Journal - 2nd of Week 12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!! : ). I turned 18 today. It’s pretty exciting to finally be able to say that I am legally my own person. It’s so strange to think that 18 years have already gone by; all the memories I’ve had, people I’ve met, and experiences I’ve had are all so influential and so many, but yet they don’t compare to all the potential experiences and memories that I can have and the people that I might meet. Thinking of it as of now, 18 years has been a long time, but it’s nothing compared to 30 or 40 or 50 years. Needless to say, I am happy with the way things turned out at this point in my life.

Yesterday I ran my usual route and today, after I finish writing this, I’m going swimming (after that I’m going to go buy a lottery ticket since my mom thinks it will be cool since I can legally do it now). I haven’t worked on my speech yet because right when I got home at 1:30 I fell asleep because last night I wasn’t able to sleep from all the text messages and calls. I want to work on it a little tonight and maybe first period tomorrow so I can talk to Coach Selvidge about it tomorrow since he changed our usual Wednesday Mentor Meeting to Tuesday.

Journal - 1st of Week 12

Happy Easter!! This past week went like this: Monday – open gym, Tuesday – working on English project, Wednesday – relax day, Thursday – swimming, Friday – running, Saturday – tennis. Open gym was pretty fun but it makes me miss basketball; I have to start practicing again because soon enough I’ll be in Ecuador playing there for college. I think after I do my WISE presentation I’ll start playing basketball more often because I won’t have to worry about getting everything ready for the presentation. I have also missed swimming; it really does help me control my breathing and I plan on increasing the amount of times I swim per week since I do plan on continuing this after WISE is over.

            I only have until May 12^th to prepare everything for my presentation. This week I want to get everything written down and over the weekend work on my power point. After that I will be able to practice while I make my poster. I am kind of nervous about talking for that long but I figured that I control my presentation, so there isn’t any real need to be nervous. It should be interesting.

Journal - 3rd of Week 11

Today it was supposed to rain and I’m pretty sure that while I was sleeping in the morning it was raining but when I woke up and went to the tennis courts with my mom, the sun started blazing. I didn’t mind the heat that much but my mind couldn’t play for more than 20 minutes straight; after 3 20 minute games my mom had to call it quits. My dad had dropped us off and he was busy changing my mom’s car battery so he couldn’t pick us up; I had to run home and get the car so I could take my mom home. It wasn’t that much exercise but the sun really was strong.

Well on another note, I worked on my outline for my WISE presentation. I think it’s a pretty good guide for when I sit down and actually write everything that I want to say. I want to show my mom and see what she thinks about it and then show it Coach Selvidge on Wednesday during our mentor meeting. I also want to see Coach Love’s presentation on Tuesday and see if I can gather anymore ideas from that. Although most people, especially Coach Selvidge, think that it’ll be extremely hard for me to talk for that long, I think I have enough material to cover the time period.

Journal - 2nd of Week 11

In the past 3 days I ran, took the day off, and played tennis. The running is getting easier and I can run further without having to stop. On Thursday after I ran, I felt like I could run another 2 miles. I’m proud of myself and I want to keep up the effort. I’m thinking for the last 2 to 3 weeks that I might exercise twice a day instead of just once.

Releasing that there is only 3 weeks left before I have to make my presentation and 2 more after that until school ends makes me think about how fast this school year has gone by and how I am almost done with high school. It boggles my mind to think that in a couple months I won’t be living here and I will be surrounded by a totally different environment. Just thinking about it all makes me think back on all the experiences I had this year and all the things I’ve thought about and the people I met. I’m going to miss it all.

Journal - 1st of Week 11

Well my workout plans for the past 2 days didn’t go exactly as I planned them on Sunday. I ran at around 6 instead of right after school and I ran around my block instead of going to the gym; I started off with high intensity and at a great speed but after stopping for a few seconds to catch my breath, the back of my heels started getting blisters from my new shoes so for the rest of the run I had to run on my tippy-toes. I ran as much as I could but my calves aren’t accustomed to that so I wasn’t able to run for much of it. On Tuesday I ran as well and it wasn’t that bad because I put two band aids on. I ran with my friend who goes faster but in the end we both ran about 2 miles and a half. After that we had the urge to ride our bikes so we rode from her house to the park and rode around the park too and eventually headed back to her house. Yesterday was a productive day and I can feel it today.

