<p>I read Cirque du Freak too!
Back in the days, I went through a “vampire/monster” phase when I was obsessed with the occult (I kind of turned a complete 180, but I still love horror movies).</p>
<p>Oooh, I have Wall-E on my iPod! I’m going to be gone for four days from tomorrow to Saturday for the state-level BPA competition (the business thing I told you guys about), so I downloaded a bunch of movies onto my iPod to view at leisure. Yay~
So much freaking work to do before I can go though. :\ I’m not even sure if I can finish it all tonight. <em>is taking a short break before diving into psychology textbook-reading</em></p>
<p>dopaminescene, from what I hear, are you getting more interested in RHP than you were before? (;</p>
<p>So all of you, assuming you’re going to stay at high school for senior year, what do you plan to do for your last year of high school?
Assuming you are accepted and decide to go, are you going to “go out with a bang” and totally enjoy your last semester of junior year, or finish strong?
Any summer plans?</p>
<p>House MD
The Great Gatsby also, just finished it yesterday lol but genuinely good, w/o a doubt best school-related book ever, amazing writing style and characters yes?
Never Back Down, its just simple entertainment and pretty inspiring too</p>
<p>btw I’ve read the blog link posted earlier and I have to say i’m pretty turned off of rhp, I’m pretty disappointed at how anti-social or isolated the RHPers seem. I was hoping for a more open social experience with students both in and out of RHP because to be honest i think a lot of RHPers will be the academic type that you just can’t hang around with all the time. Also, the self-proclaimed “geekiness” of the group disturbs me. And within the group of 30 or so kids there’s a surprising amount of failures: scholarships revoked, breakdowns, feuds, failing classes, the law etc. It gives the whole selection a tone of a tragic descent into darkness, which suggests to me that a common trend was the inability of RHP students to cope with the sudden maturity demanded of college life that may have been better developed with a senior year. On top of it all, i find the specific story and general characterization of Penny to be very alarming. I realize that every experience depends on what you make of it but it doesnt seem like this program is the ideal basis for an enjoyable and constructive college experience. Sorry for sounding rather negative, and i don’t mean to be a wet towel. Just sharing my thoughts. I’ll still keep it as an option and attend the visits they invite me to and I hope to see you guys there, but right now im thinking my senior year might be better spent in high school and my college years spent elsewhere.</p>
<p>I did not read the thing dope posted and it sounds pretty horrific, so I don’t think I’m going to. Cirque Du Freak was awesome! And I also recently read Gatsby, but all the characters are kind of abhorrent so meh…good read though.</p>
<p>(Current) Show: Flight of the Conchords
Book: Catcher in the Rye
Movie: Tough one…maybe Office Space</p>
<p>hahaha wait wait i change my mind, i think Gladiator is the best movie ever =D
it has such intense fighting scenes, yet also has such a dramatic storyline</p>
<p>no doubt now, 100% my most favorite movie of ALL time!</p>
<p>i haven’t seen wall-e yet, but i’ve heard from many people that it’s good too.
did you guys watch kung fu panda?
SOOOOO FUNNY. i just watched it a few weeks ago in my chinese class since it had some “chinese themes” haha (i think my teacher just wanted to watch it too)</p>
<p>Chuckles: I read up to the part of the student getting caught with marijuana, then i just stopped reading
It’s a pretty big disappointment learning the sad story of an old RHP student, but i’m going to ignore everything i read on that website =D
the fact that it was a “study,” or sort of even a senior “research” paper, makes the story seem a TINY bit over-dramatized</p>
<p>by the way Vicki and Simon, did you guys finish Cirque Du Freak? According to my cousin, the last few books weren’t released in America? but there’s a pretty good ending that ties into the story pretty well =]</p>
<p>Jeopardy
Julius Caesar
Anchorman
Hamlet’s fine, but I much prefer Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t bother with the blog. It consists of one person’s perspective, warped so as to create an engaging paper, and written concerning the RHP of about decade ago (1998). Further, from what little I read, she seemed to be concentrating on the experiences of only a portion of the RHP students, and, perhaps, the least-inspired (or at least most self-conscious) of them.
