I'm in!

I called my brother today to ask for a favor. He then notified me that I recieved an envelope from London. The first question that came to mind was, "Is it a big envelpoe or a small envelope?". I asked and he told me it's a big envelope. I could hear in his voice that he was proud of me and that made feel happy. However, I told myself, "You don't know for sure, yet. So don't get too excited." 

My Gofundme Link is gofundme.com/mwfxr4

Two hours later he came and brought the envelope with him. Right after he handed it to me I put my finger underneath the flap and opened it. I didn't even wait for my parents. I knew for a fact I was accepted.


I guess this means it's meant for me to go to London, that is if I can come up with $25K before July 1st. Hahaha. So keep me in you're prayers or better yet I will accept donations, haha.

Sidenote: The picture quality in these pictures are horrendous! I have horrible lighting in my room.

The Struggle of Paying for My Dream University

Ohh, how fast the years have passed. It wasn't too long ago that I just entered high school. Now I'm applying to universities and I just can't believe it- I'm old! Hahaha, kidding, not really I do feel old. Especially when I'm comparing it to my childhood years.

I'm applying to eight universities because I only get eight fee waivers for the application fee. My original goal was to apply to like twenty universities, but at the moment I wasn't thinking about the application fees. Now I realize, its not free to apply, so out of twenty schools I narrowed down the list to eight.

Out of those eight my first choice is Richmond The American International University in London. I'm so nervous. I honestly, feel like every school I apply to, except for maybe two, will REJECT me. I wouldn't be suprised, haha. Honestly though even if I do get accepted to my first choice, I more and likely will have to get a SHITE load of loans, which is exactly why I didn't want to go to college in the first place, because of the expense.

I mean, I don't have to go college- it's my choice. But in reality if I don't go I know that I won't be able to experience the same things if I were to go straight to a 9-5 job. But then again at least I'd be making money, which is what the world kinda revolves around. I mean for God sakes I wanna go to college to be a Journalist. I'm pretty positive most journalist don't have secure jobs and don't make enough money to to be considered middle class. Unless they're really good writers, and I have a feeling that I'm not that great of a writer.

I feel like I'm just going to make some memories, and waste all my money. So hopefully a large sum of money comes along my way were I don't have to pay it back or something along those lines because seriously money is my main issue. Especially for my first choice. The reason being since its in London I have to get my visa, but before I do that I have to pay 60% of the tuition.

That 60% is what's killing me. It's not the flight or visa really because that's just an extra $1,200 and I know I can come up with that in a short period of time. But to come up with $31,200 in lets say six months. It's insanity! But I REALLY wanna go to that school. It'd be a dream come true.

Who knows though I mean 'what's meant to be, is meant to be', right? Who knows, maybe I'll have to sell my soul and a kidney, but all I know is that I will go to that school, if they accept me, of course. And if they don't then it's a sure sign that it wasn't meant to be. Hopefully the odds are on my side though.

Blue Ribbon School

Blue Ribbon Schools- Dr. Wright L. Lassiter Early College HS in Dallas, TX

About 28 schools from Texas have been awarded with the National Blue Ribbon Award. The highest ribbon award given. Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr. Early College High School at El Centro (formerly known as Middle College High School) is one of the schools out of three other schools in Dallas, Texas to be awarded with this coveted award. On Wednesday October 22, 2014 students in the Ambassador group at LECHS will have thier photo taken for being awarded the National Blue Ribbon. What is the National Blue Ribbon School Program?

The National Blue Ribbon Schools program has recognized great American schools since 1982. The program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Every year the U.S. Department of Education searches for schools that demonstrate the level of achievement that was previously mentioned. In their search, more than 7,500 schools have been presented with this award. "The National Blue Ribbon School Flag gracing an entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning."

In order to be eligible for the National Blue Ribbon school program, a public school must meet one of two requirements, while a non-public school has to meet only one requirement. For a public school the requirements are that they need to have a "High Performing" status, defined by the CSSO of each state. They also need to reach an exemplary "achievement gap closing", which is also defined by the CSSO of each state. For Non-public schools they need to have a "High Performing" status. 

The requirements seem easy to reach, but out of so many other schools across the nation it begins to get challenging. Out of all the schools that are nominated only 340 schools are recognized. 290 public schools and 50 non-public/private schools. They hold a ceremony in Washington D.C. to recognize these schools. This years ceremony will be held on November 10th and the 11th. During this ceremony the schools are awarded a plaque and a flag as a symbol of their status as a National Blue Ribbon School.  

