My Blog Turns 2

Hello there fellow wanderlusters!
At 10:07 PM on September 27, 2013, an eight-year-old girl with big dreams published her first post on her blog, The Best Guide to Being Me, under the name of TheMusicMe22. A few months later, she changed her name to GirlRadio, and today, the name of her blog is Nerd Glasses and Wanderlust.
I dare you to scroll to the bottom of this post and look at the timestamp.
Yes, that's right, 10:07 PM on September 27, 2015. The exact minute I published this post marked two years of blogging.
Let me just say, these past two years of blogging have been like a roller coaster. There have been days where I would go through every one of my posts and have something hateful to say about them, and days where I would just feel on top of the world. Well, I needed both types of days to get where I am. The bad days would make me work harder towards becoming better, and the good days would make me feel motivated to keep going. And now, blogging has become a huge part of my life, and I wouldn't be the same without it.
I still have a long way to go, with blogging and my life. But knowing that I can come back after something tough and write about it, I think that I can tackle anything.

  

Girls Don't Have to Like Pink

After observing the data below, Stanley concluded, "I don't think very many girls took this survey." Why do you think he would say that? 

Students' Favorite Colors 
17 students chose red.
12 students chose blue.
8 students chose green.
4 students chose pink.
41 students took this survey.

What would you put as the answer to a question on a sixth grade math test such as the above?
I was shocked. My jaw dropped open and I was this close to ripping up the test.
I'm sure 99% of the class put, "Since most girls like pink, and not that many students said pink was their favorite color, Stanley probably thought that not many girls took the survey."
You want to know what I answered?
"Although not all girls like pink, Stanley probably doesn't understand that and thought that not many girls took the survey because pink was not popular among the students." I underlined "all" five times and wrote in the corner of the page, "I don't feel so great about this question," and boxed it twice. And I don't honestly care if points get taken off because part of my answer was "unnecessary." It was one of the smallest, gutsiest things I've ever done.
(By the way, yes, sixth grade math can be lame. I would've liked to do more advanced math but I go to a public elementary school so that's not an option.)
Do stereotypes like these really have any place on an elementary school math test, for God's sake?
Girls are constantly picked on for their interests. They grow up believing that no boy will like them if they like pink or aren't a star basketball player. They push themselves toward these hobbies, but only for one reason: They want to be liked.
But what if they like pink and prefer to engage in activities other than athletics? What do they do when society tells them they can't be who they are? That's when their confidence drops.
So did there really have to be a question on my math test asking me whether all girls like pink? I was literally shouting expletives and arguing with this Stanley kid in my head.
What do you think?

NOTE: I recently read an Israeli study that proved that (in Israel at least) there IS a gender-based grading bias. The study was on a handful of sixth grade boys and girls. The girls did not score as well when the teacher knew their gender, but when the teacher actually did not know whether they were a boy or girl, the girls outscored the boys.

Breaking Through and Standing Out

You probably know what I'm talking about when I say there's just this group of people at school who are all-around trendsetters. They're the kind of people who are looked up to and can get their way with practically no effort. They're the kind who walk around always having something critical to say. Say they came to school wearing just their underwear. Guess what everyone else would be prancing around in the next day?

Memories

A few days ago, I found myself looking through old photo albums and scrapbooks. The memories made me laugh, and cry, and smile. I couldn't help but roll on the floor laughing at pictures of my mom's crazy 90s shaggy boycut, which my sister said was a trend back then, pictures of my sister in an astronaut suit, and others of my sister poking my mom's eye (my mom looked pretty scared.) I'd like to share some of the memories I was able to reminisce on, my family's past, this part of me, with you all.

*My sister asked to keep her face hidden and her identity private, so none of the aforementioned pictures will be shown.

I freaked out when I saw this. A REAL LIFE COPY OF MY PARENTS' WEDDING INVITATION! It's over 20 years old!

This picture was the very beginning. This picture, at approximately noon one day in November 2004, was me crying as a helpless little baby. I wonder if this little baby knew she would learn to love music and have a passion for acting and being in the spotlight, if she knew that she would cherish writing, if she knew that a decade later she would have her very own blog with amazing friends from around the world. 

This picture was the little paper by the side of my hospital bed. It was all my birthing details. I grinned when I saw this picture because I finally found out my baby weight and height: I was 1 ft. 7 in. long and my weight was 6 lbs. 5 oz. 

