reflection

Junior year has not been fun. It's nearly impossible to do well in school, have extracurricular activities, and get a good amount of sleep each night. Junior year is the year when a bunch of tests and responsibilities are dumped onto your shoulders. You are expected to think about what college you want to attend, think about your future career, take the SATs (and subject tests), take several AP courses, and participate in many extracurricular activities all the while there is peer pressure to always look your best, to be "in the loop", etc. It's a lot to handle.

Though this whole year was a struggle, I do believe that I've learned a lot and that all those late night study sessions will eventually pay off. As this year flew by, I have finally decided on what I plan to study in college. Unfortunately, that means I'm one step closer to living in "the real world." I'm slowly transitioning into adulthood, though I'm desperately clinging onto my childhood. I don't want to take on all the responsibilities of being adult nor do I think I'm ready for all that. However, it's only junior year; I still have some time left to enjoy high school and the last year of being a teenager.

digression #3

There are only about two months left of junior year, so I guess it's time to start thinking about what colleges I should apply to. Applying to universities takes a lot of research, time, effort, and money. Each application comes with several essays and short answer questions, which take hours and hours to write and edit until perfection. In addition, each school requires you to pay an application fee of at least $50 (it differs for each school). When choosing which schools to apply to, you also have to factor in your grades and extracurriculars, college tuition and location, etc. As of now, my far reach/dream schools are UPenn and Cornell University. And some other schools that I would like to apply to are NYU, UCLA, and Boston College, which are all tough schools to get into.

Personally, I really want to attend to a school in the east coast, ideally University of Pennsylvania or New York University. The University of Pennsylvania has a specific major that I'm interested in, Digital Media Design. This major focuses on computer graphics, animation, the design of virtual experiments, etc. Many students who graduate with this Bachelors degree end up working at DreamWorks Animation, Disney Animation, Microsoft, and Pixar (companies I can only dream to work for). However, UPenn, one of the Ivy League Schools, has a very small acceptance rate of 12.6%, making it extremely challenging to get into. Another school that I would like to go to is New York University. If I could attend this school, I would apply to the NYU Stern School of Business. I am especially interested in their business program. Also, NYU is located in New York City, one of the cities I hope to live in one day. Though I don't want to spend my whole life there, I think living in NYC for college would be an amazing, fun experience. One more school I would like to attend is Boston College. Not only is it a great school, but it's also located in Boston, Massachusetts, another city where I would love to live. There are so many universities to choose from, and much more research to do on each school before I begin my applications.

digression #2

Recently, I have been putting a lot of thought into becoming an animator, especially after watching Disney's latest short Paperman. I've always been a huge fan of movies (and art), so I think it would be so much fun to help create them. However, there are many drawbacks to becoming an animator. First (though one of the minor reasons), it would require taking many, many physics classes in college. I know that those classes will drive me crazy. Second, animators fresh out of college will have a very hard time finding jobs and an even more difficult time finding a job with decent pay. Furthermore, it's not easy to become a successful animator. You must be extremely creative, willing to work with other people, passionate, and, obviously, artistic. (I also believe it takes a bit of luck.) Despite all this, I still believe becoming an animator will be worth it. Maybe one day I can work at Pixar Studios or Dreamworks Animation!

digression #1!

When I was younger and people asked me what I wanted to do in the future, I had always thought that I had to choose one career and stick with it for the rest of my life. Consequently, I was always afraid to choose something. I would always think what if I don't like that career in five years? What if I only think I like doing that but I actually don't? What if I start getting bored with that job? The future always seemed distant and far away so I never really bothered to find something I was truly passionate about. I know a small part of me thought that I could find it effortlessly, that I would just "know" what I wanted to do.

