We Saved the Best for Last...Minute!

Procrastination: putting off or delaying, especially requiring immediate attention.

Well friends, it is true; I am a procrastinator! I think that over the past two years my ability to procrastinate has only gotten...well, worse. It kicks my butt every time but in the end I seem to get what needs to be done finished. At least I know that I am not alone.

Our class is known to be procrastinators. Doing things last minute is how we roll. I am pleased to say that there have been some amazing results due to our procrastination.  This is something that is usually frowned upon but in defense of my classmates it has been very good to us! Between homecoming and other projects throughout our high school years it has become clear that we work better under pressure.  Oh how I am going to miss it! I blame the extreme creativity and the ability to work together. Man, without the ideas of each individual in our class I don't think we would be able to pull our accomplishments off.

We begin something with such a vivid vision in our minds. How we get there is something I wonder to myself but all I know is somehow our vision becomes what we pictured it to be, if not more. I love the feeling of being apart of a creation so wonderful. One individual has what it takes to create something beautiful but when several gifted individuals get together and share their thoughts it can be breathtaking. I think I can back this up by experience. I am known to be creative and when I create something that turns out great I immediately take pride in the work that was put into it. When I am connected with my classmates to create something incredible the feeling of satisfaction is ten times better! Being able to share the joy of accomplishment with my classmates is priceless.

Alright, alright I guess we already know that the Class of 2012 is off the chain! I have learned that it doesn't matter what class you are in but being given the opportunity to work with any group of individuals is something to cherish. I have seen some of the best work done through groups throughout our school. Luckily I have been given the honor of being included in some of these groups. I have seen magic done around me. Working with talented individuals is something which I am very thankful for. It has allowed us to use the right side of our brains to create some impressive creations! Yes procrastination has surrounded my classmates and me several times throughout our high school years but I say that it has all been worth it. Through the grumpiness and butterflies in our tummies it has all worked out in our favor, thank goodness! Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to work with you!! It has been wonderful wonderful. :)

Celebrate Good Times, C'mon!

So I am sitting in a kitchen listening to my ma, Aunt Rosa, and Aunt Olivia brainstorm ideas for the Grad night party. OH MY GOODNESS, Grad night! Twenty-Eight more days till graduation, my friends! As I sit here listening to the ideas and planning of my family members I cannot set my mind to believe that the special day is just about here. AHHHH!

SO I have just been informed that Grad Night will be themed based on homecoming, making the party this year 80's. My aunts and mom continue asking me for ideas on activities and prizes for the night. For some reason I am clueless and I believe that maybe it is because Graduation night feels unreal to me. All this talk about celebrating is exciting but I also feel a little sad about it. Never in my life would I have thought that sadness would come in contact with celebration. By the sounds of the brain power sitting around me it sounds like the Grad Night party will be a blast and I have no doubt that it won't be. There is a constant reminder that the Grad Night party will be probably the last time several of us will be together all at once.

Over the past three years I have attended the Grad Night parties and they have been some of the longest nights of my life! Luckily this year it will only be going until three in the morning. The grad night party will be different for me this year though. The past three years my mom has kind of made me go to the parties but this year there won't be no force to go. I will be attending the party in the eyes of a senior (or a newly-high school graduate). I will want to be there simply because it will be one of the last times I will be able to enjoy the people I have grown up with. This thought keeps getting weirder and weirder, ee!

It was only a couple weeks ago that all I was doing was wishing for the year to be over. This feeling has gone, thank goodness! Our days together are limited. I appreciate these last weeks more than ever. It's funny how it took reality for me to appreciate what I have left in high school. I encourage the rest of you to finish the year strong and cherish our last days together. We cannot stop the days from passing us by but at least we have control over how we spend the days. I invite you all to spend the grad night party with me and celebrate the remainder of our “senior year”. Encourage your friends to attend the party too. Lets make the best of Friday, May 25^th.

P.S
It is said as often as it should be but thank you all for playing a huge role in my high school experience and the last couple of weeks. I owe it to you all. I love you, my friends!

CLOSING TIME!

MY DEAR CLASSMATES,
When you look back on all we've done I hope you're proud. When you look back and see how far we've come it was our time to shine, and nobody could hold us down. They thought they'd see us fall. We stood so tall and know we wont forget. Whenever you remember times gone by, remember how we held our heads so high.                                                                                                     (Carrie Underwood)

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND BREATHE
Just let it in, let your clarity define you, in the end we will only just remember how it feels, our lives are made from these small hours, these little wonders.                                                                                               (RobThomas)

OUR TIME TOGETHER IS LIMITED AND
As we go on, we remember all the times we had together and as our lives change, come whatever we will still be friends forever.                                                                                                    (Vitamin C)  

I BELIEVE,
I believe the world is burning to the ground. Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out.. lets see how far we've come, lets see how far we've come. Well I believe it all is coming to an end.
                                                                                                                 (Matchbox Twenty)
WHEN IT'S OVER,
I'll carry you home. Tonight, we are young so I set the world on fire we can burn brighter than the sun.                                                                                                           (Fun.)

