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Tag: high school

  • Hasta La Vista High School!

    This is my last week of high school. AHHHHHH! I’ve never felt so many emotions in my life. One day I’m sad the next I’m super excited and the next it’s honestly who-knows-what. The end has come real quick and my last day is this Wednesday.

    My school has this ceremony known as Eagle Flight and that’s the school’s chance to say goodbye to the graduating class. As one of my school’s co-presidents for student council, I get to hand off one of the executive board items to one of the new co-presidents and I just hope I don’t cry in front of the entire school. Knowing myself, I probably will though, haha.

    I’ve finished most of my finals already and somehow managed to get a 100% on my AP statistics final. Literally did NOT see that coming. I have two more AP tests to take, with AP Bio tomorrow and AP Stats on Thursday. I just hope that I pass because it kind of sucks paying about $100 to get no college credit. We’ll see how those go.

    Graduation is next Saturday and I have family coming in from New Mexico. I’m so excited for them to come mostly because it’s been about 4 years since they came up to our house. I just know we’re going to eat so much food. It’s gonna be great. In addition to that, I get to go to Hawaii with my aunt and uncle five days after graduation so I’m a very happy person right now.

    There’s going to be so many grad parties to go to and so much to do this last week. High school came to a very rapid end and it’s bittersweet. I’ve built so many close relationships with classmates, teachers, coaches, and administration and I’m going to truly miss high school.

    To those of you with graduation already passed, congrats! You’ve made it! And to those of you graduating this week or in the weeks to come, you’ve got a little longer but you’re basically at the finish line. Enjoy your last days of high school or college.

    Have a beautiful week you beautiful people and congrats to the class of 2018!

  • Hello to High School Tennis Season

    Girls’ tennis season has been in full swing since late February, and let me tell you, the weather we deal with SUCKS. It’s either windy or snowing or raining or freezing cold or all of the above. We deal with a lot of cold and by the end of matches, we all look like marshmallows because of the five layers we all have on.

    Other than the weather chaos we deal with, our season can be so much fun. I’m very excited to be returning to my team at the #2 singles position. I’ll get to play a lot of good tennis and work on a lot of things as well. For those of you who don’t know how high school tennis works, you have three singles teams and four doubles teams. #1 singles is typically your top singles player and #1 doubles is your strongest doubles team, so on varsity, that’s a total of 11 girls. When we play other schools the match is called a duel (but I’ve actually never heard anyone call it this, haha) and you’re trying to win a majority of the matches to claim the overall match for your team. Fun, right?

    Being a senior, I got to help pick out the uniforms and spirit packs this year and I’m very excited to be playing with some girls on the team for four years now. While some of us may not be that close, I’ve built friendships with some of the other seniors and I’m very glad to call them friends and great teammates. It’s kinda sad thinking that this is my last lap around high school girls tennis season but it’s truly been so much fun. Qualifying for state the past three years has been wonderful, especially considering my injuries freshman and sophomore year. Playing for the same assistant coach for all four years is also going to be great because I’ve become good friends with our assistant coach and she is such a joy and pleasure to work with. Getting to see my sister grow as a tennis player and make it past the first round at state (WHICH IS SO HARD TO DO, OMG) was inspiring and I felt so happy for her last season.

    All of these things and more have made girls’ high school tennis a memory worth cherishing and here’s to the best season yet! Everyone has been working so hard and it’ll be exciting to see where the season takes us. 🙂

    high school tennis
    Picture credits to Cliff Grassmick at the Daily Camera and BocoPreps. (Haha, look at my face!)

  • Senioritis is Kicking in Hard and It’s Not Even Winter Break Yet

    So finally Thanksgiving Break is upon us and I couldn’t be happier. School has been wonderful so far, I just always feel the desire to not do anything. Lately, I’ve really just been wanting to sleep and if I have homework that’s due but not due the next day, I typically don’t do it. I’m still working super hard in classes and my grades are the best they’ve ever been, it’s just that I’m pretty sure senioritis is upon me.

    I’ve already applied to the four colleges I’m looking at and I’ve been accepted into three of the four (still waiting to hear back from the last one). So at this point, it’s just the scholarship applications, yay?! Those are honestly, so much more work than I expected, but that’s okay. I’ve already written so many college essays and additional essays and stories about my life and extracurricular activities, that this feels like nothing. But I just wanna be done! Done with all of the writing and the stress that comes with it. That’s senioritis for ya.

    All I can think about is going off to college next year and what it will be like living without my family. I plan on only going to college about an hour’s drive away from my home, but the thought of living without Marty and Boo, my dogs, and my parents, and Allyson, my best friend and my sister is odd. Life will be so different. I think about what it will be like to live in a tiny room with another person that I’ve most likely never met and spend a whole year with them. I’m sure we’ll get to be great friends and it’ll be awesome. I think about what classes I might take and how that will get me into dental school so that I can eventually become an orthodontist.