[the woman on the left is my mom]

Some more pictures upon my bulletin board

The Makeup Debate

Makeup. The m-word. The powerful stuff that can completely alter one's appearance, the stuff that can hide your physical flaws.
I don't wear makeup. It would actually be really weird if I did, considering I am way too young for it, but I have worn it before for shows and performances. And it is a major confidence booster being up on stage and knowing that I look and feel good. I'm able to let go and think about my performance and not the pimple on my forehead or how my lips were chapped that morning. And I'm probably not going to ever decide to wear makeup regularly, but maybe once in a while when I'm older I'll add that little punch to my appearance.

'Sup, Past Me?

Back in February of 2014 I wrote a post kind of like a letter to my future self. Of course I wasn't supposed to respond to it until I was twenty, but I'm doing it anyway. Same thing for the time capsule I made in third grade (I feel a need to constantly replace the pictures, which kind of defeats the purpose).
Looking back at posts from fourth grade, to be honest, I think I was pretty conceited when I was eight and nine :)

Inspiring Quotes!

Hello there fellow wanderlusters!

I've decided that every other week I'll do a post with some inspiring quotes. Quotes like these always get me motivated, so here are a few of my favorites. I scrounged around Google for these pictures; they're not mine. 

I've seen this quote around so many times, and I love it. When I found this great graphic, I couldn't resist sharing it with you. 

Keep working at your dreams, fellow wanderlusters! If you set your mind to it, you can achieve anything. 

Take risks and explore. Fear can't stand in your way. Nothing can stop you!

You'll never know until you try - and if it doesn't work out, it will pay off in the long run!

Keep dreaming big and believing in yourself!

That's it for today. Which quote was your favorite? Any favorites of yours I should feature next? 

Counting by 7s: A Summer Blogger Book Club Review

Hello there fellow wanderlusters!
I just realized I haven't ever done a review on my blog. Then I thought it would be a good idea to do a review on the book I read for the Summer Blogger Book Club. Maybe I'll put it out on Second Look, the collab reviewing blog I'm doing with Oakstar and Amelie, but I'm not sure.

Counting by 7s Holly Goldberg Sloan

Age Recommendation
The content would be appropriate for kids 8 & up, but I think it would be best for the 10-13 age range. Younger kids might not understand the concept or might be deeply affected by the deaths in this book, but they can go ahead and read it.

Is it inappropriate?
No, not much inappropriate content. There's no swearing, and just a few references to giving birth without being married and fertility, but it's mostly clean.

Summary

Willow Chance is a 12-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life... until now. Suddenly, Willow's world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world.

Rating
5 stars!

Review
This is, in all honesty, my favorite stand-alone book. Willow is such an amazing character, and the way that Mai and Dell and Quang-ha and Pattie (who all choose to care for her following her parents' death) show her compassion is beautiful. The book has fantastic messages about how we cannot be defined by one label. Would I recommend this book to a friend? Definitely. It's quite funny, too!
This might not be such a great review in the sense that I gave the book five stars, since you might find something you dislike in the book making this inaccurate, but it's such an incredible summer read.

Sorrow + Resilience

Do you know what it feels like when your heart is toppling and the world, at least to you, might as well be over? That's the emotion that I experienced a few hours ago.
It's hard to be resilient, and it's hard to fight back. You just want to cry, because whatever made you feel this way isn't under your control.
But I think that life is just a roller coaster. There will be as many fails as successes, and in some cases, more. It feels even worse when you've been persistent - when you've been trying so hard so many times but it just never works out.
There are exceptions. For acting, they nail their first audition. For music, they post a cover online and they gain overnight fame. For writing, their first manuscript is approved and becomes a worldwide bestseller. It just comes so easily. Unfortunately, that's not how it is for most people.
Discovery Girls has finished notifying all the 36 girls who will be attending the Summit, and I wasn't one of them. For a first-timer, it's no big deal. For a second-timer? Maybe it just wasn't your year. But for a third-timer, it really starts to hit you. For a while you feel like you'll spend your entire life wondering what success feels like.
It's hard. And I've got plenty of experience with it. I know what it feels like. Yes - this is coming from someone who's just overcome it. You can't sit there and cry. You have to get out and keep going, because eventually doors will open for you. If you fall down, push yourself to get back up. Never give up or lose hope.
I've found my own ways to get over not being selected. I reminded myself that almost ten thousand girls applied, and there must have been so many amazing girls who deserved it but didn't get in. Actress101 from the DG Blog was selected! Other than that, I haven't heard from anyone. I had a discussion with my mom about adding something to my questionnaire that would make me stand out more, and now I'm thinking of ways to improve my writing for next year. I've got some pretty big ideas, and I'm planning and preparing myself. Anyway, I've got a DG writing contest entry due tomorrow! I have already been featured in Discovery Girls, as my book review was in October/November 2014, and my Great Debate response will be in the next issue, which is coming out in a week.
Whatever curveball life throws at you, use your resilience to overcome pain. And if you got selected, congrats! I can't wait to see your issues! If you weren't chosen, use this post as a way to overcome any pain you might feel. You are amazing, and not getting chosen doesn't make you any less amazing! Stay strong, fellow wanderlusters!

