This Christmas I will be staying home with my family. The best part would be that my brother Matthew comes home on the 20th and stays till January 4th. It been almost a year since I have seen him last. He is probably my honest favorite brother of the two. I made a promise to him that I would   wear his army hoodie everyday until he comes back. As for my list, I have not really asked for much this Christmas because as I've gotten older, I've realized most material things aren't as important. My brother wants to go stay the night at Winstar, and he also wants to go to Topgolf. As for anything else, that is really up to him. He is also going through a divorce so we want this holiday to be about him. We want to remind him that this is his home. He's gone through BCT all alone, and with very little contact to us, he says that he will really be needing this vacation.

   

In college I wish to accomplish all goals that will be set in my life. As of right now I am not really sure what I want to do in college, but all I know is that I want to be successful. I want to make my life important. Me going to college would be for me, and my family. I would like to be able to provide for all the ones in my life, and I want to make sure that I am prepared for all the things in the world. Nowadays it is a lot harder to get good, decent jobs without a degree. I want to go to a college that will be best suited for me. I would like to go to a big school that has ultimate Frisbee available on campus. Playing ultimate is a big hobby of mine, and I feel like if I was on a team I would fit in better. If I needed any advice on my college life, I would go to my brothers. My oldest brother Brandon lived on campus and got his degree in business management, while my second oldest brother went to college in Seattle. This would allow me to get the input of 2 different experiences in college, and it would help me to see what college life would be like. As for goals, I will just do my hardest to do what I can to help myself.

During this Thanksgiving break I will be stuck in my house the entire time. On the first day of the break I will be having surgery on my toes, and my feet. So not only will I be stuck at home, I will not even be able to feel my foot for the whole week. So ya, you could say I'm sooo looking forward to it...... Ya right. This year will also be a small thanksgiving for me. My brother is in the army and is in Georgia for Basic Training. My cousins will be going to Mississippi this year, so I will be having a very lonely break. On thanksgiving day we plan for it to just be me, my oldest brother, parents, and grandparents. I would just really like for this month to be over so we can be closer to Christmas. My brother in the army is coming back for Christmas, so every other day between that time is just more time away from him. So this week will still be stressed filled and I will still hate it because certain teachers feel the need to ruin our lives with work, when its called a "break". when people have a break at work its time to just chill out. But oh no, not at life school! As if they don't ruin our lives enough during the school periods, they invade our lives and personal time on breaks. Like really it's a break, teachers don't have to grade work, and they also don't have to give us any!!!!! So Thanks A lot.

Here is the cold hard truth, if me as a high schooler wanted a job, it would probably be something small. I would say working at a restaurant would be the best for me. I have great people skills, and I love being around food, mostly eating it. I feel that I would be very likable and make the atmosphere very welcoming. Whether it be a fast food place, or a good restaurant, I feel as though i would fit in. I would try my best to get an interview with the management and try to get on their good sides. Perhaps even telling them how I am a good people person, and how I fell I would succeed in the work place. I may even just apply online, so that way if they don't hire me, they are the ones missing out. All I know is that I would feel very confident working in a place where culinary experience is present.

The movie we watched (Homeless to Harvard) was really compelling. It tells the rough life of "LIZ" Murray, and her struggle to rise to the top like she always wanted. Her parents were both drug addicts and were later diagnosed with AIDS. Her mother tried to fight, but with her constant drinking and other medical problems, she soon lost that fight to Liz's surprise. Liz's mother Jean, told Liz that she would live forever. Which is exactly what Liz wanted. In the movie she said she hoped her mother would get better so that she could finally take care of her. That is not the case, Liz even says that her mother was her baby. It was her responsibility to take care of her mother, while at the same time her father was in a shelter. This amazing girl was able to overcome so many of the obstacles that were set in her destiny by her parents, and the environment she grew up in. Liz never went to school because she duties to do at home, and she was always the "smelly girl". People saw the greatness in her, her teachers, friends, and even her parents. She got into high school by lying, and saying that she had an address with the help of her dad, but in fact, she was homeless. She was the top in her class of around 140, and she was able to finish 4 years of high school in 2 years. This is when she able to go see Harvard University, and when she saw the open world, a world of light and happiness, that is when she knew that there was no going back. My favorite part of the movie is when she is receiving her scholarship from the New York Times. This seen made me see what it was really like for her, it gave me a since of understanding, and a greater look on Liz Murray. She speaks about how she needs college, because it is the road to getting out of the world she had been forced to reside in for so long. A reporter asks her "How did you do it?", and she gives the full hearted response " How could I not?". For Liz, college was not just a cool thing, it was a true blessing. It was her way to be a better person, and to show that even trash can rise to the top. She had lived so long thinking that she was destined to be what her parents made her, but she finally decided to say no. She would decide her outcome in life, and she wanted to be more than just trash like others said she would be. She tells the reporter that her parents showed her the alternative, and that she did not want to go down the same road. When the scene ends she says she would give it all back just to have her family again. She walks from the podium, and as she walks, the press, and board members are all clapping for her as she walks away remembering the times her and her mom shared. This scene tops them all because it is more than just her getting a scholarship. It shows her growing up from what she had believed for so long, but also her letting go of the past she had. When she left that day, she left as a new, and stronger young lady. She attended Harvard, and went out to set goals that would not only change her life, but help others throughout the world. As she said in that scholarship ceremony, " My life will never be the same again."

