My Summer Reflection

Me putting my belongings in a cart
to move into my dorm

Was this a summer well spent?

Well, let's see. I'm going to digress (I'm very talented at that), so bear with me.

It's finally autumn (YaY!!) and if you look back at my summer plans, you can see some things I had anticipated on doing this summer. I understand that now that my summer is ending, my summer has kind of overdone its stay. I know that I should appreciate that I have an extended summer as opposed to people who may not even have a summer or people who start school earlier, but I also just want to move in and start school, so. . . . In all seriousness, having the extra time and starting school essentially in late September has allowed me to dedicate more time to blogging and filling my time with an extra summer session.

I won't go into the grades that I got for each class, because, firstly, that's not relevant (what's that going to achieve), and secondly, I know that I personally did well and that's all anyone needs to know; I didn't do the best that I could do, but I know that I had good intentions and definitely doubted why I was being so hard on myself a lot of the time. I know that it's all worth it. I'm already here at UCLA and I'm not going to blow it; I worked really hard to get here and I love the environment that to lose it all would be a pathetic mistake.

Last Saturday, I had my first party ever. Coming from a lower-middle class family, I never really had a "party" in the traditional American culture sense, with friends and balloons and such. I've typically only had family parties and nothing more, but last Saturday, I had friends, family, and friends of my family celebrate me, which felt like an honor. I've never felt so celebrated as I did that day; I'm humbled to know that I have a great environment and group of people who care about my well-being, future, and livelihood.

My bed

We had tons of food my family could hardly afford and a good turn-out. I received wonderful gifts that will last me my entire university experience, including school supplies and any dorm/home necessities. I'm fully equipped. 

And now I look forward to the new mysteries of the new school year and the opportunities and possibilities that come my way. Although, undoubtedly, I'm expected to face some terrible barriers. I know I have some pretty awesome friends and family to support me. 

I've written quite a lot this summer, which is more than I have written for pleasure this summer than in the past four years. Especially within the past few weeks, I've written quite a bit of poetry and music, both of which I will continue (undoubtedly) within the next few months and years. Since I have the liberty and environment to foster my interests, I'm going to write to my heart's content, giving it an equal priority as my studies and work. 

the cork wall beside my bed

My desk

Good news, though, is that I moved in several days ago and now I'm settling in and navigating around campus, eating gloriously stupendous food! You can see from the pix above that I'm considerably happy--actually happy, something I haven't felt in a long ass while.

My side of the room

In other news, last Friday kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month, so I hope to go to quite a few Hispanic celebrations going on at UCLA and attending a few Hispanic-unity seminars, get-togethers, and social events.

Has this been an eventful summer? Yes, absolutely unforgettable. Was it the best? Probably not, but I've been through a lot and I've gotten a lot accomplished in this summer. I should be more proud of myself than I am.

How was your summer? Let me know!

SUMMER PLANS

Hello Nurds,

As some of you know, I am already on summer vacation and have been since before Memorial Day, actually. And as summer solstice approaches, here are some plans I have for the approaching summer.

Again, as some of you know, I will be attending UCLA late September, so I have an extended summer than what I'm used to. That means that I have quite a bit of time to explore and elaborate new projects. I would typically finish school and the end of May and start school some time in the beginning of August, so I'm really chilling. That's not the way the system works in all US high schools and community colleges, but bear with me. So let's get into this!

1) TAKE SUMMER CLASSES

I know. Some of you might be thinking: Joss, you're on summer vacation. Why are you going to take classes? Well, as I have said before, I am talented at stressing myself out. Additionally, there's still SO MUCH to learn and, well, this advances how much money I save and how early I will graduate. Again, I have taken an unconventional means to get to UCLA, and will be starting as a junior right out of high school (due to AP scores/community college classes). Also, there's so much I want to learn that I don't think I'd complete my core degree programs in the four years most of us strive four without sacrificing a few summers. You can check out: HOW I GOT INTO UCLA in a later post, coming this October! 

With that said, I have already started my summer session at the local community college on the 12th and that will last until mid-July, so that's a lot of course load in so little time (not the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie). There, I will be taking Elementary French, Human Sexuality, Elementary Statistics for Behavioral Science, Reporting and Writing, and Spinning.

Okay, lemme break it down: 

a) French | I have always wanted to take French. It sounds sexy, fancy, and sophisticated and well, I plan on minor-ing in French at UCLA and this will be a great head-start for that.

b) Human Sexuality and Elementary Stats | These are just psych electives I wanna retake so they transfer to UCLA. Again, these will help me with my Neuroscience minor. More on why I also chose this as a minor in my last post right here:

c) Reporting and Writing | As y'all know, I love writing and this is a journalism course, so put two and two together and KABOOM, you get lemonade. Wait, that's not how that works :/ In reality, I have always wanted to be the Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Magazine, but I think I see blogging more in my future, as I write/blog just about the same things: fashion, accessories, social/civil rights, stories, news, reviews, etc. But, in any case, it's still important to know the essentials to reporting/writing for any journalism outlet, including my blog.

d) Spinning | I chose this as a balance to my crazy schedule. A woman needs to keep herself sane and relaxed. Plus, I burn calories and this is a huge excuse to exercise--so win-win!

