We had our mock trial competition at Baylor Law School and unfortunately we didn't make it to the finals. However, we did a FANTASTIC job. It was our school's first year competing. I think my most memorable moment was the closing statement I performed. I didn't even read from notes. I just used the power of my voice to defend my client.
When I got up to deliver my statement, I took my pen and pointed at each witness (though I don't think you are really supposed to do that). I was so dramatic and I didn't care if there were 50 or 5,000,000,000 people in the room. Despite not having rehearsed it, when I performed my closing statement I managed to conquer that courtroom. I will never forget that moment and I will definitely reflect on it from time to time.
As far as college goes, all I have to do is send off my mid-year reports; I have all A's and one B in Spanish. Then my mom has to finish my Non-Custodial Parent Waiver Statement for the CSS PROFILE.
That’s all for now…
Joseph
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OBJECTION! Mock Trial practice is getting really intense. The team meets every day after school to prepare for our February competition. We are working on a civil case about the MePhone (modeled on the iPhone). We have to prove that Orange Inc. (modeled on Apple Inc.) was negligent with its design. In turn, this caused damages to our client. He claims his MePhone was hacked into, resulting in his identity being stolen.
I did the FAFSA online using my mom's W-2 form. It's great to be poor because I got an Expected Family Contribution of 0 after I completed the FAFSA. I’m still in the process of completing the CSS PROFILE for the private colleges.
Life is hectic right now. In a few days I have to go to Lancaster, Texas for the Academic Decathlon. Then I travel to Dallas for the SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Competition. It's very crazy but I am trying to stay calm and hope things work out well.
As I look back at these last few months, I think about how hard I’ve worked. I think senior year has been the most difficult year of my life; I struggled and yet I survived. If I don't get in to Stanford or any other college it will be okay because I am a survivor.
Joseph
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Whew! My Christmas break was really rough. First of all, I was in the process of moving because my mom's boyfriend had lost his job (long story). Unfortunately, I still hadn't sent in all of my college applications. I had to travel all the way to a relative's house in the country so I could connect my computer to the internet. The house was really old and had rats everywhere. I thought it was so symbolic that I was submitting a college application to a $51,000 a year school (Stanford University) and I had absolutely no place to call home.
However, I had the best Christmas gift money can't buy (in a way). You see my brother accused my mom's boyfriend of stealing $700. While I was moving my stuff out of my room, I found the $700 inside one of the pockets of a pair of slacks. When I found the money, I thought about how it could of help finance my college education. Ultimately, I decided to return the money to my brother. WHAT'S THE CHRISTMAS GIFT THEN? Well, my brother apologized to my mom's boyfriend and now they are really close. It's beautiful to see. I am so glad I didn't keep that $700 for myself…
On another note, I got ACCEPTED to the University of Texas at Austin. I'm relieved that I’ve been admitted to at least one college. Of course, I’m still aiming for Stanford and the others. Also here is my new and revised college list:
I decided to not apply to the University of Chicago because I didn't have time to write a well crafted essay since I was in the process of moving. I think I would have finished my University of Chicago application if I had started it a few months ago (a word of advice: START ON APPLICATIONS EARLY!). In addition, I simply could not afford the Santa Clara University application fee (another word of advice: MAKE SURE YOU GET FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH AT YOUR SCHOOL SO YOU CAN GET A FEE WAIVER.) I qualified for free and reduced lunch, but I didn't register for it because I don't like cafeteria food.
Joseph
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I'm back! I had my interview with Pomona College a few days ago. I had to travel all the way to Austin, Texas. When I arrived it was a quaint house which the interviewer had just moved into. I was a bit startled when I opened the door because she had a dog. Not to sound too cocky but the interview was a breeze since I had been through the process before. I was completely myself and very honest. Since I had that interview Pomona College is now one of my top choices. My interviewer has a PhD and is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin. One interesting thing that she told me was that at large public universities you are not guaranteed to graduate in four years, but since Pomona is so small you can.
