Tag: gpa

Blog Frenzy – Day 24

Meg Dowell1 Comment

Well, it’s Saturday. And we all know what that means. That’s right: rain, five chapters of biology, and finally getting to these last scholarship essays. The way this one works is, you fill out the application online, paste your essays into the boxes, and submit it. Then they send you via e-mail all the things you’re supposed to send via snail mail, postmarked by the thirtieth. I can do this, right? I really hope so.

The next three weeks are going to be extremely busy, because I now have to start ultra-cramming for my first AP test on the 6th. That should be fun, right? I’m really going to have to push myself to get all this other stuff done, like writing my last speech, getting an A on my last math test, and studying for finals. And then comes all the fun stuff, like all the solos I’m going to have to sing, the Red & White concert (super fun, except I’m not even in it), and of course, graduation. But that’s not really fun. That’s just necessary.

But all this means that summer is almost here. I’m seriously in denial. I haven’t decided if I’m going to write two novels or read 25 books before I move into my (gasp) dorm. I could do both, but that would kind of be an overload. Sometimes I like reading more than I like writing. Sometimes I like writing more than I like reading. It all depends on how much I’m willing to make my brain work.

I’m still working on that list of books I want to read before I die. I should make it another list of 100, just to make you happy. There are so many good books I haven’t read, like all that old-fashioned literature that most people wouldn’t even think about reading for fun. I’m just that kind of nerd, I guess. But hey. If it wasn’t for my AP lit class, I never would have realized how funny Pride and Prejudice actually is. Especially the chapter when Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth. I had to write an analysis about that one, and it was probably the worst paper ever. But that’s all behind us now, isn’t it?

I should really start on those essays, before I get distracted by YouTube again. Seriously, I think that web site just needs to die. I hate it.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Day 20

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The funny thing about going back to your high school after you’ve “graduated” is how much more attention you get when you’re walking down the hallways than you did when you were actually going to school there. I got stopped by a security guard, two old choirmates, two teachers, and my guidance counselor—who just wanted to say “hey.” Well, thanks for the attention, but I’m on a mission. Let’s go back and time and do this when my mom isn’t waiting in the parking lot. How about three years ago? That would work just fine.

I did, however, get my giant scholarship packet turned in, as well as the letter of recommendation I need for this next scholarship due April 30th. I didn’t get as much done on them as I wanted to yesterday, so I’m either going to have to finish them today (during the time I blocked out for them in my wonderful schedule of schedule-ness) or wait until after my biology test is over. Because I shouldn’t even be doing this right now. I should be studying for my biology test. Yikes, I’m behind!

This is the main reason why I shouldn’t have focused so much of my attention on my novel the past five weeks. Don’t get me wrong: I’m glad I wrote it. It’s a decent story, one I would have driven myself crazy with if I didn’t get everything written down so fast. But I’m so behind on my schoolwork now that I’m going to be spending the next three days with my phone off, and most likely my computer too—after I’m done sharing my depressing life story with you—just so I can get the A I need on this test. I didn’t do as well on my comm quiz yesterday as I would have liked (7 out of 9 converrted to 25 points? Good luck with that). So I really need to buckle down these next four weeks.

In addition to my AP tests, which I’m going to fail if I don’t go by the $25 prep book I need. Even though I would love for my mother to pay for it, since she’s the one who’s making me take them. But no. I’m supposed to use my $20 Border’s card instead, and she’ll chip in the last $5. Wonderful. I guess Pendragon is going to have to wait.

I’m on a slightly-not-as-tight-as-yesterday-but-still-excessively-structured schedule from now until I go to sleep (at 10:30) so I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow, after I’ve completely lost my mind. Unless that’s already happened. Then I’d appreciate it if you would let me know ASAP. Maybe they’ll give me a scholarship for that.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Day 13

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I’m not even going to tell you what my word count is. It’s too embarrassing. (65,336) If you were paying attention yesterday, you would see the problem here.