Additionally, starting mid-August, I'll be taking online classes for UCLA:

e) Drama of Diversity | I'm sure the reason I got into UCLA was because of my emphasis on projecting diversity in film and literature, so it's only fitting that I will be taking this course.

f) Introductory Screenwriting | This ties in with the diversity concept and my love of writing. When people think of diversity, they usually think of just race, gender, or sexuality, but I want to project more than that--mental illnesses, body types, ages, disabilities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious affiliations, you name it! People are multifaceted and thus should not be seen as clichés. I'm not the only one who'll admit that I hate clichés and stereotypes in movies.

g) Introduction to Art and Technique of Filmmaking | This is just a course I want to take to foster some filmmaking skills and what not.

h) Acting and Performance in Film | Similarly, this is another course I feel will foster my filmmaking skills, with an emphasis on studying the craft of actors and actresses in acclaimed roles in film as well as the cinematography of these films.

2) CONTINUE WRITING

As you all know, I love writing and can't get enough of it, so here are a few more projects I will start and continue in the months to come:

a) Songs | I need to get back in the nook of my writing. I've been writing songs since I was about ten,

b) Novels | I've written entries whether in my novel documents themselves or even in the Memo app on my phone, Google Keep, or atop a random sheet of scratch paper. I've spent a great deal of time organizing my thoughts and planning that I will actually (fingers crossed) begin to publish my first novel of a three-part series this upcoming NANOWRIMO (which, if you don't know, is short for National Novel Writing Month). It's only fitting that the first novel shall be called Daydreamer. Go figure :/

c) Short Stories and Poems | I'm working on a collection of short stories and poems and letters (oh my) that I've written throughout my life--some really bad and others jaw-dropping (but that's just me talking). Then, I'll provide some commentary on my rationale, thought-processes, and inspiration when writing each.

e) Comic Book | I've been working on a comic book series this past year and it's going famously. I'm still doing a story board and organizing and not so much creating the comic book series itself. Planning is probably the most fascinating part of the whole process. I'm giving life to these characters and personalities that will shine light on mental illnesses and a plethora of attributes that make these characters people who you may see every day--diversity.

3) YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Yes, peers, I said it! Home girl will be creating her own Youtube channel!! But hold on! I'm not making it any time soon. I'm just planning things out. With a schedule, so I know what I will be vlogging and dicussing about when and what I will be discussing and blogging. One thing I will be vlogging about is my experience at UCLA as a lot of people seem to be interested in that kind of stuff. I mean, UCLA is the most applied to campus in the US, after all! And this will be an outlet in itself--for personal memories. 

I will also be doing movie/book reviews, because I will be doing a lot of reading now that I have time (and not just for class), as well as fashion, news (political, social, etc.), and academic tutoring/test prep. Since I am passionate about Neuroscience (biopsychology) amongst other things and since I have taken quite a bit of AP /SAT courses, I will do test prep for people who look forward to that. 

With that said, this ALL requires a lot of planning and since I will be attending one of the most prestigious schools probably in the world, I will not have all the time in the world to really focus on my channel and blogging, so planning is essential. Hopefully, it will be worth it and when I do begin to post on Youtube, I will let all you lovelies know!!

4) READING

a) Re-read the Harry Potter series | I read this series throughout elementary school and side note: I read the first novel for three years, because I was too young to read. But now that I'm older, and an adult, I want to read what I probably didn't pick up on and read through a fresh lens and different perspective. I can't wait to be reinvigorated by the majestic writing of J.K. Rowling again!

b) Finish the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series | I started this beloved series, but I never finished it. The movie adaptations only really covered the first three novels, and I only read the first one-and-a-half, so womp womp womp.

c) Read any other book | I've received a vast number of books these years, usually in the form of a gift (I may or may not have stolen a book or two, but you'll never know . . .) within the past five years that I've hard even touched, reading only the synopses, but never actually opening up the books. That is why I've dedicated this summer to just catching up on that. I'm not going to finish them all, but look out for a book review or two in the upcoming months <3 p="">

5) FINISH MY VICTORIA JUSTICE COLLAGE

Over a year ago, I started a collage of pictures of Victoria Justice, and I never finished it, nor have I touched or colored it in any way and for some reason, it's kinda creepy looking at some mini, one-eyed Victoria Justice portraits, but yeah, I hope I finish it. The only things I have drawn in the past year are designs here and there (when I'd be bored in class), so I haven't sat down and drawn for pleasure in awhile. 

