After The Diploma..

I was always taught to “dream big” so my after high school plans go along with that. I have high expectations for myself, starting with actually graduating. Over this summer, I plan on taking a couple classes at Genesee Community College to get the hang of college classes and get ahead since I will already be graduating with nineteen college credits, which will put me a semester ahead and allow me to graduate earlier. I’m going to continue to attend GCC for all my basic courses. After graduating from GCC, I’m hoping to transfer to Daemen. While talking to a counselor at the school, I was informed that the career I’d like to pursue later on in life will soon be offered as a major instead of an undergraduate program. If it’s not being offered, I will major in psychology then do social work for my undergrad program. Both are four year degrees, so I’d be out looking for a job around 2018 at the earliest. With a degree in social work, there are a wide range of jobs I’d be able to do, such as a medical social worker, a residential counselor, social worker of a county welfare department and many, many more. The job I’m mostly interested in requires me to be licensed within the state that I will be working in. Since I know a numerous amount of people who were adopted, like my dad and two uncles, I’d like to work as an adoption agent. Of course, after high school, I want to get married and have a family. No matter what, I plan to stay within this area since me and my boyfriend were both born and raised here. Plus, I’m a devoted fan to the Bills and Sabres. I don’t think I could ever leave them behind. Or Mighty Taco, that is a main reason of mine to stay in Buffalo.

BEST CLASS EVER!

Even though the year seems as if the school year has just started, my favorite class so far has been online publishing. How could I talk about this class without mentioning how awesome the teacher is? It’s such a pleasure to be in Mr. Currin’s class every other day. I enjoy being here in the class up to three whole times a week. On a more serious note, this class is tons of fun. Even though the environment isn’t fully professional, with the constant bickering amongst “co-workers,” it’s fun to be working constantly and being given a deadline that is crucial. Every newspaper posted is worked on for two weeks. We are allowed to choose our article topic and the options are endless. For the most part, it’s preferred we stick to topics that relate and revolve around our district and town. Each article has to be at least three hundred words which seems like a piece of cake. But when you are forced to stick to one topic, it’s actually a little difficult. The class isn’t just articles though. Every two weeks, we have to post three or four blogs about topics chosen by the awesome teacher. Occasionally, we get to choose what we write our blog about. This class is definitely my favorite because of how much freedom we are given. It’s also a fun environment to be in. There is never a down day in the office. Plus, every Friday that we are in this class is a casual Friday, allowing us to dress casually and usually get food made by our fellow co-workers. Whenever Mr. Currin walks into the office, he never fails to mention that this is the “BEST CLASS EVER!.” Also, he makes sure that we are all well aware that “we’re running a newspaper here!”

My Inspiration ♥

A teacher that has had a really great impact on me is Mrs Baumgartener, who is the social worker in the high school. When I was having problems at home, she was always a great person to talk to and she definitely has the capability to help anyone through any situation no matter how bad you think it may be. She is very easy to talk to, which is a great quality to have. I think she is amazing at her job and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way about her. She has influenced me to also pursue a career as a social worker. Another teacher who has had a very big impact me is Mr. Kozub, who was a former physical education teacher in the intermediate school. Throughout my years of having him as a teacher, he always wanted to put down the fact that I was a cheerleader, saying it wasn’t a sport. He kept telling me that I should be a runner, like cross country and track. I was always a slacker in gym and running was far from my thing. The more and more he put the idea in my head, the more I participated in gym and actually tried. I even cut three minutes off my time in the mile within a matter of a couple months. He retired not long after I started middle school and once my seventh grade year came around and I was able to participate in modified sports, I tried cross country. It was not easy running for miles and miles without stopping but throughout the season I got used to it. When he came back for a big race at the school, he was proud to see that I was finally a runner. I continued running track and cross country into high school but had to stop after my freshman year due to injuries.