I am still completing my college essays. In my Common App essay I talk about how my field trip to the McLennan County Courthouse unexpectedly inspired me to become a lawyer. While I was sitting in the courthouse rotunda, a bailiff approached me and asked if I was the defendant in the drug trafficking trial. The bailiff assumed that I was a criminal because of my skin color. I decided at that moment to become a lawyer, so I can work towards ending the assumption of criminality.
Moreover, at school we have just started practicing for the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition. I am a really shy and quiet person, but I have an alter ego that is the opposite of me. My alter ego is very confident and has a very strong voice. During mock trial practice, I change into my alter ego in a snap and I become this crazy lawyer. My friends were so surprised when they first saw me in action. It's crazy because sometimes I don't remember what I say during our mock trial practices.
Joseph
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Thanksgiving… Thanksgiving… Thanksgiving. I am sorry, but I have to type "Thanksgiving" frequently to remind myself that it is a holiday because I won't really be having one. Don't get me wrong, I will eat turkey, ham, dressing, baked macaroni and all the trimmings, but I will be too busy typing out college essays to truly enjoy the festivities.
I have received great news. I will be a featured author in Elder & Leemaur Publishers Believing in Greatness book. Back in July, I wrote an essay on who I thought was the greatest inventor (Leonardo Da Vinci because of his focus on solar power). God is great because He is showing me that hard work really does pay off.
In addition, I placed 2nd in UIL Ready Writing at the intra-district meet. My essay was extremely personal though and I think numerous former and current teachers have read it (I thought I heard them talk about it). I have taken note of that because I don't like people all in my personal life. Next time, I will be writing something of a more fictional nature. Earlier this year, I wrote an essay in my English class about my past (it was about my deplorable home). After my English teacher read it, I got the impression that she started feeling sorry for me. She thinks that I am poor. And although there is nothing wrong with being poor, I don't like people feeling sorry for me. It feels very degrading.
On a brighter note, I asked a second teacher for a recommendation and received it promptly. I can't believe I am getting everything done. I still need to finish sending my SAT scores, take the SAT subject tests (which I don't think I am adequately prepared for), and send my transcripts and counselor recommendations.
My interview with Pomona College is in Austin on the 24th, at the interviewer’s home. I am not nervous because I already had a college interview at a law firm (which I think is more intimidating when you think about it). I will be back in December.
-PEACE-
Joseph
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It's me again! I can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here and I still haven't finished my essays. It seems that I’m constantly telling myself "The essays will be done by next week…" and then whenever I begin to write, I fall asleep. I really don't have heavy writing requirements, but I simply want to finish everything. Sleep deprivation is such a problem for me and it’s not helping the college application process. I am also in the middle of getting my driver's license so I am practicing driving with my mom every other day.
I MADE STRAIGHT As on my 9 week report card! I knew all the hard work would pay off. Unfortunately, I glanced at my ACT score report at about 2 a.m. the other night and saw that my score rose by just 3 points, from a 20 to a 23. Even though my scores aren't amazing, I am not going to change the list of the colleges I am applying to. These are:
So that’s all the news for me right now…
Joseph
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Dang! Time has just flown by these past few weeks. I am still working hard and progressing on my college applications and I don't think I’ve had a single weekend where I did absolutely nothing pertaining to college. I know that I will have more time for fun next semester.
Moreover, I had my Rice interview today after school. It was in a law firm which I think is so ironic since I am going to be a lawyer. I was so stressed out about the interview all day, but when I got in there I was so strong… so fearless…so ME (yeah right, lol ). I left the interview feeling liberated. I guess it was because of my alter ego. Even though the interview went very well, the interviewer didn't have great things to say about my high school because of the disciplinary problems he heard about from his wife (I wonder if my high school will affect my chances of admission?:-0 ). I bet I am the only one in my high school applying to Rice.