Again, I hardly think it’s worth putting any stock in. I certainly wouldn’t allow it to affect my decision.</p>
<p>Get Smart (mainly because it’s what my brothers and I watch during dinner. I do love Andy Griffith, though.)</p>
<p>There are three books I’ve loved intensely over my brief existence: Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes (all of the books), and The Phantom of the Opera. There are so many more I love, though–anything by Agatha Christie, Gaston Leroux, The Brontes, Jane Austen . . . I’m a 1800s-early 1900s girl. May I add: LES MISERABLES! Gone with the Wind! </p>
<p>As to movies, I don’t like a lot of them that aren’t based off of my favorite books. Nonetheless, Casablanca is near the top of the charts. I’ve studied almost every a)Sherlock Holmes Movie and b)Every Phantom of the Opera movie in English in existence, and I own most of them. If I were some sort of film major, I’d probably end up doing my thesis on something to do with them. </p>
<p>(One of my early goals in life, much before middle school, was to write the ‘definitive version’ of either a Holmes movie or a Phantom movie. My attempts were cute, in retrospect, and very enthusiastic, but I really assumed too much of my audiences–used dialogue directly from the book that would cause half the audience to scrunch their faces in puzzlement.) </p>
<p>As to the blog, I’m with Christopher in taking it with a pile of salt, but it is interesting to get the perspective.</p>
<p>As to the drug thing mentioned in the blog: you’re going to have to deal with that kind of stuff even at Harvard, Stanford, etc. Some kids just need to be watched 24/7 to keep them from doing stuff that is harmful to themselves, and some are really good at preventing adults from realizing that they need attention. It’s terrible, but that’s the way society is these days. There are kids (like me in particular) who are scared of anything more potent than Advil being put in their bodies, and then there are kids who can only cope with life through misuse of substances, and thus do themselves more harm than good.</p>
<p>I am proud to say that I am a clean kid, and always shall be. I never was under the illusion that RHP would be a haven from the drug scene, however. No program, no matter how prestigious etc. can be truly without dilemma, and no matter how smart some kids are, they can still make stupid (STUPID!) choices. With both drugs and alcohol. And that, my dears, is a tragedy, but what can we do?</p>
<p>Anyhow, I don’t think the majority of us on this board are druggies, so if worst comes to worst, we could form a clean alliance or something. Make it cool to be clean. That kind of thing. And remember, 1998 is a decade of difference from 2009. It was a different culture.</p>
<p>And I do agree with the idea of not letting ourselves become clique-ish. It’s not cool to exclude, and in fact, I would feel pathetic doing so.</p>
<p>As to the ‘characterization of Penny’, I think probably (at this time anyway) she is/was of the mentality that we should just take care of ourselves–something that so many kids crave. Maybe rules are more stringent now after that drug bust. Besides, if I were her, I wouldn’t be very inclined to help out two kids too stoned to go to class who then fail the class. Not that I completely condone the behavior depicted in the blog, but then, not once did Myshele speak favorably of Dr. Helmont, and I think that this is due to significant bias. Without hearing the full story, I’m not going to settle my opinion. And then, I try to follow the maxim ‘judge not lest ye be judged’.</p>
<p>Is it just me, or are we older than the previous RHP kids? I’m 17 now, yet people were just turning 17 in the blog. I’ll be turning 18 after the first semester of classes.</p>
<p>haha. i’ll be seventeen before rhp starts, if i go.
and i’d be 18 for senior year if i just started college normally anyway.
so noththat much of a difference.</p>
<p>and you guys, i don’t condone what was in that link either-- but it at least provided a full view of the program. albeit 10 years ago. so yeah, take that with a grain of salt lol. and chuckles, keep in mind that we can decide what to do with rhp if we go. it’s not like you have to be in the academic clique, and i don’t think any of us want that to be the dynamic of this if we go. but that’s how it turned out for that one class back then. keep that in mind. </p>
<p>and as to poirotsfriend says about the drug thing: totally agree. I have a way different perspective cuz not only am i clean for life, but i am in a teaching program for 7th graders to learn about the ill effects of drinking and then i also am a blogger for an anti-smoking movement in massachusetts. so yeah, i feel pretty strongly about staying clean. lol.</p>
<p>rosinyangster : yeah, my parents/teachers/relatives have been like “that’s such an honor! you should really think about it.” when i was being so “well…ivie’s next year?!” so i decided to really think of the opportunity and visit and consider the pros and cons. so yeah, i’m opening up to the possibility. 
