LIFE UPDATES

If you've read any number of my posts, you may have guessed that I enjoy keeping myself busy (as illustrated by my borderline-excessive use of the word "hectic").  When the second semester of my junior year arrived, a new state of hectic-ness accompanied it--the likes of which I had never experienced before.  As a result, blogging slipped down to the bottom of my hefty priority list and stayed submerged there for six months.  Like I mentioned in this post, I sincerely hope that a six-month break will never again be necessary.

Now, on to the fun part:  answering some unspoken questions about my hiatus and what the future holds for the blog.

Tori, where have you been?
Great question!  Quite simply, I've been studying.  Especially during the month of April, my time was monopolized by studying for AP exams.  On the off chance that I wasn't occupied by studying or some other task, I didn't feel up to doing anything more than lounging around.

What are you doing now?
This summer is certainly going to be a busy one (surprise, surprise), but I feel much more optimistic now that I have a definite break from school.  One of the most exciting developments has been my opportunity to do a modified internship at a local veterinary hospital.  I spend several hours there each Tuesday observing procedures and surgeries.  I'm also taking online precalculus as a review for an upcoming AP Calculus class.  To top it all off, I'm studying for a national health science competition that I'll be attending in a week.

JUNIOR LESSONS

Hello there!  I'm back after taking a much longer break than I'd intended.  I dearly missed writing for this little corner of the Internet and sincerely hope that a six-month absence will never again be necessary. More on that subject will come at a later time, but for now, let's focus on two of my favorite topics: school and life lessons.

The American high school experience teaches many things besides the obvious STEM and humanities concepts.  After my completion of each year, I've reflected upon the broader life lessons that were highlighted during my academic experiences.  It took me quite a while to ponder my "Junior Lessons" because my junior year was the most difficult--and most rewarding--year yet.

1. Happiness is a choice, not a random event.
Ever heard the mantra, "You must choose your own happiness"?  It sounds idealistic, but it's true.  Each morning, you have to be bold enough to decide whether your day is going to be a happy one;  you cannot sit idly by and wait for happiness to drop in your lap.

2. Time management is the key to productivity.
Whether you are a student or a graduate, this much is true:  learn to manage your time effectively, and you've overcome an obstacle standing in the way of future productivity and success.