I have also learned that choosing and applying to colleges takes a lot of leadership and maturity. Some of my peers aren't even going to college and they look at me like I'm crazy when they see me filling out a SAT registration form in class. People need to realize that education is the most important thing that a person can get in life. I saw a television documentary about a group of African kids awhile ago and one of those children dreamed of going to a university. When one of the producers of the show said that she will pay for the child's education, the child cried. That’s why I am not taking anything for granted because when you start taking everything for granted, God takes it away (I’ve seen it happen before).
In addition, I am getting my envelopes ready for my teacher and counselor recommendations. I said it before and I will say it again, teacher recommendations are the hardest for me because I am shy, but I am going to have to go to my alter ego for help so we can get things done! It's scary because sometimes I contemplate whether I am worthy of a prestigious college like Stanford or Rice. I have noticed some amazing things from the other Eye of Applier's and it makes me insecure about everything.
Furthermore, the common application seems to be a little stagnant when you are still writing your essays. I hope I can produce something of very high quality before the admissions deadlines roll around. It may be a weird comparison, but I think filling out college applications is similar to how artists in the music industry make hit albums. To have a great college application you have to be personal and creative at the same time (like musicians). When you finish your application (or hit album), it is up for critique from the admissions committee (music critics). If the admissions committee likes your application, you will be accepted to the university (record company) and after you are accepted, you can change the world and inspire others (your fans). Does this still seem like a weird comparison?
Joseph
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"BOOM!" a bomb has definitely been off these pass few weeks. Yet I am still the fearless one so nothing can stand in my way!
My Rice University interview is next week and I am not even nervous. I just hope I don't pause for a long time or say something stupid. Ironically, my interviewer is an actual lawyer (which I aspire to be). After I complete my Rice University interview, Pomona College and the University of Chicago are next in line.
In addition, I am currently studying for the ACT (Oct. 27) strenuously to become a more competitive applicant. Today, I had help with a marathon for SkillsUSA. We started training Thursday on how to arrest a criminal. It is really a great thing to exercise because all the stress I have right now I can take it out by yelling and being very commanding(TURN AROUND AND TAKE YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS!). I was inspired to be a lawyer even more when our criminal justice class took a trip to the McLennan County Courthouse and observed a murder trial. I noticed that the there was a lack of diversity (especially in the jury selection). In our court systems, we need that diversity to institute our constitutional amendments. I know that since our court systems are not diverse people will engender stereotypes to certain racial and ethnic groups.
I still have to finish my essays that I started. It's difficult because I don't want to put big "ostentatious" words in it nor do I want to sound elementary. I have to channel in to that gray area in writing to get favorable results. My English teacher told us that we should allow other people read and revise it. When I do, people take over my voice or give completely opposite commentary which gets me nowhere. Right now I find that writing A LOT and then walking away from it for a week or so is better than simply writing a piece a allowing another party to revise it.
Earlier this week I took a trip to Office Depot to get my envelopes, glue (for mailing labels), and sticky notes (for deadline dates). I think asking my teachers and counselor for recommendations is the hardest thing to do for me. I am a very shy person so I have to portray a fearless persona to get things done. My counselor doesn't make this situation better (she is very ferocious and yells), but I am not scared of her. I fear (deep within my fearlessness) though that the teachers will doubt or be stultifying about the colleges I choose (most kids from my high school just go to a community college). I dare to be different and will be asking for those recommendations promptly NEXT WEEK!
Joseph
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I'M BACK!!! I can't believe how fast my senior year is already going by because I started school on August 28th and now it is already the end of September. I am trying to enjoy every second of this year by being FEARLESS!
I was appointed PRESIDENT of my SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Team. The presidential position requires that I talk in front of and LEAD the other members of the club. This position was my goal and I accomplished it. My next endeavor is the President position of National Honor Society which I hope to achieve, but if I don't it will be OK. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago I was notified that I was not chosen to be a part of the City Youth Council. I am actually glad that I wasn't picked because it makes me work even harder.
