Adventures in the life of Raymond

Work, Work, and Goodbyes

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:05:34 -0400

I’m entering my third week into my final year of high school. Most of my nights have consisted of hours and hours worth of school work. The workload is definitely something that I am not accustomed to. There is a great deal of reading that I have never, in my high school career, been exposed to. I hope that this will, at the very least, prepare me for the pressures of college. But, more about college later. I have reading in pretty much every class. It is hard to read everything that I am assigned without being an active reader, hence taking notes while reading and asking myself what I just read.

Other than the great amount of work that I have had, I have thoroughly enjoyed my year, thus far. First, a recap of my life since my last tumbz. Much of my time was spent finishing up my summer work and enjoying my last, precious moments of summer. I started the school year with the full intention of dropping AP Psychology and transferring to Advanced Strings as my only elective because I wanted to have a strings class during my senior year of high school. I changed my mind and stayed in AP Psych. It’s the best and worst decision that I have made thus far this year. It is the best because that class is freakin’ amazing. I actually have motivation to work and I’m actually learning a lot of things. It’s being taught by my favorite teacher, and homie, Mr. Harris. It’s the worst decision because it is the class that I have had the most work in… and it’s an elective class. Not to worry though, I will have orchestra second semester. Second semester is the primary performance semester, so everything will work itself out.

Recently, I auditioned for the Macon Symphony Youth Orchestra with the hope that it would be the highlight of my senior year of high school. I was counting on being concertmaster for the second year in a row. I was counting on serving as a leader to the other musicians in my community. I never really got a chance to practice my audition music really well because of the summer work that I had to do. The result: I lost the position of concertmaster to an 8th grader. It’s my senior year of high school, and I was denied the chance of concertmaster. She has five years ahead of her to lead the orchestra, and it’s my final year. It was such a disappointment. I seriously feel like quitting. Plus, the orchestra has gotten so expensive. When I entered my first year in the orchestra, five years ago, it was completely free. My second year, I had to pay a tuition of $25. Now, the price is a whopping $300 for the entire year. Now, should I quit and use my Mondays as precious time to do the ridiculous amount of homework I have? That is the question.

College. College. College. College. I am stressing out so much about college applications. I’m applying to college early decision through this program for low-income students called Questbridge. The application is due September 30. The schools that I am aiming for are Harvard, Yale, Columbia, or Cornell. However, the only four colleges I am eligible to apply for with Questbridge are Yale, Princeton, Pomona College (in California) and Brown. I really don’t wanna go to Princeton or Pomona, but the other two are possibilities. If I am not matched with these colleges with Questbridge, I will continue my college search through the regular process. My list, which is tentative, is Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Cornell, UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Washington University in St. Louis, NYU, Boston University, and Emory University. I know that I really have to narrow this list. Applying to college is so hard for me for a reason that many of you probably know about. Paying for college is going to be difficult so I have to be extra careful in what college I go to.

Now, the thing that has struck me the most lately: Missing my friends. Over the past year, I have grown very close to the recent high school graduates of the Class of 2010. Many of my friends have already moved in and many are moving in the near future. My friend, Jess, left on Friday to Boston, for MIT. My friend, Ava, left on Thursday to Atlanta, for Georgia Tech. My friend, Ariana, left today, for Georgia Tech. My friend, Fred, will leave on Monday for the University of Rochester, in New York. My friend, Taylor, will leave on Wednesday for Amherst, in Massachusetts. I will miss all of my friends more than they can imagine. As for me, with my friends leaving, I have come to the realization that, in exactly a year, I will be in the same position: saying goodbye to my friends. As we get older, we spread apart. We go our separate ways. We spread to different parts of the world and do our own things. It has made me come to the realization that I must live this year to the fullest, for I may never be in the same place as all of my high school friends ever again. An era of my life is slowly coming to a close, one day at a time. I must live each day and take advantage of every single opportunity that is presented to me. Life hits you pretty hard, but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Raymond Partolan

Happiness...