Today in my mentor meeting, Coach Selvidge and I discussed what I was planning on doing for my presentation and what day I would do it. We already decided on the week I would present and the time slot but I haven’t decided the exact day yet. We also looked at what was required for the presentation, and as I understand it I would need 2 other activities besides the oral presentation; I was thinking of making a poster and a power point. I’m thinking of focusing the poster to a specific part of the experience and use the power point to guide me along with the oral presentation. Sometime this week I plan on creating an outline for the presentation.

Journal - 3rd of Week 10

Today was a pivotal moment in my life…I broke the strings on my tennis racket for the first time in my life. Hahaha. That’s happened to my brother, dad, and uncle all the time but I never thought I would be able to hit it hard enough for them to break. It was pretty funny and I’m pretty sure I will remember that for the rest of my life. And to be honest, the strings didn’t break because I hit the ball too hard; they were just worn out. Even though I couldn’t use my racket anymore we continued to play for another 2 hours with my mom and dad (I had to use one of their rackets while they sat out).

I’m kind of bummed about tomorrow because I was suppose to go to open gym for basketball but Coach changed from the usual 7-9 to 3-5 and I have to go to the dentist to see when I need my wisdom teeth taken out at 3:30. Well I have to things I can; I can either go to the gym from 1:30 to 3 or I can wait until I get home from the dentist and go workout at 6 or 7. Seeing as I need to put forth more intensity, I think I’ll go right after I get out of school so I can assure myself that I get a good work out done. Now I have to figure out if I’m going to do an arm workout or a leg work out along with cardio. I think I’ll do arms tomorrow and then legs/abs on Tuesday.

Journal - 2nd Week 10

Today I realized something: if I tone down the intensity of my workouts, my breathing problem increases. I played tennis with my parents this morning and it was pretty fun but it was exhausting and I’m not used to that because compared to basketball tennis doesn’t require that much physical activity. In a way it makes me want to work harder so that next weekend when I play I’ll feel like before, when I used to play basketball almost every day during basketball season. I am also starting to organize my week.

Since this week wasn’t the strongest, meaning filled with the most intensity, I think I should compensate for it this upcoming week. I guess I gave myself too much freedom this week and I took advantage of it so this upcoming week I’m going to set up a structured workout each day and make sure I accomplish it. I really want to finish off strong.

Journal - 1st of Week 10

Yesterday I had my mentor meeting and Coach Selvidge brought up a good point. He asked me what I was going to do to present my project. All along and especially during the 3^rd quarter exam video I have been thinking about what things I would say but now that I think about it I need to find a better way to present it because knowing me, I don’t think I can just stand up there and talk for 45 minutes. I need to find a better way to organize and display my WISE experience. Hopefully after I see Coach Love’s Model Presentation I will get some ideas and start creating my presentation.

This week has been a bit stressful. Many people I know haven’t been extremely happy, mainly because of the accident and I also had millions of thoughts running through my head. With all the revelations I have been having and things I have been feeling, I can’t seem to really motivate myself to have an extremely demanding workout. The past three days I have worked out but only minimally. I’m trying to figure out a way to resolve the emotions and thoughts that I am feeling so I can get my head back on track and finish of my workouts strong.

Journal - 3rd of Week 9

Yesterday was a hard day. It definitely didn’t go as planned. My plans were to get home from the beach then go to open gym at 7 and that would be my exercise for the day. I got home from the beach right on time to make to open gym but the news I got once I reached my friends house, changed our plans completely. Her close friend and mine as well got in an accident that night. The strange thing was that he was at her house with his friend, the one who was in the accident with him, just a few hours before it happened. We had all been having fun and laughing the whole night, so to hear that he got in an accident was like a low blow from reality. So instead of open gym, my friend Katarina, who is extremely close with one of the guys who got in the accident, and I went to the hospital to see how they were. When we got there, the one who was driving, Allan, also Katarina’s close friend was awake, but Daniel the other one was asleep. In the end they were both lucky, especially Allan because if it wasn’t for Daniel he would have caught on fire and died since he was unconscious while it all happened. They both broke their wrist and while Allan got a few burn marks on his legs and a few bruises on his head, Daniel, who already had a torn ACL, broke his arm, his wrist, and his ankle. The good thing is that they made it out alive. Unfortunately being caught up in the moment and not only wanting to visit them and see how they were doing but also going to support Katarina, altered my plans and I wasn’t able to get any exercise in for that day.