Oakstar's Takeover!

I don't know about you, but I've been highly anticipating this post! So here we have it - Oakstar's guest post! She's going to be discussing some pretty cool stuff, so keep reading. My post for her blog will be out today or tomorrow. Show her some love in the comments and check out her blog if you haven't already.

NOTE: Oakstar sent this to me a while ago, so information from Scenario 4 may be out of date.
ANOTHER NOTE: This is my first guest post!

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Hello, readers of Nerd Glasses and Wanderlust! It’s Oakstar from Amazing Case of Wanderlust here
today. GirlRadio and I have been corresponding a lot through e-mail, and when we decided to do a post swap, we thought it would be a bit of a boring idea to just do, you know, a swap.
So, we bring you our newly created hashtag, and our posts that will be about embracing diversity and
difference.
My post, to start it off, will be about dealing with people’s differences of opinions. Being in high school and also very well in tune with the world around me through social media and the news, I have a lot of experiences that have to do with dealing with someone who has a different opinion than mine - about something more important than just a favorite color or book.
Through my experiences, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve grown to accept and embrace people’s different
opinions - while I may disagree with, or even, in very hard cases which I will get into later, be appalled by their opinions, I can still love and appreciate them as a person.
When I first went into the seventh grade, I was much younger in body and mind, and I hadn’t yet been introduced to people of many different belief systems, upbringings, and backgrounds.
Some important things to remember while disagreeing with someone:
-Stand up for your beliefs, but don’t shove them down someone else’s throat
-If someone else’s opinion is downright malicious or really not okay (ex: someone says they hate
everyone with a darker skin color), it is out of what you should deal with and you should talk to a
adult about it
-Be respectful while telling them you disagree
-If someone is really stubborn, it's best not to bring up controversial topics at all. If they are standing up for a view that is completely and utterly the opposite of your beliefs and values, it's best to put some space between you and them or keep topics light and fluffy

Scenario 1:
Situation: I’m in the girls’ locker room after gym on a Friday, and me and a friend I’ll call Laura have started a conversation about our new science topic, evolution. I mention how I find the topic truly
fascinating, how we’ve originated from apes. Laura scornfully replies, “Pshh. It’s so obvious we don’t come from monkeys. It’s stupid. They’re animals, we’re humans. We come from Adam and Eve.”

My reaction: “They’re not monkeys, Laura. And you think coming from monkeys is stupid? What about seven billion people coming from only two? It just doesn’t make sense.”  Laura gives me an angry look.

What I should’ve said: “I disagree. I believe in evolution. It’s not cool that you’re dissing my beliefs.
That’s not respectful. I’m going to go now, bye.” This would’ve let her know that I don’t think it’s okay what she said, but I still get to be respectful, and I don’t stoop down to her level.

Lesson: Instead of attacking someone back and stooping down to their level, I’ve learned to keep my
calm and be the bigger, better person. I don’t speak to Laura as much anymore, but I still love her as the human being she is. I don’t mind if someone has different beliefs, but I can’t allow anyone to insult mine.

Scenario 2:
Situation: I’m talking to two of my close friends - Rachel and Kerry - in a quiet corner at our school dance.
Rachel’s drink spills. She swears under her breath and Kerry and I gasp. A few younger passersby chant, "She said the s-word!" repeatedly.
“Oh wait - oops. Girls shouldn’t swear. It’s not proper. Boys can get away with it," Rachel says quickly.

