Christmas Break

For Christmas break I will be going out of town to my grandparent's house. We will see most of my dad's side of the family and do our family Christmas stuff. Then after Christmas day we will return home and have both my mom's side's family Christmas and our own family Christmas. Hopefully before all the house lights go down my family and I will go lighting. I am going to have no homework!!! So I will have plenty of time to spend with my friends as well. I want a laptop for Christmas because it will be easier to type papers due to our family's sharing of computers. I also want to catch up on my shows and enjoy my family as much as possible. But most of all I want to celebrate Jesus, the reason for the season. He's the birthday boy, so it should be all about him.

College

 Going to college would accomplish many things: gaining more education in the specific career I would like to pursue, allow interaction with many people, allow living with another person and coping with it, and finally opening more opportunities job wise. I am going to college for myself, it is a path for a better future and better career options. Characteristics like integrity, honor, honesty, family, respect, and loyalty would be some I would look for in a college. For advice for seeking a college I would definitely look for my parents and grandparents. They know what it's like in college and have more knowledge in the how it works. College would create more options for me in choosing my career and ultimately increasing my education as an student. I have goals and dreams to achieve, college would make living in the working class easier as I would be more open and aware of the world around me.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, it is a tradition in my family to come together for the day for lunch where we eat turkey, potatoes, green beans, etc. Once we stuffed ourselves full, dad and I watch football, since we are the only people on my mom's side to watch sports. Other than Thanksgiving day, Saturday I will be watching my grandfather get married to a sweet lady. Then Sunday my family and I will probably going together to six flags. My dad is super excited since this is the first time since his surgery that he has gone to six flags. I am so happy he's going to be with us. Throughout the break I will also be studying and trying to get ahead on homework, while reading my favorite books, running, hanging out with friends, and going shopping for black Friday. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Break! Remember what your thankful for and don't forget.

Job Searching

Recently, on I found a job online that hired sixteen-year-old and up. It was so easy to find a job that is near me and works well with my school and sport activities. The job is a great starting job as it is a good deal of mulch-tasking, social skills, and organization which I have and can be improved on. "Smiling, energetic, friendly and fun people are ideal. The ability to work evenings and weekends is generally required." (www.snagajob.com) The store, Kroger, is close has many positions open that I can apply for. However, the one I may have time and would be most applicable for would be the Part-Time store clerk job. This job would give me more work experience outside of chores and home and teach me how to handle my first official job. The smart thing for an application, would be to fill out the application online, which would be easy, but to actually print it out and turn it in in person would be better. It shows actual maturity for the job and dedication to the position applied for. "Individuals who visit hiring managers and submit materials in person may fare better than applicants using the online route to declare candidacy." Also, preparing for an interview (for me) would be to dress appropriately for the job applied, bring some of my past work and accomplishments, and to answer with well thought out, confident answers. With these simple steps, I would be able to apply and get a job in no time.

From Homeless to Harvard Film Reflection

For the film, Homeless to Harvard, a very determined spirited young women grew up on the streets of New York while her parents were on drugs, and still maintained her education. This film inspired me to the point where it made me realize that there literally is no excuse. No excuse for unfinished homework, no excuse for constant complaining, and no excuse for a bad attitude. My favorite part in the movie was when Liz Murray started high school and had her first essay, getting an A+. She immediately went to the teacher and asked, 'What can I do to get an A?' Her goals were set so high, despite her situation, despite the absent people in her life. Liz Murray wanted to be the best. I know if I was put in her shoes I would be very emotionally scarred that I would need help. I defiantly could not imagine not having my family or a roof over my head. The experience would be life changing for sure. And for Liz Murray, being homeless in a bad are was an everyday thing. Not just a week or a month, this was her whole life. Liz's life story shows me that ANYTHING is possible if you set your mind to it.  

Budget Surprises

When I created my future budget as a college student living on campus, there was so much to take in. First, I realized how much monthly I have to earn from a part-time job. A job that doesn't pay much or leave me quite enough to have for extra activities. It is a really tight budget! However, I did expect the small room and usual sharing of space with a roommate. When the time comes for me to go off to college and experience the real 'college life', I think eventually I would adapt to the constant flow of giving and getting money as well as keeping up with my studies. It would be a different lifestyle and I realize that I would have many bills that would fail to be paid. However, by the time I graduate from high school and have job experience, the debt would not be as bad. Training in keeping up with the house would also help with my college apartment and job. Also, in social skills with keeping a good relationship with my roommate and making friends at college. Then lastly, studying in school and keeping up with grades would increase my determination to graduate. I will be ready when the time comes for college.