Journal- 2nd of Week 9

This weekend I have played tennis with my parents both Saturday and Sunday. It’s been fun and I, as well as my parents, have started to notice that my technique is getting better and becoming more consistent. Sometimes I think I should do other things than play tennis on weekends, but then I remind myself that this way I can improve on my tennis skills and enjoy quality time with my parents before I am off to college.

I discovered something this weekend; I don’t have to have everything planned out and follow a strict schedule that’s been planned months before; I can just think to myself which activity, be it running, swimming, weights, or any other one, as long as I get it done that day. This way I can assure myself that I will put more intensity into it because that’s the activity I want to do. In a way that’s the outlet I want to use that day.

Journal - 1st of Week 9

This week has had its ups and downs. To begin with, there were a couple days where I had ZERO desire to workout. Thursday I was suppose to go to a basketball open gym with my friend in Coconut Creek and we were half way when we decided that we would rather go back home and walk around the neighborhood; although that is exercise, its not at the level of intensity that I want to workout at.  Another thing that wasn’t on the up side was that I have to prepare myself for an extremely important test in May which gives me around 6 weeks to prepare, meanwhile I still have my regular homework and an AP test to get ready for also plus keeping up with my workouts. It’s been a bit stressful just thinking about it but I figured if I concentrate completely on these things, I’ll be able to manage.

On the up side I just back from a workout where the intensity was exactly where I wanted it to be. Today was suppose to be my relaxing day but since I didn’t technically do anything productive yesterday I worked out. Another good thing is that I am starting to really enjoy running. Last good thing is that I created a schedule to organize all the things I need to do in the next month. J

Journal - 3rd of Week 8

This weekend I was able to play tennis with my parents again after I was away for 2 weeks. I also went to basketball open gym on Monday. Since there weren’t that many girls there, Coach did drills that focused on improving the team for next year, so I wasn’t able to play as much. Next week when I go, I plan to do my own basketball workout until they begin to scrimmage.  

This week I need to figure out what kind of research I am going to do. I also need to amplify the intensity of my workouts. I need to push myself. I want to do a workout where the next day I can feel it in every muscle of my body. I want to know that I am accomplishing something while I am working out and that all the effort pays off.

Journal - 2nd of Week 8

This weekend I have been working hard to finalize and touch up everything for my 3^rd quarter exam video. I started by choosing a song. Once I had that, I looked for and took pictures that would go with the song and would meet all of the requirements. Then I had to find a way to arrange them that would create the best video and made the most sense. All the effects and the timing came next. It was interesting doing it.

I liked making the video because it gives me a chance to create things that I usually don’t get the chance to and that I also enjoy. While I was thinking about and creating this video, I found myself thinking about the final presentation on multiple occasions. Making the video helped me think of ideas for the presentation and how I’d present them when the time came. It was a good tool to get my ideas flowing for the final presentation.

Journal - 1st of Week 8

Well I came back from Germany this week and it has taken me a couple to get used to things back here. To start off, I missed 4 days of school while I was gone and I’ve had to make up all the work which has been tough. Besides that I wasn’t able to really do much exercise in Europe so I am out of shape. It not that bad; the prominent problem is that my asthma is acting up again.         

So far this week I swam and ran. I swam for 30 minutes and ran 3 miles but I walked at times. On Thursday when I was looking forward to working out with my “workout buddy”, she came to school on crutches because a weight fell on her toe. I was not very happy, but I found someone else to workout with that day. I am going to start working out on my own again or I might ask her if she wants to hang out with me while I work out. I haven’t decided yet.

Journal - 3rd of Week 7

Even though officially Spring Break doesn’t start until today after school, m9ine is starting now. Shortly I am going to the airport so that I can leave for Germany; my brother lives there and I’m going to visit him over break. I’m excited to see him and get to spend time with him. Also, we’re going to visit various places around Germany, which should be interesting as well.

                The one main setback I have with going to Germany is that I won’t be able to exercise; when I come back home it is going to feel like it’s the beginning of my personal fitness experience, so I’ll most likely be sore for another week. While I’m in Germany, in my spare time, I plan on designing/finding an intense workout that will challenge me therefore I will gain better and more results out of the workouts.

