Graduation Speech

As I was looking for a graduation quote, I came across one that fits my life perfectly. "It's hard not to be afraid. Be less afraid." As we all get ready to leave Golf Middle School for high school, it is very hard not to be afraid. There are so many questions. "Will I get lost?" "Will I fit in?" "Will I still see my friends?" "Will I get good grades?" All these questions can build a lot of anxiety.
When I first came to Golf at the beginning of last year, I had a lot of the same questions and anxieties. I came from a tiny Catholic school with 17 total kids in my entire grade, most of which I had known since preschool. All of our parents volunteered at the school constantly, so they all knew each other and all our teachers. We didn't have to try to make friends. All we had ever known was each other. I came here very afraid. Afraid of being new. Afraid of what at the time felt like a ton of kids I didn't know. Afraid of making friends on my own. What I learned by coming to Golf is change can be very scary, but can also be great. I spent so much time beforehand being afraid, and from the moment I walked into my first RTI class I realized it was all going to be ok. In the last two years I have learned that I can make friends on my own. Friends that have changed my life in a great way. I have also found teachers that make learning fun and are willing to go out of their way to help if you just ask. We have had amazing times like Camp MacLean and Springfield. I never would have gotten the chance to experience that if I hadn't come here. I have found my place here by opening myself up, by being "less afraid".

As we move on to Niles North, we must all remember to be less afraid. Try new things, make new friends, hold on to the friends that are truly important, and most of all have fun. We only get one chance to go to high school. Let's make it great! Thank you!

Goodbye GMS, Hello NN

Like I've said before, the year has gone by really fast. I am starting to adjust to the fact that I'm going to high school soon. It started off with me starting middle school at my old school. Unlike GMS, middle school started at 4th grade. Things were scary for me, especially because the teachers were very strict. That is also when the homework started piling up. There were tests for every class, tons of projects due on the same day, and having to stay up all night because of all the homework. 5th and 6th grade were a train wreck, especially because there was a...bully (at least he got expelled). When my family decided to move, I was nervous about going to a new school. Would I have even more homework? Would people make fun of me? Would I fail my classes? All of this changed when I first stepped into my RTI. People immediately wanted to be my friend. I caught up easily. Everything was just fine. I even got my best girlfriends now as my friends on the first day! I think this school is better than my old one. Now, it is coming to the end of 8th grade. Camp MacClean is already coming up this week. The 8th grade dance is almost here. GRADUATION is almost here! Next thing I know, I will be starting high school. There will be many new things to experience that could be school-life changing. I can't wait to go!

Beginning and End

There is a god with the name of Janus. He is the Greek god of beginnings and endings. There are a lot of things in this world that involve beginnings and ends, like going on a vacation and leaving a little while later and starting a sport and ending it. The one I think is very relatable for everyone is reading a book. I have read a lot of great books from 7th grade to now, and I hate when they have to end. It starts out like this: The book usually starts of confusing because you don't know what's going on. You don't even know what the person's name is! Later on, more action and information comes in, making the book interesting. Then, there is a point when the book becomes so good that you can't stop reading it. There have been a few times in class where I was told to put my book away, but I couldn't; there was so much good stuff going on! Last comes the part when the book is over...I hate that! I really hate it when the book ends in a cliffhanger. That is UNACCEPTABLE!! I will only let it slide when there is already another book for the series on the shelf, waiting for me to read it. But still, I hate when books end. I wish it was a never-ending story.

It's Complicated...

The school year is almost over!! I have a lot of great memories from this year. There were people making jokes that last for a long time and I have connected with my friends even more. Before we know it, we will be in high school. Time flies fast. I wish we could have at least one more year here at GMS. High school will be a whole new experience, which makes me kind of nervous. I also don't want to end up separated from my friends, LIKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE!! *clears throat* Sorry about that; it just bugs me that I'm never with my friends in class. Anyways, high school may be hard at first, but I know I can get through it. Still, I think this school is great and I don't want to leave it (I have only been here for 2 years and my friends have been here for 4 years). I'm going to miss the teachers here and all of the memories we have shared. It's complicated.

 

Quiz Time!

Hey, why not make a fun little quiz to take before PARCC? Today's category is (drum roll please) YouTubers! Submit your answers in the comments to have a chance to win a prize!

1.) Which of these likes to play a game I like called Yandere Simulator?

      a. DashieGames

      b. Bijuu Mike

      c. PewDiePie

      d. TechRax

2.) Who is the Savage King?

      a. Reaction Time 

      b. Guava Juice

      c. PopularMMOS

      d. WolfieRaps

3.) Who has a dog named Luke?
      a. Rosanna Pansino
      b. CrazyRussinHacker
      c. Markiplier
      d. IHasCupquake

 4.) Which of these reaction channels call themselves "cringy"?
      a. Reaction Time
      b. FBE
      c. REACT
      d. Reaction Bro

5.) Who has a second channel that is known for their funny skits and music videos?
      a. GamingWithJen
      b. Fail Army
      c. DavidParody
      d. GMM

6.) Who is the loudest out of all of these?
      a. Markiplier
      b. DashieGames
      c. JackSepticEye
      d. KSI