Top Career Choice

     My top career choice would be a Psychologist, I enjoy people and their different behaviors. Pursuing this career would interest me because I am perplexed by the different emotions and state of being in a person and how quickly they change in an instant or over time. Being a psychologist would let me listen to people's problems and try to help them get better or record and just listen to what they have to say. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to hear them out, and that's what I would do.

Stress

My score on the stress test was 12 out of 24. Stress is always known for young adults as 'school'. For me, this cannot be more accurate. Almost every teen who goes to school, stays at school for eight hours (on average) and then goes home to another 1-3 hours of homework. This alone is dragging, but outside activities make free time seem like seconds and social interaction as a chore.
I should know, once school is out at 3:45 p.m. I go straight to the bus for volleyball practice. Then after practice ends at 6 p.m. I take the 30-45 minute drive home, take a shower, eat dinner, do dishes, and get my lunch and clothes ready for the next day. By that time, its almost 9 and I'm exhausted. I still haven't started my homework and the assignments are piling in my head, How do I cope with this stress?
First, breathe. Let every worry, every situation, escape for a second. Think about the things that you absolutely NEED to get done and what you can get ahead on. That way, you won't think about the distracting elements around you ( ie. phone, friends, tv, etc). Try to put all those things away until you get done. Or if you are going to use your phone, put on music. Music helps me to focus on my homework, however, if I put on a playlist full of songs I really like I tend to get distracted. So I play slow and boring music to focus.
Lastly, take a break in between assignments or set a time limit for how much you are going to work on. And in your breaks go outside and or socially interact with someone in the house to prevent stress.    

Organization/Procrastination

 Organization can be a struggle for many teens who are overwhelmed with endless responsibilities and outside activities. However, a method I recommended might help the stress go down. 
A planner, whether it be online or paperback organizer, you will NEED a planner. For each day labeled write down the classes for the entire week. This way you won't be furiously jotting down random test dates with no class labeled next to them. Throughout the day when you are given future tests/quizzes/projects for later in the week, write it down! And write down to study all that week for the test. That way, you will not be struggling to memorize the information the night before and you feel more confident and prepared to conquer the test/quiz/project. Also, practices and important events after school and on the weekends can be recorded in your planner as well so you don't forget. 
For me, this organizer is vital everyday so I don't forget anything. It hasn't failed me, and will continue to be a necessity during school to keep me on top of my grades and outside activities. 
 However, there is a whole different story with "lolly-gaggers" or 'procrastinators'. Procrastination not only displays your effort, but it also shows in your overall time in the paper or project. Sometimes those people get lucky and make a good grade, other times they fail miserably. To prepare and make effort in anything will cause success no matter how small. One way you can avoid procrastinating is getting it all done in school. That way you are free the whole rest of the day. Another way would be to "divide and conquer". If it's a major project you can set dates and get a certain amount finished by that time. Or even with studying for a big final; you can set a timer for thirty minutes to study for a subject, then take a five minute break, and move on to another subject for another thirty minutes. 
  So don't wait till the last minute to start! Your grades are on the line! If you feel you are slowly starting not to care about your grades, (which is what many of us do), remember this is just a step toward your future goals for college or your dream job. High School is not forever and it certainly isn't like the real world, however, high school teaches and prepares us for the people and education we will eventually meet. So don't give up! And get your work over with so you don't have to worry about it later.

Hi, my name is Abby Munoz. I am a junior in Life School Waxahachie, and will graduate with the class of 2016. I enjoy reading, running track, playing volleyball, spending time with friends/family, and listening to music. I am a part of the NHS, student council, and am a active member of my church. I love to volunteer at my church with summer camps, bike races, bake sales, etc.
In the college transition class, I hope to learn anything and everything my future as a college student. Such as: applying and conquering scholarships for various schools, writing essays colleges would approve of, paying next to nothing for books and tuition, interviews, applying for college application, and most importantly.......staying out of debt!