The Struggle is Real

So in about 3 days, we’ll be saying buy to the year 2012, and hello to 2013. For us Haitians out there, that means T minus 3 days until we feast on some soup joumou! I digress. For me, the year 2012 has been a year that I will never forget. I remember checking my email early April 11^th. I was ready to see the words “We’re sorry…” Instead, I saw the message, “Your application for MITES has been given a decision. Please log in to the application website to see it.” I thought, great, they’re just prolonging the inevitable.  Logging into the application website was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do, but I was fortunate enough to be one of the 80 students chosen to participate in the MITES program.

If you’ve read any of the other blogs, you already know that MITES has been a life changing experience for all of the participants. If you haven’t read any of the blogs yet, go read them first, then continue with mine. I’ll even wait for you………………..Alight, let’s continue. MITES left me with a desire to make a difference, a change in my community. I had the warm feeling inside, kind of like after you watch Wall-E, and I wanted to share that with others. I told myself that once school started, I was going to ignite some inspiration!

The funny thing is, saying you’re going to do something is much more difficult than actually doing it. For example, I had this really good idea to organize a career fair for the local middle schools in my area. I wanted to inform them about many different careers in the STEM areas and inspire them to dream big. As NHS president, I thought it would be no sweat to get people to make presentations about certain careers. However, I faced an unmotivated chapter who only did the bare minimum in terms of community service just to put NHS on their applications. After only a few volunteered to assist me, I felt discouraged. I began to feel like a failure. I couldn’t even inspire my own chapter. How could I inspire anyone else?

I think God was listening in, because he answered my question. A few months later, December 15^th rolled around and I was accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Class of 2017. I was in shock and disbelief. Was I being punked? No, this was real life. After notifying my guidance counselor, she told me that I would be the first student from Sussex Central High School to attend MIT. Most normally end up going to state universities (I live in Delaware, not impressive). She told me that I was a role model for others to follow. Many of the underclassmen looked up to me, and I was their inspiration. Not only that, but I was on my way to becoming my high school’s first black valedictorian.

I was really motivated by what my guidance counselor told me. Through my success, I was igniting inspiration. This has caused me to push myself to work harder as to not let those who look up to me down. It has given me the motivation to do things that I had previously set off. Right now, I am working on the Gates Millennium Scholarship aka the Mac Daddy of scholarships. This scholarship gives you 5 months to write 8 essays. The reward is basically a full ride through graduate school. At the moment, I have 19 days to write 5 essays. Yeah, I know. I should probably go work on those. Procrastination is a ditch.   

Stay Classy

-Rosemond “RowZay” Dorleans

Nervousness

Do you ever get really nervous?

For the opening of the big show, a first date, or before the results of an exam? Trust me, I have been there. Many times. This week seems to take the cake, though.

This past weekend was my robotics team's hosting of a FIRST Lego League tournament. What is FLL? Well, if you click the link, you can check out what FLL is all about. Personally, I am in love with the program. It introduces kids to problem solving with a little bit of engineering and science mixed in there, too. I totally wish I was on one of these teams when I was little. Anywho, I've mentored a couple teams and it's totally rewarding and I'd recommend everyone and anyone to get involved! Even though this wasn't going to be my first time exposed to this. Still, I was nervous. 

This tournament was entirely student run, and our tournament director was starting to feel the heat. Additionally, I was going to be Emceeing the tournament. Now, if you haven't met me, I am a really shy, quiet person. Sure, I can talk in front of people when I need to, but these types of situations....I usually steer clear away from completely. Emcees typically dance, interview teams, sing, jump around, etc. They also officiate the opening ceremonies. To be honest, this wasn't my cup of tea. Sadly, I'd do anything to keep kids excited about robotics. Looking back, I think I filled my position very nicely (except for the part when one boy almost started crying due to robot malfunction, I almost cried with him it was so sad) and I was sore and exhausted the next day to prove it. The tournament went awesome and the kids had a great time. Can't wait to do it again soon!

As always, check out my team by visiting our website here. We're always doing cool things with the community, spreading STEM and other exciting things like that. That's one reason I can't stay away.

I was also nervous due to the fact that a certain school's Early Action results (a school in which I REALLY would like to attend) were coming out on Saturday (at 12:15, to be precise). And I pretty much got the case of "ItotallyknowI'mnotgettinginsoIshouldjustgiveupandnothopeandbecomeabumorapplytomoresafeties" disease. I guess, I got way more than nervous because I pretty much shut down and watched Entertainment television all day yesterday instead of studying for my AP Physics test on Angular Momentum, which I am sooo behind on! Now, as much as I love doing physics problems, there was a HUGE part of me that just wanted to give up. 6 AP classes this semester was a lot for me. I definitely have had no such thing as a break. My friends and I would hang out and talk about the amounts of work we'd just have to do later on. It just felt monotonous and bleh. Plus, my grades are not looking too hot because there are a lot of assignments I am behind on and a couple tests I still have to take. Of course this only adds to my nervousness (and borderline anxiety).

But, then I realized that I was a survivor. Of MITES. One of the most difficult courseloads ever. Not to mention, I actually did really well in all my classes. So, I really don't know why I was complaining. At all. So, my solution was to tell myself to suck it up, deal with it, and use the strategies I learned at Mit to make the best of what I have. First, I will start off by prioritizing. ASAP. I will see where that goes.

I also need to buy my Secret Snowman gift (The MITES 2012 version of Secret Santa, which is going to be pretty awesome because I have the perfect person.) Also, Saturdayat12:15 needs to get here quicker. So that my latent nerves that want to resurface can dissipate!

Until luego,

Eunice

p.s. I'm doing some name analysis

Eu: Greek for good, well

Nice: nice...

Definition: Victory.

I wonder how that was decided. What about your name?