The thing I noticed the most about my budget is how far I will be in debt after college. Going to live in Arizona and living near campus would be very expensive, but of course worth it to me. What I didn't expect was to honestly find a place so close to the campus and it being so cheap, but I did. The place I found is only $600 a month, and comes with all things included in the room, even a working TV to watch all of the Universities games. I also would have to buy a bike because driving when I only live 5 minutes away would be a waste. I think what I could do now is just start saving money as soon as possible. I need to be able to afford all of these expenses the minute I go to the campus. There is no waiting on buying books, or buying transportation. All of these things are needed, so I will need to think of a way to prepare for all of these things. Perhaps in the comments leave me ideas?

The career that interests me most is being a U.S. marine. My Grandfathers, dad, uncle, aunts, and brother all served in the army. I have the same drive my dad did to join the army, but I want to be different. My mother is scared that I will be the first to be sent out to foreign countries, or on the front lines but that is okay with me. She also just doesn't want to see a man at the door holding a flag and I'm not there. My dad joined for many reasons, one reason was because his father also joined the army. Two, my dad is German, born and raised. So he thought that if he wanted to live here that he had better give back something to the U.S.A. Three, he said he felt a higher calling inside of him, like something that told him he should. That what he was doing was for a higher purpose, he said going through training, and maybe giving up his life was worth it to secure the lives the millions. I also agree with this philosophy. I feel like I will being something good and meaningful when I enlist. So why not do something to save millions?.

On the Student Stress Test I received a score of 9. The results say that I have my life relatively in check, but I let nonsense or other small things stress me out. I agree with what the test said, and I do believe that I let little things get to me. Whether it's being goofy in a public place, or something as simple as talking to new people I've never met before. I start to question things like, will they like me? Am i doing this right?, And what can I do to fit in more. Lately I've made new friends who have helped me wash away stress that I've had built up, and also playing Ultimate Frisbee has helped me get my mind off stress, and helped me to have a clear mind. I researched great stress relievers at www.mayoclinic.org, and here are some of the results. (Get Active), I've put this rule into my own life and it's payed off amazingly. Being active doing something you love, or being with friends can wash away the memories, scaring, and pain of stress. So go ahead and give it a try, I did and it was truly worth it. Next would be to (Laugh More), If you constantly make yourself depressed then your life begins to look darker in your eyes. If you just have fun and really live, then nothing can you hold you back from knowing that your life is great just the way it is. (Connect With Others), don't be afraid to make new friends, or simply talk to someone. The world is full of people, I'm sure some of those people have the same interests as you. So go out, look for them, look for those people who can put happy memories in your life. Those people are there for you, they may not know it yet, but their there. Last would be to (Assert Yourself), It is your life. Don't live with the fact that you may not be the most popular, the cutest, just be you. Know who you are, say no to the people who try to put you down. You are whatever you want to be, not what others say. When you believe this, and follow all of these rules, stress will slide right off your shoulders.

I organize myself, but I honestly just go with the flow. I carry around folders and dividers all the time, and it just helps me not get my bag dirty. I've procrastinated before and it has really effected me. I have either gotten bad grades on work, or I just completely don't do it. So this has costed me more than just grades, it has also effected my confidence in my work. I try to fight procrastination by having folders, keeping important events listed, and by actually trying on my work.

Hello,
My name is Garrett Johnson. I am a junior at Life School Waxahachie, and this is my blog for College Transition. I'm 16 years old and I really want to get my GPA higher so I can attend my favorite school. The University Of Arizona. I really hope that this class will prepare me for the things I will need to know for college, and to help me learn to be more organized. After High School and college, I would really like to be in the army. Some of my hobbies include, playing Ultimate Frisbee, Golfing, and working as a youth leader at my church in red oak. I'm looking forward to what my future holds and what this class will do for me.