Counting Stars

Hey everyone!

It's August 9th, and there's less than a month left till classes begin. What will junior year bring me? Hopefully, a lot of excitement and growth.
Last Friday, some of my old high school friends and I went out to eat downtown and catch up on each other's lives. I see them about every six months. But I actually didn't see them for a full year between January 2012 and January 2013. We've all got many things going on so when I get a chance to see them, I take full advantage of it. We sat around a table stuffing our faces and talking about pop culture and cracking jokes about stupid things. Then, we headed out to a park in Brooklyn and sat at a table next to some older women and fooled around and laughed a lot. I felt bad for those women who had to hear all our nonsense, but hopefully they were reminded of a time not so long ago when they did the same thing. I can honestly say I had a good time. We're all growing up, and that's pretty exciting.

When I did my Seminar 4 project on the NYPL last semester, I mentioned my love for libraries. I've been in love with them since I was a child. The act of going there, browsing through the shelves, and finding something awesome to read can't be compared with anything else. In recent years, I haven't had as much time to go to the library on a regular basis. I used to go once a week when I was a kid. It became difficult to do that when I got to high school, but I went whenever I could. In college, it's even more difficult because I have so much reading to do for classes. But still I make time to visit libraries in both Brooklyn and Manhattan whenever I can. During this summer, I've been at the 67th street library a couple of times a week, picking up holds and returning books and DVDs. I've gotten in the habit of finding books online, placing holds, and just picking them up. This reduces my time in the library, but every once in awhile when I have a bit of spare time I'll still look through the shelves. Yesterday was one of those days. I went to my local library branch that I have been going to since I was 6. I just came to return some books, but of course I couldn't leave without doing a little browsing. I went to the Young Adult section and looked through the books. There were many new books there that were not there just a couple of years ago. But the experience was the same. I found some good books, and I felt that awesome feeling of discovery again. I had forgotten how much I missed that feeling. Searching for books online is just not the same. To physically look through the books, read the blurbs, and make the decision to check them out is unique to that physical library experience. It sounds like the simplest thing, but it made me very happy yesterday.

A few weeks ago, I met a 16 year old from New Jersey at the hospital that I volunteer in. I love how she thought I looked too young to be 20. Score for not aging! haha. We've had some interesting conversations in which I've realized how much I've grown in the last four years and how much I'm still the same. On television, 16-year-olds always seem so cool with their rebellious attitudes and teen angst.  I never felt like any of those characters. They never seem to have to worry about AP exams or getting into college or having enough extracurricular activities. They just wear cool clothes, go to parties, and have a ton of fun. I never felt that carefree when I was 16. So anyway, I was talking to this girl about getting more meaningful things on her resume and doing well on the SAT. She's done a ton of service stuff, but she's still worried that colleges will want more. I remember feeling the same way. There's way too much pressure to do stuff. Teens should do what they love and not be so worried about what colleges will think. If you take the time to learn about what you love, you will be a better person and a better applicant. And regarding the SAT's, OMG, I was freaking out before I had to take mine. It seemed like the ultimate test. Except that it wasn't. There are always more tests that you have take (hello college!) and more people you have to impress. So at the end of the day, it's just like any other test. But to a 16 year old, it's not. It seems like the ultimate indicator of your intelligence and worth. But I feel like no exam can ever show the depth of our thoughts and our passions. Try your best on the SAT, and if you do well, great! It'll help get you one step closer to your dreams. But if not, know that it doesn't matter. There are a lot of colleges out there, and you'll find the one that you love. Your SAT score is not indicative of your success in college. Doing well in college is about more than just doing well on exams. You have to be a complete person. Colleges want their students to not only know how to study, but also to have a passion for something. But having a passion is not enough. You must do something with that passion. Write a play, start a club, make music, educate people, etc. Nothing crazy. You don't need to cure cancer, fix the Middle East, or end world hunger. (But it would be cool if you could.)  Just be ambitious, and don't ever stop learning. Before college, during college, and after college. So to all the wonderfully confused 16-year-olds out there: stop worrying whether you're good enough for Harvard and Yale, and start worrying about what you can do to contribute something to our world.

S.

Let's count those stars...

Song of the Week

Lately I been, I been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
But baby I been, I been prayin' hard
Said no more counting dollars
We'll be counting stars
Yeah, we'll be counting stars

I see this life
Like a swinging vine
Swing my heart across the line
In my face is flashing signs
Seek it out and ye shall find

Old, but I'm not that old
Young, but I'm not that bold
And I don't think the world is sold
I'm just doing what we're told

~ "Counting Stars" by OneRepublic