Moving Forward, and Looking Upward

My second semester of classes at Orange Coast College begins next Monday. I have one week before I'm back to the grindstone. I've already survived my first semester, so I know what to expect. However, I'm fighting to set realistic expectations for this next semester. There are a lot of things that I want to be involved in, and it's probably not wise for me to commit to all of them before I even know what my next semester will look like. I'll know soon enough.

I initially expected this last semester to be crazy intense. However, God was extremely good to me. My English teacher was much easier than I anticipated, and my Math teacher was an incredible teacher. My online class was extremely chill. No biggie. My history class was probably my most difficult class, but I still passed it, so I'm good. Overall, the classes themselves turned out to be much easier than I anticipated. So at times I didn't give my 100% because I knew that I could get an A without doing a bunch of extra work. I'm not entirely proud of that attitude, but this next semester is a chance to change that.

I'm taking Calc 1, Java Programming, and History (again, I know. WHY??!) I got a pretty solid foundation for Calculus from my PreCalc teacher last semester, so I'm fairly confident about this class. However, since I'm going for a degree in mechanical engineering, so I'm going to need to know this stuff. It's not just about getting an A. I plan on giving 110% this semester. Java Programming will be a bit of a learning curve, but I'm anticipating that being a much more enjoyable class. History is going to be terrible, but I'm taking it with two of my cousins. So, it'll be WAY better. Hopefully. Also, I'm hoping to do some tutoring this semester. Mainly in Precalc and Freshman Composition. Tutoring in Precalc is going to help a lot in my Calc class. And I want to keep my English skills sharp for when I take my next English class to fulfill that IGETC requirement. Woop-de-doo. We'll see if I can make that happen. I mean, we'll see if God makes that happen. Tutoring would be awesome since I could tutor in-between classes. I'm going to be on campus from 8am-7pm every Monday and Thursday. It's gonna be a bunch of long days.

In addition to classes at OCC, I'm going to continue working at Anaheim Hills Autocare every Tuesday and Thursday. I can't even say how grateful I am for this job. I might be a bit biased, but my boss is the absolute best boss I could ever ask for. I'm learning valuable life skills; knowing how cars work and how to fix them, is a pretty valuable skill. Like literally, you can save a lot of money by doing repairs yourself. Not to mention, I've become a much better driver just from working at the shop. I mean, it's been a year and a half. Every night we put as many cars into the shop as possible, so we don't have to leave any cars out on the street. That means that they are parked pretty tightly inside the shop. Now that I have my own car, at our house we have to fit 5 cars into our driveway. That skill from the shop certainly comes in handy. :)

So I'll be basically gone all day Monday - Thursday, every week. And I'm sure my weekends will be filled with homework. 'Cause why not? Gotta give 110%, amirite?

But here's where we get to the nitty gritty. What is the real point of this next semester? Is it to get all A's? Nope. Is it to make a bunch of new friends? Nope. Is it to learn extremely important stuff that will help me in my career? Nope. Well, those are all good things. But my ultimate purpose for this semester should be to glorify God in everything.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." -1 Corinthians 10:31

Last semester I was asked to write another student's paper for them. It was the midterm project for English, so it was a pretty big deal. She offered me around $150 at one point, and I can't tell you how tempted I was to take the offer. But I told her that I couldn't do that because I didn't think it was being honest but that I could help her come up with some ideas, and she didn't really respond, but within a few days she dropped the class and I've never seen her since. That was a pretty tough choice for me, but in the end I was convinced that I had made the right decision. And I'm sure there will be more situations this next semester. And there were plenty of ways last semester that my convictions were tested. College is a make or break point. Either you will crumble in your convictions and give into whatever you want, or your convictions will harden and become immovable. I'm praying that with each semester, my convictions grow stronger and stronger. 

With this next semester coming soon, I resolve to begin each day with a breakfast of God's Word and prayer, to sustain me through the long days. Even when school gets tough, I'm going to keep moving forward, and looking upward to the God who can keep me moving when it gets rough. Bring on the next semester!

Tentative Anticipation

A brand new season of life has begun. Just a year ago, I was beginning my senior year of highschool. Now I'm beginning my freshman year of college. Wat. 

I'm going to be attending Orange Coast College. I'll be working on my GE, and hopefully getting my Associate in Science for Engineering. Then I'll transfer to a four-year college or a university to get my Bachelors. This semester at OCC, I'll be taking PreCalculus, English: Freshman Composition, U.S. History, and Library Study Skills. I'm officially in every class except for PreCalculus, because I'm only on the wait list for that class. I'm hopeful that I'll get into the class, though. :) I'm kinda really looking forward to taking that class. 

In addition to attending OCC, I also plan to continue working at Anaheim Hills Autocare. I've worked there for over a year now, and I really enjoy it. God has blessed me greatly through that job. I work from 9-5 every Tuesday and Thursday. So I've managed to schedule all my classes on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

It's going to be a ridiculously intense workload compared to my senior year. But I'm praying that God will give me the strength and mental fortitude to apply myself diligently. Nothing is impossible with God. 

