#16: Falling Into Place

November 12, 2012:

Eight days, folks. Thanksgiving break! Speaking of breaks, I seem to have caught one in my crazy homework load. Granted, I crammed out a research paper and midterm in COM last week.

Oh, did I mention that I went to another debate this past weekend? Before I go ranting on about that, I won't. Because I have officially debated for THE LAST time! Fifty points? Mine.

Points, grades, test cramming sessions, they all seem to be adding up. Figuring out about GPAs, and then worrying like mad about those grades seem to be the trend lately. You know what? Honestly I'm just ready to have more than a three days of vacation. Thank you pilgrims! And God (a big one to you of course)!

It also seems to be that time of year when, coming down to the end of the first semester, that awkward "so...roomates? With me? Next year?" question is asked between first time roomies. My poor roommate struggled when asking me that question a couple of days ago. She actually thought I would say no! To quote my debate teacher (yeah seriously) "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Good luck with crossing those bridges when you come to them guys!

Well, HOMECOMING WEEK is upon us! It all kicks off with the annual fr/so vs. jr/sr POWDERPUFF game! Be there or be square! Girls playing flag football, boys cheer leading at halftime in highlighter track shorts, FREE BBQ, cotton candy, and ice cream? You've been warned. #player6 <<<<My number in case you didn't catch that. In all honesty, I probably won't even play all that much. I'm all for the experience, okay?

Thursday is the concert band concert. Friday is CORONATION! Get your votes in! A quick shout out to my good friend Ryan Lamonde for winning Homecoming Prince (?) in the Junior class.
So proud :') AND the variety show! Yeah, yeah my school is pretty talented. NBD.

Thursday night is the big TWILIGHT BREAKING DAWN PREMIERE!!! I'm so excited :) I know what you are thinking. She's one of those dumb vampire girls. Yes, yes I am. Haters gonna hate. You can go and play your zombie nerf war game. Oh yeah, I went there. And as fate would have it, my Friday classes were all canceled. Meant to be!

Saturday is the BIG GAME! Women's basketball followed by the Men's homecoming game! Tickets and spirit wear on sale in the caf Saturday afternoon :)

Well, I think that's enough information for one post. I'm going to go put on three more layers. Curse you Point Loma. So much for a beach weather winter...

Until next time,

Peace Loma

#MyLife@Loma

#12: That's Debatable

October 13, 2012:

Another week in the books!

I feel like I say that every time. Life around here has gotten into such a routine, that it’s practically a countdown. And for me, it’s a countdown to next weekend. Fall break.

Now don’t get me wrong. I love Loma. It’s the actual realization that, behind the entire lure of college life and being independent, there is a lot of stinkin’ work involved! Case in point: this weekend, the weekend before midterms. For the record, THEY’RE MY FRIST MIDTERMS EVER. So this should be interesting…

Speaking of a lot of work and the weekend let me tell you about mine so far.

I’ve spent it at a debate tournament.

Now, I hope you don’t take what I’m about to rant about the wrong way. For the record: 1. I LOVE Loma’s debate team. All of them. It’s been a pleasure getting to know them. 2.Debate takes WORK. Don’t ever count debate out as a sport, because it definitely works your brain out like one.

With that said, here it goes.

In the beginning of the year when I got my class assignments, I was honestly excited that I would be ABLE to debate for a grade. I love arguing, so this would be my thing, right?

WRONG.

I’ve been in the class for 7 weeks now and have learned a little bit more about how this “game” of debate is played. Note the word, “little”. Debate really is a game, but it’s a game that I don’t really think I was meant to play.

And to top it all off, this class REQUIRES two completed tournaments for necessary points for your grade.

Yay. Outside classroom hours. Boo.

Since I haven’t been able to attend previous one day tournaments, (hey, I had XC meets geeze.) I needed to attend an overnight tournament in Irvine. Can you say “goodbye weekend”? But like any good student, I toughened up and decided that I was going to try my darndest to be ready for my first ever tournament. Was I prepared? Not in the slightest.

Now this experience could take PAGES to explain, but I’ll save the time and shorten it up for ya’ll ….

-Debate/ debate tournaments are not like any other “tournament” that you’ve ever been to. NOTHING like them!

-“debaters” are a special kind of people. No, not that kind of special! Speed writing, critical thinking, speed thinking in general, and eloquent (or way too fast!) speaking are all normal things to them.

-They have sweaters!

-Other teams can be vicious. Someone should tell them that whole bit about sticks and stones breaking bones…

-I knew NOTHING and just when I thought that I had finally started climbing up the ladder of success, I was still on the ground.

-I may not have liked debating, but I sure as heck got fired up at the judge’s scores that were just handed to me! Robbed I tell you…

All in all, we debated all day Friday, had a GREAT dinner, slept in a super fancy Hilton, some debated/did their speeches all day today(while the rest of us just waited around ALL DAY), had ANOTHER great dinner, and now are finally going home.

All of these travel meets and tournaments are really getting to me. Really.

Finally I would like to close with some words of wisdom that I have acquired throughout this crazy week…

Take every opportunity to hang out with someone new.

It may be going to PBC for a break from the caf with a hallmate who you never really see, or befriending the girl who sits behind you in writing class, who just happens to be on the debate team AND was homeschooled (yes! There are more of us! Homeschoolers unite!).

You never know what you may find out about them. Plus, if you feel like your life is just a big routine, it never hurts to shake things up a bit.

Well, I’m almost back to Loma so I’ll end now.

Keep it classy Loma.

-Emily

#MyLife@Loma

P.S. First days of rain on campus this week!!!