I finally turned in my music honor society hours yesterday. I actually had six units, instead of five. I feel like such an overachiever. Actually, the real requirement was ten, but he cut my units in half since I was only in school for one semester this year. So really, I’m an underachiever. But that’s only if we’re being technical.

 I turn in my NHS hours today at 3;15—the biggest relief of all. I really wish I could have gotten them done a lot sooner, like last semester. I’m just hoping that I can get the error in his count straightened out, since only half of my outside hours so far have been counted. He’d better count the hours I spent holding sick babies in my lap at Evie’s church. I spent four and a half days on the couch because of those hours. And besides, if I don’t get them counted for some reason, I won’t have met my requirement. So I won’t get my cords, and the world will probably end right then and there.

But he should count them. I mean, it’s his fault anyway.

unfortunately, I’m going to have to put writing on hold for a few more hours. You have to learn to do that sometimes, when there are more important things you absolutely have to do first. I have to spend a few more hours re-formatting that program I worked so hard on, since they didn’t like the way I did it. Or something. And yes, I will spend a few more hours on it, so that he’ll give me five hours instead of three. That way, I’ll have the “technically” required ten outside hours, instead of the eight that I would have had otherwise. No, he didn’t cut my hours in half. He just let me get away with sixteen instead of 25. Even though I’ll already have more than that, because of my (hopefully) ten outside hours.

I’m not a cheater. I just like things to be perfect, that’s all.

Speaking of perfect, I got the score I wanted on my quiz yesterday. That means I’m one step closer to that A I still think I deserve. That one persuasive speech killed my grade. But that’s okay, because I’m pretty sure that this next speech is going to be awesome. I just have to prepare like crazy and not go OVER TIME like I did last time. I lost seven points for talking too slow. Yeah.

I should probably get started on this re-formatting, if it’s going to take me a few hours.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Day 10

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As of this moment, I’m at 60,804 words.

Yesterday was kind of a slow day. I didn’t get much writing done in biology, only because my prof kept talking about things that aren’t in the book or notes. So I actually sort of had to pay attention to what he was saying. But that was okay, because I learned plenty of things about wolves that I never would have known otherwise. Did you know that their gestation period is only 63 days? That’s because they mate in January and February, and they have to be somewhat grown before the winter comes around again, or it’s not likely that they’ll survive. But you probably either already knew that or wish you didn’t.

I’m not sure how many words I’m going to be able to get in today. I somehow got stuck designing the programs for NHS’s induction ceremony next month (at least I get paid in hours). And I have two scholarships due next week. I think. But I might as well get as many of them done today as possible, because I’m also extremely behind on all of my schoolwork. Seriously. Weeks behind.

This is why I wanted to get my novel finished this weekend. But we’ll see how that goes. I could either work on it all day today and possibly get it even closer to completion, and get all my work done at the last minute tomorrow. Or I could try to be responsible and get all my work done this morning, so I have all the time in the world tomorrow to work on my novel, no pressure.

Personally, I like the second option. You’re not even supposed to do real work on Sundays, anyway.

Right now, Melanie is getting lectured by an unexpected mentor. But the advice she’s being given is actually proving to be useful. So she’s going to visit some people before the day is done. But that’s all I’m going to say, because Evie is sitting at her laptop going, “I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you.” Except she doesn’t really hate me. She just hates the fact that I’m keeping novel secrets from her and tossing out hints along the way. Hints that she’s totally not even picking up.

Or is she?

On top of scholarship essays and program designing, my room somehow got messy again without me noticing. So I should probably take care of that before it gets out of control (again). You know, I’m still not really sure how that happens. You clean your room and expect it to stay that way. For a few days, you make the extra effort to put everything in its place and make your bed, etc. And then a few more days go by, and you start getting lazy. The next thing you know, you can’t see your floor. And you’re almost afraid to go in there.

