"Summer of 2013"

What am I going to do this summer?
I really don't want it to be a bummer.
My last summer before heading off for college
Must be fun, to live a little on the edge.

Every summer I travel around the country for tournaments,
But that means, quite often, I'll be tense.
Regardless, I love being at each competition,
So this could still fit my idea of "fun."

My other option still involves tennis, of course.
I would work and teach - that would be my income source.
Working at a camp would cut down on my own practice time,
And when I start college tennis in the fall, I want to be in my prime.

I hope to find a balance between practice, tournaments, and work.
So then I could enjoy my summer (as a dork).
If the balance can't be done, I would probably choose to practice and compete,
Then relax, before I take my place in a college classroom seat.

"Bakery > High School"

Of all the seniors in our grade,

I might just be the only one

That doesn't mind coming to school everyday

And finds it to be fun.

That being said,

Why would I leave school in May?

If I'm still enjoying my time

Day after day.

But when all my friends decided to apply,

I also did, for senior service.

And as many of them weren't approved,

I was given an opportunity I can't miss.

I applied to work at a bakery,

It is called "The Art of Cake."

The owner, a finalist on Cupcake Wars,

Will teach me everything she can make!

I hate listening to everyone's opinion about senior service.

Some teachers encourage it,

Others tell me I'm missing out on the best days high school,

My peers say that in a heartbeat, they'd commit.

Regardless of it all, I decided to partake

In the senior service internship at "The Art of Cake!"

"B+...in Gym?!"

With the new PowerSchool program,
I am able to see all my grades online.
And when I scrolled down my classes last week,
One of them was a B with a plus sign.

Normally, I wouldn't fuss over a B+
But when I saw it was for my second period class,
This simply could not be.
I approached my gym teacher with sass.

Not wearing sneakers on a half day
Was the reason behind my grade.
Not even my tennis accomplishments did me justice,
And I had to do more than just persuade.

Mr. Arturi and I got into a heated debate
Which ended when he told me what I had to do to get an A.
I needed to walk on the treadmill for twenty minutes,
And then he would change my grade - hooray!

"Allergies Prone to Problems"

A family down the street asked me to babysit
And without hesitation, I gladly agreed.
On Wednesday night, the only time my schedule would permit,
I walked over to work for the money I need.

I played with the kids while the parents went out to eat.
They were two, five, and out of control.
It was the slowest two hours I've had to complete,
All for twenty dollars - a decent payroll.

My eyes became itchy and my nose became stuffy
Once I got home and my allergies started to take over.
I went right to sleep because at that point, it was best for me.
I had no idea that these symptoms would occur!

My eyes barely opened when I woke up the next day.
I did not look great that morning, since my allergies took its toll.
When I got asked to babysit again, I did not know what to say.
I had to look at the job as a whole.

The kids were fun and ten dollars an hour isn't bad,
But my health is more important than the task and the money.
In order to avoid disappointing the dad,
I said yes, but there was one thing on which he needed to agree.

Because I am somehow allergic to the family's house,
I asked if I could babysit at another place.
He apologized to me, before telling his spouse.
They agreed, so I can still babysit, just in a cleaner place.

"Dodgeball and Powderpuff: Planning the Dates"

"So when are we having a dodgeball tournament?"
Is a question that is asked each time student government meets.
It is usually ignored, but this time we decided to plan it.
In hopes that in this event, everyone competes.

We needed to plan it between sports seasons,
To give everyone the chance to play.
So we checked out the school's athletic calendar,
And most seasons end in late February or May.

Then, we questioned if Powderpuff would still happen this year.
We didn't think the date was set.
Mr. Ricciardelli informed us that it was scheduled for February.
Outside in the freezing cold, with the ground still wet?!

Nobody liked the sound of that idea.
Instead, holding the dodgeball tournament in February -
When everyone can participate and attend -
Now that seems fun, also scary!

Powderpuff has been scheduled for June.
When the weather is nicer, and sports are done.
Dodgeball will be played on the twenty eighth of February,
Inside the gym, without the need for warmth from the sun.

The word got around, and excitement quickly filled the air!
So come out, watch the game, and play if you dare.

"The Struggle Behind the MLK Assembly Speech"

Every year the student council organizes the MLK assembly.

We thought it'd be a great idea to have the drama club perform a skit

To let the audience visualize what classrooms would be like today,

Had the civil rights movement not been a big hit.

After the skit, we decided that I should deliver a speech.

I thought I had a good idea about what I would say.

Until I sat down over winter break,

And realized I couldn't ask the audience "what if" all day.

Numerous times, I sat at the computer with a blank face.

It would be my first time writing and delivering a speech,

And I did not know what would be best to write about:

Life under segregation or Dr. King himself - but I knew I had to teach.

I asked my mother what life was like after the movement,

How everyone adjusted to such a drastic change.

Then she told me about the Apartheid in South Africa,

Where they were still segregated by race. I found it so strange.

I was relieved to finally find a topic to speak about for ten minutes.

Everyone should be aware of the recent practice of the Apartheid government,

How it is easily comparable to the segregated life in America during the mid-1900s.

I hope it was informative, and also somewhat interesting - that was my intent.

