Alonso is by far the creepiest person I know.

February has characteristically been my least favorite month.

Though it's the shortest, I swear it lasts longer than any other of the twelve.

Yesterday was region debate!! My last one. Each year this tournament has been so different. As a sophomore, I didn't understand how it was any more important than the other tournaments. When we won, I recognized that it was kind of a big deal. Junior year, we prepared long and hard for region, determined to take first...which we did. This year, as a newly 5A school, it seemed that we were doing whatever we could to not lose. We finished third of four schools. I'm not disappointed, but I've just been worried that my coach is. I did what I could to be ready. (I spent two hours preparing blocks!) But I know that other teams or competitors didn't work as hard.

Oh well! There's nothing I can do about it! I'm pleased with my third place medal for public forum. I've realized that in the past, it was important for the team to do well. This year, it was important for individual teams to do well, given that they wanted to qualify for state.

Debate, I will dearly miss you next year.

Before debate, I was shy and awkward. I didn't know what I wanted to do, or who I wanted to be. I had no confidence. In fact, I rather disliked myself. I remember that as a child I always wanted to have trophies or awards for something - I just didn't know what. Now, I have debate. I've put a lot of effort into it, and I've seen the rewards for it...not just medals and trophies, but self esteem and intelligence. (Trust me, I know lots about lots.) Thank you debate for always being there for me <3

NOW,

onto my other love...or past love.

Because I'm quarter Asian, and my grandma was born and raised in Maui, my family's always been involved with Polynesian culture. I hula danced a bit as a child and then started dancing seriously at the end of 8th grade. Almost a year ago, I was really struggling with my halau. I felt like we weren't progressing at all. We always talked about going to a serious hula competition, but never got to it. Instead, all of the moms would suggest we do local competitions that are open to all types of dance.

Towards the end of 2010, we finally took the leap to go to competition the next July. By January, everyone had decided to drop out. One girl, who especially bothered me, had been dancing with my teacher for longer. The teacher really favored her despite the fact that she wasn't very good, never practiced, and was rarely on time, given that she actually showed up. She had been to a hula competition before and said that "we weren't ready for one." She said that we had to have experience. 

Ahem, HOW DO YOU GET EXPERIENCE WITHOUT EXPERIENCING SOMETHING?

So dumb.

They instead picked three local competitions to do. All three were on dates that I had debate or AP tests or play practice or something. 

I tried to stick with the class, but they were focusing on the same pieces that were going to be done at competition, so I wasn't learning anything new. On top of that, I was getting really busy with Titanic the Musical.

So I quit.

I thought it was going to be a temporary thing, but I started dreading going back altogether. I never did go back.

I miss hula so much. I felt so natural and beautiful doing it. It made me feel so happy! I really want to get back into it, but I don't want to return to my old halau. So....I'm going to start looking for a new one:)

Well, those are my thoughts for today. 

Love you cuties:)

I know, I know...

It's a year and a half away...but I've been thinking a lot about what life's going to be like when Alonso goes on his mission. I remember on his 17th birthday last September, I was thinking about how there were only two years until he left. Now it's been almost six months. That's crazy. All I know is that he's going to be a great missionary:)

Thank you Alonso for helping me to not be so dumb:)

I've been stuck in this thinking rut lately: If I don't become a scientist or doctor, I can't achieve anything great in the world. This has become a real struggle for me, because I feel compelled to succeed in science. Science has always been my most difficult subject in school. I'm taking AP Biology right now and it's kicking my butt! If I can't even handle this, then how am I going to manage four biology, four chemistry, and three physics classes in college? And those are just the prerequisites before I can start studying neuroscience...

Public thanks to Alonso Sebastian Lopez for making this so clear to me.

He asked me why I wanted to study neuroscience.

"Because I want to make a difference. I want to make something of myself. Maybe I'll cure multiple sclerosis or something..."

"Who cured polio?"

"Umm.....I don't know."

"Who's your favorite author?"

"Jane Austen."

Then I broke down crying.

"Who has made a bigger difference in your life?"

It all makes so much sense now. My mommy has an Ed.S. in psychology. She might not make a difference in the world, but she makes a difference in the individual lives of those she helps...I'm sure her students think the same of her that I think of Jane Austen.

Why should I force myself into something I don't understand or care for? The only aspect of neuroscience I really liked was cognition anyway. Why am I letting other people, or social stigmas, tell me what I have to be when I grow up?

I want a Bachelor of Arts.

I'm not sure what I'm going to study yet, but it's going to be great. I really like psychology, anthropology, social work, history, English, political science...that sounds a lot more like me than science ever did. Alonso (and my mom) said that I don't have to pick right away. I just need to prepare myself so that I'm ready to pick when the opportunity appears. I need to keep being a good leader, studying hard in all of my classes, and relying on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm going to make a difference because I say I will.

Need some scripture study help?

I found this awesome lady online who teaches seminary. Her website is here.

She uploads a lot of neat insights and tools to help you study the scriptures! My favorite style of hers is writing a title on the top of every page that summarizes the story or lesson. She has a title for every page in the Book of Mormon!! I will now post them for your benefit:) Check it out, please?:)

1 Nephi

2 Nephi

Jacob - Mosiah

Alma

Helaman - 4 Nephi

Mormon - Moroni

She also started posting a few from the Old Testament:

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

And...that's as far as she's gotten! I can't wait to add these to my seminary scriptures!:)

I hope these help!
Love you all <3

Sarah

If you haven't met this turtle yet, you're missing out.

David and Goliath

I LOVE Seminary. 

Yesterday we talked about 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. Brother Butler asked us to read a few verses and then find a phrase that stood out to us. We were also supposed to turn the story into an allegory of our own lives.

Here's what I came up with:

David ---> ME

Goliath ---> my depression, negative feelings, and low self esteem

Philistines ---> people who make me feel insecure/bullies

Smooth stones ---> debate, school, friends, family, service

Sling shot ---> my Savior Jesus Christ

In 2 Nephi 32:9, it says:

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

When I am involved with things like debate or school work, I need to do everything in Christ's name. It's important to be constantly remembering Him and having a prayer in my heart.  Whenever I'm being torn down by depression or harmful thoughts, or whenever a bully is making me feel less than I am, I can use my smooth stones as weapons. My five smooth stones are things that make me happy. As long as everything I do is through the Savior, as long as I'm holding onto my testimony, then I will have perfect aim every time when taking down adversity.

You are David. Who or what is your Goliath? Who are the Philistines that try and discourage you? What are the five stones you use to fight against your trials? Is Christ your slingshot?

Oh, and if you're wondering, the power phrase that I chose is "the battle is the Lord's" from 1 Samuel 17:47. It's my responsibility to do my best in life. However, it's the expectation that I'll make mistake. The battle for my salvation and everlasting happiness is truly the Lord's, and I am eternally grateful for that.