high school

How to Learn From Your Mistakes – High School Edition

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

I know we’re all still on break, but I figured before the new year and semester start, I would throw out some advice for you freshmen. Honestly, anyone in high school (or middle school!) could use this advice; I just figure that kids my age or older would already have learned similar lessons. If you’ve had a rough first semester or rough 2019, here’s some advice on how to use your past to enhance your future! Trust me, it’s not as hard or ~deep~ as it sounds.

  • Be able to recognize your flaws – Being aware of your mistakes is the first step to learning from them. Think about the past few months: what went well, and what could’ve gone better? Why did the things that went wrong occur? What part did you have in them? These are the questions you should reflect on when you’re thinking about what you can change in the future.
  • Take responsibility- don’t blame others – Others may have had a part in your mistakes or shortcomings, but you can only worry about yourself. Own up to anything you’ve done wrong, and leave anyone else to do the same for themselves.
  • Apologize when you’ve done wrong – This goes along with taking responsibility, but it’s so important to apologize to anyone you may have hurt or impacted negatively. It goes a long way in showing you understand how your actions affect others- mustering the courage up to do this shows a lot of maturity.
  • Accept others for who they are – A big mistake a lot of people make (I definitely have quite a few times) is trying to change their friends or complain about their flaws and then expecting them to change. Sometimes people do change, but you’re not the one who’s going to change them. If you’re going to surround yourself with people, make sure you know they’re people that will lift you up and make you happy to be around. If that’s not the case, find new friends- it’s up to you to make those choices.
  • Stay open-minded to change – Sometimes we look around at all the things we wish we could change about other people, but it’s completely out of our control. So what is in your control? Well, you! If you’re able to recognize your mistakes and flaws now, you should see the things that you wish you could change about yourself. It’s completely up to you to make an effort to change these things- nobody’s perfect, but you can try to be a better you.
  • Think about your good characteristics/strengths – What are the best things about you? Your favorite parts, and/or the characteristics other people compliment you? These are the traits you should try to bring out in yourself most often, and reflect in your everyday life. Again, nobody’s perfect, but it’s best to show off your best self.
  • Be as kind and friendly as possible – This isn’t really about learning from your mistakes, but it helps you put your best foot forward in new situations/when meeting new people and sets you up for better outcomes and relationships in the future. Also, people who may have known you in the past when you weren’t as proud of yourself can see that you’re making an effort to be a better you and change.
  • Understand that you’re going to make a lot more mistakes – Everyone does. As I’ve said multiple times, nobody’s perfect. This advice can help you prevent some silly mistakes, but everyone gets themselves in tough spots from time to time. Build your internal “toolkit” and problem-solving skills, and you’ll be just fine working yourself out of future issues.

I know some of this advice is pretty generic, but I think that’s kind of the point. We’re all getting older, and we have to actually apply the typical advice and wisdom adults have always given to us. I know I’ve matured a ton in the past couple years, and I’m still definitely not a perfect kid. That being said, let’s be our best selves in 2020 and make it an amazing year.

Brooke

5 Steps to Succeed in Finals Week

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I know finals week is coming up for everyone either this week (hopefully this post isn’t too late) or next week, so this post is going to be a short and sweet one for you guys to read and get on your way studying. My school does finals in January after winter break, but these couple weeks of December are so packed with work and tests that it’s basically pre-finals. Either way, this a busy time for pretty much everyone, and the stress can negatively impact the most put-together of students. Today I have five tips for success in finals week, hopefully with the least amount of stress possible.

  1. Pace yourself – Ideally, your finals will be spread out throughout the week (my school does block schedule so we only have two classes a day). If this is the case, place most of your focus on whatever’s coming up first. The only exception would be if there’s one class you’re really struggling in or need to bring your grade up in- then you should put that final first no matter what, and spend the most time on studying for it. Other than that, take it one final at a time and study accordingly. It minimizes a ton of stress if you’re only thinking about one big test, rather than anywhere from four to six.
  2. If your teacher doesn’t give you a study guide, make one – I find this is one of the best ways to study if you’re not sure what to do and you don’t want to passively look over your notes. Some teachers give study guides, which is excellent because it’s straightforward to study for those finals- you just complete the study in detail, then go over it and quiz yourself/have other people quiz you. However, if your teacher doesn’t provide one, you should definitely still make your own! Go through all the units and write down key concepts and their definitions/explanations, and do tons of practice problems for math and science subjects.
  3. Have a balance of studying alone and group studying – Studying alone shut up in your house will drive you stir-crazy and you may lose focus, but sometimes studying in a group can get you off-topic. The answer? A balance of both: review the material on your own and make your study guide so you’re familiar with the basis of everything, then go study in a group and quiz each other, asking questions about things you’re confused on.
  4. Focus on school – Finals week is only one week, and it’s super important for your grades. Therefore, it should take priority over other things like extracurriculars for the week. Obviously honor any important commitments like work or sports practice, but it’s fine to let other things slide for a few days.
  5. Go see your teachers for extra help – This is a good idea for two reasons. One, if you need the help, it’s so important to ask for it. Your teachers should be happy to clear up any confusion you have and go through some review with you if you come in with specific questions. Two, they’ll often give you some insight and subtle hint as to what will be on the final. Whenever I’ve gone in to ask a teacher for help, he or she will point out what I really need to know.