Journal - 2nd of Week 7

Well my search for a more intense workout continues. I have tried to look at blogs/articles that are titled something like “Creating a More Challenging Workout” and so on. That hasn’t really worked. I’m going to start looking for complete workouts that are intense but I’m not sure if I should look online or in a book. If that doesn’t work, I guess I’ll have to end up making my own workout.

Yesterday I played in the BCAA All-star game which was pretty fun. It counted as my exercise for the day too. My team ended up losing by 1 point, but our team didn’t really have that much chemistry so most girls were just playing for her.  It was a fun experience and they let us keep the jerseys and shorts and gave us other things too. I wish every day I worked out was that much fun.

Journal - 1st of Week 7

The last 2 days I didn’t follow the workout that I had already scheduled because I had basketball All-Star practice. On Monday we did drills for a lengthy time period. I was surprised that I didn’t have to stop and breathe while I was doing it (because I have asthma), so that means that the workouts from the week before helped me build up my endurance. We also scrimmaged. I thought that since I had not played organized basketball for 3 weeks that I would be playing terribly, but fortunately I did pretty well. Getting that much exercise in one practice, makes me miss playing basketball every day.

On Tuesday I also had practice but I also had free tickets to go to the Heat vs. Portland game. I had known about the tickets before the practice so I had invited my dad to come along with me; it’s a day for my dad’s birthday so that also counted as a gift to him. I decided to go to the Heat game instead of the practice because, one, I was getting an award with the free tickets, and two, I wanted to celebrate my dad’s birthday with him. The only downside to going to the heat game is that I didn’t have enough time to exercise that day. L

Journal - 3rd of Week 6

Today was a disappointing day. I was supposed to play tennis with my dad as part of my exercise today but then he ended up telling me that he was too sore and couldn’t do it. I was really looking forward to it all week. Other than that I have been keeping up with my dieting which I’m proud of.

On Friday I’m going to Germany to go visit my brother for 10 days. I’m really excited about seeing him because I haven’t seen him in awhile. I’m also going to see where he goes to college which is really cool. I’m also going to travel around with him. The only bad part is that I won’t be able to keep up with my exercising and when I come back I’ll probably be out of shape.

Journal - 2nd of Week 6

So far this week has been pretty good. I had to make rearrangements in my workout plan. I managed to find a “workout buddy”, my former teammate Maria. On Thursday I went to her house and we went to the gym in her neighborhood. It’s a nice gym; we ran on the treadmill and then did some weights. I decided that Fridays are going to be my break-day therefore I didn’t work out yesterday. Today I went to the gym by my house with my dad and we played basketball with some guys who were there. I also ran in the afternoon.

            The exercising part is coming of easier than the nutrition part. It’s hard not to not want to eat sweets and junk food but so far I think I’ve managed pretty well. The first 2 days were the worst because I was used to eating much larger portions but I’ve made my portion size considerably smaller. I’m starting to get used it.

Journal - 1st of Week 6

All of today my legs have been extremely sore and it hurts to walk. It’s pretty funny. I ran 4 miles yesterday which surprised me because I didn’t think that I would be able to because I thought I was so out of shape; I managed to run the 4 miles in 25 minutes which is good. Other than running I also did another core workout and I lifted weights that focused on my arms. The latter two didn’t go as efficiently as the running; hopefully they improve next time. Today for my workout, I swam 40 laps which helped a lot because it helped relax my muscles. So far the workouts are challenging but it’s going well.

One of the main things that help me push through and continue exercising everyday is that some of my former teammates are also working out daily so it’s interesting to compare what they have done and share stories. Yesterday I found out that I was selected to play for the BCAA All-Star game on Wednesday March 9^th, as well as have practice the Monday and Tuesday before that. That has caused me to have to alter my workout schedule for next week a little as I will be exercising during the practices and at the game.