7.) Who has a cooking channel?
      a. cutepolish
      b. The Rents
      c. FBE
      d. Rosanna Pansino

8.) Who is known for playing horror games?
      a. Markiplier
      b. Yandere Dev
      c. GamingWithJen
      d. PopularMMOS

9.) Who has enough money to destroy phones for YouTube?
      a. TechRax
      b. REACT
      c. DavidParody
      d. KSI

10.) Who has the most subs?
      a. Sylvia Gani
      b. Itsyeboi
      c. PewDiePie
      d. Miranda Sings

*Bonus (better win if known) What is my channel called?*

Cuteness

If you're a person that deals with stress or you are stressing over a big test, this video should help you calm down and make you go, "awww":

https://youtu.be/RbwM9CRVhaM

Also, here are some pictures that help me:

A Tribute To Someone Special

A Tribute to My Mom

          Out of all the people in my family, I have to say my mom is the best. She is always there for me in difficult situations. She wants to help me with everything, which is something most moms do for their kids. She won't stop doing something until I am happy. She pushes everything to the side to help me. She quit her job to be with me. I am so glad that she is my mom.
          I have had very tough times in my life that I can't deal with on my own. For example, I deal with stress everyday, which doesn't make me feel the best. If my mom knows I feel this way, she will do everything she can to stop the stress from overtaking me. We will either talk to each other about it or make one another laugh. Even though there are many other people that help me with this, I know my mom will always be there for me.
          Usually when I get home from school, my mom asks if I need help with any homework that I don't understand. I usually accept the offer, unless it's something I totally understand. See, this is something that moms don't usually do with their teenage sons or daughters. I am lucky that I have her when I am confused on school work.
          I am very important to my mom because she quit her own time just to be there for me all the time. This is something that I never thought would happen. My mom deeply cares about me and wants to be there every step of the way. I'm glad that she would do this for me.
          All of these things are great. I am happy to know that she will be there for me always. If you are reading this, Mom, thank you for everything you have done for me.

Field Trip

My Favorite Field Trip

          Although all of the field trips I had in 7th and 8th grade were awesome, I have to say going to Camp MacLean in 7th grade was the best experience so far. First, we got on the bus like any other field trip, but it was actually pretty quiet. That is something I like so I can just relax and think about what's going to happen. When we got to the camp, everyone grabbed their bags and tried to find their cabins. I have to say, the cabins were pretty nice for a cabin. There were bunk-beds and a back room that was acting like a small kitchen. When everyone got their bags in the cabins, we all got into our groups to go do some activities. Throughout the trip, we rock climbed, played archery, played gaga ball, and many more. In between these games, we had food, which was pretty good for a camp in my opinion. When night fell, we played a game of Capture the Flag: Boys vs. Girls. To make the game a little easier, the girls gave the boys the glow-in-the-dark face paint so we can see them better. It was pretty fun, even though I got tagged a lot. Hey, if I had fun, it was no big deal if I got tagged. The only thing that got me mad was one of the teachers on the boy's side was trying to help us find one of the student's cameras that fell out of her pocket. When the teacher shined a flashlight on the grass, he saw our flag. And guess what? He told the boys where the flag was. Great game XD! Later on, we did have a campfire, but it wasn't that fun at all; it was too cheesy and cringy. It was sad that it only lasted for 1 and a half days, but we get to go back this year. I can't wait to see what we will do next!

Magical Meeting

An Afternoon with 3 Famous People

          If I could spend an afternoon with 3 famous people, I would choose 3 of my favorite YouTubers: Tal Fishman, Michael Lucas, and Cory Williams. They are mainly known as Reaction Time, Bijuu Mike, and CoryxKenshin. I chose them because, again, they are my favorite YouTubers and they have all inspired me to make a channel of my own. Each one of these people does a certain kind of content, but I have combined all of them into one channel:
1.) Reacting to things=Reaction Time
2.) Playing Yandere Simulator=Bijuu Mike
3.) Both=CoryxKenshin
          I think each of their contents are amazing but funny at the same time. That's what a good channel looks like to me.
          The place I would want to go with these people is somewhere where there is a good amount of room and equipment to film a good YouTube video (duh XD). What else is there to do besides hanging out or making YouTube videos? I have also had a goal, which is to become famous on YouTube. Having these people in a video with me would get me there right away. If only this could really happen...

Movie Review

Get Out Movie Review

          I have recently watched the movie "Get Out", and I think it's the best movie I've seen so far. It is a horror/thriller film, but I would say there is some comedy involved to make this movie better. It is about a guy named Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, getting to the meet-the-parents stage in their relationship. Rose arranges a meet up with her parents for the weekend, but it turns out that all of her relatives are coming over on those days. Everything was normal, and it seemed like nothing bad would happen. But since the day they arrived, Chris was very paranoid about Rose's parent's behavior and seemed to know that something was weird. Later on, many secrets are revealed about the family as the week progresses. Overall, I would give this movie a 9/10, and I would love to watch it again.