As senior year and college application season approach, I'm still struggling to find my "passion." I've always been interested in several things, various forms of art (drawing, animation, movie-making, design (such as interior design, architecture, graphic design, fashion design), etc.) and, I suppose, math (simply because I'm not too bad at it), business, and traveling. My interests are all over the place. However, I have ruled out the possibility of doing anything science-related, such as becoming some sort of doctor...but that still leaves millions of other things I could do in the future. So how do I decide? I think it's important to remember that I still have time. As of now, I should just pursue whatever I think is most fascinating. Ten years from now, I may realize that my true passion is something completely different, and that's okay. It's not the end of the world.

destination #3

To me, the Maldives seems hauntingly beautiful. The white sandy beaches, the clear turquoise waters, and the thriving coral reefs all appear too perfect to be true. It's much easier to believe that all these pictures are photoshopped to have all these colors than to believe that a place like this actually exists.

The Maldives is a nation consisting of 1,192 islands that are located in the Indian Ocean. The most popular and most populated chain of islands is the Kaafu Atoll, where the capital Malé is located. In the Maldives, diving is one of the most popular excursions. There are more than 3000 coral reefs located throughout the nation, home to thousands of species of fish and other underwater creatures. The clear, warm waters and diversity making the Maldives one of the world's richest coral reef diving areas. Also, the Maldives is home to several well-known surfing spots in the North and South Malé Atolls. The swells rise from three to eight feet, causing the Maldives to be "a mecca to surf-enthusiasts from all over the world." In addition to diving and surfing, the Maldives is also famous for fishing, especially night fishing. Boats often leave at sunset, and trips generally last until the fishermen are satisfied. For tourists, most resorts offer a night fishing trip with a tour guide. Unfortunately, if you want to visit these breathtaking islands, you should probably do so soon. The Maldives is the world's third most endangered country because of its intense flooding. 

destination #2!

Generally, when planning a vacation, the Kingdom of Norway isn't the first place that comes to mind. But why not?...It's the second wealthiest country in the world, has breathtaking scenery, and is one of the best places to see the northern lights!

Norway has a rugged coastline, broken by fjords (long, narrow inlets with steep sides) and thousands of small islands. This dramatic and visually impressive scenery can be found throughout Norway. Coral reefs or rock reefs (also called skerries) are often found along the bottoms of fjords. Fjords are open to cruises, fishing, swimming and snorkeling (in designated areas). Hiking, biking, skiing, hunting, and many other activities are also available to tourists in parks near fjords. 

In addition, one of the world's best places to see the aurora is in Norway, specifically Tromsø. Tromsø lies in the middle of the Aurora Borealis zone, and the northern lights can be seen around 6pm from September to March. These dazzling lights are a huge part of the Tromsø community. In fact, it holds the Nordlysfestivalen (or the Aurora Festival) every January.


"So when you get the chance
And you want to see lights dance
Rest your eyes on the spellbinding Aurora Borealis."

destination #1!

Panoramic view of Paris at dusk

Who hasn't daydreamed about traveling to la ville-lumière, the city of light? I know I've imagined myself sitting in a quaint café and sipping on hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Going to Paris means gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, visiting the famous Louvre, and strolling through the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Authentic crème brûlée, crêpes, and all sorts of French desserts would be available at every street corner...

Paris is filled with many historic landmarks, modern attractions, and museums. The Eiffel Tower, also known as the "iron lady," was completed in 1889. Since then it has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of ingenuity, progress, romance and beauty. Throughout the city of Paris, there is also a series of fifty public drinking fountains named the Wallace Fountains. These small, picturesque fountains have become an important part of the Parisian landscape. And, of course, there is the famous Musée du Louvre. The Louvre is one of the world's largest museums, the world's most visited art gallery, and a historic monument. This museum houses some of the world's most famous masterpieces, such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People. In addition to the Eiffel Tower, the Wallace Fountains, the Louvre, there are so many more fascinating places to visit in Paris, including the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Tuileries Garden, and the Place de la Concorde, the Grand Palais, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Arc de Triomphe.

"What an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!" -Charles Dickens