Back To School: Junior Year!

Hey, everybody! Jaz here! And after a long eventful summer (which I must say was GREAT!) it was time to start school yet again.

(Boooooooo!) Yes, yes, I know that feel bro~*~ but on the contrary I was actually looking forward to going back this year. 

This morning I got my schedule, said hello and welcome back to some people, yada yada yada.

My schedule consists of:

✖ Drawing II

✖ US History

✖ Chemistry I

✖ English III Honors

✖ Speech I (yikes!!!)

✖ AP Psychology (because I got a high reading score)

✖ Algebra II

A pretty decent schedule, pretty normal. My Drawing II teacher is working on putting me in AP Art/Drawing so that's pretty cool! And I'll stay in Speech so I can get over my fear of speaking in front of people. BRAVERY!

Another thing, my silly principal changed the bell schedule this year so it was super confusing (-__-;) but I'll get the hang of it. At least everyone has the same lunch on Wednesdays...

EVERYONE.

Lawd jesuz.

Not only were my classes great, I got to see some of my friends who I haven't seen this summer. Some of the incoming freshmen are my friends and I actually tolerate them so it was cool seeing them! I swear some of the freshman do NOT look like freshmen but hey life be like that sometimes.

Welcome to high school, Brandon! Taller than me now, my goodness.

 Kenny and his friend Alex (back). Sophomore status~

 Most of my crew in my lunch yet again! :) Missing some members (they're in the other lunch *sadface*)

Alex is a freshman now! What's up, Langlang??

After going through more classes it was time for the festivities! Pep rally, getting school shirts, and some food for thought from our principal.

 Everyone filing into the gym...

 The only good thing about the pep rallies...the band!

 (left to right) Arianna, Angel, and Sarah. Finally got to see them today!

 Cheerleaders practicing stunts.

 Colour Guard and Knight Fever (the "Glee" of my high school) getting ready to sing the national anthem.

 The freshmen are so hyped!!!.....

 The pep rally theme was "Olympics". Here's the Synchronized Swim team. One of the teachers in floaties, hahaha!!

 Such grace, such finesse.

 Cheerleaders performing.

 ...When did we get a dance team? And they had the gull to play Rack City (clean version)

 Again, the best part of the pep rally.

 When people are sitting on other people's shoulders, you know what time it is...

 ...SPIRIT STICK TIME!! Class o' 2014 had a good streak so far!

 Finally! Freshman class cheering!

 But it wasn't good enough. Us Juniors got the spirit stick yet again!! 2014, yeah!!

 Leaving the pep rally with Courtney, on our way to pick up the school shirts.

 My "sisters"! Amiena (left) wanted a spot in this post. :) 

 This describes our friendship perfectly :) Arianna loves the camera!

 Sarah!

Candid of Angel

 Zach! This guy!

Rachel (left) and Samantha (right) being cute, as always!

I had a really great day! And I hope that the rest of my school year is great, too! 

Fine Arts Fine Thoughts...

{Worship time during the Thursday Fine Arts youth service.}

So like I mentioned in previous posts, I just came back from Louisville, Kentucky with my youth group for our Fine Arts competition. It was the best part of my summer and I'm still bummed about it being over. I've been thinking about the things that went out and the more I thought about them, the more in depth it became. I wrote about it in my Moleskine journal but I decided to post my thoughts on here too...:

Fine Arts. Nationals.

The time when churches/youth groups from every state in this country go to some location to perform in various categories such as vocal solos or dance or the forever popular HUMAN VIDEO! 

But it's not all about impressing your friends or the judges and hoping to make it to other rounds and getting awards, no. It's about showcasing the talents that God has graced you with and allowing Him to speak through you with said talents...

Did I forget to mention that this was indeed a Christian event?

{Human Video group "Insert Name Here" (from my church) acting out God creating the Earth. (I know it's blurry beyond compare but I thought it was cool.)}

Now I think that Fine Arts/Nationals has another role. I think that it's also about getting to know the people that you have surrounded yourself in your church/youth group. 

Think about it: every normal church day you walk in, say hello the youth members who also happen to be your friends, worship, sit through the sermon of the night, and then leave hoping that the words you've heard that nigh sunk in in hopes of being a "better Christian".

It's been the same routine until Fine Arts comes around. You sign up for whatever category (categories) you wish to be in and depending on the category you'll be put in with other people in that group. I did Drama Ensemble this year and I was put in a group with people I know. Even if I didn't know those people I would still make an effort to befriend them. And the people that I did know but never really talk to lots I got a little closer to them. 

That's what Fine Arts does to you. You get closer to people and even make some unlikely friendships along the way.

That's just around Districts.

Districts is the starting point of Nationals. I'm in Florida, so I went to Ormond Beach for Districts and so did other churches from Florida. Made some friends with some Sarasota kids and even saw one of my Sarasota buddies from Nationals last year in Phoenix!

Back to what I was saying...about the Districts dealio. Yeah, yeah, yeah you got closer with the other kids during your practices and it's time for everyone to bond together and give it your all on that stage!...Not until we get into a circle and say one positive thing about each other.

