A Scary Reminder from the Past

So. Maybe, I haven't changed that much at all. I just returned from the service center to pick up my mail and my friend Priscilla (editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper this year... and HARVARD prospective student) mailed me a few copies of last year's newspaper copies. I had wanted them for my portfolio before. So, I flipped to my 'Letter from the Editor' section to read what I had written. And it sounds eerily like my blog entry from yesterday... Enjoy:

Maktab Classmates

It's been almost a week since I landed in KK, Malaysia- time flies! I'm currently at another one of these internet cafes... this one is not as fast, though. I've been scouting for a quick and cheap one, lately- not easy. Though I can't really complain about the exchange rates! Anyway, what have I been up to lately? I've gotten in touch with some old classmates (from Maktab nasional- old private school) and it's been a lot of fun hanging out with them. I met up with a friend, Michelle, and her boyfriend and others a few days ago. They showed us around KK a little, went shopping, saw an amazing golf resort. Then, went dancing at a latin bar in the Meridian Hotel. You know... sometimes I think teens will be teens whether you're American, European, or Malaysian... Still, we have a lot of differences and its interesting comparing our lifestyles, goals, certain mannerisms. I saw Harry Potter at the Cinema yesterday with my sister... it surprised me, nactually not that bad... haha. Today, my family is going to the golf resort (called "Sutera") for lunch. Then, tonight I will be going to "Atmosphere" with Michelle and friends again for dinner/drinks. The special thing about Atmosphere is that it's called "The Revolving Restaurant". Apparently, its in this tower and revolves slowly so you can see the whole view while you eat. Can't wait to see how taht's like! Even later, my cousins and I will go see Transformers at the bigger movie theater. I really like Malaysian theaters... they're so big. and loud. What can I say... I'm a young un. It's been pretty busy, lately. The days are going by fast and my family is planning a few day trips to Islands. Very popular thing to do in Malaysia- scuba diving, kayaking, snorkeling, and other nature stuff. Looking forward to it! I'm hoping to go to this island "Layang-layang"... it's quite far away but pretty famous... I'll make sure to find an underwater disposable camera! Okay, more updates to follow!

GRADUATION!!

So, I really have been doing a lot of cool stuff lately but haven't written about because 1) I'm lazy 2) I've been getting no sleep 3) I want to keep basking in the moment and trying to make these amazing few weeks stretch out as long as possible. Par exemple, a few friends of mine went on a road trip to Jones Beach on Tuesday. Threw a surprise party for a friend. Graduation parties continue... But alas, the day has finally come... and I can officially say I AM A GRADUATE FROM THE CLASS OF 2007!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot explain how WEIRD and restless and yet entirely exhausted I feel. We went to Shadows on the Hudson for lunch (I saw basically my entire class there... fine, fine, I'm exaggerating...) Now, I'm back at home for a few minutes, trying to upload pictures from the morning, facebook, pack, and update this blog because after today I will have disappeared from the face of the earth. Or in other words, attend 1204970127401 more graduation parties and wake up at 3am to go to Maryland for Camp Hope.

But anyways, this post is supposed to be about graduation. How to describe graduation? It was... priceless. sad. happy. exciting. depressing. amazing. cliche. sweet. beautiful. perfect. As usual, Spackenkill had their graduation at Casperkill Country Club along route 9. When I got there, everyone was already dressed in gowns and caps, hugging, talking, whatnot. What I discovered: Parents metamorphosed into vicious paparazzi monsters. Caps are really hard to wear. High school is over. I can't pretend I live in a happy little bubble anymore.

As you can see, this post is really blabbing all over the place... all these emotions are inside of me and I have no idea what to think. I feel as dizzy as trying to walk through a crowded room full of new graduates... I'm getting attacked on all sides, hugging random people, getting dragged off to pose with this and that person... everything is just very blurry....

I feel like I should be rushing to do something right now.. so, I will get to that. Hopefully, I can put up some pictures some time when I can grab a few minutes. Bisous!

Ohh, by the way... my last column for the Verge section of the Poughkeepsie Journal supposedly came out today. I haven't seen it yet but again... how appropriate! :)

Calculus Bonfire

Ahh, it's been a long weekend and I've hardly had the chance to rest. On Friday, our math class (a core group of friends...) finally hosted the long-awaited Calculus Bonfire. My friend, Alex has a firepit in his backyard. We all dragged our stacks of math packets, exams, and homeworks ( and some other hated assignments too) to throw into our bonfire. It was strangely spiritual. By the end of the night, his whole deck was covered in ash.