My reaction: I open my mouth to say something, but then close it again. I want to say something, but I can’t. I’m too appalled.

What I should’ve said: I’m a feminist, meaning I believe that women and men should be treated equally. I should’ve said what I wanted to say, stood up for what I believed. I should’ve said: “Sadly, that is what society thinks. I believe in equal treatment, though, and it makes no difference whether a boy or girl swears. Neither is polite, but the politeness doesn’t change.”

Lesson: I’ve learned to stand up for what I believe in. I won’t hide my true self anymore. I’m still friends with Rachel, but I look at her in a different way. If a feminist topic ever comes up again, I will be sure to say what I believe.

Scenario 3:
Situation: I’m in the library with Rachel and Kerry. Kerry is talking about how she adores the Rick
Riordan books, and she’s grown interested in Greek mythology because of them. She says how she
thinks he is super talented. Then, Rachel cuts her off and says: “No, he’s not. He’s not creative at all. He’s just stealing the creation of the Greeks. The money should be going to the Greeks.”

My reaction: I’ve never been a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series, but I still thought that he deserved the credit. “I disagree,” I said. “There are plenty of other authors who have used mythology in their books, too, and they are still creative. He works hard and his characters and situations are plenty creative. Plus, the Greeks that created what’s used in his works died a long time ago, and it’s not the property of their great great great grandchildren.”

What I should’ve said: I’m proud of what I said, and I stand by it. I was mature, not unreasonable, and I gave my opinion.

Lesson: If I give my opinion while holding my tongue at the same time, I can achieve a lot more satisfaction. Yay me!

Scenario 4: The Toughest, But The One I Am The Most Proud Of
Situation: It’s June 26th, and it’s a pretty good day for me because I’ve just heard America has finally legalized same sex marriage. I call my best friend the next day with the good news. She replies with a shrug, then goes on to say that she doesn’t really support same sex marriage, but she will never speak up against it because it is not her place.

My reaction: I’m surprised, but I tell her calmly: “I believe that love always wins and God would want people to marry who they want. I’m pretty passionate about this, but your friendship means way too much to me to get into an argument, especially when it is about faith and things so personal that will never change. I disagree with you, but I love you.”

What I should’ve said: This was the most difficult one for me. It was an ethical dilemma. Should I choose my best friend, who I love to death, who shares a super close bond with me and we have so many memories together, or do I choose to defend a topic that I believe so strongly in to the bottom of my heart? I chose the medium. I told her I disagree with her, and that it is a topic really close to my heart, but I chose to keep a precious relationship instead of ruin it. I am really proud of what I chose.

Lesson: There is a medium to strive for, and it is possible to find it. She and I are still just as close. Picking what’s important is hard, but it is possible to find a way to make it work. This may seem like a reflection on my actions, but even if your beliefs are different, there is a lesson in this for all of us. Even if you share Rachel’s and Laura’s beliefs, you can still choose to embrace the diversity, agree to disagree, and love each other just as much. Talking about personal things is tough, but even when you disagree, with respect and love, your relationships don’t have to change.

Next time you face a challenge similar to some of my scenarios, document it and reflect. I’m not perfect, but I’ve definitely improved on embracing diversity in the past year. If we all took something out of these lessons, the world would be a much better place.

Together we can strive for a world with more compassion and love, no matter what your beliefs.

#togetherwecan

-Oakstar
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Wasn't that amazing? Thank you so much, Oakstar! I can't wait until you put out my post!

Do voice your opinions about #TogetherWeCan in the comments!

Guest Post Swap Coming Soon! + Bucket List

Hello there fellow wanderlusters!
Speaking of fellow wanderlusters, I am doing a guest post swap with the incredible Oakstar from An Amazing Case of Wanderlust. In a few days' time she will post for you all, so when she does give her some love and check out her blog if you haven't already! I'll also post on here when my guest post for her blog is available.
A few months back I did a summer bucket list tag about what I wanted to achieve during the summer. In this post, I want to share with you 20 things I would like to do before I die.

Travel/Adventure/Entertainment


1. Go bungee jumping
In Peru, I've already done an activity where I was slingshotted 405 feet in the air. However, I haven't been bungee jumping, and although many have agreed slingshotting is scarier, it's on my bucket list.

2. See every new wonder of the world
I have been to 2 of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Next summer, I will be visiting another one, and it's a dream of mine to visit the remaining 4 for my thirteenth birthday in 2017.