    I’ve truly stopped caring about what other people think of me and spend most of my school days in leggings with a comfy t-shirt from a tennis tournament on. Freshman year, I told myself, “Ana, you’re not going to be like those seniors that stopped trying to dress nice and cute senior year. You aren’t going to be the senior wearing leggings and a t-shirt almost every day.” I laugh thinking about that, because that’s exactly what I became. I still have my days where I wear a cute dress, display my array of Alex and Ani bracelets, or wear some cute jeans with a nice top and some boots. I also have an increasing amount of days where I just don’t care what I look like. Frizzy hair? It’s fine. Same pair of leggings in one week? Honestly, no one will notice. Wear that shirt too much? Not an issue any more. That’s senioritis.

    I know I’m gonna miss the people I’ve made friends with and I’m going to miss the amazing school I’ve called home the past four years, but it will be great to spread my wings and see what the world has to offer. I think I’m ready for it.

    senioritis

  • My Sister, My Best Friend

    My sister, my best friend. From the minute she was welcomed to the world, our friendship and bond would sprout from the earth, growing bigger and more beautiful each day. We’d run into our boulders and steep mountains, but we knew that life was meant to be conquered together.

    I vaguely remember having my sister sit on my tiny almost two year old body and bite my thumb. Who knew that little sisters could be painful! I remember the day I told her that regular chairs served the same function as rocking chairs and this caused my sister to crack her head open on our fireplace, oops. I remember the year at Halloween when we dressed up as a pair of princesses from our favorite Barbie movie and pranced around our living room singing with sheer joy. I remember playing with dolls and stuffed animals and pretending to be fairies and different animals for hours and hours in our backyard and really just anywhere we traveled.

    Together we discovered that hair doesn’t grow back on Barbies and that gum doesn’t make a good headband and that a bottle of Coke makes a good explosion if it’s shaken up enough. We’ve learned that tables make good hiding spots from heel-nipping dogs and that I’m a good hairstylist when it comes to chopping off bangs. We’ve seen that tennis rackets can cause major damage to the face and that becoming good at roadtripping is crucial if eight-hour car trips come as a perquisite of being in the Horvath family.

    Allyson and I learned to treasure our time together when I moved to a new school as a high school freshman. We learned to be thankful for our health and good fortune when I hurt my ankle and couldn’t play tennis for almost two years. Allyson and I learned to fearlessly navigate the rough waters of high school and life together. We learned that being each other’s best friend is the most wondrous part of our lives.

    Sometimes, people ask my sister and me how is it possible that we get along so well. They share stories of how they tease and fight with their siblings, and even hate them. Some people yearn to be away from their brothers or sisters and some wish they were not related. It should never be this way. I tell people that it takes time. It takes time to get to know our brothers and sisters. Siblings should support, love, and care for each other. They act as the cheerleader, the coach, the tutor, the Devil’s advocate, and one of the closest people a person knows in life.

    Regardless of where I go and what I do in life, my sister will always be with me. She may not always be right beside me or just down the hall, but she’ll be in my heart. Her goofiness and curiosity and outgoing personality have left a permanent mark on me like the mark we inscribed on the giant peach tree in my grandpa’s backyard. We will forever be tennis doubles partners, dish-washing partners, traveling companions, video directors, best friends, and most importantly sisters.

  • Last Week of School!

    We are finally here! Finals week, whoop whoop. But then again, that means four days of more stress and awful tests, but it’s fine.

    Looking back on junior year, it. was. hard. I’m not even joking. I remember being a sophomore and thinking that junior year was going to be easy-peezy. I was very wrong. I remember talking to some of my junior friends and asking them about junior year. Some of them said it was going to be easy. Most of them said it was going to be easy, now that I think about it. Haha, they were wrong too. I did take three AP classes, so I guess that factored into the difficulty of the year but still. Oh, man was that rough.

    I spent so many nights crying and studying and crying some more. I had so many headaches and I’ve never seen myself more sleep-deprived in my life. I didn’t cry because of friend drama or anything like that, I was actually crying over my homework. I had a wheelbarrow of it every night, it felt like. But other than dealing with the academic stress, this year was actually the best. I had so much fun.

