The End
Well, the end of the year. I've been looking forward to this since after the AP test. After that, anything was sort of... anticlimactic. I mean, I spent 8 mos. in history preparing for that exam, cramming the week before, waiting for that test. And then, my teachers had the audacity to break the sanctity of the post-AP test calm with essays, homework, and tests. So I drudged through it, not studying, not caring. And finally, I'm almost free. But now that I'm at this point, I wish I weren't. I didn't realize that until today at nutrition. I went to the rocks w/ the drama kids, and it was so quiet, so strange w/o all the seniors. It felt very empty, and the loss of the seniors was poignant. They'll all be missed next year, and Sam, too. I wish them good luck in college/life and Cape Cod, respectively. I found myself already looking to next year-- waiting to see the new talent at CSz tryouts, to audition for the fall play, to find out who's in what class with me. This year has been so much fun, and I can tell that I've grown, as a student, actor, and person.
I'm getting stuck in the middle of an argument that isn't even mine. It's about how we determine who makes the cut for the CSz team, and our integrity has been impugned w/ accusations of nepotism and prejudice. IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND IT APPLIES TO YOU, LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY: We watch very carefully during practice. If you attend all 6 open practices (3 this year, and 3 next year), we've seen you play for 12 hours. A 10 minute tryout probably won't change our mind one way or the other. However, the tryout is still important, as we need to see you under pressure. Finally, as to certain rumors of a list, yes, we take notes of how you play in our minds, but some people, like the team mgr., might be taking written notes. I'm not sure. But there is NO list about who's on and who isn't. That is by no means decided or definite, and no decisions will be made until after tryouts. So, relax. Trust me-- it's a fair process and all of you will be regarded w/o personal bias.
With that out of the way, I'll talk a little of finals. Note: If you don't want to hear obnoxious and arrogant bragging, skip the rest of this paragraph. I work my butt off all year just so I can fail my finals and keep an A, so I actually not worried. I need a 55% on the English final, 40% on math, 51% on physio, and 60% on Spanish. I've taken English (don't know what I got yet), and math (92%, woot!). That's nice to not have to worry. Also, I got my Lord of the Flies paper back. Mrs. Updegraff gives next to no A's in her class on essays. Not only did I get an A, but I got a 100%!!!!
Got Rebecca's end-of-the-year party tomorrow and the Starbucks rendezvous and Harry Potter on Thursday. That should be pretty fun. I was thinking of stopping by to say hello to the Lindero people tomorrow, but I'm not certain yet. I'm gone for 8 weeks this summer. I'll be a CIT (counselor in training) at Camp Alonim, a Jew camp in Simi Valley, at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is:
Aaron Alpert, CIT
c/o Camp Alonim
1101 Peppertree Lane
Brandeis, CA 93064
There's a whole political thing going on there right now, unfortunately. The BBI's ideology is sort of shifting in what I fear is a negative direction, away from an emphasis on community to one on fun. The dance director (Israeli Folk dance, by the way), David Dassa, who is excellent and a good friend of my family, quit and is going to be teaching at Camp Hess Kramer, a different Jew camp. This might mean that I get to do a bit of teaching this summer, which would be good experience because one day I hope to be an Israeli Folk dance instructor. But still, I wouldn't trade the experience for the camp's old ideology.
Well, I need sleep! Have an amazing summer everyone and good luck on your finals! Oh, and click this.
I'm getting stuck in the middle of an argument that isn't even mine. It's about how we determine who makes the cut for the CSz team, and our integrity has been impugned w/ accusations of nepotism and prejudice. IF YOU'RE READING THIS AND IT APPLIES TO YOU, LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY: We watch very carefully during practice. If you attend all 6 open practices (3 this year, and 3 next year), we've seen you play for 12 hours. A 10 minute tryout probably won't change our mind one way or the other. However, the tryout is still important, as we need to see you under pressure. Finally, as to certain rumors of a list, yes, we take notes of how you play in our minds, but some people, like the team mgr., might be taking written notes. I'm not sure. But there is NO list about who's on and who isn't. That is by no means decided or definite, and no decisions will be made until after tryouts. So, relax. Trust me-- it's a fair process and all of you will be regarded w/o personal bias.
With that out of the way, I'll talk a little of finals. Note: If you don't want to hear obnoxious and arrogant bragging, skip the rest of this paragraph. I work my butt off all year just so I can fail my finals and keep an A, so I actually not worried. I need a 55% on the English final, 40% on math, 51% on physio, and 60% on Spanish. I've taken English (don't know what I got yet), and math (92%, woot!). That's nice to not have to worry. Also, I got my Lord of the Flies paper back. Mrs. Updegraff gives next to no A's in her class on essays. Not only did I get an A, but I got a 100%!!!!
Got Rebecca's end-of-the-year party tomorrow and the Starbucks rendezvous and Harry Potter on Thursday. That should be pretty fun. I was thinking of stopping by to say hello to the Lindero people tomorrow, but I'm not certain yet. I'm gone for 8 weeks this summer. I'll be a CIT (counselor in training) at Camp Alonim, a Jew camp in Simi Valley, at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute. If anyone would like to send me mail, the address is:
Aaron Alpert, CIT
c/o Camp Alonim
1101 Peppertree Lane
Brandeis, CA 93064
There's a whole political thing going on there right now, unfortunately. The BBI's ideology is sort of shifting in what I fear is a negative direction, away from an emphasis on community to one on fun. The dance director (Israeli Folk dance, by the way), David Dassa, who is excellent and a good friend of my family, quit and is going to be teaching at Camp Hess Kramer, a different Jew camp. This might mean that I get to do a bit of teaching this summer, which would be good experience because one day I hope to be an Israeli Folk dance instructor. But still, I wouldn't trade the experience for the camp's old ideology.
Well, I need sleep! Have an amazing summer everyone and good luck on your finals! Oh, and click this.