That same day, I went to the Greek festival in Poughkeepsie for the first time... ever. I had a lot of yummy food of which their names I could not pronounce. We also saw our French teacher, Spanish teacher, and middle school history teacher, there. Much over-rehearsed college talk followed.

Been playing frisbee, manhunt, and capture the flag, recently... Must play more to burn off all the free food from senior send-off ceremonies and graduation parties.

I also celebrated my own mini-graduation get together with family in the city, yesterday. We met at a restaurant, Harvest in Queens. My cousin, Dennis will be going to Northeastern for pharmacy, next Fall. Doesn't it seem like pharmacy is becoming a very popular career, nowadays?

One week left till graduation!

Some Old Business and a Question

Even though it's over, I can't seem to get away from school... I guess whenever you're leaving somewhere, you have to finish up old business and straighten everything out. I had to balance the treasury of National Honor Society and FAIHR clubs in the morning. Finally, I got my cap and gown... Then, back home to finish sorting out clothes, papers, money... Feels like I'm moving. Does it always feel like this for college students? Or, is college just like an extended summer camp? Hmm.

Elementary School Flashbacks

I took my last final exam yesterday for la classe de francais. And afterwards, our class went to the Palace Diner near Saint Francis Hospital for brunch. I had coffee and an apple pie... although I have to say, after becoming a connosieur in diner food, I think the pie at Pete's Diner on Hooker Ave is a lot better... (especially a la mode!) Afterwards, we drove back to Hagan Elementary school... just for fun.

Left: Elementary school hallway. Right: Playing on the swings.

Everything was so small. It was a moment both hilarious and nostalgic. Where did the time go? We remembered... chorus teachers, kickball, monkey bars, fourth grade, field day... I felt so old. Finished the day by chilling at the pool. It reallyyy feels like summer!

A Few Notes on Senior Pranks

I was definitely unprepared for the last day of high school. No exaggeration: it was just beyond words... I could try to make a stranger understand a tiny bit of what we were all feeling... but the words just wouldn't come out right. Here's my best shot, though...

Most of us didn't sleep but instead, stayed awake till 2:30 am the next day to begin senior pranks. By 3am, people were already at the school and working in almost pitch dark. The main project: an adult size pool by the track. Other stuff included posters, slip n slides, pinwheel fields on the lawn, and an artificial beach.

From Right to Left, Top to Bottom: Sunrise at Spackenkill, 3-6am.

My senior class surprised me. Our class, in particular, has always been known as a lazy, unorganized bunch of umm... free spirits. We never had a real senior trip. Prom was a huge letdown. I guess, the only other successful event we have planned was Senior Skip Day... no surprise, there. But in less than a week (and thanks to Facebook), we planned an outstanding, and very creative, array of senior pranks for our last day of high school. I'm proud to say, it was memorable. And even our administrators were amused, if not impressed...

Left: Early morning swim. Right: Blowing bubbles at main entrance.

Left: Last bell. Right: Signing yearbooks.

The atmosphere was definitely charged with something. It was like... a bonding experience. We all, somehow, came together and saw the sun slowly come up. Around the main entrance, seniors crowded together, blowing bubbles, cheering, making faculty and underclassmen kind of nervous; everyone was dressed in swimsuits and towels.

I kept having weird relevations like... "It's really the end. That's it... I have to make the most of it." It was a weird, shivery feeling... So, I grabbed a few friends and we ran down the hill towards the track. This is something I'll never forget. People, cars, buses were everywhere. We were in plain sight... but we just started flinging off our clothes and dived into the pool, frolicking in the water like crazy people... It was 7 in the morning.

After our AM frolicking in the pool...

Left: Last look at yearbooks. Right: Off to homeroom, soaked.

I never thought I would be in a pool at 7 in the morning at my high school. So, we went to English, soaking. And the rest of the day was... priceless.

A Farewell to High School, the Ups and Downs of Teenage Drama

I guess it's appropriate that my opening blog entry is about the first major transition of the summer: the last day of high school.

For the seniors at Spackenkill, tomorrow begins the end of everything we've known for the past thirteen years. I can hardly believe it... High school is finally ending. No more bells, homeroom, cafeteria lunches, lockers, hall passes, after-school activities, passing notes... Bye Spack and bye to all the ups and downs and teenage drama.

I still can't process the thought. Everything feels so... surreal. I can't remember a time when I've been so clueless about life, in general. And tomorrow, anything could happen. Yearbook signings, senior pranks, hugs, tears, all the corny baloney of being at the edge of adolescence. I can't disclose anything at the moment... but let's just say, "Wake-up call is at 2:45am."