Last year, I went into my freshman year a bit worried and
apprehensive, I think, but with a fairly open mind. I didn’t really have a support
system of friends that I could just run to at lunch and vent or rant or
whatever from the get go because I was the only one from my school going to
that certain school. Daunting it was, but I was up for it.
It’s really important for me to always push myself out of my
comfort zone and try something new. I did a lot of that this past year and
accomplished some things that I’m really proud of, but most of those things
didn’t happen in school, but rather outside of it. If you followed my
Confidence series, you’ll know that I was a relatively shy, actually, very shy girl in my middle school years
and it has always been something that I’ve been labelled with ever since I was
pretty young.
I didn’t think much of it before as I thought it was just
something that I was, the same way my hair colour was black and my eyes were
brown. Then, I realised that it’s also a very big part of how people see me and
how I portray myself to others. I think when it comes to being shy and reserved,
there are two extreme behaviours that most people associate with that – that
I’m either really weak, or just snobby and think of myself too highly to be
willing to reach out and have a conversation with someone.
First impressions are tough because you obviously want to
make them good and you want to be
memorable and you want people to remember your shining qualities instead of
your “bad” ones. Before, I’d never been 100% comfortable in my own skin, but at
the beginning of freshman year, I was just like I had to be more me and just be
more lively and make an effort to interact with people.
It was obviously pretty hard during the first few weeks
because everyone already had their own friend groups and were sticking to them
like glue and I was just that little fly trying to get in with them. Don’t get
me wrong, I wasn’t trying to fit in or anything, I just wanted to push myself
out of my comfort zone.
Thankfully, it worked out in the end I got myself a really
nice group of people who understand me for the most part, and the parts that
they don’t, they don’t question but just accept. This past year, I was able to
make really amazing friends and keep them (woot woot!) so that was already one
big thing that I was a bit wary of at the beginning, but it definitely got
better and I’m so happy that I didn’t just stay huddled up in a corner on my
phone whenever I wasn’t in class.
Thank God I didn’t do that.
This year, I’ve put even more on my plate and I’m really
hoping to accomplish them all. Here’s a look at my sophomore to-do list.
1. Run for Student
Council – This is something that
I’ve always wanted to do, but it requires you to talk to a lot of people and
know a lot people, as well as be really convincing in your speech and campaign
and all that jazz, so I have a lot of work ahead of me. It’s something that I
really want to do, so I’m hoping that I won’t chicken out of it like I did in
grade 9.
I also want to run for an executive position for Key Club.
If you don’t know what it is already, it’s basically a club that works on
humanitarian issues and it’s actually found in schools all around the world and
there are tons and tons of members. You should definitely think of joining one
or starting one at your school if you’re passionate about helping people.
2. Start a FIDM
fashion club at school – This is also going to take a lot of metaphorical
balls, balls of steel, really, because just saying the words “fashion club”
makes me feel incredibly lame, but again, like the last point, it’s something
that I really want to do, so I’d better not chicken out and work my butt off to
make it happen.
3. Sew and sketch a
bit every night (or so) – The time to apply to colleges and universities
and all that might seem far away, but it’s really not. Lots of people are
telling me, old and young, to just chill and relax and not worry about it
because I have loads of time to decide. While it’s not like I disagree, I can’t
help but send my mind into a frenzied panic sometimes and worry about if I
don’t get the classes that I want in high school, if I don’t take all the
prerequisite courses for a certain major, or if I don’t get into the school
that I want to which is such a huge, huge worry. It’s a pretty universal one as
well.
Wow, I just rambled on about that and didn’t even get to the
point, aha. Basically, I need to start working hard on my portfolio for FIT and
the other schools I’m applying to and to do so, need to start working on my
skills to make sure that that portfolio that I’m handing it will be my best work
and that I’ll be crazy proud of it.
4. Try out for a
sports team – I’ve never been a sports girl, but I loved playing softball
last year and I’ve been meaning to find myself an excuse to try out for the
school rugby team, so I might just do that this year. Softball’s a bit more
likely than rugby, though, aha.
5. Get a job –
It’s kind of tough for me to get a proper job (I tutor on the side) because I’m
only 15, but I really, really need the experience and I need to help my parents
and save up for school, so that’s another thing that’s one my to-do list.
6. Do more housework
– I’d been so busy last year that I didn’t get a chance to help my mom around
the house very much which makes me feel incredibly guilty, so I need to make
time to do that this year.
7. Immerse myself in
culture – While I did a lot last year, I want to be more inspired next
year, so I want to just read more fashion history books and biographies as well
as watch more movies and documentaries in general. I’ve always been a bit sad
that I’m not really a “movie person” so I’m going to try to dedicate a bit of
time to immersing myself in some brain food every now and then.
8. Study for the SATs
– While I live in Canada and don’t actually have to take the SATs like
Americans do, since FIT is in the States and I always want to have that option
on hand, I’m going to be taking the SATs and while it’s a long time away, I’m
planning to start familiarising myself with the tests this year with a few
other of my friends who are planning to take them, too.
9. Get more sleep –
Sleep was a major problem for me last year. I was always staying up late
blogging and making cards (I have a mini card business) and I’m sad and very
annoyed to have to say that I very rarely got eight hours of sleep. Eight hours
a night is already very little for a teenager, so it was pretty bad how most of
the time, I was living off of seven to seven and half hours of sleep. Even
during the summer I’ve been busying myself so much that I’ve barely gotten any
sleep.
Basically, my sleep patterns have to change and they will change this year as I’m planning to
get a solid eight hours every night. I need to learn to take care of my body
and mind better in that sense so I can work more efficiently and just feel more
awake.
10. Have at least
three 7-piece collections designed by the end of the year – This ties in a
bit with #3, but I really need to get my whole fashion design game together if
I want to have a future in it. Another thing that will help me with this point
that I’m trying out here on Style Generis
is having a monthly sketchbook column so I’m basically forcing myself to come
up with something decent to show you guys every month to push myself to just
draw and design more.
That is pretty much all I wanted to say about this new
school year. As you could probably tell, I’ve put a lot on my plate and I’m
planning to accomplish it all. Hopefully. Overall, I’m super excited about the
next ten months of school and am still a bit nervous, of course, because of the
pressure I’d put on myself, but I believe that I can do it. In the end, that’s
what’s going to get me through this list. Good faith, lots of planning, and
impeccable time management.
To all of you going back to school, I wish you the best of
luck. I believe in you and whatever your dreams and goals for the year are.
Despite only having completed one year of high school, my advice to you is to
make goals and not to be afraid to dream big. If you want something, write it
down, make an attack plan, and make it happen. Do everything to the best of
your abilities, but know when to take a break and take care of yourself. While
I thoroughly enjoyed my freshman year, I didn’t do enough of that and taking
care of your body and your mind will be truly beneficial.
Sorry that this ended up being so long, but I hope that I
got everything that I wanted to across. Let’s make this year amazing.
What are your goals
for this school year? Do you often make goals for things like this? What is
one piece of advice you’d like to share with me and my other readers? Leave
your comments and share your stories below!
- J
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