3. EdgeWalk on Toronto, Canada's CN Tower
The tower has a platform around its circumference for people who want to walk around the edge - I'm betting it'll be an amazing view! I haven't really explored Canada beyond a day trip to British Columbia, but it would be amazing!

4. Ride in a hot air balloon
Napa Valley, located about two and a half hours from my home, is renowned for their hot air balloons. I'd love to visit the valley and ride a hot air balloon around the region!

5. See a Broadway musical
I visited New York for my fourth birthday, but time didn't permit and I wasn't able to catch a Broadway show as I'd wanted. I hope I can revisit NYC and watch a Broadway show, especially one that I've performed in locally.

6. Climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Going along with my desire to revisit New York, I'd like to take the opportunity to go inside the Statue and climb the steps to the top. Last time I went there, we went sightseeing by boat and didn't get to go to the top. I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower when I was six, so I'm sure that was good preparation!

7. Snorkel in the Galapagos Islands
I have never been snorkeling before, and I would love to visit the Galapagos Islands, for it is paradise there. This would be an amazing chance to see some sea turtles, which are some of my favorite animals.

8. Blaauwburg Beach in Cape Town, South Africa
The beach provides a stunning landscape. You can gaze at the city lights and the mountains behind, plus the plants and water on the beach have such a lush contrast. This is on my must-see list!

9. The Hobbits in New Zealand
I'm not much of a Lord of the Rings/Hobbit fan, but I do appreciate Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand, which is where the movies were filmed. I would love to tour the sets - I could also grab some beverages from the Green Dragon Inn, and purchase souvenirs from the Shires Store.

10. View the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, in the Arctic Circle
I can only picture that timelessly, incredibly colorful sky. That illustration at the back of my mind makes me want to pack my bags and go now!

11. The Ice Hotel in Sweden
Wouldn't it be amazing to stay somewhere similar to Elsa's ice palace? This hotel is constructed entirely of snow and ice, plus I can view the Northern Lights from that location!

12. Iguazu Falls 
This waterfall on the border of Brazil and Argentina and near the boundaries of Paraguay is 269 feet high. The picture-perfect scenery would totally make it worthy of a trip!

13. Timbuktu, Mali
I've been reading up about Timbuktu, and it's seems like a fantastic site to visit. Can't wait to go there!

14. Travel by helicopter
I've seen this in movies; I'd like this to become reality!

Life

15. Release an album
It's one of my dreams to perform and write my own songs as a singer-songwriter, and releasing an album would just be my first stepping stone.

16. Publish a novel
I also want to become an author. Publishing my first novel would be a big moment of mine; I can't wait for it to come.

17. Act in a movie
I want a future as an actress, too! (I've got some big dreams.)

18. Name a star
I've heard of this, but I don't know anyone who's named a star, so maybe I'll be one of the first!

19. Learn a new language
I'm currently 18% proficient in French, my latest endeavor. J'aime parler francais. 

20. Volunteer abroad
To help people in third-world countries and in harsh living conditions would be the ultimate challenge, but I am up for it.

Community

I just wanted to announce to all of you that I'll be joining Noor from A Little Bit of Sunshine and some other bloggers in her Summer Blogger Book Club. We'll be starting off on July 1st, so definitely head here to join in!
Today is no specific occasion; however, I would like to state that I am 1 year, 8 months, and 27 days into my blogging journey. Although, having just reached the 100-post milestone, I want to thank you all for the community we've made. It seems every now and then I'm acquainting myself with another blogger; YOU are what has made this blogging experience the best it can be. I never knew what would happen when I hit that "Create Blog" button on Blogger. I'm still considering how different my life would be if I hadn't had that sudden surge of desire to start blogging. I've had a great time so far obsessing over Discovery Girls, books, and everything else. Thank you for EVERYTHING and I love you all! The way I've written this paragraph makes it seems like this is my last post. I will continue blogging until I physically cannot type.
This was meant to be a quick post - see you all later!

Profile: Part 2

I'm back from Peru everyone! I'll be doing more updates, as I have only done one, but in the meanwhile I've seized this opportunity.
In my last "Profile" post, I imagined what my one-page spread profile, if I were a Discovery Girl in the magazine, might look like. Discovery Girls is coming up with better ways to let readers learn more about the group for that issue, introducing two-page spreads this year. Here's what my two-page spread, if I were a DG, might look like.