Journal - 3rd of Week 5

            Today was my first day of my new journey: Personal Fitness. I went to the gym right by my house right after I signed out and got my workout things from home. Initially I was planning on doing my basketball exercises first and then running and then coming back home to do my core workout. That plan failed the minute I walked into LA Fitness. There were too many people on the basketball courts so instead of wait and waste time I went to the treadmill and ran for 15 minutes and walked for 1; I reached a total of 1.43 miles, which isn’t bad considering I haven’t done anything for 2 weeks. Once I finished on the treadmill, I went back to the basketball courts and began to do my exercises. I began with dribbling exercises and those killed my back because I had to get low. Then I went on and did the shooting portion. I felt a little rusty but I just have to keep doing those simple drills so that they’ll turn out better. The only problem I faced besides not everything going as smoothly as I imagined it was that my ankle, which I hurt during basketball season, still hurt so I couldn’t put a lot of pressure on it.

            The timing of my exercises was a little of and I’m glad I decided to try this Personal Fitness thing out because now I can adjust the times so that they can better suit me for the results I want. I think I’m going to add another 5 to 10 minutes on the treadmill so that I can sweat more and feel more tired. Although my legs feel as if they were dead, I think the workout could have been better with more intensity (meaning that certain things should be done more than others). Hopefully next time I have basketball skills scheduled, there will be less people there when I arrive so then I will be able to start them as soon as I get there. I think tomorrow I’m going to bring my stuff to school so that when I leave I can go straight to the gym and then I’ll see if less people are there. Although I know this is going to be hard, so far has gone pretty well.

Journal - 2nd of Week 5

            So I think I’m going to follow through with changing my project. This past weekend I have spent researching and planning out what exercises I would do for the remaining two months. I created a calendar and a chart that breaks down each exercise and the days I would be doing them. For guidance I have talked to my brother, who has been working out for 15 years; he helped me decide in which ways to combine the exercises each day. So far it looks like a promising workout. Now that all of that is mostly established, I still face the problem of maintaining my self-motivation throughout the whole process. I’m pretty sure that the first 2 weeks will be easy enough to get through but it’s the next 2 that worry me. I’m still thinking about ways to help keep myself monitored, in a way, so that I keep my progress up.

            This week I have done 2 things that are part of my future workout plan twice; I swam twice and played tennis twice. After doing each thing I felt more motivated to pursue my personal fitness idea because of how well the events went. If I am able to keep up my workout plan for the following 2 months than I believe I’ll be able to overcome my self-discipline problem.

Journal - 1st of Week 5

Others’ opinions aren’t always what you want to hear, but they help you see things differently and they allow you to have a more objective view. I’ve had several conversations with different people in the past 2 days that have helped me clear my head and straighten out my thoughts. After the conversations, I had a few days to think about what I truly want to do and I decided to change my WISE project yet again.

            One of the people I talked to was Coach Selvidge and one of the many great points he brought up was that whatever I decide, I need to stick with it. I feel like the best way to assure that I do that is to draw out a plan, stating what I am going to do each day for the remainder of WISE. So today I came up with possible exercises for 3 categories: cardio, strength, and skill. I’m trying to balance out the workouts each day and to help me with that I looked through this book I found in my house with several exercises. I also plan to create a plan to better control my diet.

Journal - 3rd of Week 4

It feels like my journals are getting redundant because the last couple of ones have been the same. I’m still practicing my chords, and though they come easier to me now it feels like I’m not getting anything accomplished. It’s almost like that passion Coach Love always talks about is hiding somewhere. It’s starting to make me wonder if guitar is really for me. :/ I don’t want to stop because I feel like its quitting, I feel like there isn’t a drive there anymore; I don’t know what to do. I’m caught between sticking with it and hoping that “passion” begins to reveal itself or changing my WISE project.

            Since basketball is over now I feel like I’m getting so out of shape that it’s ridiculous. In the past when high school basketball season was over I had a couple days until travel season started so I didn’t really get that out of shape; now I don’t have a next season to look forward to unless I end up getting something for college. I want to start running and doing some kind of sport so that if I do end up getting something for college, I won’t be in horrid shape. I want to make an exercise schedule so that I’ll be able to monitor my progress. I swam today and although I couldn’t really breathe I lasted longer than I thought I would (50 laps). I don’t know if I can change my project to personal fitness. I honestly don’t know what to do!

Journal- 2nd of Week 4

This weekend I’ve been practicing so much that my fingers are really starting to hurt. Haha. But this practicing has really paid off. The chords keep getting easier and easier.  I’m starting to get better at it. Hopefully next week I can talk to Diego so he can give some advice on the songs I should start playing.

