Application Alley

So, one of my worst fears since 9th grade has been actualy applying to college. I mean, I've grown up listening to stories of these wonderful processes in which one applies to the college of their dreams and has the perfect resume' and gets in. I've wanted to live that dream ever since entering high school and now I'm there. I'm in Application Alley, I'm not too far between, as I'm waiting for my perfect SAT score to fall down SAT Mountain first, but still.. I'm there.
As my classmates and I take our SATs, turn in our service hours, prepare for graduation we have the dreadful task of applying to the college or university of our dreams and then waiting that forever-filled gap before we've been accepted or horribly; denied. Now, I've thought of many colleges or universities that I want to attend and plan on applying to all of them, but it's a huge fear of mine to be denied the one I really want.
I will embark on this application journey with confidence as I have all my other tasks, but it still doesn't take away the fear and worry I have as an effect of thinking about college. This is my future. The future never works out as we plan it to. It sort of just happens. I hope my future 'just happens' at the university of my dreams. *sigh*

SATs- Story of My Life

As I am becoming an independent student working towards my goal of graduating and then beginning the path of my life into the world, I begin to see how incredibley sophisticated and complicated that path can be. As a junior in high school, the path begins as this bumpy, gravelly dirt road stuck in the middle of nowhere with obstacles the size of giants. I've begun this path with an optimistic mind and a concrete heart because it can get out of control and lead you to places you don't belong.
As I've started to trudge along this gravel street I begin to see (and experience) what we'd call 'life'. I'm drowning in the river of homework as I cross the fields of studying for tests and quizzes. There's the valley of paperwork concerning graduation requirements and deadlines for service hours. And as I get closer and closer to the mountains of SATs I find myself climbing just to stay ahead and right when I think I've got it right I'm falling to a grusome death of academic scholar.
I mean, I've only spent my entire 11th grade year sweating bullets and dragging my feet to stay in the game only to crumble with fear when I reach Mountain SAT.
But today isn't the day for defeat and the day that does exist will be the day the SAT drowns in my tears of success.

Retrospective Renaissance

Retrospect. Renaissance. Life. Influence. These are the words I would use to describe the feel I get when thinking of my past and where I've been. A little while ago, I did a project in my english class about the influences certain pieces of writing, art, or music had influenced me in my life. This project really opened my eyes as to both the positive and negative aspects of my life.
I think that so many people are deprived of seeing the world and all that it has to offer. I am still dying to go and see and do many things for the rest of my life and to think that some people may never have the opportunity and have regrets for the rest of their's.
I took it upon myself to look up the most exquisite and unusual places to visit in a lifetime and I'm sharing them with you... So, grab your passport, pack the bags and set a destination:

Stress to the Extreme

So, I've been learning a lot about stress lately and how it affects our bodies and our minds and I can't say I'm the least bit happy about it. Stress is such a negative aspect of life that pretty much affects every single person on this planet. (And I used to be the one saying I never stressed, so I can empathize with those who think they don't either.)
But, I'm around people day in and day out who literaly make themselves sick because of all the stress surrounding their lives. This can be referred to as psychophysiological illness. Because people who are 'sick' as a result of stress are indeed, sick. And many a time, a person will just get through one level of stress and then enter into a whole new domain of another, being unaware of the toll it's taking on their mind and body.
Something that may come as news to some and just plain hindsight to others is the fact that we're deteriorating every time we really stress over our issues. And I don't say this to persuade you to 'take it easy' or 'be carefree' or 'don't worry, be happy'... This kind of outlook doesn't get us too far either. It's just the mere mention of destroying our bodies for the sake of stress.
If every week to every month is just one stressful situation after another, I would advise you to take a step back and evaluate your life. Because every step you take your becoming closer to bigger issues such as viral infections, common viruses, or to the extent of coronary heart disease or the progression of cancer. As scary and as unbelievable as this may seem to many of us, but 10% of most countries leading deaths is due to our rate of behaviors (a.k.a. stress).
Stress isn't fun and no one wants to deal with it but don't get in over your head and just take the time to really plan certain details before worse comes to worst. Also, exercise. Its scientifically proven to reduce stress and provide your immune system and muscles with the equipment they need to fully function. Try aerobics or cardiovascular methods and even meditation. It helps!
Here's some more information on stress and how to help reduce it in the long run:
-http://www.stressdirections.com/personal/about_stress/stress_statistics.html
-http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm

Standard and Comprehensive Assessment Tests

My fellow classmates and I just got done with our yearly test-taking requirements... The dreaded FCAT. Every year we're expected to take this test that supposedly decides whether we go onto the next grade or not and man kids stress so much they can't think of anything else. Once in 11th grade, you're supposed to get a break from these FCATs, but that wasn't the case this year either. Eleventh graders were expected to take the Science FCAT.
Another issue that sometimes comes up in middle or elementary school, is the issue over whether or not certain hispanic or foreigners should take the FCAT or not. And if they do whether they should have some sort of assistance.
I looked up a website on varied statistics of the FCAT and this is what I found:

Emotional Reactivity and Cognition

There has been a neverending debate on whether or not we feel and label an emotion before or after we actually experience it. There are three theories that are based on emotion: The James-Lange Theory, The Cannon-Bard Theory, and the Two-factor Theory.
The James Lange Theory states that we first experience the external or internal arousal that accompanies emotion. And then the emotion and our ability to label it comes next. The Cannon-bard Theory states that the emotion is first and then our experience of it. Schacter's Two-Factor Theory states that we experience both the cognitive emotion and the physiological arousal simultaneously.
I honestly think that we experience them at the same time. Because what if our heart does pound? Our heart pounding could signal fear, love, surprise, anger, or rage and many more emotions. So how does our brain know exactly what emotion it is if we dont label it at the same time?
I think emotion is just as much physiological as it is psychological.

Topic of Discussion in Psych- Do Women Ultimately Need Men?

Recently, my psychology class had a discussion.... Or argument, depending on whom you speak to.... About whether women really needed men in their lives, to survive, provide, or basically fill every void they have. It's actually quite the discussion, because many men are very confident that there will never be a day that women don't need men (as their essential provider that is). I thought this was interesting because I have no problem being an independent woman but I do like having a guy around (friends or more).
I think the question could also be reversed; When will there ever be a time Men don't need Women? ha. It's quite the silly controversy, but all in all I decided to let the world know what types of discussions take place in Psychology class among young... adults. I found a website with many opinions on the issue as well. Check it out. You may just change your mind, or you may come out rooted even deeper in your opinion. :-)
http://www.boundlessline.org/2006/09/do_men_need_wom.html