Sneha
Age 11*, California
"We've all had those moments in our lives where we feel like we're not worth it, but I think we can all find inspiration to overcome these feelings somehow. The arts are my inspiration."

I'm full of spunk and creativity, and I think I can use these qualities to innovate and help people around the world. This is just one of my goals for the future - I love performing! I started singing and acting when I was young, and since then I've been in eight shows and have performed in various competitions. My main pursuit in life is to score a career as a singer and actress.

I also love writing, which led me to create a blog when I was eight. Blogging has helped me shape some amazing friendships and collaborations, even with some other bloggers within the Discovery Girls community. It also gives me a place to express myself and my emotions. Discovering blogging is one of the best things that ever happened to me, and it's fostered not only better writing skills, but an incredible sense of satisfaction within me. I want to stay a blogger for the rest of my life.

Fun Fact: I once did an activity in Peru, a country I visited, where I was slingshotted up 405 feet in the air. I'm the youngest person in the world to have done it!

Traveling is something else I'm passionate about. I've been to 4 continents, 12 countries, and 24 states, all with the intention of learning about new cultures, languages, places, people, and traditions. One of my dreams is to see every wonder of the world, and I'm thinking about achieving that soon. Travel has also brought me to the amazing experiences of ziplining, parasailing, horseback riding, and slingshotting.

Favorite Book Series: I love the Harry Potter series. Hermione's my favorite character! I even dressed up as her for Halloween when I was nine.

There is no reason that you should be anyone other than you. We all have our insecurities and doubts, but we can't let them get the best of us. When I feel down, I remember that I'm still young and have so many more opportunities to find my true self and see the world. I want to explore. Grow. Take risks. For me, life is like a long process of trial-and-error - you'll never know if you never try!

*I'm on the younger side - I'll be turning eleven in the fall, thus if chosen to attend the Summit my age at attendance would vary based on when the Summit is held, but I would be eleven, maybe twelve, for sure by the time my issue was on newsstands. 

Last Week of School + Discovery Girls + Busting Summer Boredom

I know school & finals are wrapping up (or may have ended for you already) and the school year is coming to a close. I want to congratulate you all for your successes throughout the school year! Keep your head up high because you're all incredibly unique, talented, epic... 
Five days until my next trip - Peru has always felt like a thing of the future, but since it's now just around the corner, I'm ecstatic for this final week of school to end! My class is having a pizza/yearbook signing party this Friday that would have been next week, but since I'm missing school next week, was rescheduled to Friday.
I haven’t received word from Discovery Girls (have any of you?) but after putting forth some 
research, it appears to me that no one was contacted. I may be wrong. May is over; but after seeing how the selection status has not been updated saying that they are notifying the selected girls, and that nobody has posted anything about getting picked on the DG Blog, I think they may have fallen behind schedule. After all, last year they had only finished by June 10. That’s me; examining every detail regardless of how important it seems. Good luck to you all and do say if you have been chosen! And any chosen blogger, if I don’t get to experience the amazingness that is the Summit, please fill me in!

Along the lines of Oakstar’s recent post about busting summer boredom, I have some ideas of my own. Remember; blowing away time on YouTube is a trap many fall into, and although spending time with Superwoman and Ryan Higa and Bethany Mota and Madilyn Bailey is fun and easy, you should probably resort to getting in some exercise, reading, spending time with friends/family, and simply exploring the world around you. So your technology time should be minimal, I think, but having it fairly balanced would make all the difference as well. Sorry for being so serious in this paragraph. :)

That’s all for now!

6/2/15 Update: Do not lose hope, those of you who've applied to the Summit! Godgirl2292 (Chloe) and Amelie have notified me with the information that Discovery Girls is still reading Summit questionnaires and that no one has been contacted yet. Chloe messaged the Discovery Girls staff herself and they responded with these details.

Spread the Love!

If you haven't seen Amelie B.'s latest post, it's about spreading love on the Internet, using the YouTube dislike button as an example. As she wrote: "My guess is that the people who click that button and write those comments are quite often just taking their negative attitude out on others." This is very true.

I will be joining her challenge of Internet positivity. Let's go #MakeItHappy! So now, armed with this idea, put a smile on someone's face by emailing "4 people giving them 4 heartfelt comments each." What else can you do? "Reply to the next negative comment you see" or "Send the following picture to at least 10 people (or post it on your blog)":

Thank you so much Amelie for bringing this amazing concept to us! 