</p>
<p>answering your questions:
if i stay here: i’m running for student govt, nhs treasurer/pres (i have to decide), work on amnesty int and do some big project in school for them, go to prom, get into a very good college lol, goof off with my friends / drive around with no where to go, play field hockey for varsity ( which i embarassingly haven’t done yettt :[ )…graduation! </p>
<p>if i go: somewhere in between! i wanna still do well on my sats, aps, etc & finals. but maybe more lax. i’ll def go to prom. and really have fun before i have to leave my friends and all behind.</p>
<p>If I stay here: I’ll pretty much keep on doing everything I’m doing now. Maintain my work for Habitat for Humanity. Maintain my literary magazine. Continue to teach violin/viola/piano to benefit Habitat. Continue to study piano. Finally be given full reign as far as number of AP classes go. Maybe I’ll achieve an AA in music. Then, reapply to USC (Thematic Option Program) next November, since I’m pretty much settled on the fact that I want to go there.</p>
<p>If I go: I won’t kick back. I’ll do well on everything I do well on now. This summer I’ll take a breather, when I can afford to do so. If for some reason I get in, it will be a gift, and I will only redouble my academic energy. I can’t say I will get in based on pure abilities. </p>
<p>COLLEGE IS WHAT ONE MAKES OF IT. As is high school! So I’m really not at all daunted by the Master’s Thesis. (Was that REALLY all she needed to write? To get her Master’s?! Just talk to people she hadn’t talked to for a long time? Granted, it was anthropology, but hey! I could have done that using my middle school companions!)</p>
<p>Oh, and at the very beginning of the paper she states that she only is going to discuss the elements of one dorm. Not the other one. So that’s something to keep in mind when reading it; she paid zero attention to the dorm she labels as ‘anti-social’.</p>
<p>I was going to post my reaction to the blog, but I think most of what I thought has already been covered. Glad to know you guys are a far more mature bunch that the '99 crew!</p>
<p>Ditto on the last bit!</p>
<p>ditto to poirots ditto!
yeah, that clingyness is ridiculous. get some friends, seriously.
haha. anyone get packages/more phone calls lately? </p>
<p>i’ve been checking the mail in the snow every day barefooted jsut when the mailman comes… :(</p>
<p>Barefoot in the snow!</p>
<p>That really doesn’t compare to barefoot in California rain. (My fruitless predicament)</p>
<p>Anyone excited for Watchmen??</p>
<p>I’m reading the book now finally…it’s pretty good, but I think overrated. Going to see the movie at midnight. Should be a good distraction from waiting, at the very least.</p>
<p>You think its overrated…yet you’re seeing it at midnight? Interesting…
I’m actually reading it right now too and I find it amazing. I can’t wait to see it.
In other news…I GOT A LETTER FROM USC TODAY!!!</p>
<p>…saying they need more information for my financial aid stuff…sigh. And it was postmarked from Feb. 26…does that mean it will take the decision letter that long to reach me?</p>
<p>I have friends who are seeing Watchmen at midnight also. I don’t know a thing about it. Tell us the synopsis when you’ve seen it.</p>
<p>Ugh, late night, late night.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong…I think the book is incredible. Calling it one of the best novels of the 20th century, however, seems to me hyperbolic.</p>
<p>haha. i haven’t tried graphic novels…is it worth reading? </p>
<p>and psymon, probably! i got that finaid letter weeks ago…
and i live in mass.</p>
<p>Yesterday I got a letter, too.</p>
<p>It was just your typical, ‘hey, based off of your SAT score we think you’re a great candidate for our college, you little junior you.’ </p>
<p>Which makes me wonder if there was something wrong with my application. Oughtn’t I already be in their system?</p>