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THEN AS WE BEGIN OUR LIVES,
You're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back, you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast......                                                                                         (Trace Adkins)

THE REMINISING WILL BEGIN.
 Oh man we were livin'. We didn't waste one minute. We talked, and drank, and danced and said goodbyes. We laughed until we cried.                                                  (Jason Aldean)

THE BIG DAY IS GETTING CLOSER AND
Although we have come to the end of the road, still I can't let go.                  (Boyz 2 Men)

I ASK ONE THING FROM YOU ALL.
Don't you forget about me, don't, don't, don't...                                           (Simple Minds)

FRIENDS, IT IS ALMOST HERE.
Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.    (Semisonic)

LIFE IS FILLED WITH ADVENTURES AND
Time grabs you by the wrist and directs you where to go. So make the best of this test and don't ask why. It's not a question but a lesson learned in time. It's something unpredictable but in the end it' right.  I HOPE YOU HAD THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE.       (Greenday)                                                                                                     

LOVE ALWAYS, MUD ♥
P.S. Who needs one class song when we can have several? :)

Cupcakes of Love!

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

-Leo F. Buscaglia

Our eyes lit up when we saw chocolate cupcakes sitting on Mrs. Caffey’s table Thursday morning. Food NEVER fails at winning a place in our hearts, especially sugar! Along with the delightful taste of the wonderful cupcakes, Mrs. Caffey provided our class with a small note saying “Pay it forward”.  She smiled as she hinted the small note that held those meaningful words towards our beloved peers in fourth hour. So here I am tonight writing my blog as the “Pay it Forward” cupcakes are in the oven!

How did this rivalry between Mrs. Caffey’s third hour and fourth senior English classes begin? It is a tad silly if you ask me and I am referring back to my six words from last week which stated, “I’m a lover not a fighter.” Don’t worry third hour, Mud has got your back. Not only will fourth hour be surprised by cupcakes but cupcakes on a Monday. Now if cupcakes on a Monday don’t lead to forgiveness just remember I will still have your back!

Well I would love to sit here and talk about cupcakes all night but I am aiming to get a message across rather than the loveliness of cupcakes…

When we pay a kind act forward we think of it as effortless. Truthfully, a small act of kindness has more meaning than we know it. When a kind act is performed to another individual it results with a smile and a beautiful feeling inside of us. We realize that there are people who care for us and aim to put a smile on our face which make us feel content. I have learned throughout my life that “happy” is the right place to be. There have been several times in my life where I have done things for others and not expected anything in return. Knowing that I have been able to be beneficial towards others and help out in any way is payment in itself. It is crazy to think that there are people in this world that think of this as strange. Luckily, I am surrounded by people every day that I can look up to for inspiration to perform kind acts for others. I am proud to say a majority of these people are my classmates and teachers who I admire for setting an example for me.

My family has done an unbelievable job at raising me and guiding me to practice amazing morals. Doing kind acts for others is one of the most meaningful values I have learned throughout my life. I inspire my classmates to continue “paying it forward”. Putting a smile on someone’s face is one of the best things we can do.

P.S. Fourth hour loves us! They better after these cupcakes. ;)

The Senioritis Fever...

It has reached that time of the year. All I know is that there is a severe case of senioritis going around, and I have this specific illness badly. As I have felt the effects kicking in I have witnessed classmates dragging just like the school days have been. At this rate ten weeks feels like a good distance away but I know when the glorious day of graduation is here I will be wishing that time would have dragged longer. Although it is getting tougher to stay focused in school each day I try to remember to finish the year strong.

Over the past week I have seen some of my classmates and very close friends suffer from the “fever”. Whether it has been the fever or simply just an abnormal funk it is evident that these close friends of mine have been acting strangely. If only a magical cure could be created to get rid of the illness we call senioritis but every senior experiences it the second semester of senior year. For my two buddies who have been in a funk, life is not over so finish strong.

Friend #1,

ISS is not the best place on earth. I understand that basketball ended roughly and not the way that you had hoped but there is a grand world of athletics beyond high school. Throughout the fours years that you were in involved in basketball here in high school I have seen a tremendous development in both your skill and desire. One of my best high school memories was sitting in the stands at the Jobing.com arena in 2011 with a huge smile as I watched a reflection of myself go crazy in the jumbo tron. You were a part of that state championship team and you should take pride in this grand accomplishment more often. With your superior talent, you can accomplishment even greater things. Snap out of that funk boy, your on your way to incredible adventures in life but only if you decide that there are better places than ISS...


