Summer.

Summer.
A season with different meanings. With four season each person finds a different meaning, so why is summerdifferent from these? Well summer is normally a time to catch up on missed moments that winter captures. like spending timeout in the sun tanning or bbqing with your family. creating memories that bring warmth and happiness.So each person spins summer a little bit differently.making it the best season of them all. (next to spring that is) For me summer is a time to catch up on sleep missed from earlier hours getting ready for school and late nights studying for major tests. Although i have been able to sleep longer, i havent found much quite time. but days like today, i get to spend with an amazing family and just relax. Sure sounds easy but it totally isnt. Take time today to notice the beauty of th earth. Like in the picture here. this is a little piece of
my summer
Rissa Girl

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Grads

Graduations.
    And yet any other word that has so much meaning, that words don't need to explain.
There seems to be a lot of this happening right now. It's not a horrible event, just a life changing one. High school graduates are now going to college, and college grads are entering the "real" world forever. But while this takes place, so many different emotions are too.
   Happiness.
       Nervousness.
            Fear.
               Love.
                 Excitement.
                    Encouragement.
                       JOY.
                         Accomplishment!
And so many other emotions can be going through a person, that its hard to pick one to say how it feels to finally stand and accept that diploma.
    Though graduating high school is not the first time we've felt those feelings, at that moment in time its like it is the first time those emotions exist. In this life we do a lot of graduation it seems like. From kindergarten we go to the first grade but schools make it a big deal that we were able to follow the rules for the first year. From fifth grade we move on to sixth but yet again this is a big move in our education. We are now entering the "pre-teen" world. Can't forget the move from eighth grade to ninth where we enter "true" teenager hood. And then there is our last "big" graduation  from high school where we separate those who are strong willed and those willing to work for what they want. After that, those willing to work for what they want move from college to the work force
    As family and  friends go with us through each of these phases in life, we also separate those who will be there forever and those just passing through our lives.(Whether or not we always agree with them) Some have great advice for us, and others are figuring it out along side us. But what really makes the difference is what we are going to do with our life to help others. How our actions will affect those around us, even those lives that we may not even know.
   Because as I watched my friends and family accept their diplomas, I felt sure that whatever life holds for them it can be great. My best friend is now part of the general population and I cried as she walked tall and accepted what she earned. Now, she wasn't the only person I cried for but definitely the first person on Sunday. ( I never used to cry, now milk spills and I cry!) SO what do we do after this day?
   In a few years, I will be graduation. (thinking, "crap! what am I going to become now?") This sense of urgency has taken over me as I wonder what I want to do with the rest of my life. I enjoy science but I love English. (even if I can't spell worth a crap) I'm really good under pressure but at the same time, I don't like to be stress all the time.  But I'm more concerned with what I'm doing today and tomorrow that worries me. Am I causing trouble in society or am I helping further my community. So what will my actions be tomorrow?
   Maybe its being kind to someone who really needs it that day. Or maybe its something more dramatic such as venting and feeling stressed. Every action we take has the ability to affect someone else's life. So as you go about your day, I'm going to ask you to think how you are affecting those around you. And think really about it, is it positive? Negative? How can you change to make your attitude better for everyone?  
 Thanks for taking a serious moment,
         Riss               

Stress

Stress.
     Another word that doesn't need any explanation.
Its something we all know (and love) when it comes to life. Whether its dealing with other people (stupid people in particular) or just trying to finish a project, (Like it or not) its part of daily life and can be over-whelming at times. (chocolate is good for this too)
    There's no perfect way to deal with stress. Quiet frankly, there's not suppose to be one way to deal with all stress. ( we can't eat chocolate ALL the time, can we?) I mean with a major project I find myself clicking a pen, and tossing my hair every five seconds. Or with writer's block, I click my pen and tap my pencil to think outside the box or just faster.( it doesn't help) From most stress though, I let it grow and grow and grow until I can't take it anymore, then I tend to vent.
   Stress is not only a "bad" thing though, its actually healthy in small amounts. Sure that sounds crazy but its true. Come on, if we didn't feel a little stress about paying bills, it probably wouldn't happen. Even driving well wouldn't happen if we didn't feel a little pressure about doing so. There are those times though, that stress itself is stressful. So what do we do during these times?
    There are several ways to deal with this troubling stress, but the best way is to laugh. That's right, laugh. Sure you've probably heard that laughter is the best kind of medicine but its better as a de-stresser. Find the best not-so-funny-funny joke and laugh out the stress.Sounds doubtful right? Maybe you're wondering how this teen know the best de-stressor for stress that causes stress?( I just know everything) But really its a funny story.(so stupid, its funny)
    Stressing about life is easy, I can pretty much not show any signs of stress about home life or anything else. But with school, I just don't find it all that stressful.(except when I'm being difficult) So when I'm stressing about school, I'm on the verge of a stress-over load. (or just freaking out completely)  Well, I'm sorta OCD when it comes to turning in projects that are worth major points. (200 points are a lot of points) So when I'm trying to do a diary in ink, I tend to overly-OCD. ( I only have the worst spelling and hand writing ever!)
    Anyways I was in one of my science classes and needed to finish my project for English 11 within 2 hours. We were supposed to be writing down questions but I was trying to sneak in the writing I needed to finish. Nothing I wrote looked right (of course), so I ripped out that page. Five tries later, I get half way down the page, and start writing the question my teacher had instructed us to. (EFF!) Attempting to rip only the one page, but I end up ripping out four. Giving up on my project completely, (so not worth failing my other class over) I look up to see my teacher staring at me. (with the look like he wasn't sure if I was freaking out or if I'd just gone crazy) Laughter took over his class as he mentioned that I was on a stress over-load.
  Half the class goes by, and I'm still freaking out. The entire class is making jokes about me freaking out and I'm just blushing. Someone says electron, and I jump in my seat saying, "OH!". ( in the way that a three-year-old would have been excited to heard what I had to say.) This horribly-not-funny- joke came to mind and I HAD to share it.
         A Neutron walks into a coffee shop and asks the owner, "How much for a cup of Joe?"
             The owner replies "For you, no charge."
I busted up laughing. Its the stupidest joke (EVER) but after the laughter had faded I wasn't so stressed. Actually, I found a solution to writing the dairy and just drew a picture instead.(totally cheating, I know)
    So was that totally worth your time? Probably not. Is it possible that you think I'm a nut-job? Definitely. Is this almost done? Most likely. Now that my story is over, I'm done boring you. Here's what you should know about stress that causes stress and how to get rid of it:
    Don't let it take over your day ( or every one of your thoughts) and try to work effectively on getting rid of the stress.
    Try Laughing, crying, talking or complaining.( chocolate helps too)
    When faced with too many projects due at the same time, finish hardest part first and work your way to the easiest. (that way you don't run out of time)
     And when your teachers are causing the stress by making it a major part of your grade, ask them how it might affect your grade if you get a certain score. (or just tell them they're the meanest teacher ever, and bribe them with chocolate)