The benefits of being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School is that it "acknowledges and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for-and attaining-exemplary achievement." The responsibility of being recognized is that they "serve as models for other schools throughout the nation, and school personnel are often sought out as mentors." If you're wondering- Does National Blue Ribbon School status expire?, well your answer is no. However, school representatives must always use the year they were awarded when identifying their school.

For the complete list of all the schools that will be awarded for the National Blue Ribbon School Click Here

If you represent a public school and would like your school to be considered for a nomination, you may contact your National Blue Ribbon Schools state liaison. For a non-public school, you can contact the Council for American Private Education by E-mail: brs@capenet.org or by phone at +1-(301)-916-8460

New Blog- Saying goodbye to Linda Valdez

I'm gonna start a personal blog. I have another blog, but it's mostly about my music experiences and I mainly write about music I like and listen to. Anyhow, I've decided to make a personal blog because I feel like it'd be more open and I'd be able to write about anything that happens to cross my mind and what not. Another reason why I wanted to make this blog is because I feel like with me writing 'bout whatever I want I'd be able to practice my writing skills in almost anything.

So with that being said I'm gonna go ahead and start working on my first blog, which was actually assigned to me by Marisa Treviño. Marisa is the publisher of Latina Lista, a site that delivers Hispanic news in English rather than Spanish. She's also an editor, CEO/president, and a new media consultant. The assignment she gave me was to interview and write about one of the administrators at my high school. The administrator she asked me to interview was Linda Valdez.

Linda Valdez works as a Parent Liaison at Dr. Wright L. Lassister Early College High School for DISD. LECHS for short because honestly the former is just too damn long- "Ain't nobody got time for that!", hahaha. Her role as a Parent Liaison is to emphasize the importance of parent involvement in promoting school success and empowering parents to become active in their child's education.  

I walked in the office and took a seat in front of Mrs. Valdez. The office was pretty quiet when I came in. Everybody was working on their own thing. After I sat my things down a student came in, feeling under the weather and was wanting to go home. A simple office duty nothing major. So I didn't get to see Mrs. Valdez at her best moment, which is being a Parent Liaison. But then again being a Parent Liaison is not only about helping students one on one, its about finding students opportunities in the community and getting their parents involved. 

I've heard stories of how her school groups do many activities that help the community and give students many opportunities. I'm not one of these students simply because I choose not be a part of it. However, I know that if I were a part of any of her school groups I'd have great stories and experiences to share on a more personal level. So all I can write about is from what others have told me and my assumptions, which are that being in any of her sponsored groups will give you many connections and valuable experiences that are useful for the future.

Mrs. Valdez was brought up in a very strict household, with a lot of morals and values, church, and school. Her upbringings are what lead her to be who she is today and they've helped her help so many other people along the way. The journey began when she retired from the City of Dallas. After a year and a half it started to become a bore, so she set off in search for a job that gave her free summers, which lead her to start working at LECHS (formally known as Middle College High School) as a principal clerk. She thought at most she'd work only for about three years, but within those years she was promoted to be a Parent Liaison, and with her use to working all the time she didn't mind taking on these tasks. 

In the end the accomplishments of some of the students she has helped makes the past fourteen years worth it. She has gotten many kids scholarships and into universities that they didn't think they could get into. Along the way she learned how to help students and the importance of community service and encouraging these students when no one else was. She has learned that she has to give a lot of her time in order to help these students. And what better way to give back than to do it by using what she already knows and her previous experiences. 

Being a Parent Liaison was more than she expected, but the kids are what has kept her motivated. Former students call and tell her all their accomplishments, and for her to know that she was a part of their lives and gave them the resources they needed to strive and be successful gives her a sense of fulfillment and pride for the students. They've learnt that you need to "roll your sleeves and work hard", no matter if it benefits you or others who cross your path, its always good to help others. 

During her retirement she plans to take more vacations, specifically to Florida. She's absolutely in love with Florida and if she could she'd move there and spend the rest of her years in Destin, Florida. I've never heard of Destin, Florida, but I saw some pictures and it looks amazing and incredibly beautiful. 

It sucks that we have to say goodbye to Mrs. Valdez. She's given many students inspiration to keep learning, to serve your community, and to never give up. Without her nothing will be the same and hopefully the next person to take her place succeeds and puts their heart and soul in being a Parent Liaison just as Mrs. Valdez has. 

 "You haven't lived till you go to Florida"- Linda Valdez

"It's possible to reach the unreachable."- Linda Valdez