"Pants With Pockets - It's a Must"

Months ago, student council agreed to do a clothing sale.
We knew we were going to raise a lot of money - it couldn't fail.
It was my job to create the best design,
So I took the time to make up a few, which were all done online.

We thought the pants were going to be a big hit,
But only if they had open bottoms, pockets, and a nice fit.
On CustomInk.com, this item was available to order.
However, we went to Mr. Ricciardelli, who told us he knows another vendor.

He has a friend who owns a printing business.
We received good prices, and would make a great profit, regardless.
The amount of orders we received was overwhelming.
We had no idea how much stress counting and organizing them would bring.

There were numerous requests to have printed on the back a last name.
All on different items and different sizes, nothing was the same.
After a week of constantly double-checking each and every order,
We organized a chart with each customer, the item, and the name they would prefer.

It was such a relief to finally submit the order for a total item count of 382.
Until Mr. Ricciardelli confronted us with a problem that was long overdue.
Each time we asked him about the pants, he said they had pockets.
"Unfortunately, my friend told me the pants don't have them," he admits.

Pants with pockets was our major selling point.
We couldn't distribute orders that would disappoint!
We still had the options of ordering from his vendor, submitting it online,
Or getting the pants and tops separately from both companies, to just combine.

In fear of receiving different shades of green, we considered our options and had to rethink.
At the end, we decided it was best to order it all from CustomInk.

“Preparing for the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony”

Last month I was called down by Ms. Perna during homeroom.

National Honor Society hasn't been too busy, so I didn't know what to assume.

Once I got down, she told me I won the election for secretary.

The other positions were awarded to Kelly, Merin, and Mari.

Directing the induction ceremony was our first assignment.

We needed to make sure everyone sat in unison and stayed silent.

So we held the first rehearsal on the second Tuesday of November.

For the principal, vice principal, and guest speaker, each officer was a presenter.

Then we noticed the possibility of not being available after school the next day.

Attending The Challenge was a big event that stood in the way.

We didn't know if we'd be back in time to rehearse once more.

We had the choice to practice eighth period, or right before.

Ms. Perna found both options inconvenient, but there was nothing she could do.

Luckily, we were able to make the Wednesday rehearsal, since we arrived back to school around two.

This made everyone feel more comfortable before the ceremony to be held the next night.

Practicing in the auditorium allowed us all to lose some stage fright.

Twenty minutes before Thursday night's ceremony,

We noticed we had no sugar or milk for the coffee!

While the clock kept ticking, we couldn't decide if we could leave and buy some,

But I went out quickly and got back just in time to meet the guest speaker - a New Milford High School Alum.

Everything leading up to the induction ceremony was definitely hectic,

But congratulations to all the new inductees for being studious, involved, and athletic!

"Where Am I Going to Spend the Next Four Years of My Life?"

As a future college tennis player,
I got the opportunity to go on recruiting visits.
I stayed a night with the team on campus.
And got to see for myself which school best fits.

In September I went up to Vermont to visit Middlebury College,
A small liberal arts school in a small rural city.
What struck me the most was how breath-taking the campus was.
When I woke up the next day, it just seemed like the perfect fit for me.

I knew the coach was very willing to recruit me for his team.
And I wanted to accept his offer right then and there.
But in two weeks I had my official recruiting visit to Columbia University.
I had to wait for that trip, and then I could compare.

My mother has worked across the street from campus for almost twenty years.
So I basically knew what to expect.
She is employed by the University, which makes tuition free.
A huge factor that simply couldn't go unchecked.

I don't think I have ever shed so many tears.
I felt pressured - it was the first major decision I ever needed to make.
I couldn't even consult anyone, only I would know what's best for me.
Within a week, I had to let the coaches know which offer I would take.

No matter how hard I tried,
I was unable to convince myself I wanted to be a Columbia student.
I didn't think an Ivy League school was right for me.
But how could someone turn down an offer that wouldn't make them pay another cent?

In the end, I couldn't let myself choose a school based on money.
I needed to decide on where I would always be happy.
Since both schools are academically renowned, my parents supported either decision I made.
And Middlebury was where I wanted to be.

"AP Calculus Isn't the Same as Pre-Calculus"

Prepared to spend another year with the same math teacher,
I walked into fourth period knowing what to expect.
I aced most of my tests in Pre-Calculus, some without studying.
But in AP Calculus it had a new effect.

On the first Friday we were given a test.
The summer assignment material seemed easy to me.
I took the test without any worry.
Unfortunately, I got a B.

We moved onto limits, new material for everyone.
Continuous or discontinuous, it's up to us to figure out.
For the quiz, I made sure I knew how to decipher between the two types.
If it is continuous, we only follow one route.

I studied and practiced to make sure I didn't end up in the eighties.
However, my high expectations were not met once again.
While I practice more and more, I need to make sure I keep my head up.
The year's early and my grades will improve; I just didn't know when.

At one point I thought it was too late for my first marking period grade to be an A.
But my hopes had risen when I scored a ninety-five on my third test.
It's a great feeling knowing all my studying had finally paid off.
Hopefully I can reach my goal, as long as I try my best.