    I was in multiple organizations and clubs at school and those helped make my year amazing. I was healthy this year for high school tennis and finally got to play singles, won first in my region, and got to go to state for a third year in a row! Yay. 🙂 I was in NHS and had fun working with different volunteer groups to make my community a better place. In BLUE Crew, which is a group that helps the incoming freshmen transition, I enjoyed getting to know my little ninth-grade nuggets and guide them on the start of their high school journey. In student council, I had a blast planning events and I feel honored to be able to serve as one of the three co-presidents on the executive board for next year. I also was a part of Circle of Friends which is a club that partners students with students in the intensive care learning. I got to eat lunch with one of the sweetest and most amazing kids for the past two years now. I never saw myself doing anything like that, but now it’s something I’m passionate about and look forward to every week. The kid I eat lunch with has brought a whole new perspective of life to my life and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I had junior year. I’ll get to serve as one of the presidents for Circle of Friends next year too, and I’m pumped to do that as well.

    I kept the friends I’ve made over the past couple of years, grown close with some, and even made new friends that I look forward to spending senior year with. It’s insane that I’m going to be a senior soon. I helped escort yesterday at my high school’s graduation and it’s so hard to believe that I will be graduating next year. AHH!

    And so I should probably leave this post here, because I need to go finish studying for my physics final. Have a good week and best of luck to everyone taking finals! 🙂

    Last Week of School

  • What Makes a Good Breakfast?

    As a high school student who is often rushed in the morning, I find it difficult to always prepare my body for the day. Maybe I’ll grab a piece of toast or get a bowl of fruit but that isn’t exactly the best way to give my body the energy it needs to start the day. Based on personal experience and some research, here’s what I think is important and necessary for a good breakfast.

    1. Protein. Whether that’s through dairy products, nuts, or eggs, it’s important to pack your breakfast with proteins. Proteins help you feel fuller for a longer amount of time.
    2. A variety of foods. Different types of milk, meat and meat alternates, as well as a variety of fruits are important for a good, healthy breakfast. You want a variety so that there’s a variety of nutrients as well.
    3. Smoothies. Smoothies are easy to make and you can get really creative with them. To add on, smoothies are great for when you have to get out of the house quick. They make a great to-go breakfast.
    4. Fruit. In a smoothie, in a salad, or just straight from the container, fruit is awesome. It’s super filling and good for your body. Be careful though as fruit does contain sugar and consuming too much may not be the best thing for your body. As long as you live a healthy lifestyle and stay active, you should be just fine.
    5. Not skipping breakfast, ever. As a high school student, I know a bunch of kids that just don’t eat breakfast. They claim there isn’t enough time or they’re not hungry or they just didn’t want to. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s important to give your body what it needs to start the day and then get through the day. You want to be able to function properly and keep your metabolism and digestive tract in a rhythm and steady, so don’t skip a meal, especially breakfast.

    It’s definitely important to have a wide variety of foods on your plate at breakfast and it’s also important to always eat breakfast. Even if you don’t have time to eat a full breakfast, give yourself something to fuel your body. Eating a good breakfast helps get you on the right track for a good day and helps the struggles of being hangry from staying away.

    Have a good week!

    What Makes a Good Breakfast?

  • Getting a Grasp on Junior Year

    I’ve had friends tell me that junior year of high school is the most fun year besides senior year. I’ve also heard that it’s the worst, in that you’re swamped with homework and you’re contacting colleges, and everything is a mess. While I would say that I’ve enjoyed school so far, I would definitely agree with others on that junior year is rough!

    Almost every night, even during the first week of school, my minimum homework load is 2 hours a night. That makes sense granted that I’m taking three AP classes and advanced physics (ugh). It’s important to challenge yourself and do what you can to learn all that you can, so that you’re prepared for college. Something important I’ve learned about junior year, is that you need time for yourself and time to let your brain take a break, otherwise you’ll be toast. At the beginning of the school year, I was staying up at least until one in the morning most nights doing all of my homework and I was absolutely miserable. I relearned that procrastination is NEVER the way to go and time-management is key to balancing school, tennis, student council, piano, and everything else I do.

    I’ve also learned that I really enjoy using a planner this year. I have a color-coding system I use to symbolize what assignments I’ve completed and still have to do. I also use different colors to highlight events in and out of school daily. This ranges from quizzes and tests to a tutoring  session or something for student council. Writing for my blog is even in my planner! What I’m trying to say, if you didn’t get it already, is that organization is crucial to knowing what’s going on in the world around you. You want to stay on top of your life and a planner is a good way to do that.

    One other thing that I’ve found to be really important with junior year is allowing myself to have some fun and do things I’ve never done before. I’ve gone to more sporting events to support a variety of my school’s athletic teams. I’ve been more vocal in student council, attended multiple leadership conferences, and done a bunch of other cool things to make this year even more memorable than freshman or sophomore year. High school only happens once so you have to make the most of it while you’re there!

    So for those of you curious about junior year, yes it is hard, but yes it is also a lot of fun. Study hard, ask questions, stay organized, and have fun. You’ll stay afloat that way.

