It's a Bear!

I'm just kidding! But it was pretty close to one. Mr. O'Hara's dog is HUGE!

It's Nerve Wracking!

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I decided to watch this video that my AVID class watched on Friday about the college admissions decision again. It kind of makes me feel better about the entire process. I feel as though I can just worry about whether or not my personality shine through my essays rather than worrying if my accomplishments shine through them. Outside of SAT subject tests and the SAT reasoning test, all I really need to worry about is making sure colleges can see who I am and pray that they like me, and my GPA. 

So I've actually began college essays; in fact I have almost finished a lot of them. I worked on them a lot today, and will do the same again tomorrow with Mr. Carney :)

There are like seven essays I need to get down so I hope he doesn't get tired of me.

HUGE NEWS!!!

HUGE NEWS OF THE DAY!: My brother proposed to his girlfriend, Mo, this weekend!!!

My brother, Theo, and his fiancee Morolake (whom we like to call Mo)

I am so happy for them! It's been nearly four years since they've been dating, so the entire family was ecstatic once we heard today. I cried (the only one who cried... I'm way too emotional). He lives in Arizona (he is completing his residency), so I wish I could see them, but I can't. I have to wait until Thanksgiving (hopefully. Perks of being a doctor).

I asked him to describe the setting and I could tell it was beautiful. He took her to dinner at a restaurant with a garden. He had a dozen white roses spread out on the table and when he proposed he was so nervous that he got encouragement from the other diners. They gave them a standing ovation when Mo said yes! And someone bought them a bottle of champagne... that is just so cute!

Here are some pics!

College Life

My cousin, Frankie, came home from Penn State this weekend. I miss her so much! She spent the afternoon at my house before we got dressed for one of our leaders of our teenage ministry's birthday party. I also got to see Morin and a few other college friends. It was nice to hear their funny stories and college stresses. I am definitely taking note for my turn next year!

Anri Baby

Anri Baby

Meet Anriola (Nickname: Anri Baby) : )
Isn't he adorable? I babysit this cutie from time to time and decided he would be my pic of the day.

Lady Titans won today! We had a soccer game against Randallstown and won 3-0!! Go Ladies : )
Our next game is on Monday against Milford Mill. We're beyond ready for that win, too.

House of Themis : )

Gooo Themis!!

AVID Induction Ceremony 2012

Tonight was the AVID Induction Ceremony- my last AVID Induction Ceremony that I will be able to take part in :(

It was really nice. As you may have noticed if you have read through my posts, Dona created this awesome Superhero theme. AVID Seniors came in our masks and capes and walked through the isles with the batman theme song. It was cute. I brought my younger cousin who has just entered the eighth grade and is considering attending New Town. She fell in love with AVID by just watching the ceremony. She agreed when she said it was nicely planned out and most students (not all) worked together to follow directions and make it successful. I give props to students who were able to make it to school ON TIME (including myself, even with an eye appointment at 4:30!).

AVID scholars also dressed pretty "snazzy" that night. I saw a few ties and slacks that were pulled out from the back of the closet. I, myself, wore a grey blouse with black pants and a bright royal blue blazer so support my house of Themis. 

I thought it was awesome to see how excited the new AVID Scholars were to be inducted into their houses. Nearly everyone was happy with the house that was chosen for them. So without further ado, I would like to congratulate the following brand new House of Themis AVID Scholars:

• Allison Bernard
• Brandon Holland
• Danielle Snowden
• Deion Okonkwo
• Ewurama Apaah
• Gurjit Singh
• Isaiah Shaw
• Javan Stancil
• Jonathan Lesane
• Kailei Peters
• Megan Hopkins
• Olakitan Oluwalade
• Rachael Montgomery
• Ta'ler Robinson
• Tyus Gaskin

I'm excited to work with you guys this year! But please note, if I see any house points removed, you will hear from the Themis AVID seniors ; )

To Be Honest: Containment

I know it's a little early (I said I would be writing a TBH post every 2 weeks), but I couldn't help this one. 

My heart is heavy, but it is one of those feelings that takes so much energy to even describe. I struggled to find the strength to write this post, but I think that later on I will be glad that I eventually did.
I feel contained. I have felt contained since I began the first grade. One could argue that keeping a child away from the world protects him/her from mistakes, but what good does it do if it leaves the child feeling scared, inexperienced, and resentment?
In my own opinion, I have never felt like I have had a childhood. I do feel like I grew up too fast, and, sadly, now is the time I would love to live my age.
This has left me feeling misunderstood. I wake up and go to school, hanging on for dear life to just finish up what I feel like I have worked so hard for. Only for the last bell of the school day to ring and I dread coming to a house where an honest relationship with a person whom I could pour my heart out to without judgment or chastisement is no where to be found.
Well, actually, I did have a person like that. A few, to be honest. But change happens and people move on. I wish I could call them all the time and just pour out how I feel. Like I said, change happens. Have you ever felt like speaking to someone places a burden on their own shoulders? It makes me feel terrible. As if I should just shut up. So that containment that I have been trying to run away from (and believe me when I say trying) winds up in my life, once again.
The resentment and rebellion began to build up in the seventh grade and, now that I look at it, I have slowly began to withdraw myself. I went from  a pretty social ninth grader, to a three-friend-tenth-grader, to a junior who decided to eat lunch by herself. I just didn't care anymore. And that is what containment has taught me- to not care and be content by myself. I try to tell myself, "Ebe, don't worry. High school is almost over. You'll be out of here soon. It'll be different very soon," but the truth is it won't until I learn how to change. I'm not sure if I know how to live outside of this box because I was never taught how to.
I've experimented. I've tried to rebel against it, to push my way out of the box, but I was only stuffed back in there. My rebellion was misunderstood. It was taken as random acts of disobedience and recklessness without cause. I was made to believe that I was a bad child if I didn't accept what I was told. If I didn't abide by the every rules of my religion and culture, I would be condemned. No question.
The containment, the rules, the culture, they have all made me feel as if I am just to live through the motions. The hardest question for me is and question of depth about myself because I don't know the answer to it. I don't believe I really want to do or be everything that I say I want to do or be right now, but that must remain my answer, at least for now.
I honestly don't know how to escape it. I just reread this post and it sounds like the cheesiest TBH post ever, but it's true. I'm just tired. The constant bickering at home and living in the said "box" everywhere else is exhausting.
This is not all I want to write. I just can't properly put all of my thoughts into words right now without publicly blaming who I feel that I should blame. I think this is a start, though.