6) LEARNING PIANO AND UKULELE

Weird thing: I write songs with a keyboard and I played xylophone/marimba when I had been in drumline, but I never actually learned how to play the piano, which is weird. So I need to actually sit down at my keyboard and use the accompanying piano book in order to learn that. Yeah, I can play marimba and xylophone, but those require mallets, and instead of playing manually, I'd be striking the instrument. As for the piano, I'll have to play manually, which means that I'll have to play with BOTH hands, and I'm right-handed, so that's probably not going to work. I'll try though *guiltily laughs*

What are you doing this summer? 

Love you, Nurds!!

Summer Reads and Plans: 2015

I can't express saying summer enough!

Well now that it is officially Summer, why not be daring, darling?! Be fierce

What I have brought up for you readers include some of the best things I have ever planned in my entire life so far. So thus far, this will be the best summer for me!

Late May: Apply for my childhood Dream Job

A job is a job, and to be honest, I'm glad that the manager is giving me an interview, but my childhood dream job means nothing to me now. But, hey it's just for the summer, and I desperately need money (I mean who doesn't right?) In case you don't know, I plan to attend NYU (which doesn't mean Naked Yellow Unicorn!!!) and trust me when I say that it is not going to be easy, so yeah, I don't mind boring myself during my shifts, cuz after all, it is only is temporary! I don't know what I saw in that job!

Sundays: Also known as my reading days, I just want to go to my local park and read my Summer Picks on a Swing. Besides that I option, I wouldn't mind sitting on a street bench, writing, while glimpsing at cars and a passerby or two enjoy their beginning of summer. Likely, I'll be binge watching on my fave (or not so fave) shows and movies and blogs (on Bloglovin)

Mondays-Thursdays: Unfortunately, I have goals and sometimes I want to shoot myself for putting an overload on myself, but soon, it will take me far, I hope. I mean, I'm definitely not going to stop when I have doubts! That will just give me all the more reasons to persevere!!! Basically, I have summer assignments for my AP/Honors courses and as I planned, I will finish my work by the end of July. But when I finish my work during these days, then I can continue my Sunday work (Happiness and rainbows on the inside), which is my goal--to just relax! I work far too hard, yet  summer is all about resting and I intend to take advantage of that before I start paying the dreaded bills!

On occasional days, I'll be taking classes to master some Drawing/Painting skills and Music Theory!

Fridays and Saturdays: Still, more work load, just less extensively, thank goodness! Nothing specific besides my morning runs and Sprintz drinks after I run. Oh and a little treat at Starbucks for a great week. Catch a new blog post on these days--every other Friday or Saturday.

Fridays and Saturdays may also be those days in which comfort and confidence transpire, amping to continue writing my novels! In addition, I'll be reading every book of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series; I love the two movies and am eager to read for eager again!! I also intend to teach myself coding and ukulele!




If you recommend any books, please leave a comment below and give me some blushies!

Why bore you with my summer plans? What do you dare doing this summer? 

Ya might catch me at the Color Run in LA or at a STEM (Science. Technology. Mathematics. Engineering) conference early June. ; )

Color Run 2014 Experience

As I have been enthusing about for quite a while, I have brought forth some of the many treasurable pictures of my epically and odd Color experience! (Let me throw in an extra emphasis on COLOR!!!)

We were very well ready, me to run, and my friend Delaney just wanting to walk peacefully. What's so wonderful about absolute friends is that they make you do things you would have never thought about ever doing. From start sign, to start sign, and a few hopeless giggles reassuring our patience, we were set, protruding near the Dodgers Stadium and along Sunset (Crap, I'll need to show you the L.A. scene soon, sorry but my technology is pretty slow!).

Around some corner, we approached Blue and agreed to run threw each color arena, just before we caught a few pix of the absolutely adorable signs they had near each color station, which you can find most of them in the collage I made recently.

What an odd way to say Happy Summer!!!

One turn-off might just be that as we were nearing the end of the run, each of the color sprayers got lazier. With that said, by Yellow, the last station, everyone was more or less one or two colors (blue and Pink, in which the sprayers were lively and energetic, being the beginning of the run), no yellow at all, whatsoever. (Curse you Yellow Angels!!!). Purple so happened to be my fave because like I said (or typed) my friend convinced my to roll over, on the freeway (which, by the way, was closed for the occasion) in the abundant misty purple powder that couldn't color anyone! Which is precisely something that wouldn't have occurred to me at all in any stage of my life! I mean, how often do you have the opportunity to make #Colorangels on the freeway?