I’m pretty sure I only have like five weeks of school left. Of course, I’m not even free after that, because I have to take the ACT at college orientation. But that’s okay. I’m not going to spend twelve hours a day three weeks in a row studying for it. Though, if I did, there’s a good chance I’d get that 28 I’m pushing for. College is expensive. For some reason, higher test scores equal more money I won’t have to pay back later. I don’t really understand the whole concept. I always score lower on tests than I should. Except for the high school placement tests, when they told me I should skip algebra 1 and go right into geometry. Yeah, right.

I’m not going to tell you how many more chapters are left. But I’m very excited for each and every one of them! Except for the next one. I haven’t really figured out how it fits into the rest of the novel yet. That’s sort of a problem. But oh well.

I’ll try not to let all this work kill me. And if it does, you’ll never know. Because no one else knows my password.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Day 7

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I completely failed at accomplishing anything yesterday.

I guess I just got distracted. Not really from studying for math, since I’m petty sure (and hoping) I scored a B on that test. I knew what I was doing, for the most part. Except for some of the stuff on the last page. I knew I should have studied that section a little more. Oh well. I’m close enough to an A, and scored a 24.5/25 on that quiz I was working on about a week or so ago. Almost perfect. Sad day.

It’s raining. That would have been a nice thing to wake up to. Except it wasn’t the rain that woke me up. It was my ten-year-old brother stomping around the house at seven o’clock in the morning, whining about getting in trouble yesterday (holding a grudge, I see). There are rumors that his X-box is going into temporary hibernation. I can neither confirm nor deny that this is true. I’m hoping that it is. Not because I think he deserves it. I just hate that thing.

I think every kid goes through that kind of stage. I remember getting grounded a ton when I was a little older than he was, for all the usual things: talking back, stomping around, slamming doors. Yes, I had an attitude. I know, you’re shocked. I’m sure you would also be very shocked to learn that junior high tried to destroy me, and I tried to tell myself that for some reason trying out for cheerleading meant I was the most awesome person in the entire seventh grade. I was a brat. I was pretty much mean to everybody. Eighth grade was worse, since I found myself caught in a rivalry with about half of my classmates for no apparent reason. I never made cheerleading, by the way. I eventually got tired of rolling my eyes at people I hated. The end.

 Maybe that’s where the desire to write this book came from. Maybe I still had a little mean-ness left in me. It was bound to come out sooner or later, one way or another. I could make Melanie Bowman a whole lot meaner. But I’m not sure if I’m willing to dig that deep. I mean, the definition of mean to you and the definition of mean to a thirteeen-year-old could potentially be two completely different things. By their standards, I was mean. It’s a good thing none of my teachers from high school knew me then. I’d probably have an extremely difficult time finding people to write letters of recommendation for me.

I can’t even tell you how excited I am for summer. I know I tend to babble on about this more than anyone would like to hear, but you have to understand something. Underneath all that mean was a very determined little monster. I haven’t had a free summer since I was going into the sixth grade (a very interesting summer, since…well, maybe we’ll get to that another time). The year after that, it was Panther Choir camp. The year after that, it was Panther Choir camp and ISYM. After that, it was prep classes for freshman year—some math, some English; etc, etc. Between freshman and sophomore year, I took World History. The next year was U.S. History. And, as you may or may not recall, last summer was Economics. That’s what it takes to graduate early, guys. The loss of many summers.

But I’ve convinced my parents that I deserve a summer off before I start at ONU. So I’m planning three months of sunshine, writing, books, beach, and no more terrifying pale thighs. You’re welcome.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Day 6

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I sort of just woke up. Which is a problem, since I have a math test today, as well as a goal to write five thousand more words before my glorious second day off tomorrow. I also should probably try cleaning my room. That is, if it doesn’t eat me first.

I don’t even have the time or energy to be excited about Will Grayson, Will Grayson. The whole way it’s set up just sounds interesting to me. But I highly doubt that I’ll be going to Border’s today, since my mom is working and my brother is back in school and all that. I guess I should just get used to going to bookstores alone, since I’m probably going to go book hunting virtually every chance I get once I’m away from home.