Lately I've been reading Ecclesiastes, which can be very discouraging for students, but I was encouraged by Ecclesiastes 12: "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them";". As John MacArthur points out: by referring to God as the "Creator", Solomon reminds us of our origins and our purpose. We were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Imagine the glory we could give to God if we used our lives to glorify Him while we were relatively young instead of waiting until we were older. I have been extremely, incredibly blessed by having a relationship with God at such a young age. If God chose to save me this early, then what majestic plans must He have for my future? I might have an entire lifetime to give glory to God. Why wouldn't I want to start now? 

Lord, You know what my life will look like. You know the plans that You have for me. Often I don't like the helplessness of not knowing my future, but I have nothing to fear. I may not know my future, but I know the God who holds my future. And You are a God of love. Thank You for Your most loving act in history. Thank You for sending Your Son to pay the price that I could never pay. Thank You for saving me from the penalty and power of sin. Give me a heart that longs to know You more. Give me a passion that can't be drowned out or suppressed. Give me a passion for You and Your kingdom that can't be quiet. Give me wisdom and grace for this new season of life. In Your name, Amen. 

Q&A Time with Uncle David

So, I was asked these questions by a friend of mine, a couple months ago. I guess I'm finally answering them. =)

1. What is one big goal you would like to accomplish? I'd like to do a unicycle marathon, eventually.

2. What is one word you would use to describe yourself? Visionary. The hard part is actually doing stuff. =)

3. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? I really like Psalm 119:9 "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word."

4. Is there someone who has been an inspiration to you? If so, who and why? Lecrae has been an inspiration to me because he took a genre of music that was predominantly secular, and used it as a means of spreading solid biblical truths.

5.When did you start blogging and how do you stay inspired? I started blogging Saturday, October 8 2011. I turned 13, got my email, and started my blog. My inspiration relies on whatever creative things I've been doing that I think are worthy of a blog post. I need more inspiration, apparently. =P

6.Would you consider yourself type A or type B? I guess I would consider myself more of a type B person. At least according to this website: http://changingminds.org/explanations/preferences/typea_typeb.htm.

7.What is one gift the Lord has blessed you with, and how do you use it for His glory and to bless others? I think God has given me the artistic talent which I use to bless family and friends, mainly for birthdays and special occasions. I could do so much more though . . .

8.What is one thing that annoys you? When my retainers fall into the sink while I'm putting them in at night. They taste weird all night.

9. What is your favorite season? I actually like the fall months the best. At least when they're actually chilly. The weather this year has been kinda quirky. 

10. What do you see yourself doing in ten years? Good question. I assume I'll probably be graduated from college and hopefully working in my dream field. Whatever that might be, lol. 

11. One crazy thing that you have done. I ate a snail. Which is the equivalent of a slimy, bloated worm that tastes like dirt. 

Any more questions? Feel free to post them below.

I promise I'll start posting more often. =)

Driving Trip Story

On our last Louisiana trip, Mom had us kids write a variation of a fairy tale. So this is what I wrote:


The three little pigs went and built their houses - great big manor-looking things with fancy windows and the oldest pig had an exceptionally advanced kitchen. It was so advanced that there was a gigantic maze of tubes and wires and such underneath this kitchen. Now there was currently a gingerbread colony living under the kitchen and in particular, one gingerbread girl named Coo and she belonged to the Key family. Now one day as Coo Key was resting in her tall pipe she heard a voice from down below, calling for her to let him up. Seeing that he was a very handsome gingerbread boy with all his lumps in the right places, she dumped a can of yeast down to him and when he'd rolled in it he started to rise until he was up at her level. The two young ginger-people immediately fell in love and began spending much time together. Finally the boy invited Coo to the ball. She accepted but when the time came she had no idea what to wear. Well, the flour fairy came up and seeing that Coo was ashamed to wear her whole wheat dress, she dressed Coo in flour of Paris. Then as Coo was about to leave in her standard holey pea pod that was attached to the community bean stalk, the fairy instead gave her a golden pea pod to ride. However, the old fairy warned Coo that all her gifts would revert at 350°. So Coo sped away on her pod and she and her boyfriend enjoyed the ball immensely until the oven struck 350°, and everyone started to stiffen up so they said goodnight. Coo rushed to her pod to get away before the prince (Mouse was his name) saw her back in her tattered whole wheat flour dress. But he did see her in her dress, and instead told her that he didn't care what she was wearing, just who she was. So they married and lived very happily after. Everyone gave them gifts, saying it "was the yeast I could do". Thus you see what happens when you give a Mouse, Coo Key!!!

Hmm . . . what have I been doing?

*drumroll*

Yes, ladies and gentlemen I am offically "permitted" to drive on California roadways. I am so glad that I didn't have to retake the test. Overall, the DMV is a pretty fascinating place to be, but I can wait to be there again. =) 

Tonight I'll schedule my first in-car lesson with my driving instructor.

Apology

I would like to publicly apologize for my last post, where I posted a bunch of sentences that used words beginning with the same letter. I removed that post as soon as it was pointed out that there were some offensive and inappropriate words/phrases. I shouldn't have used words that I wasn't fully aware of the meaning.It was not my intention to post anything that would be offensive or inappropriate. If you have no idea what I am talking about, that's great. I do claim full responsibility for the list because I was the one who posted it and approved it for you guys to read. In the future I intend to make sure that whatever I post isn't offensive or inappropriate. Again, I apologize for my irresponsibility. Please forgive me. Thank you.

Thought this was funny!!