Following the, as I would call "The Most Beautiful Mess", we clustered in what seemed to be a mosh pit, frantically jumping up and down to songs like Roar, and Die Young by the notable Katy Perry and Kesha (whose name is no longer spelled with a $ sign--Side note: I applaud your efforts, Kesha!!!) while the DJ threw Color Run themed items. I so badly wanted the fedora!!!
I did however, manage to find a bracelet he threw, which is still amazing, nonetheless!

Extra color packs (filled with color powder) were also thrown into the audience for, when at the chorus of songs like the ones mentioned above, throwing spontaneously so that, well, let's just say the bright sun could not be seen in sight because of all the color powder!

By 11:30 Pacific coast time, time seemed to pass me. The sun shone from the same angle from when we first arrived at 8:30 or so! I know I make it sound like a  bad thing, but I realized that, Wow, this is what summer is supposed to feel like. To be bluntly honest, I have never had any real "fun" in my life, and for the day to be so superlative above all others, I was definitely stoked to have experienced something so extraordinary!

The aftermath included going to Whole Foods to eat a little, sleeping in the car, and wandering L.A. to find a beach. Well, how could you not find one, right? I think you would hate me for hating beaches, but let me say, it was INSANE being there because I was with my friend--and not family (which I love all the time, except when they don't give me privacy--haha jk <3 p="">

Would consider going to the Color Run next year? It's a no-brainer! Yes!!! To endure new adventures and surprise myself so more!







Me with one of my very good friends, Delaney at theawkward-ness.blogspot.com
Check her out!!!

COLOR RUN!!!

My dear friend Delaney offered me to register for The Color Run. Me being completely oblivious, I had no idea what the flip-flop she was talking about. I was wondering what correlation there was between various colors and running.

She mentioned that people join to run (or walk if you're walk-ity) about 5k and throw colors at each other. It's truly amazing and hey, I haven't been there and I know that it's going to be a heck lot of fun (and rainbows, check the pic below and you'll know what I mean!)

In chase you do not know me, I was born to run. After doing Cross Country freshman year, I realized that it is not the perfect thing for me to do every day. Ya know: coming home only to fall asleep sweaty and tired and slacking on homework! Yeah, let's just say running everyday wasn't at the top of the pinnacle for this mad person, but I do enjoy running by myself to clear my and think to myself. Other times, I run to the park and read a good book or continue writing (i.e. songs, novels, short stories, poems, etc.)

So after her including that there would be free attire, like shirts, sweat bands, and color powder, I decided it hecks yeah! It would be extraordinarily fun! (Side note: I try using other adjectives besides "good", "great", or "cool" because life would be a whole lot better when you are not just using the same three words to express enthusiasm).

So this here old Color Run will be here in Los Angeles next Saturday June 21st. I think registration has discontinued, but don't frump like your lazy gray and white-bellied cat, because it is annual and very umm blinding, so bring your sunglasses in case you get a little color in your precious eyes. Oh yeah, and it will most likely be sunny so don't hesitate to bring water (and don't forget the shades!)

If you're are feeling a little woozy stay clear and in site on the right will the runners take the left. Always be careful to stick with your team.(my team name is the Fugly Moonicorns XD) or not, it is totally up to you. I can not stress it enough, but plan what you want to do, where you want to meet, and what time! Seriously!!!

There is a Lost 'n Found center for lost items or if someone is lost, just meet up in the front center and they'll call someone in your team to pick you up ^.^

And if you have a little pocket dough, feel free to support the Children's Hospital of Orange County. If you think for a minute about how your childhood was, whether good or bad, consider helping a child's life a bit, contributing towards their futures that you guys have right now!!! Just consider it, I definitely do it!

Check-In Party: Pick-ups (Food....)

Pick-ups for uniforms, more info, etc will be at the Color Run site itself. The call it a party, but I'm not sure if there's food involved. This will be held next Thursday and Friday (the pre-Color Run days that I'll be screaming for incessantly, by the end of the week, I'll talk like Emma Stone--love ya Emma!)

Questions? Please contact there customer service representatives by clicking here.
Thursday 6/19/2014 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday 6/20/2014 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Or if you have a few Q's for me, don't hesitate, I don't have a life, Haha!!!

Summer Solstice

Hey, it's me the one true person who enjoys ruining weekends. YAY!!! So, I guess I'm doing my job.

Well, I guess today is Summer Solstice! Do something memorable, cuz "it's only here once a year!" Kiss a hobo, fit in a picnic, but I, however, have no life, therefore will blog and do other internet things! X l> (Mwha haa haa-devious) So yeah, but prepare for a really long day, as it is known to seem very long. So doing something, memorable is probably the most ideal thing to do instead of sitting on the couch watching the Lifetime channel, watching, "Women Who Kill", which if you know, is a channel and show for divorced women who cry on their couches with tissues and lots and lots of chocolates.

I, however, will be on the internet and feel like I'm doing more, when I'm not!

Have fun dancing with hobos!

~Joss