For Jamey ♥

This whole story, and all the other controversies surrounding Jamey’s death, even those that happened after this article was posted, have really changed my mind and how I act towards others. I know people who have committed suicide and it’s a loss that no family or friend should never have to deal with, especially one of a young child. I believe that bullying will be around no matter what anyone says or does to stop it, but once someone takes their life because of it, it is taken way too far. The different phrases that people were posting on social networking sites should never happen. Anyone can sit behind a computer and post things about someone, but it’s never anonymous. Even though the story of his death is nothing wonderful, I think Lady Gaga getting involved and really stick by her fans is great. In her songs, she has numerous phrases about sexuality. These are the songs that Jamey constantly referred to in his YouTube videos that he posted regularly. After Jamey’s suicide, the bullies didn’t stop. At Williamsville North’s homecoming only a week and a half after his death, his sister, Alyssa, had to deal with them shouting “We’re glad you’re dead” after his friends chanted his name following a Lady Gaga song. Finally, the students got some punishment when the were suspended the week following the homecoming dance. I believe that they should be charged because what they did was indirectly a form of murder. I couldn’t imagine being his sister, who is my age, and find him the morning after he hanged himself. After this incident, I truly want to stand up against bullying and speak out against it. I hope that a law is made in his honor because no teen should be bullied to the point where they have to kill themselves, there is always something to do to help someone feeling like that.

Mmm, Applebee's

Even though I’m from Alden, I’ve been here for the past twelve years, none of the restaurants in this small town of ours have grown to be my favorite. All of them have their perks though. Both West Alden Kitchen and Town & Country have a very friendly staff. I mean, no one wants to go to a restaurant and deal with a mean waitress. At both, the food is always good. My favorite restaurant though would have to be Applebee’s. I tend to go to the locations in Lancaster or Batavia. Even though all their food is really good, I almost always get the same thing. I usually get one of their specialty drinks that they offer, which lately has been a lemonade purée with different fruity flavors added to it. My favorite is definitely the mango lemonade. But the drinks aren’t too important, it’s the food that makes Applebee’s my favorite. I’m kinda cheap, so when I go, I usually get a couple different appetizers. No matter what type of mood I’m in that day, it is essential that I get the spinach artichoke dip. I absolutely hate spinach but I think I could live off their dip. I already know I’m gonna have high cholesterol due to high salt intakes, so why not mention their chips given with the dip? They are always good with tons of salt on them! Also, I get their boneless wings every time I go, I’m not the type of person to get messy when I eat so I like the boneless ones! The best flavor they have is the classic buffalo. I always get the third appetizer but for this one, I try to get something different whenever I go. Even though all the wood is shared, usually with my boyfriend, I can never leave room in my tummy for dessert. I’ve never tried any of their desserts but they all look extremely delicious!

Top School Lunches

The best school lunch is by far taco day. This day only comes around twice a month on every other Thursday. I know I’m not the only one who looks forward to it since when it’s Taco Thursday, lunch ladies tell us to make sure we know exactly what we want. Most of us know our order, the same thing every other week. We have the choice of choosing from hard or soft shell, taco salad, or taco in a bag. Usually given on the side is rice, corn, chips and a churro. When you order a hard shell, you are provided with TWO hard shells to make up for the small size of the shell. A soft shell is just a giant shell. Taco salad is just a bunch of crunched up chips with all the regular toppings. Taco in a bag (which I’m yet to try) is a small bag of Dorittos with meat added into it. Most students don’t even bother to change up their order. I happen to be one of those students, every other Thursday, my lunch order stays the same; a soft shell taco with meat, cheese, lettuce and sour cream. A close second for me though would be chicken patties. I’m not quite sure why, but I’ve always loved them. They are usually served on Fridays, especially Fridays during lent along with fish patties. My third favorite lunch is definitely simple and served every day. I really enjoy salad and it’s nice to know we are given a wide range of toppings for salads. We are offered everything from tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, bacon bits, shredded cheese and occasionally chicken and ham. Also, we have a variety of salad dressings to choose from. We are given the basics, such as Italian and ranch, but are also given different types, like my favorite, chipotle ranch.