Music

My Fan Freak Out Moment

          On October 27, 2016, Kendall, Maya, and I went to the Allstate Arena to see a concert by our favorite a cappella group, Pentatonix. This group had five singers, Scott, Mitch, Avi, Kevin, and Kirstie, who sang a cappella covers. They have also made a few original songs, but they barely did this. Anyways, we went to the concert ALREADY freaking out; we can't help it. Once we got in the Allstate Arena, we were guessing what songs they were going to sing and not being able to except the fact that this was really happening. Once we were checked in, we got our seats, got some souvenirs, and waited for the concert to start. Once we heard Pentatonix's voices, Maya screamed at the top of her lungs! Kendall and I decided to join in because we were very excited, too. They sang a variety of different songs, including our favorite one, Can't Sleep Love. Towards the end of the concert, they performed another a cappella song, but without microphones. Their voices are very impressive, it was very hard to keep my fangirl screeches in. When it was time for the concert to end, we almost cried. LITERALLY!! We never wanted it to end...Maya, Kendall, and I really want PTX to come back to Illinois one day, so we can fangirl all over again. That night was one of the best nights of my life. 

Which President Do I Admire?

Which President Do I Admire?

          I admire Barack Obama the most out of all the presidents because he made America great (*cough* not Trump *cough*) and he is inspirational. First, he is the first African American to become president! That's an amazing thing after all of the things that has happened in the past with whites and blacks. Next, he helped drop unemployment, which has been a problem for a very long time now. Then, Obama helped lower taxes, which has been another problem for 50 years! Next, 18 million more Americans got health insurance. This is a lot more than in the past. We have also caught more illegal immigrants, thanks to Obama. Last, he was president for four years, which is great for a person like him. 
          Barack Obama was a great president, and I wish he never left. Now we have the amazing Trump! *sarcastic voice* YAY! I wish Obama came back, because he was a great president, at least in my opinion. He changed the world for us, but in a good way. Now, it's time to deal with Donald Trump...

School Job

If I Had a Job As a Teacher...

          If I was asked this question at the beginning of the year, I would have said I would get a job as a Science teacher. I've always been interested in doing experiments and seeing what would happen. On the other hand, before this year, I would have NEVER said I would like to be an English/Lit teacher. 

          Up until I moved to this school, reading was never my thing. In fact, I hated it. Getting me to read was like asking me to eat pizza (I know, it's very weird that I don't like it). My mom and grandma always told me that I just needed to find the right book. But up until last year, I didn't think that was possible. I finally found that reading can be fun starting with the Princess Diaries series last year and moving onto The Selection series and more this year. Also, in the past few months, I found that I love writing as well. I've written a couple of my own original stories, and I'd love to do more. 

          So, if you'd ask me now what kind of teacher I would like to be, my response would be an English/Lit teacher.

Name Meaning

My Name

          Funny story: My name should have been Kendall, which means "valley on the river Kent", up until about a month before I was born. My parents were (and still are) huge Metallica fans, and at that time, the drummer was married to a doctor named Skylar. When my mom heard that name a month before I was born, she immediately knew that was meant to be my name. The funny thing is my sister's name is Kendall, so they must have really liked that name, too.

          Now back to my name. Skylar has many different meanings across different nationalities. The English meaning is "eternal life and strength". The Dutch meaning is "a shelter". The American meaning is "the sky (obviously XD); guarded; scholar, learned one". My favorite one is the English meaning because I hope to be a strong person that lives a long life. 

          Now that I think about it, I am glad that my parents made the right decision. I really like my name because it is unique, plus I can't imagine my sister having any other name.

My Special Christmas Gift

My Special Christmas Gift

          It was a cold winter day in the month of December. It felt like every other day, but that day was very exciting; something that happens to people every so often. My family and I were going to meet a dog breeder that had several cute Dachshunds. This made me think that we were getting another dog.

          When I got in the car with Kendall (my sister), we started freaking out, thinking we were going to get another dog. At that time, we had two other dogs, Jack and Maggie. Jack was a Jack Russell Terrier (the name makes sense now XD) and Maggie was a short haired, black and tan Dachshund. Once we started heading to the dog breeder's house, Kendall and I chatted away about the dogs until we got there.

          As soon as we got inside the house, tons of dogs were barking like crazy! They almost gave me a headache. Then, my family and I got to meet the dogs. The one that stuck out the most was Chandler. He was a long haired, black and tan Dachshund that BARLEY weighed anything! That little guy was so light when he was picked up. But his face was very cute, along with his furry body. The other dogs were still cute and all, but Chandler caught my eye. I didn't want to let go of him!

          After what felt like five minutes, we had to leave, but something exciting happened. My parents adopted Chandler!! Once again, Kendall and I freaked out and we were very thankful. They told us that this was our main Christmas present. I was very happy, and I still am today. Once we got in the car, we decided to give him a new name. We all decided on Otto. It is a great name for a dog like this one.

          When we settled down at home, I didn't want to let go of Otto, and he wouldn't want to leave me. We now have a very close connection since that day. Also, Otto loves to sleep with me at night ever since he didn't have to sleep in a cage anymore. Lastly, whenever I'm upset, he comes to me and helps me feel better. I love that dog so much. I can't think of a present that is better than an amazing dog!