Good luck on your finals everyone! Remember there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and this will all be over in a flash. I have faith all of you will do great, especially if you utilize these tips.

-Brooke

Places I’ve Been in 2019 – A Year’s Review

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

If you have been following my blog since the beginning, you would know that my first posts were all about my trip to Europe this summer. Let it be known that even though this year I had a couple big trips and traveled quite a bit, in the past, I’ve never taken more than one trip in a year. There were a lot of different reasons why I traveled so much more this year, and I’ll dive into these reasons when I talk about each destination. Also, as another kind of disclaimer: I know this may not seem like a lot of traveling to some people, and to others it may seem like an insane amount of travel. Whatever your perspective is, just know that I am immensely grateful for every experience I’ve had and for any of the traveling opportunities I’ve taken advantage of.

I’ve always wanted to travel more and see different parts of the country (and the world!), and this year, I actually did. I explored parts of three different countries (technically four if you count Vatican City), going out of the country for the first time. I had a couple weekend trips away from home where I got a taste of independence, and I had an insanely busy summer filled with travel. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll recognize most of these- if you’re new, then welcome!

  • Palm Springs, CA (April) – Over spring break of freshman year, my friend invited me to come to Palm Springs with her family for a few days. We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb in La Quinta with a pool with a couple other families (her family friends) and literally just relaxed the whole time. Funnily enough, my favorite memory from the trip was the bike rides my friend and I went on- it wasn’t actually that hot when we were there and the neighborhood was beautiful (and huge!) so we went on a few three-mile rides circling the neighborhood. I really needed the relaxation and quality time with a friend.
  • Paris, France (June) – The beginning of my first trip to a foreign country/first time in Europe, Paris did not disappoint. I had never been out of the country before since my family doesn’t travel often, but my dad had an international Rotary conference in Germany so my mom, my brother, and I planned to meet him afterwards in Paris. Whenever I thought of going to Europe in the past, Paris was my #1 destination. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person, especially lit up at night, was probably the highlight of my year. The city was absolutely gorgeous and didn’t even feel real; I felt like I was in a storybook. There was some bumps along the road with my dad getting pickpocketed, but I LOVED the city and would love to go back and see more.
  • Sorrento, Italy (June) – This was actually my favorite city in Italy, and it’s not even a city. When we got off the 2-hour flight from Paris into Naples and drove into this beautiful beach town, I knew this was the place for me. It was a perfect few days of relaxing inbetween the bustling cities of Paris and Rome; our hotel was super nice and right in the middle of the main square. The beach was a short walk away and the Mediterranean Sea was so warm and beautiful- the food we ate in this city was probably the best of all too. I would love to return and see the rest of the Amalfi coast- no complaints at all here.
  • Rome, Italy (June) – Actually quite disappointing compared to the expectation I had, but still insanely picturesque. My favorite memory of Rome would either be sitting on the Spanish steps overlooking the square and shops around, or the night that we watched the sunset at a restaurant across from the Colosseum. I felt kind of unsafe in Rome due to the mass amount of scammers on the streets and the sketchy train station, but we didn’t actually have any problems there. Our hotel was amazing and we got upgraded to a suite, so that was nice too.
  • Florence, Italy (June) – A truly immaculate city, it sounds silly but I loved how clean everything was. The Duomo was bigger than I could’ve ever imagined, and seeing Michelangelo and all the other artwork was very cool as well. My favorite part was probably walking down the Ponte Vecchio and going into all of the fancy jewelry stores. I wish we had stayed for another day- our stay here was only two nights.
  • Venice, Italy (June) – Our last stop on the Europe trip, Venice was very different than I imagined it would be. The weather was really bad with lots of rain on our last day so we mainly stayed indoors, but it was beautiful when we came in. Since it’s actually a very small city, I didn’t expect how cramped it would feel. The canals were gorgeous and my highlight of this stop was definitely our gondola ride at sunset. The city just oozes with beautiful historic architecture.
  • Buena Park, CA (Knott’s Berry Farm, July) – Only a week after returning from Europe, I went to Knott’s Berry Farm for four days for cheer camp. We got to spend one day in the park, so that was obviously the highlight; I had never been before and the rides were quite fun- not too intense for me, but still a thrill. This definitely was my least favorite trip of the summer just because cheer camp was brutal, but it was nice to have a change of pace and go to an amusement park.
  • Orange, CA (Chapman University, July) – Continuing the crazy business of my summer, a week after cheer camp I headed off to stay in the Chapman University dorms for four days for yearbook camp with my school yearbook staff. This was surprisingly one of the best memories I have of summer- we were completely independent in the dorms and the camp was a little bit more free-form, so it was a true dorm life experience. The campus was super cute and small so I felt like I knew it like the back of my hand by the time we left. Also, the actual camp was SO much fun and as a newbie to my school’s yearbook staff, I got to know people a lot better.
  • Fresno, CA (November) – I know Fresno’s not exactly a vacation destination, but I went there for the weekend for a Youth and Government conference. The city is definitely…interesting… but I had an amazing time at the conference held in the Fresno Convention Center, and I met so many amazing people from across the state. It made the four-hour bus drive very worth it. It was also another taste of independence since my roomies and I were responsible for getting around to our sessions and everything.
  • Seattle, WA (November) – My mom and I planned a girls’ Seattle trip for Thanksgiving break because we had both always wanted to see the city, and I wanted to visit the University of Washington. We stayed in the center of downtown, right near the Space Needle and the Pike Place Market. We had amazing food everyday and packed so much into the few days we were there, including a full day touring the college. I LOVED the city, but unfortunately did not feel at home at UW. That being said, I absolutely fell in love with Seattle and could totally see myself living there for a job one day.
  • Victoria, British Columbia (November) – My mom and I realized we had a day with nothing planned during our Seattle trip, so we impulsively decided to take a three-hour ferry to Victoria (Canada!) for the day. I’ve always wanted to go to Canada, so now I can say I have. Victoria’s an island and the capital of BC, as well as the “city of gardens” so there’s a ton to do and see there. It was beautiful (must sees are the Fairmont Empress hotel and the Parliamentary Buildings, as well as the Bouchart Gardens thirty minutes away) and it made me want to return and see other beautiful parts of Canada. I wish we had more time to explore Victoria as well.

