Earth Day, Iceland, Valedictorian, and Everything Else

First and foremost, Happy Earth Day everyone. On this day of environmental awareness, I have gained inspiration from a friend at my internship- Paper Magazine who writes her own blog called Cien. Despite the writing blocks she gets, she keeps on writing and looks for creative fodder in every corner of her world. Thank you for giving me the inspiration to continue my blog. On this day, I have also had the chance to look back on everything that has occurred this year and think about what is going to happen in the future.

It has obviously been a long time since I have written here. I last wrote when I visited Bennington College and when I was beginning the college application process. I was in love with Brown University and ridiculously stressed. I was also arriving late to school everyday, but managed to pass my first period class with flying colors. Since October 8th, 2008 many events have taken place which influenced the very present. Some are negative and some are postive, but I am happy to say that the positive outweighs the negative.

As of today, I now know which college I will be attending in the fall and it’s Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. I had the chance to visit over the weekend and had a wonderful time. The campus is pretty- there are trees all over the place, rabbits and ducks strolling about, and friendly people. It was strange seeing people smile at me and talk to me as if they knew me. Here in New York, that does not happen very often. I visited classes, toured the campus and felt that I would be comfortable there. It is far of course, but I like the traveling aspect. I get to fly to Chicago and then take a bus that lets me see the flat lands around me. I told someone today that Beloit has a “gay scene.” That really isn’t true, but as I answered, I wondered whether having a gay scene was important to me. I am going to college to study, not party…. Or maybe I do want a gay scene, I am not sure… In college I am going to concentrate hard to receive the outcomes I would like when my four years are over.

I am sure Beloit has its few gays that are out and proud. They have an alliance there and people have told me the campus is “overwhelmingly accepting.” What I like about Beloit is that it is its own small world. It is far away from everything else, it is like a retreat. I plan to study Literature at Beloit and get a degree in Modern Languages which is a unique major offered at Beloit. The Modern Language major enables students to study three languages at once, neat huh? With that, I get to continue with French, improve my Mandarin, and learn a new language. I think I will end up double majoring. The Modern Languages major along with a Literature major is a good deal.

Before visiting Beloit, I got to see a former Botany teacher of mine and I spent a couple of hours with her in Chicago. Her name is Esther and she is a wonderful person. She took me to breakfast at an organic café in Chicago’s Logan Square where I ate delicious whole grain pancakes with warm maple syrup and whipped cream. She then took me around Chicago in her car. I saw the Sears Tower and lots of other cool buildings. I was impressed with Chicago. All the buildings are separated which leaves a cool openness throughout the city. After that, Esther took me to meet her parents. Her parents were so warm and friendly that I immediately felt comfortable with them. Esther is a friend to me. She has helped me throughout my four years of high school. Now that I will be in the Midwest, I will get to see her more often!

For college, I was originally concentrating on Wesleyan University. Wesleyan had become my dream school; it was the school I had to get into. Later in March, I was rejected from Wesleyan. Decisions were being posted online for the first time and I saw my decision as I was eating with my mentor at Grano Trattoria- a scrumptious Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. It was devastating, but I recovered quickly. I probably would not have been happy at Wesleyan. Students there looked stressed and preppy, which made me, feel intimidated and scared. If I were accepted to Wesleyan, I probably would have went. But if I went, I would not have been able to see the Midwest and have the chance to embark on a new adventure in a new place. Sometimes, even though we don’t like it, I think life knows what it is doing sometimes.

Earlier this month, I found out I was granted a scholarship I applied for to go on a National Geographic Expedition to Iceland this summer! That same day, I also found out that my name was in the New York Times along with names of other students who were selected as semi-finalists for the New York Times College Scholarship. That was the best week I have experienced so far this year. I also found out that I am valedictorian for my class! This time is an exciting and wonderful time for me. It has taken some time to sink in since my mind has been in other places, but I am beginning to meet these accomplishments and feel proud of them.