From now on, when I tune into my favorite music videos or laugh the day away with Superwoman and I scroll down to the comments, I hope to see something like this:

I hate this song; she is literally the worst You are amazingly talented and you rock!

Summer Bucket List Tag

If you haven't seen this recent post by MorningTime4, it's about a summer bucket list tag. I decided to do it, so I'll be writing 10 (I can't think of 15!) things I would love to do over the summer!

Just like Morning, I tag anyone who would like to do this. Post in the comments below what your bucket list is or blog about it!

IMAGE IS NOT MINE.

1. Blog four times a week.

Now, I blog once or twice a week, but four times? I've never done that! So it's my new goal to post new content four times a week, because I'll have so much to blog about! I'll also try to add more photos to my posts.

2. Perform in another musical.

This is definitely a priority of mine, and I'm leaning toward auditioning for Mayzie La Bird in Seussical.

3. Try something new.

I would absolutely LOVE to do a baking class over the summer, due to some books I read that really inspired me. I've never touched any baking equipment before, but I'm excited to start from scratch and try something new!

4. Successfully bungee jump.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'll be experimenting with bungee jumping in Cusco, Peru. I've done parasailing, horseback riding, and ziplining, but bungee jumping sounds like an awesome (but scary) experience.

5. Spend 300 minutes each week reading.

I can't exactly set a goal for how many books I can handle, but I will commit to a time goal. So 300 minutes means five hours a week.

6. Spend as much time as possible with my friends who are going off to private school!

Two of my best friends will be going off to private school, and I can't imagine school without them! I really hope I can meet them some time ...

7. Learn a new programming language.

I have only one or two in my toolkit. I'd like to learn how to code iOS apps and perfect my JavaScript!

8. Attend the Discovery Girls Summit.

This I really have no control over, because the selection process is subjective, but I really want to attend this year after two failed attempts! I've read the web diaries and know that it's an amazing opportunity to write for a magazine, meet wonderful new girls, and discuss topics close to our hearts.

9. Go to a few writing workshops.

I stopped attending workshops frequently last spring, but I loved that habit! I had regular workshop friends and there were so many writing styles we covered. We also got to meet authors sometimes, but I've only met Ally Condie, author of the Matched series.

10. Release my collab blog with Oakstar and Amelie, Second Look. 

I would love to kickstart our blog! We're using a platform that's kind of new to us, Weebly.

Student Council Results + What's On My Mind

I didn't make student council. I'm pretty bummed because I don't have another opportunity in elementary school. But, I just looked back at an old issue of Discovery Girls, which I always refer to when my spirits are down. I found a story about one of the Discovery Girls. She'd run for student council three times, just like me, but hadn't been picked. Despite not being part of that group, she started a club at her school, which she'd thought student council would be her pathway to doing. So I realized I could still make an impact, which I'm aiming to do, without being voted for. Just because I'm not as popular as some of the others doesn't make me any less of a person. That reminds me of Jollygirl's most recent post about popularity.

My heart has been beating very fast lately! I entered a competition about app development and entrepreneuship with my friend, and the semifinalists will be announced tomorrow. I'll find out if I got in to Discovery Girls soon ... there's just so much on my mind! On top of that, I'll be doing a lot of travel. I just had a "finalizing our Peru itinerary" session with my family! There are so many reasons to look forward to (and not look forward to) the end of the school year.

My family has been thinking about some house design plans for the summer. I'm excited at the possibility of refurnishing my room and painting the walls. It's pretty nice right now, but there are so many marker marks on the wall from when my sister and I were little. Well, I'll be dreaming up some floor plans for now....

Something that excites me more is all of the adventure we'll be involved in while we're in Peru. When I was seven, I went to Hawaii, and rode a horse at one of the ranches. I was too short and young to go on a trail, so I was guided around a small park. It's funny to look back at those days as a 5'2" ten-year-old! When I was eight, I went to Alaska, and went on a ziplining course in Ketchikan. Well, I'm going to not only get to ride a horse around some Inca ruins in Cusco (a city in Peru) but get to experience some bungee jumping, also in Cusco! Considering Cusco is already 11,150 feet above sea level, it sounds like a crazy idea, but I'm up for it! I'm anxious to go to Peru. It just fascinates me to touch something as simple as a wall and imagine the people who've touched that same wall thousands of years ago.