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 01:05:22 -0400

…is easy to come by when you have friends around. I just had one of the best days ever. My day started off pretty bad with not getting enough sleep and having to go to church, and then forcing down a quick lunch in order to be in time for a matinee of 1776. After that, I went to mariam’s house to chill. Then, we swam! which was completely unexpected. and I played some ping pong. I always have fun when I’m around my favorite Africans and Heacocks.

The Scales: My Bittersweet Contradiction: Contemplation has spirit? Or lack there of...

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:13:21 -0400

The Scales: My Bittersweet Contradiction: Contemplation has spirit? Or lack there of...:

Ya know, Plato says that contemplation ascends the soul to knowledge of the Form of the Good which goes into deeper meaning that the Good exceeds all being and is compelled by all humans to a deeper desire in knowledge. Well its about 2:00AM and my mind has wavered through almost all the things a…

Definitely things to think about this year. Great post, Krys!

who else has a tumblr besides you? do you follow all the people on your tumblr who follows you?

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:53:31 -0400

A whole bunch of people. and yes.

Fourth of July Festivities

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:25:16 -0400

So…

I got a surprise visit today from my friend, Juston. He’s at GHP, and I didn’t think he was coming this weekend, but he did! He surprised the heck out of me at Kroger. Then, we just randomly rolled up to people’s houses and surprised people. Then, I had a small get-together at my house for the 4th of July. We just chilled, went swimming, made some amazing smoothies, grilled burgers, karaokied, and jammed around the piano. It was fun!

The past 3 days

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:12:31 -0400

So, I haven’t tumbled in the past 3 days. I’ve been super busy. I’m just gonna upload a couple of pictures that tell the story of what i’ve done the past couple of days.

Thursday, July 1

Continuing our matrix movie marathon. Hopefully we’ll watch the third one at my house sometime soon.

Friday, July 2

Da Cache Kidz are ruling the world one day.

Then,

but the one that we made doesn’t look this delicious.

then,

which was great.

Saturday, July 3

I watched a disappointing Argentinian defeat against Germany.

Then, I was sitting in the park, just chillin, when some people came and asked us to help set up their wedding in the park. It was great!

Then, I got to witness some African masquerade dancing. It was a little creepy.

Now, it’s July 4. and I’m hoping some people come over so I’m not super bored all day. I wanna swim!

July 1, 2010 - 11:31 AM

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:33:02 -0400

So, I just woke up. My expectations for the day: I think it’s gonna suck. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. I’m heading over to Tobi’s house later on today to go see Matrix: Reloaded for TOK. That might be fun. It’s probably gonna be Me, Tobi, Krystal, Kass, and Tiffany. Yesterday wasn’t too much of a good day, and my expectations for today aren’t much better. Oh well, we’ll see tonight how my day went.

Pretty Little Liars?

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:05:11 -0400

so… It’s 1:03 AM. I’m super tired and a part of me wants to sleep, but a part of me doesn’t. Sleep is boring. I’d rather stay awake and talk to people. but…one thought lingers on my mind. It’s only Wednesday (well, early Thursday morning) and PLL shows on Tuesdays. Like o.m.g. that show is like. omg. the most amazing show like ever. Next Tuesday cannot come soon enough. Things are getting kinda deadly. dawg, forrealz, dawg, that stuff is kurzy. forrealz.

I sent this letter to Wilden 2 days ago. He got it today!...

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:12:36 -0400

I sent this letter to Wilden 2 days ago. He got it today! Yuuuah! I’m sure that he really liked it. He probably wants me to send him some more now, but you know, we’re in a recession, and paper doesn’t grow on trees (or does it?). but…you know what suckz? Wilden didn’t even acknowledge his receipt of the letter. It took like 5789313174308 + 5 hours to do. How inconsiderate.

To Indie or not to Indie?

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:53:42 -0400

So today, I was on the bus to Andersonville Prison Camp. I was feeling especially Indie. Wilden received the letter that I sent to him in Valdosta. He failed to acknowledge his receipt of the letter.

Raymond with graduation stuff on.

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:32:57 -0400

Raymond with graduation stuff on.