As you can tell, my 2019 was full of super exciting experiences and I went to so many places that I had never been before and never imagined I would get to visit, especially in one year. This year went by so fast, and sometimes I forget all of these different trips all happened in 2019; so much was packed into this past year. I don’t think I’ll be traveling nearly as much in 2020, but we’ll see! You never know where life will take you. 🙂

-Brooke

The beautiful sunset view from our Airbnb in La Quinta.
The Eiffel Tower at night.
View of the ocean below from a viewpoint on the cliffs in Sorrento.
The Colosseum in a dreamy light near sunset.
The Duomo up close.
Scenic waterfront in Venice as we boarded our gondola.
The famous Valdez Hall where us Youth and Gov kids ate our meals in Fresno.
The Pike Place Market bustling at dinnertime.
The Space Needle from the point of view of a parking lot nearby.
The stunning Parliamentary Building in Victoria.

Why I’m Not Doing High School Cheer Anymore

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I’m going to be fully dissecting a topic that I’ve mentioned in passing on this blog many times: my ultimate decision on whether or not I will be continuing to be a high school cheerleader after this season. This year’s season is not officially over until about halfway through February, but basketball is not nearly as popular of a sport at my school as football, so it already feels like it’s dwindled down. Regardless, now that I’m almost done with my second season as a high school cheerleader, I feel more confident in my feelings about it and the next step for me. As the title of this post suggests, I’ve (VERY carefully) decided that I do not plan on trying out for next year’s cheer season this spring.

Whenever I bring this up to people in conversation, they’re always shocked. I’m not sure if it’s like this at other schools, but at my school, the sports team/major activity (choir, band, Academic Decathlon, journalism/yearbook) you’re involved with is a huge part of your “school persona” (more on why I use this term later). My friends say, “Why don’t you want to do it anymore? Don’t you like it? Don’t you at least want it to show consistency on your college application?”. And they have a point- in the beginning of my freshman year, when I first joined the cheer team, I was obsessed with being on cheer. I wouldn’t shut up about it; it wasn’t because I thought I was cooler than everyone else since I was a cheerleader, it was because I had never been on a sports team or anything similar before cheer.

In fact, one of the main reasons I kept going back and forth about continuing with cheer was how it would reflect on my college applications come senior year. If I continued, I would be on varsity next year (if I made it; all juniors are on varsity), and I could say I’d been in a varsity sport in high school; I could say I’d been committed to a sport for four years in high school as well. Sports are a huge time commitment, and that’s definitely a big component of a lot of high schoolers’ lives and extracurricular commitments. I also thought being a cheerleader specifically might be a “hook” in some way for more prestigious schools, since cheerleaders are often stereotyped as dumb, and schools want diversity/people from all sports and activities that break stereotypes.