The Roller Coaster of Life + Hope

♥ Hello everyone!
Tomorrow is the general student council election! I'm so nervous that no one will vote for me, but I guess there's really nothing I can do about it. I'm still very excited because I do have some guaranteed votes from my friends. My heart has been aching because I have exactly one month left with a really good friend of mine who's going off to private school. I originally intended to apply for private school, but we missed the deadline and will try again for middle school. But, my heart is now mending itself, because we're going to a water park at the end of the month as a class field trip! :) This is the roller coaster that is life....
Yesterday, after my violin class, I asked myself a question about hope: Would I rather have no hope or false hope?
I know false hope seems like a bad thing. It's when you get your hopes up about something, but it turns out to go in a negative direction. I would say that having some hope is important rather than doubting my ability, but it's important not to count your chickens before they hatch.
No hope? Well, with false hope I still do my best and it doesn't impact my life outside of whatever I'm vying for. With no hope, I have to cope with a broken heart for days. No matter how hard I try to get everything together, it keeps falling apart. No positivity comes from this.
So as a conclusion, I decided I would rather have false hope because I'm happy and positive, and even when I drag my feet when things don't turn out as expected, I bring something back to the table. That's really what life is all about.

New Blog Email + Student Council + We are Silent

Hi everyone! I have a new blog email, nerdglassesandwanderlust@gmail.com, so shoot me an email any time and I'll try to respond as quick as I can! Considering the DG deadline just passed, feel free to chat about the questionnaire with me ;)

Most days I can only start my homework after 6, even though school's out at 3, because of my after-school activities. I'm running for student council. I ran last year, and I made it past the first round of voting, but I didn't get a position. The student council selection procedure last year started with a round of voting. 11 students with the most votes would advance as finalists. Then there would be a final round of voting and the people with the most votes would get on. This year, there's a first round of voting, speeches, and a teacher selection process. If you advance after the first round, you're guaranteed a spot, but a teacher panel will select your position. Sorry for rambling, your eyes probably skipped over this paragraph. :)

Today, April 16, was Free the Children's We are Silent Day. In recognition of all the girls around the world who cannot experience basic rights and cannot stand up for themselves, we try to say nothing for the school day. It makes we wonder ... if I were a girl growing up in a third-world country, what would my life be like? I can imagine constant labor, a lack of education beyond the skills necessary to run a family, child marriage - and then on the other side of the spectrum, there's my actual life. How privileged am I to actually go to school, have food to eat and water to drink, a roof above my head, and be able to participate in activities that I am passionate about? It's much too hard to cope with the thought of living in fear of severe child abuse and being scolded for speaking. To have a moment of silence, to just to dwell like this, is very hard to come around, so I encourage you to stop and think about how grateful you feel for merely having the education necessary to read this post.

Spring Break! + a Poem

   Over spring break I'll be involved in a slew of things - like a possible Six Flags visit, additional Annie rehearsals, a possible San Francisco overnight, and regular activities.
   Spring is absolutely beautiful in my community. The changes from fall and winter are evident, though the first weeks of spring are cold. What with our new third trimester seating assignments, the fifth-grade musical, and my rigorous Annie rehearsals, the school year is at its peak. We will begin testing at the end of April, and we are involved in a science PBL (project-based learning) that we work on every day. I'm pretty much booked. Mondays are always the busiest - activities lined up one after another. I'm using my spare time on my questionnaire. At least I'll be looking forward to a Thoroughly Modern Millie audition in May, but still I am very busy.
  Starting tomorrow we have no school. I'm trying to decipher summer plans so I can join camps. I hope I can go to musical theatre camp and I've been thinking of giving baking a go ... what do you think?
  Would you agree that this time of year is hectic? Why so?
  By the way, here is a poem I wrote about the night hike at science camp (we just got back our field journals):

It was a silent stroll.
The night flaunted cricket chirps and frog ribbits.
The tall redwoods graced the sky, meeting the clouds.
The pungent scent of bay laurels filled the air.
Moss draped the surrounding rocks as emotion draped my mind.
New ventures satisfy us.
We feast on "moon rocks" and discuss triboluminescence. 
I have walked stealthily as a ninja.
Stamina dipping low, we make it back to the campsite.
The night has ended.