            On another note, college stuff has really been on my mind lately. It’s not really about WISE but in a way I guess I can write about it because its been on my mind. I have no idea where I’m going yet. I kind of wish I could just stay in high school a couple more years. Well at least my WISE project has been coming along. 

Journal - 1st of Week 4

This week has had its emotional ups and downs. We lost our game on Tuesday and therefore my high school basketball “career” is over, so I haven’t been in the best of spirits lately. I suppose that’s not an excuse but it’s almost like that’s the only thing that has been on my mind lately; maybe I need to just get all of it out of my head. This week’s past events have really started my mind and a million thoughts have been running through it. Hopefully after a couple more days of thinking things through everything will get back to normal or change for the better.

There were some down sides to my WISE project this week. I didn’t get to meet with Diego this week, which in a way hindered my progress. Besides that I believe I advanced sufficiently on my own. I’ve gotten pretty good at playing 4 major chords. I practiced a lot more than the past week and my fingertips have gone numb. I feel the blisters coming. Well I have way more to advance on this weekend and I’m looking forward to next week as well.

Journal - 3rd of Week 3

I FINALLY GOT THE GUITAR TUNER TO WROK!!!! I’m so happy because now I can practice so much more. I can practice at home all the time which is great because I feel more relaxed at home than in guitar class with so many people doing other things. I didn’t go to Mr. B’s class today but I am defiantly going in tomorrow.

            Before I start thinking of a song I want to learn how to play, I’m going to ask Diego what songs he recommends I start with. I also have to get more proficient with switch chords smoothly because I can’t learn how to play a song without switching chords smoothly. After I go to guitar class tomorrow, I want to go home and keep playing before I have to go back to school for my basketball game.

Journal - 2nd of Week 3

            I have been experimenting all day with this guitar tuner software I downloaded so that I can accurately tune my guitar so that I can practice.  Today I was reading through other people’s blogs and it makes me realize that I kind of behind. Well I guess I need to focus more. I don’t really think that I should compare myself to other people’s projects but it’s hard not to. Hopefully things will run smoother this week and I have a better direction.

            I also have my regional semi-final game this week and it’s against one of the best teams in Florida. It should be an intense game. The only down side is that if we lose then our season is going to be over which sucks. It was a good season though even with all the obstacles we had to overcome. I’m glad that things worked out the way they did.

Journal - 1st of Week 3

This has been my busiest week so far. I barely had any time to get on the computer. On Tuesday I went to Mr. B’s class, but Diego, Mr. B’s assistant, wasn’t there so not much was accomplished accept for my mom picking up my guitar. On Wednesday I had my mentor meeting so I didn’t go to Mr. B’s class. On Thursday I went back and Diego was there again. He gave me a piece of paper with most of the main chords and told me that that’s what I should be learning. Then after that I practiced a couple of chords for most of 4^th hour. Diego told me to start practicing changing chords which was harder than I expected. He also told me to start practicing strumming on beat; also harder than I expected but I think it just needs a little more practice.

            By sometime next week I want to have an organized idea of how I am going to start getting way better at playing the chords. The main problem with playing at home for the moment is that I don’t know how to tune the guitar. I asked Diego and he said that I should try looking something up online like a digital tuner because doing it by ear right now is kind of hard. He also told me that if I ever want to learn how to play a song that he will be happy to teach me. First I have to perfect the chords. Hopefully by next week I will be able to switch chords smoothly.

Journal - 3rd of Week 2

I’m the kind of person that doesn’t like getting out of their comfort zone, so I have been having second thoughts about going into Guitar class during 4^th hour, but needless to say I coughed up the courage and went to class today for the first time. My only concern about going to Guitar class almost every day is that I will probably end up deaf by the end of WISE. I am really looking forward to my next lesson, in spite of the noise that 25 students playing different instruments can make; that will take some time to get used to. Another down side to learning how to play is that my fingers are numb and sore at the same time from holding down the strings, but Mr. Bautista’s aid, who is helping me, told me that the more I play the faster my fingers are going to get used to it.