(It's a little Fine Arts thing, you'll understand in time.)

In the span of two days (still in Districts mode) you get closer to other members of your youth group and what not. Good for you! Friendship, yeah! Let's sit with each other at the final ceremony on Saturday, yeah!...Hey! They're running through categories now on the big screen!...Is that...our group name??? We're going to Nationals...WE'RE GOING TO NATIONALS!!! Everybody rejoice! We're going to Nationals 4 months from now! (Districts happens around April.)

I hope that narrative helped you think about what goes down around Districts. It's really one of those "you had to be there" type things. But yes Districts is over, blah blah blah, you/your group made it to Nationals, blah blah blah, now you gotta start practicing for Nationals, blah blah.

Let's get back to my Nationals thoughts again (I don't do think a lot.) Districts was just the starting point on your road to "new friendships". I got my friends and I'm so happy to have 'em around...but who knows what happens between the timespan of Districts and Nationals. Remember, 4 MONTHS PEOPLE! Anything can happen in 4 months. And man did some of those 'anythings' happen.

I've realized stuff about myself due to my time in youth group and hanging out with my peers. GOOD THINGS! I'm not a bad kid I promise. I watched myself change a little, I watched others change a little.

"Here's the big test, class. I hope you remember the material from earlier in the year."

Nationals. Nationals is like the ultimate test. 

You know those mini quizzes in class that you take in school and you take a lot of those and then you stop taking them? That's Districts. 

Then one day in class you have a big test that covers stuff from those mini quizzes and stuff? That's Nationals. Like the final exam.

Now, lots of people made it to Nationals in my church so that meant that I'll being dealing with them for a whole week. And let's not forget the fact that we took our charter bus to Louisville...14. Hours. To and from Louisville. With about 30+ people. And we left around nighttime.

Yikes.

I spent the bus ride in the back with my best friends. Was there another choice? Haha, NOPE. But at some point I did fall asleep to the sweet funky fresh sounds and dope beats of my friend Caleb rapping his white boy heart out at 3am.

But that's not important (I repeat, I don't do this a lot. Sidetracking like a pro~)
I'll just get to the point: Things happen before Nationals and those actions act as foreshadowing. And some people tend either stay close to people or begin to drift apart little by little as the week rolls on. I got closer to a couple of my best friends, I befriended a girl on the week going through some hard stuff, and I became the famous "only best friend I have on this trip" friend. I felt though as if I gained more respect from people? I'm not sure.

I would like to shout out some people on this post:
- Arianna M. for being so great to me on the trip and all the other times. I enjoy talking to you and texting you and I want you to know that I'm always listening. I got yo back cuh~*~
- Angel E. for also being a great friend. Anyone can get a simple nice comment on their FB wall and just simply say thank you. I cherish every kind word that you and my other friends ever give me.
- JUST ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS I LOVE YOU GUYS YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
- Aisha, my new buddy I made on the trip!



I really wish I could explain more about the "ultimate test", but I do better with speaking than sitting at a computer and mindlessly type out my feelings. Eh, it is what it is. Maybe I will make a video talking about my adventure?

***all photos shown in this post were taken by me. no edits.***

Fine Arts//Nationals in Louisville, KY: Well-Dressed Wednesday!

On my trip, one of my friends came up with the idea of having themes every day from Tuesday to Friday. On Wednesday we had Well-Dressed Wednesday, when everyone dresses up (duh.) I actually took the liberty and dressed up for once in my life.

My friend Sarah also had the idea of doing a mini "photoshoot", for photog practice. I needed it too and I did promise some fashion-like posts on here so this was a great opportunity!
Also thanks to my friend Caden who also took a couple snaps on my camera for when Sarah was taking photos of me. That reminds me, I gotta ask her to email them to me.
Anyway, I have some snaps of Sarah! She got that model status~~~

That's us!

Courtney and Faith's Radical Photoshoot! ("Trill Teen Magazine")

Don't worry about the Trill Teen thing, it's a joke between me and myself.
BUT on Friday in Louisville, KY, I was waiting with my church to enter the stadium for the Fine Arts celebration service (we waited about 2 hours).
My friend Courtney took Kenny's (another FOM) hat and it totally matched with her outfit. Needless to say, her style meter was off the charts. And she rocked every clothing article! We were also bored so we decided to have a mini photoshoot.
***NOTE: The saturation's a bit cray so when I upload it to other sites (ie. Facebook) they won't get ruined too much.

 Courtney stylin' it out~

Hat: Friend Kenny's; Vans

Shirt: from vacation

Hoodie: STL "Finished" Hoodie; Fine Arts convention

Jeans: IDK

Shoes: IDK

 Courtney's a goon~

 Just a candid. I liked how it turned out.

 Peace, Tie-Dye, and 'Murica.

 Faith being rad~

 Who wants to give my girl Faith a hug??

 *gasp!* You do??

Radical dames!