Friend #2,
Thank goodness for Mrs. Caffey and her incredible motivation talks! It's true my dear classmates, dropping out is lame. I see a load of potential awaiting you in your future my friend. You are a talented young man with hopes of attending college in the fall and keeping contact with the next level of athletics. You played an outstanding senior season of basketball and did a great job of illustrating leadership skills on the court. Just smile and reflect on the unforgettable memory of the state championship title you helped win in your high school experience. Take that knowledge of yours and make it useful. This funk must go! I enjoy your spirit and your ability to make me laugh. Ten weeks is short so make beneficial decisions.

P.S. I wish nothing but the best for you Jalen and Rashaun. The potential is there waiting for you. One bad game is not the end of your world. Reconnect with your desire and open the doors to your future; you will be amazed by what is there.

Decisions, Decisions!

“You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care. About some you will say, “I don't choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.”

-Oh the Places You'll Go!, Dr. Seuss

A year ago there were two things that I thought I knew. First of all, a university was not in mind for me and it was all about Mesa Community College. Second of all, out of all three universities in the state NAU would be my last option. It's crazy how plans change because here I am now looking forward to attending Northern Arizona University as a Lumberjack in the fall.

In the beginning of this year I suddenly gained the urge to go on to a University. I realized the expenses of a University, but I felt as if it was more than a possibility for me. I wanted to be a Sundevil more than ever and Arizona State University seemed like the ideal choice for me there for a minute. Once again the plan shifted a little and I was between the decision of ASU and NAU. I would have never thought that I would be making the decision between these two colleges. With a lot of thought between the two colleges, I finally made the decision this week and I am happily content with the decision that I have made. Although I wanted to pursue college at Arizona State next fall, NAU seemed to make more sense to me. I will not experience life in the valley like I hoped to at the beginning of the year, but I plan on a great experience in a place where I feel is right for me.

Like I said, NAU seems to be the best fit for me but there is one thing that will kill me in Flag and that is the weather. But I am sure it will be just fine. I was always told that senior year is your easiest year but is it really? I mean, we have to decide what's next after we graduate and I have learned that this is not so easy. Trying to find the college that fits you best or the life that you want to live is a pretty complicated decision! I am sure that several of us seniors have faced this already or still trying to decide the next step in life. I have also learned that the decision will come to you and everything will work out how it is meant to be. (This is coming from the girl who was anti-NAU a year ago!)

So to sum up this weeks lesson: plans change! They may not always be what we want or expect the outcome to be but we gotta know what is best for us. When you have no idea what to decide or even do, the answers will come to you and you will know. For my peers who have decided the next step after graduation whether it is college, the armed forces, or work, congratulations and good luck! To my undecided peers...good luck to you and answers are closer than you think. :)

Little Heroes. Big Hearts

“Life has many different chapters for us. One bad chapter doesn't mean the end of the book.”

-Unknown

How can someone so young who has gone through horrid experiences in her life be more alive than most of us? This is the primary thought that kept running through my mind as we met with 10-year-old leukemia hero, Amber.

First of all, I am ecstatic about our first annual Mr. Roadrunner pageant that is coming up here in March. The grand pageant is getting closer and closer and my excitement is getting bigger and bigger. It truly has been an amazing thing to see the participation and creativity that has come from our students here at Holbrook High! Through the small but significant actions that our students are performing, we are making a difference in several lives, and this is beautiful. Now for the famous eight Mr. Roadrunner contestants-I CANNOT wait to see them on that stage! As a part of this special experience, this past Monday we were honored to meet with one of the wonderful Leukemia heroes, Amber. It was a day that I will always remember.

She and her family walked into Chili's and I didn't know what to expect from this ten-year-old girl who had suffered from leukemia at such a young age. There she was as she automatically illustrated the spirit she had inside her along with a delightful smile. If it wasn't for her glass eye on her precious face that hinted me on a little of her past I would have never known that she suffered from leukemia! Amber was quite the character and her she had enough optimism there for us all. To hear her story and to come to know that she got diagnosed at the age of two was tragic but to see her so alive and complacent about life was unforgettable.

Bad days happen to us all. Sometimes we wonder if things are gonna keep getting worse. Then a situation like Amber is reminded to us and suddenly our bad day is nothing compared to the life and experiences that she has lived or is living. Many of us spent our childhood playing outside or learning in our elementary classes while many children like Amber spend their childhood in a hospital room, which in their eyes, become known as their temporary home. When I saw the hope that this young lady demonstrated to us on that day she helped me remember the significance of life and the happiness that exists in each day. When Ashley and I interviewed Amber's mom, we asked her if she would change anything about Amber's cancer. She replied with a smile, “I wouldn't change anything. This whole experience with the cancer made us who we are today.”

I am dedicating this week's blog to Miss Amber. I loved the way she dealt with her past and the way she accepted it. Most importantly, I loved her outlook on life. There may be little problems we face in life, but we must look on the optimistic side of things, just like Amber would do. Smiling never hurt anyone; it only makes the world a better place.

Thank you Amber for being someone I can look up to for strength and even a simple reminder on how precious life is. I am looking forward to seeing you at the pageant as our 8 SENIOR contestants show their beauty just like you did for us. :)