be done in less than 6 months! If I survived 12 years of school, 6 months are going to be a breeze. I just need to do enough to pass the rest of my classes and enjoy the last months of my high school career. Oh, so this is senioritis.
Lately I have been struggling to find motivation to stay focused on my schoolwork. While trying to find how I can motivate myself for a little longer, I have thought about how I have been motivated for so many years. Was it the fear of flunking out? Not really. The longing to go to a top-notch college? Not necessarily. I realized that my motivation came solely from the joy of learning. The excitement I get when I figure things out. This passion to be not only a student, but a scholar has kept me eager to finish all of my homework, go to class, and learn.
After realizing where my motivation comes from, I can now more easily push myself back to being the hardworking student. But with so many friends to spend time with and so many lasts, this isn’t the easiest task in the world.
As an underclassman I had always heard about this phenomenon, but could never understand it. Why would seniors, the students so close to graduation, stop caring about school? Why would seniors, the students who had had so much practice as students, not be able to find any motivation? How could you just give up like that? With this wonderment I started my senior year, determined to not let this infection crawl into my system. I would finish strong and push until the end.
Now I am halfway through my senior year. My college applications are done, my grades no longer affect my admission to college, I have all of my graduation requirements completed, and I will be done in less than 6 months! If I survived 12 years of school, 6 months are going to be a breeze. I just need to do enough to pass the rest of my classes and enjoy the last months of my high school career. Oh, so this is senioritis.
Lately I have been struggling to find motivation to stay focused on my schoolwork. While trying to find how I can motivate myself for a little longer, I have thought about how I have been motivated for so many years. Was it the fear of flunking out? Not really. The longing to go to a top-notch college? Not necessarily. I realized that my motivation came solely from the joy of learning. The excitement I get when I figure things out. This passion to be not only a student, but a scholar has kept me eager to finish all of my homework, go to class, and learn.
After realizing where my motivation comes from, I can now more easily push myself back to being the hardworking student. But with so many friends to spend time with and so many lasts, this isn’t the easiest task in the world.
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