Graduation & Thailand
Today was my last day of highschool. I deserve to finally graduate. Everyone looks at me and says "lucky." No, I'm not lucky. I was able to keep myself together and in one piece for 12 years of schooling to get OUT of schooling. I'm not "lucky," I just try my best... and right now my best is a 4.0 GPA for this semester [the first of my life]. Let me do my happy dance right now... and don't you even think about ruining my moment. I don't know if I'll be keeping my 4.0, but I sure do hope so. I took my last final, the one that decides whether or not I get an A in my class. I don't find out my grade until Sunday. Wish me luck!
Moving on.
Sunday is my graduation date. Right after is the party. I hope the majority of the people I invited are able to come. That would be awesome if they could. We have a lot of food. I really don't want to eat all the leftovers.
I got accepted into the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. I leave for Thailand in late July/early August. I'll be staying there for a full year, or atleast 50 weeks, which is 2 weeks short of a full year.
"Don't you need to learn a language?" No, they speak English everywhere in the world. Of course I do! I have no problems with that! I love learning languages. I hope that when I come back, I'll be speaking Thai so fluently, that I'll be THINKING in it! That would be awesome.
Up until I ask someone to say something in Thai because I don't know what the English version of that word means.
"Aren't you afraid?" To be quite honest, no, I'm not really all that afraid. I can't WAIT to go! I want to leave this weekend! I would, too, if it were not for the fact that:
- It's not late July or early August.
- I haven't -officially- graduated yet.
- I have a few parties to attend before I leave.
- I have to pack.
- I have to get a laptop.
Yes, I'm feeling nervous, but not a scared-nervous. More like an excited-sort-of-nervous. I can't wait to go. Really.
"You're lucky." AGAIN WITH "LUCKY." What is luck? Luck isn't anything. Luck is actually an excuse put forth and set in peoples' minds to make them think they can't do it, because they're "unlucky."
Luck, hun, is just trying hard. If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. The Wright Brothers proved that. I really want to be a foreign exchange student. I really want to study other cultures first-hand. I really want to learn new languages and have a blast at the same time. I found a way.
"I can't afford that, are you kidding me?" Once again, if you really want to do something, you'll find a way to go. I have one word for you: "scholarships." Go diving for groups of people that would love to sponsor your trip over there. Offer them a talk about your trip when you come back. You want to go over, you want to come back and share everything you've done, right? They want to learn about your trip, too. It's a win-win situation, folks. [hearts]
I really appreciate the groups that are sponsoring me to go! Without them, the majority of this trip would NOT be possible. Thank you so much, guys. Most importantly, though, thanks to the Rotary Club for accepting me and shooing me off. I know you guys didn't want me hanging around America, so you got rid of me. In the best way possible. Thanks, guys. Thanks for all your help. Seriously. I can't wait to go.
For now, it's 11:23, or 23:23 by my clock. I think I'm done with this "blog" for now. Thanks for reading, peoples. I love you all!
Monica R.