Till next time,
   Rissa

PS- here's another not-so-funny-funny joke:
        Two atoms are walking down the street.
1st atom says to the other,"I think I lost an electron."
2nd atom: "Are you sure?"
1st  atom: "I'm positive."

Rumors

(Sorry I've been busy dealing with high school and haven't found the time to write about it.)

 Rumors.
        Do I really have to write anything else?
We've all been there, where she said, she said/did and it turns out that what she said/did wasn't even close to what she was telling everyone? It doesn't have to be he said she said, it can be any where close to that. Sometimes they get so outta control. (That's where chocolate comes into play)
        Honestly, I think girls are the worst at creating these life changing lies but guys can come up with some pretty good ones. (Mainly ones about girls) And no matter how hard one fights for the truth behind the rumor, there are still those who doubt the truth and believe the rumor. Unfortunately, I don't believe that rumors go away after high school they just get worse as we get older. And as we get older the rumor become more life changing. (like being sued or worse. Over a rumor.)
         I personally just got done with dealing with one of these life changing rumors that happened not so long ago. And no matter how long ago it was, it still hurts the person who the rumor was about and it always will. No matter how many years go by, certain people will always know that that rumor went around about them. Some believe the truth, that it didn't happen, and others believe the lie/rumor, something happened between two people.
         How did I come by this rumor and what was it? Well it all started out as just talking to someone (actually it was venting about a slutty girl in one of my classes) and after I was done, the person I was speaking with spoke of the past. Nothing too aweful or anything, just how stupid some people can be, really. Mostly that they left town for a year and what they did during that time. After I took off, I put it out of my mind.(Studying for finals is important, I guess)
          My sister called the next day, and as it turns out, the same person I was speaking with the day before came up. But what was the interesting part about that conversation was that the same story was brought up.(Kinda creepy huh?) But this story held the rumor about why they left town for a year. Supposedly they slept with someone. (big shocker there, about 85% of rumors are about sleeping with people)
          I'm not gonna lie, I cried. For like an hour. The reason being that I trust this person, and trust for me isn't easy to come by.  Once I trust someone, I tend to care for them or at least notice things about them.(And them sleeping with someone doesn't fit their profile) So, like I was taught, I took the issue to the person who the rumor was about.
          Difficult? Definitely. Life threatening? Possibly. Did I need the truth? With what's happening in my life right now, more than ever.(Really it could have been about anything, like what a dog's favorite color was and I would have been happy as long as it was the truth.) Anyways, I was expecting to be told it was none of my business and I needed to drop it. But they were completely honest with me, and the rumor was SO not true.(imagine that) And they were honest to the point I was in tears after I left..(Don't tell them though)
         What was the point in reading that boring, not very interesting story? The next time you hear a rumor (or spread one) think about how that's going to affect them. What that rumor might do to their life, because the person I just spoke about almost lost the entire life and everything they had worked for because of a rumor. And are still dealing with it today.Just because someone said they did something. (Doesn't that blow?!?)  If you're like me and need a little bit of truth, maybe you should go to someone about the rumor (best out come is the person the rumor is about out) and see what they have to say.

Till next time,

Not "Normal"

I'm not what most people would call a "normal" teenager. Sure I've got the lingo down, and sarcasm is totally my second language. But besides that, I'm not considered normal by any one's standards and here's why:

1.  I don't believe in dating in High School. Its ridiculous to date someone when you know its not going to work out. I truly believe the average relationship at my school last two to three weeks.
2. I'm honest. So don't ask my opinion unless you really want to know it.
3. "Please" and "Thank You" are in my daily vocab.(Crazy I know)
4. Alcohol and drugs are really idiotic underage. Ruining the rest of my life if I get caught isn't part of growing up.
5. Sex isn't on my "To-Do" list in high school. Sorry but the risk of becoming pregnant is enough to say no. (After all, no protection is 100%. Well except for abstinence, that is.)

So see? I'm not completely normal but I fit in with a few other people. ( At least I hope so) Ready to get off the subject of boring? Wait for tomorrow and the juicy drama that comes with it.

Until next time,
   Rissa