COLLEGE!

Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows where I'm going to college... VT!

College applications were pretty stressful for me this year... My parents really pushed for UVA but I never really liked it as much as VT. Although UVA has amazing academics, I just couldn't really see myself fitting in there, and when it comes down to it, even if I had gotten in I don't think I would've picked a school I didn't feel comfortable at.

The main reason I love Virginia Tech is the sense of pride and family that the students and faculty have. I've always had a lot of school/team pride and I can't wait to be around people who love their school as much as I do. Plus the food and the football team are great........ :D

Anyway, next year I'm going to be majoring in Philosophy and minoring in Environmental Sciences. People usually laugh when I tell them what I want to do with my life, and adults always tell me that I'm going to end up changing my mind. The truth is though, I don't think I will. I've always known that I want a law degree, and I don't think that's going to change!

What I would really love to do is combine my love for law and animals... hopefully I'll be able to practice environmental (specifically wildlife) law. My parents weren't too thrilled on the idea of animal/wildlife law... they don't really understand why I would fight for animals when there are so many humans suffering in this world. Honestly, I want to spend my life doing something I'm passionate about, and animal advocacy and animal rights really do mean a lot to me. If I decide to not practice law, I want to do something in Congress... hopefully I'll be able to start out as a legislative assistant... you never know where I might end up!

I can't believe we're only 7 days away from graduation. Its UNREAL! I really had fun in Comparative and it was definitely one of my favorite classes this year. I'm going to miss it so much!! Thanks for being such a great teacher, Mr. Stroud :)

Senior Year

This year was crazy to say the least. If I could go back, I don't think I would change a thing [well maybe there is one thing I might have opted out on... ;)].

I definitely would tell all the rising seniors NOT to pile up on AP classes. Taking 6 AP's was hell, especially when I had to balance classes with interning, work, Keyettes, ROTC, coaching/playing soccer, chores/family, and some semblance of a social life.

Interning was a little rough... especially with the whole AOD thing. Although I kind of wish I hadn't made a stupid mistake, I definitely learned a lot and grew from the experience so I can't say it was a completely bad thing.

In retrospect I also would've like to worked harder at maintaining my GPA and my grades. They absolutely tanked this year and I feel really bad about it now... but its all in the past so I can't really change anything.

The thing I loved the most about senior year is the fact that I made some really awesome new friends... I also feel like our class grew a little closer. I can't wait to graduate but I can honestly say that I'm really, really going to miss high school.

Oh well... on to bigger and better things I guess. VT <3

Summer Plans

I'm going to have a realllyy busy summer! On the 14th we graduate, then the 15th is all night grad. The 16th I'm heading out THE OUTER BANKS with 7 of my closest friends - Taylor, Denise, Lea, Kayla, Hannah, Adele, and Olivia (CAN'T WAIT!). Once I get back (23rd) I'm going to be working two jobs all summer so I can make bank for Tech in the fall.

I've been working at Safeway for almost a year now, and I'm going to keep that Friday-Sunday. I just started my new job at The Breeze in downtown Herndon and I already love it. Waiting is kind of a pain in the butt but at the same time its also fun and its something new and different.... which is probably why I like it. So anyway I'm going to do The Breeze Monday-Thursday and Safeway Friday-Sunday. And of course I'm going to relax and squish in another vacation somewhere :)

4th Quarter CE #4

Women Assaulted in Egypt


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=154471078


Concern grows for the safety of women in Egypt's Tahrir Square after numerous women have been assaulted during protests. An attack late yesterday seemed to be the last straw for many protesters who are calling for a campaign to prevent sexual harassment in the square. Although calls for this campaign seem to stem from the recent protests, many Egyptians insist that it is "part of a bigger social problem that has largely gone unpunished."


Because women rarely report attacks, the actual amount of incidents is unknown. Many suspect that these attacks on women are driven by opponents of the protesters in an effort to weaken spirits.


Women are also seemingly targeted by military and security troops, a strategy favored by Mubarak. "Troops were captured on video stomping with their boots on the bare chest of a woman, with only her blue bra showing, as other troops pulled her by the arms across the ground."

A 2008 report says that two-thirds of women in Egypt experience sexual harassment of some form on a daily basis. TWO THIRDS! Although police forces have increased their number of patrols, no legislation/punishment was ever passed. 

Since Mubarak was ousted, women's political rights have deteriorated - they have won fewer seats in parliament than ever before. Women's rights groups also fear the 

growing power of Islamist groups will lead to new restrictions.

4th Quarter CE #3

Teen kills 1, injures another, in deadly texting and driving accident


http://www.necn.com/06/06/12/Teen-found-guilty-for-deadly-crash-while/landing_newengland.html?blockID=720670&feedID=4206


February 2011 - 18 year old Aaron Deveau's life changed in an instant when his car crashed into 55-year old Donald Bowley's car, killing him and injuring his girlfriend, Luz Roman.


Jurors only took a few hours to find Deveau GUILTY and hand down the maximum sentence (1 year) for negligent motor vehicle homicide and causing injury in a crash while texting and driving. Because the teen had his phone in his hand at the time when the crash occurred, there was reason to believe he was texting, which constitutes criminal negligence.


Deveau's case will go to the Supreme Judicial Court on appeal. It will be interesting to see how this case affects other teenagers' decisions on phone usage while operating a motor vehicle.

4th Quarter CE #2

Redskins Move Training Camp Location


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/post/redskins-moving-training-camp-to-richmond-in-2013/2012/06/06/gJQAxCrgIV_blog.html?hpid=z6


Unfortunately for Redskins fans in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, the Washington Redskins have announced a change in location for their August training camp. Beginning in 2013, the camp will move from Ashburn to Richmond, the state capital.


However, the Redskins corporate headquarters will remain at the Loudoun county facility as a part of a $30 million expansion deal. 


Governor Rob McDonnell said that the state has been negotiating the deal for over a year now. Maryland and the District of Columbia offered the team more money to choose a camp within their boundaries, but club officials decided to remain in Virginia. "We are the most business friendly state in America and that's why even though other jurisdictions offered significant revenue...the management and ownership of the Redskins understood there's no better place to call home... that the commonwealth of Virginia," said Governor McDonnell. 


VA will spend $4 million in 2 years, while Loudoun County alone will provide $2 million in four years to upgrade the outdated facilities. Richmond, however, has only agreed to pay $400,000.


The Redskins are undoubtedly an integral part of Virginia's economy and we cannot be happier to have them call us home.

4th Quarter CE #1

More Trouble For Kwame Brown 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/regional


DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown really cannot catch a break. The nation's capital was rocked by another scandal today when news broke that Brown is being charged with bank fraud. Brown is notorious for being in trouble with the law and has been the subject of a long-running corruption investigation. 


As of now, Brown has signed a "criminal information" document and his plea hearing is set for Friday morning in the US District Court. 


According to Brown's press statement, he "provided Industrial Bank of Washington “falsified documents” that overstated his income by “tens of thousands of dollars” to allow him to obtain a home equity loan and to purchase a boat."


As a result of this crime, Brown can see up to 30 years in prison, but speculation points to him getting off with a more lenient punishment. It is inevitable that Brown will resign in the coming days, although he has made no official statement saying as much.