    Have a great week! 🙂

    junior year

  • Happy Homecoming!

    Homecoming week is one of the busiest and most enjoyable weeks of high school. There’s a big football game, many activities, and also a huge dance. My homecoming was last night and it was amazing and also exhausting! Here are a few tips on how to make your homecoming dance and week a success.

    1. Attend school activities. School activities during homecoming week are highly-attended most of the time and they’re super fun. Why not enjoy time with friends and classmates and show some interest in your school? Events like powder-puff which is the girls’ flag football game, the homecoming dance, pep assembly, and the big football game are special, exciting, and memorable. If you don’t go, that’s okay but you’re missing out on a lot! You’ll value high school a little bit more if you go to these events!

    2. Participate in spirit days. This goes along with the first tip. At most schools, there is a theme for homecoming and during the week you dress up to get in the spirit of the theme. For example, at my school the theme this year was Vegas and throughout the week we dressed up like flamingos (Flamingo Hotel), Romans (Caesar’s Palace), and tropical (Mandalay Bay. We also did two spirits days for school pride and class colors. Getting involved in spirit days is really fun and silly. A majority of people think that they might look ridiculous wearing a toga to school, for example, but when the whole school gets involved, you can all look silly together and have fun.

    3. Make smart decisions. Most often at the homecoming dance or on the way to the dance, students think it’s okay to break out the alcohol and drugs and do whatever they feel like doing. I strongly disagree with these ideas and believe they’re insane. There is never a good time to do illegal and inappropriate things like drugs or alcohol as a minor, in my opinion, let alone a school dance. You should avoid drugs, alcohol, and other dangerous or risky behaviors. There are plenty of other ways to have fun at a school dance, like dancing (what a concept), playing games, and so on.

    4. Have fun! Homecoming is a special time of the year and take advantage of it! You only have four years of high school and homecoming only comes once a year so make the most out of the time you have.

    To make homecoming week one of the best weeks of the school year, just remember to attend school activities, participate in spirit days, make smart decisions, and have fun! Happy Homecoming!

    Happy Homecoming!

  • A Note to Incoming Freshmen…

    School is starting back up. Yay? I remember coming in as a freshman into high school was a very new and overwhelming experience. So here’s a letter to all of the incoming freshmen. Even if you aren’t going to be an incoming freshman, you might be able use some of this advice.

     

    Dear Incoming Freshmen,

    Going into high school can be kind of scary and intimidating and overwhelming, especially on the first day, but you’ll get used to it. You might have trouble finding your classes at first and a hard time with your locker combo but like I said earlier, you’ll learn the tricks and remember what you need to, and everything will be okay. And if you don’t have problems with any of that stuff, then good for you! You really know what you’re doing. 🙂 The sophomores and upperclassmen might be intimidating and scary and mean, but they were once in your position and know exactly what you’re going through. They are actually pretty nice, helpful, and good to be around, once you get to personally know them.

    Make sure you study hard and work hard in all of your classes. Take notes, ask questions, and try your hardest on everything. A lot of students think it’s okay and cool to put little effort into projects and papers. They think it’s cool to ditch class and “go to the bathroom” to hang out with friends. Honestly, it looks silly and kind of embarrassing. Think about it this way, is it more impressive to have good grades and be successful in school or be to known as the “cool” kid who never works hard in class, doesn’t turn in papers and homework, and ditches to go to Starbucks, or wherever people go when they ditch? In the end, all of your hard work will pay off and you can do whatever you want to do with your life. If you work hard in school, you can go to a good college, and then have a solid job and good life. Nothing comes just like that.

    Also, be yourself. You probably hear this a lot these days. “Be yourself”, “don’t be afraid to show who you really are”, and “don’t listen to what others have to say about you” are all pretty common things said these days, especially to teens who are figuring out who they are. In high school, most people are figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives. You might already know what you want to do with your life and you might not, and either way is okay. People will pressure you to become something and do certain things like ditch class or cheat and things like that. If you want to take that road, no one’s stopping you. If you don’t want to do that, then say no and stand up for what you want to do and what you think is right. Joining clubs or sports in school are good ways to meet people you want to be around. If you want to wear sweatpants and a t-shirt everyday, then you do that or if you want to join theater or do sports then you do that. To sum this huge paragraph all up, you shouldn’t feel pressured to be something you aren’t. Do what you feel is right and, well, be yourself.
    And of course, have fun. Enjoy every moment and make the most of it!

    Sorry if this note turned into a pretty long letter! Haha. I know all of you will do well your freshman year. I wish you all the best of luck with this year and the rest of your high school career. Make the most of your year, class of 2019! Good luck incoming freshmen!

    Best of luck,

    Ana Horvath

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