I really don’t have time to be writing this much.

I didn’t even end up watching Veggie Tales yesterday. I watched really old video tapes of me at birthdays and Easter and Christmas instead. Yeah, I guess I really just didn’t feel like doing anything productive until about eight o’clock, when I finally got to 50,000 words. That’s a huge relief. I don’t want to stop writing anytime soon (not until the novel is done), but at least I can say I won an imaginary Mar/ApNoWriMo. March 9 – April 5. That’s pretty good. I’m probably not going to get all A’s…but pretty good.

Actually, the fact that I’m going to fail at that 4.0 is most likely due to Hulu. So I’m just going to go take a shower and prepare myself for a long stretch of math, and hope I don’t explode in the process (of doing math, not the shower part). Though exploding in the shower would be a lot less messy than exploding at my desk, I really don’t feel like exploding today. Maybe after graduation, so I can at least say I accomplished something meaningful on that List.

I really should go now.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Blog Frenzy – Pre-post

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In honor of Script Frenzy (which I will not be participating in, due to the fact that I barely have time for anything without the addition of writing a screenplay), I have decided to participate in a challenge of my own over the course of April, called Blog Frenzy.

It’s not that exciting, I promise. I’m just giving myself a reason to blog every single day for an entire month. Which is going to be difficult, since I’m currently not getting all A’s like I kinda/sorta need to be. I’m also 35,000 words into a novel, filling out scholarships (Satan’s idea, I swear), and slowly but truly getting ready for my two AP English tests in May. Did I mention I’m also turning in two honor societies’ worth of hours this month, and celebrating Easter and a birthday, and doing five million otherr things I don’t even have time to list?

The fun of challenges like NaNoWriMo, Script Frenzy, and the completely non-existant everywhere but my mind Blog Frenzy is that you have to learn how to balance everything. You have to learn how to balance grades and writing and all the other fun stuff that comes along with living. Which is why I’m doing this. I need some sort of motivation to do SOMETHING. And really, the more I have to do, the more I end up getting done. See how that works?

Today I have to jump through hoops to survive comm and voice lessons (which I still haven’t practiced for—fantastic), finish Chapter 17 (working on it), pick out which outfit I’m going to wear on Sunday, start packing, fill out more scholarships, try to set up a meeting with my NHS sponsor even though he’s on break, clean my room (again) and figure out how to motivate myself. So let’s do this!

See y’all in April. And, I promise: this is no joke.

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Domination

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It seems that in my life one thing tends to dominate over everything else at a time. I’m not very good at multi-tasking (unless we’re talking about singing in the shower, writing novels during biology, or talking on the phone while sitting) so it sort of makes sense that my life is now being dominated by scholarship applications/essays/letters/deadlines/etc. My last one is due May 7th, but if I can get them all in within the next couple weeks, I’ll be free! Of scholarships, I mean. Then it’s back to schoolwork, honor society hours, AP tests, the ACT, and the etcetera. See? One thing at a time.

You’re wondering about my novel. Well, I can honestly say it’s going to get moving again sometime very soon. I have four scholarships due this coming week. But once those are in and I catch up on school, I’ll be able to make time for novelage again. Many promises.

Off to write more essays. Until tomorrow…

Love&hugs, Meg♥

Melting

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I’m so tired. I haven’t been sleeping very wel lately. I keep thinking about my novel, and how addicted to it I am. I’ve written almost 26,000 words in a week and a day. I also have a biology test tomorrow, and you know by now how that goes. I have no time to be writing this. I don’t even know what I’m doing. Honestly, I have pictures of bacteria floating around in my head.

I wrote about five thousand words yesterday. That’s way too many, for all the things I have to do. Oh well. It’ll pay off in the long run, at least that’s what I’ve been telling myself since last week.

Spring break. Almost here. Need. Break. Muffins?

Love&hugs, Meg♥