Furthermore, I worried about my own self-esteem regarding the decision- would I feel like a quitter? Even though it’s totally my right to decide not to try out again after finishing up this season, I somehow felt like that was a failure in a way. I’m kind of a perfectionist and I’m clearly quite hard on myself, so to stop doing cheer would be to admit that it wasn’t for me and that I couldn’t master it. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I don’t want to spend my time trying to “master” cheerleading, and that’s perfectly okay- I can use my time on other things I love, like writing. I think part of the reason I felt so bad about stopping is that I’ve never really stuck to a sport or a major organized activity for more than a year, but I’ve been doing cheer for three years if you count eighth grade. It was one of those situations where you feel like you’ve come so far and don’t want to stop now, but I had to get myself out of that mentality; continuing cheer would hurt me more than help me in the long run.

As far as the reasons I wanted to quit, there were many. First of all, I wasn’t good at cheer, and although that’s not a reason to quit on its own, it made it a lot harder to enjoy the season. At our school, after sideline cheer season is over, there’s a competitive season; even though sidelines season is kind of a joke, competitive season is super intense. I knew I didn’t want to be on the competition team last year, so I didn’t try out. A lot of the girls on my team did, so coming into this year’s season they had a bunch of new skills and were so much stronger- I wasn’t. Second, the coaches didn’t like me. Favoritism is very prevalent in our program, and they pretty much only like the girls who were on the competition team (yes, a lot of them are more skilled, but not everyone- and that’s not the point). Since I wasn’t very good, that exacerbated their frustration with me.

Those last two reasons were fairly minor in my decision-making process, but combined with the bigger reasons I’ll discuss now, there were too many reasons for me to quit, and almost none to stay. One of the main things I was struggling with was that I didn’t feel included on the team, and I wasn’t a fan of the dynamic (partially because of the favoritism). Our team is mainly divided into two parts: a big friend group of girls that has all done cheer together since they were little, and everyone else who joined cheer for other reasons. My best friend was on the team with me, but she had been on the competition team and is super talented, and therefore was more well-liked by everyone- I wasn’t. I always felt like an outsider but I didn’t even want to try to fit in with the other girls because I knew I wouldn’t, and I would just be making a fool out of myself.

Feeling excluded only contributed to my dread over going to practices and games. Cheer, just like any other sport, is a significant time commitment. During football season, between two-hour practices everyday and six-hour game days including travel, I would spend anywhere from 12-15 hours doing cheer per week (more if there were special events like school rallies or performances outside of school). I didn’t have as much time for other activities I had wanted to join or spend more time on (like writing!) and I wasn’t even getting anything out of the experience since I was finding myself hating going to cheer more and more. It felt like a huge waste of my time, and it was hard to know that cheer was the reason I didn’t have time to pursue things I actually enjoy, or at least be more productive/have more time to study/etc. I know these are normal things that come with being in a sport, but that’s the thing- most people in sports either stay in it because they like it or because they’re good at it, ideally both. At this point, I was in neither of those situations.

For these reasons and probably more I’ve forgotten by now, I made up my mind that this cheer season will be my last. Am I scared I made the wrong decision? Of course. Am I worried I’ll end up missing it somehow? Obviously. Am I going to change my mind? I can’t say for sure, but I really don’t think so. The thing that’s helped me is quite a few of my friends have gone through similar experiences with their respective sports this year, and a few of them have even quit already/mid-season. I felt a lot less lonely because of that, and a lot more confident in my decision; I need to do what’s best for me and what will lead me to happiness. And you know what? Even though this season’s not over yet, I feel better already.

One thing I wanted to address that’s not directly related to ending my high school cheer career: my tumbling classes/cheer experiences outside of school. For about two years, I’ve been taking tumbling classes with coaches from the gym that I cheered at in eighth grade. This year, that was structured into one private lesson per week/sometimes every other week with one coach, and a group lesson every week with a different coach. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be continuing cheer, I told myself I wanted to just keep going to tumbling for a little bit and see if it was something I still enjoyed outside of cheer. The last few lessons I went to, I felt unmotivated and I just wanted to get them over with. It was kind of an abrupt decision, but I decided to stop attending tumbling classes as well. It feels really weird not driving to the familiar cheer gym every week, but I honestly don’t really miss it yet. I think it was just time for me to move on.

Since basketball season is going on, I’m getting a little bit of exercise through cheer every week. However, once cheer is over, I will have no structured physical activity in my life. I think it’s super important that I find a replacement form of exercise since it’s important for me to be outside and get my vitamin D, and I still want to stay in shape. This means you can expect some upcoming health/fitness related content!

-Brooke