My STEM mentor (prof at the local university) just helped my group pick a new topic for our mentorship program and we get to do it on the Internet of Things. Pretty much a buzzword to describe the devices that connect your everyday objects (coffee machine, heart monitor, clothing, etc) to the internet (or some type of network) which allows all these obscure things to “talk” with each other. We’re going to be researching potential security issues that come with certain products and the best ways to make consumers aware of these issues before they purchase new gadgets. I’m really glad we got change our original project because it would’ve been coding a frogger game using some obscure development tool for the entire year. I already took APCS and that just would’ve been gross. ^#(^
The PSAT happens on Saturday and next Wednesday. My old school did it on the Wednesday but my new school does Saturday. They are two different tests, but still the normal PSAT.
Edit: I didn’t see @Hamlon and @snowfairy137 's response yeah that’s it
@snowfairy137 @Hamlon @Soccer1235 Oh. That make sense.
@ak2018 A lot of the seniors don’t come to school on PSAT day because they just sit in the auditorium for the 6 hours we’re at school.
Today’s football game was the last game before homecoming, and I saw on Facebook that my school’s team was losing 49-0 and it wasn’t even halftime yet. The homecoming game is going to be SO much fun to make fun of next week!!!
I auditioned for all-state jazz today! All of you music folks will know what I’m talking about when I get into the music terminology. I had to play the chromatic, E-major, and B-flat-major scales (I play flute). I messed up on the first half of one of the octaves of the E scale. I played all the others perfectly. For the actual piece I had to play the lead sheet of
Take the A Train" and an etude followed by improvisation all with a backing track. I did well on the lead sheet and improv and messed up slightly in 2 spots on the etude. I then had to sight read a jazz piece and did okay on that.
I can’t wait to find out how I did next week! Hopefully flutes will be accepted into the jazz bands or jazz combo. 
So I actually learned a lot of interesting things in U.S. History today.
- Thomas Jefferson had a mistress, who was a slave, by the name of Sally Hemmings. He also had at least 4 illegitimate mixed children with her.
- George Washington pretty much predicted how bad political parties would become.
We’re doing this thing in class where we’re being split up in teams to help us do well on the next test. Since our class didn’t do so well on the last test, our teacher is promising an incentive, donuts, to the team that collectively raises their hands to ask questions the most and does the best, percent average-wise, on the next test. Everyone pretty much wanted to be on my team because I’m pretty much the class history buff. I have a bunch of big plans for my team, since I’m pretty much already appointing myself team leader.
Studying this weekend for the PSAT! Gotta get that Merit Scholarship!
@ak2018 How did you learn about TJ and Washington’s farewell address in the same day they were quite a few years apart.
What is the cutoff for the PSAT scholarship?
@CoolNick Depends on your state.
@kassh4 Our class goes much faster, and less in-depth, than APUSH. I’m actually loving how fast the class. My friends in APUSH just got to the 1700s, while we just started the 1800s. About two weeks ago, we were actually able to finish our notes on the Revolutionary War in ONE DAY!
@ak2018 We just started the election between JQA and Jackson
good luck on those psats yall
I am taking the PSAT on Wednesday, and I have no time to study this weekend!!! I think I will do some studying in off time tomorrow, but I can’t do anything today as I have a marching band competition and won’t be home until 10:30 or 11 at night!!! But I’m super nervous. I know I probably won’t make it to NMSF but I hope to be at least a Commended Student…
Also, the cast list for my school’s production of Bye Bye Birdie came out yesterday, and let’s just say that I set too high of expectations for myself. I got the roles of Mayor’s Wife, Maude’s Dishwasher (I’m part of the male quartet but I’m a girl… they probably couldn’t find anyone that could sing high enough haha), and a Sweet Apple parent (aka I’m part of a mob that’s angry at Conrad Birdie :P) But I’m making the best out of a sucky situation. I have next year, after all, and I’m pretty much guaranteed a lead because all of the people who got leads this year are seniors and are leaving.
@Marg532 Having a distinguished part is better than being in the chorus, at least. Do you get any unique lines?
Thanks to the PSAT on Wednesday, instead of letting out on 12:48, my school is keeping a full schedule, meaning we’re getting out at 2:15 instead. 
Also, today is Fall Fest at my school, which is kinda like a little fair. My friend and I are volunteering at the Community Service Club’s booth, we’re going to be selling baked goods to raise money.
Wow a lt has changed. I am back
Did anyone get a letter from College Admission Assistance (CAA) in mail?
My dad got a letter in the mail from them after school. He asked if I knew anything about it and I said no. He decided it was worth a shot to go to sign-up and see what it’s about. However, before I went to the website, I looked it up on Google and the first link wasn’t their official website, but a CC thread about whether or not it’s a scam. After going through the thread, I’m 100% we will not be attending or participating in anything related to them. After reading the letter again, I realized how sketchy the whole thing seemed. They made the program out to be something it’s not by overstressing its importance. One of the biggest things it left out was that the program costs money.
By doing a little more research, and reading the CC thread, I find out a few things:
- Those who sign up for the program are given an address for a hotel to meet up in for a intro program.
- The whole intro program is an hour long in which you basically sit throw them talk and watch a few videos and testimonials. This ends up getting the kids really excited.
- At the end of the presentation, they tell you that you must pay $2,000 for their services and, depending on the person who's presenting, must make the decision immediately.
- The whole intro program seems like a timeshare program.
- They seem very unprofessional and have had multiple complaints.
I looked through the thread, and did more research, but I already knew there is NO WAY my parents would pay $2,000 for this. I checked out the whole premise of the program and it seems that $2,000 is used to give users financial aid, test prep, and a bunch of other stuff. Basically, for all of the families who are clueless as to how the college admissions process works, or don’t have the time to do all of the research, you can pay about $2,000 to have all of that college research done for you.
Now I’m not trying to discredit their company, but I’m just very skeptical about it. If their program, and business in general, seemed way more official, maybe I’d see it. But my parents still wouldn’t buy it. There are probably much better programs out there.
I’m mainly sharing this with you guys because I know a couple of us have been receiving college mail lately. This is just a friendly little reminder to ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH! I’ve seen mixed reviews about this program, so I’d be wary.
Again, this program, at least to my knowledge, is not a scam. I personally think they could definitely work the program out to make it less sketchy and more official.
Remember The Golden Rule: Stay Away from Scams, Fam!
Grade Update:
Spanish 2 - 91% - A
Functions/Trigonometry - 88% - B+
Engineering Explorations 1/Robotics - 91% - A
AP English Language and Composition - 88% - B+
PLTW Principles of Engineering - 91% - A
U.S. and Virginia History - 90% - A
AP Chemistry - 89% - B+
Current Unweighted GPA: 3.74
Weighted GPA: 4.2
The PSAT was SOOO EZ for me! I’m so excited! I’ll be shocked if I don’t get NMSF
@Soccer1235 I thought that the math was slightly harder than the practice tests, but that the Reading and Writing were both so much easier both in terms of question difficulty and passage difficulty.