Furthermore, job hunting is a part of my game plan right now. I applied to over 20 employers and I will keep calling them until they hire me :). I'm not crazy though, just extremely motivated and humble. I can sometimes recall times when I didn't know what kind of person I was and what I wanted. Now I know who I am and what I want. The money obtained from work is going to my college application fees and SAT tests which come to a total of five-hundred dollars. Why am I not using a fee waiver? I want to WORK for my college education. When I see my economics or communications degree on my wall, I want to look at it with the confidence that I truly deserve it and that it came from the fruits of my labor.
In addition, my ACT and SAT scores were not spectacular AT ALL when I took them late in my junior year. I know I can do better so I am retaking them and studying for them. For the people that are nosy and want to know what I scored, I made a 20 on the ACT and a 1590 on the SAT. I am not one of those people that think that standardized tests are racially biased. I just think that college admissions need to loosen up and take my whole application file into FULL evaluation before they throw me into the REJECTED pile (Please Stanford!). Although many college-bound geeks will slap me, I would love to be rejected as much as being admitted because it feeds me motivational energy.
I started my college applications with the common app and it’s not really that strenuous. Yet I often find myself on the College Confidential forums looking up how to make my application "perfect." I need to stop though because I really want my voice to come across in my application. I have been writing a lot lately and my English teacher told me in front of the whole class that I "cracked her up" and that I was "a really great writer." Is she on some bad medication?
My peers at school aren't really being open-minded about their collegiate choices and their future. I hate to see most of the kids that I went to middle school with having children so young and just getting a minimum wage job. I try influence other kids to think beyond the scope of TEXAS or at least WACO. I am only responsible for myself though. At this very moment I am about to eat and study for my economics test. Bye!
Joseph
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I AM NOT PERFECT! I just want to make that completely clear before I start this blog. I am not a valedictorian nor did I visit orphanages in India during the summer. Fearless is what best describes me.
How am I fearless you ask? I have been through a LOT for just a 17 year old. I grew up in a pretty old, run-down house and I wasn't considered the most attractive when I was younger. I was overweight, depressed and everything. Kids used to tease me everyday which contributed to my very low self-confidence so I drew all of my energy into my schoolwork. But that was the past and this is now. Right now I don't care what people think of me. All I care about is achieving my dreams because I want to inspire others around the world to not let criticism defer them from their passions.
My name is Joseph and I attend a public school of about 1500+ students. School can be hard at times academically and socially but I can handle it. I am from Waco, Texas and currently attend University High School (Class of '08). I am very smart and hard-working. People say I am quiet, but I don't think so (I just speak when spoken to). I take 7 classes, 5 days a week which mainly consists of AP English literature, AP Spanish, and AP government.
I don't play sports, but I do like to run and workout. In school I participate in and will probably run for President of our SkillsUSA Criminal Justice Team. I am also in National Honor Society, Mock Trial, etc.
So you guessed it! I plan on being a lawyer when I grow up, but I don't just want to be a lawyer. You will definitely see me on my own nationally syndicated talk show. I also plan to run for President of the United States sometime in my life.
To make those dreams and aspirations a reality I need a solid education. Therefore, I wanted to take the time to really research a variety of colleges and I came up with what I think is a great list for me. I tried to make sure that each college had something that I could grow from and look forward too when I attend. I will be applying to six schools which are Stanford University, Rice University, University of Chicago, Pomona College, Santa Clara University and University of Texas at Austin. I didn't want to take the easy route and just apply to my local community college. I wanted a challenge and to be different from my peers. When I tell people that I want to go to California or New York instead of staying in Texas they ask "Why?" Honestly, Texas is a very dull state and it takes sacrifice to be successful.
"What am I sacrificing, you ask?" I know when I get to college I will be out of my comfort zone. No longer will my mom do my laundry and actually be there with me to hold my hand. I want to learn to do things myself now that I am almost an adult. Also, filling out all of those college applications and dealing with a not so easygoing counselor is going to be difficult itself. However, I am ready and fully prepared for anything. This college application process better watch out because when someone asks me "What college are you going to?" I am going to give a college name with so much confidence that it doesn't matter if it's Harvard or Yale!
In college I will probably major in journalism or economics and then go off to law school. I know it's going to be hard but with God anything is possible!
Joseph
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