            On a more positive side, I’m really excited and thrilled to have this opportunity and I’m going into this experience with a “keep moving forward even when things feel impossible” mentality. Attempting to learn the easiest chords today, reassured me that I have to have a persevering attitude. It took me an hour to get the right sound half the time I played each chord. I only focused on 2 of the chords he taught me because there wasn’t enough time for the 3^rd. Hopefully tomorrow it only takes me 15 minutes to get the right sound. He said eventually he was going to teach some parts of the theory that he was taught while he was learning which sounds extremely interesting because it will give me a better understanding while I continue to learn. I have been looking into buying my own guitar so that I can continue to practice what he teaches me in class at home. Today I ordered one online and my mom is going to pick it up tomorrow so hopefully after basketball is over I will be able to have enough knowledge so that I can sit down and practice for hours and be able to advance quicker. This week should be progressive.

Journal - 2nd of Week 2

Since the last time I posted a journal, a lot of things have happened. I had my mentor meeting; I had my interview with Mr. Bautista and he said I would be able to go into his fourth hour guitar class whenever I was able to; I had my distract semi-final game and then I had my championship game. With the numerous things happening this week it has been kind of hard to sit down and journal. Well first thing is first, my mentor meeting and interview helped me finalize my decision of pursuing my ambition of learning how to play the guitar. Two main reasons helped me to decide that that is what I want to do for my WISE project; the first one is that Mr. Bautista has given me a perfect opportunity to pursue it and the second one is that I feel that this is a perfect and a once in a life time opportunity. It’s almost like after high school, life is just going to blast off and it will be difficult to find a time to learn how to do something that you always wanted to learn how to do. That pretty much sums up the WISE part of my week.

                Basketball has always been a big part of my life and the last couple of weeks my attention has been driven to that probably more than any time before. Not only is this because it’s my senior year and there’s a possibility that this might be my last chance to play organized basketball, but also because I wanted to win Districts, not just for my team but also for my coach who has done so much for me. Saturday we played in the District Championship and I can’t remember the last time I saw so many people crying in the same place. Some people were crying because they were happy and others because they were sad. I’m happy that I can say that everyone cheering for Cypress Bay who cried had tears of joy. It was an intense game and it came down to the last 20 seconds.

Journal - 1st of Week 2

This is the first full week of WISE. I feel slightly lost and in a way unsettled; our first WISE homework is due Thursday and it’s an interview, which creates some problems considering that I am not a hundred percent sure of what I am doing for WISE. Well tomorrow is my WISE mentor meeting with Coach and even though the time might be limited, we’ll probably be able to figure something out. If not, then right after I am going to go talk to Coach Love and see what suggestions he has. Today, practice got me excited for Districts; there is one more practice left until it’s game time. I wish I knew exactly what my WISE project is so I wouldn’t have to be so helpless, but yet again I feel as if being patient and deciding on the right topic will have its rewards later on.

Journal - 3rd of Week 1

I know I can always count on my parents to help me out, but I guess our conversation didn’t work out exactly as I thought it would. Although some of the ideas they gave me where based on their personal interests and not mine, they opened my mind to several possibilities. I was able to come up with six ideas that I could pursue my project in, with the help of my parents. I’m glad I was able to get someone else’s views on the project; someone who has a pretty good understanding of my interests. Some of the ideas I decided upon are, in a way, “back-ups”, but regardless they still grasp my interest. I’m looking forward to next week because I’ll be able to share my ideas with Coach and we also have Districts. This week should be a lot better than last week; at least it should be.

Journal - 2nd of Week 1

Yesterday was my first Mentor Meeting. It was pretty helpful. Coach Selvidge actually had some interesting things to say. Even though I’m still not sure of what I’m doing for my project, it went well. He gave me some ideas and we decided on using the weekend for me to think of possible options for my project. I am planning on talking to my parents about it to see what ideas they can offer and then make a list so that I can discuss them with Coach. Besides talking about WISE, Coach and I had an interesting conversation: probably longer than all the other ones we have had before – combined. Although I have a million thoughts running through my head about WISE, I feel that in a few days things will start to fall into place.

Journal - 1st of Week 1

This being the first journal for WISE, there isn’t much to say about my project: not much has been done.  Three days into the new semester and things have been a bit stressful. I have a vague idea of what I want to do my WISE project on, I have new classes that I need to get used to, and I’ve had one of the most stressful weeks concerning basketball. My high school “career” is coming to an end and this might be the end of it all: the end of basketball. Hopefully after I talk to my mentor today at our mentor meeting, he will help me have a better approach on my subject for my project, which will then allow me to venture, explore, get lost, and in a sense begin this new adventure.