Crazy Crazy Life We Live In

As the spring months roll around, it is time for a huge step in all high school Seniors lives. 

It is time to make a final decision on which school he or she will be attending. 

I visited a large array of different schools to figure out which was right for me. UNC-Chapel Hill? No not really. University of Oregon? Yeah I guess I could see my self going there. Gonzaga? I could see my self there with no problem. Washington State University? HECK NO.

I applied to UNC, Oregon, Gonzaga, and WSU (WSU before I visited). As the letters are almost done coming in, I realized something.

That letter means a lot. I mean . . . A LOT.

I got accepted to Oregon only a couple of weeks after I applied. The feeling was euphoric to say the least. I thought that was where I was meant to go. They didn't have the greatest journalism program, nor the best location, but it was the U of O! How could I turn down that kind of prestige. 

After a huge gap of college-break time, I got back on the horse and started looking again for more options. My parents suggested WSU, and told me to apply. So, I did. I had this whole picture about what Pullman, WA was going to be like. I thought that it was the school for me. They have one of the top (if not THE top) journalism programs in the nation. How could I deny that? So, when I visited, I was in for a surprise. I HATED it. Perhaps it was because I just got back from Gonzaga and decided that I loved it there. Anyways, I shut down the idea of me going to WSU. I didn't like it, I loved Gonzaga. Forget the Cougs. 

Then, something happened. One of those light bulb moments. 

I got the acceptance letter to Washington State University. 

Included in the letter was $31,000. 

I was shocked. I couldn't move, couldn't talk, couldn't think of anything but my choices now. How quick priorities change. How quick things that mattered before now become irrelevant. 

I got accepted to the best journalism school in the nation.

And they wanted me to come so bad that they gave me $31 THOUSAND. 

I was stuck for days. I would say something like 10 or 11 days, thinking about my future. I brought out the newspapers that I had from my campus visits. The Daily Evergreen was by far the best. I talked to my Lenior-Rhyne University Professor (I'm a high school enrichment student; I get to go to college every other day and I learn about journalism) and he agreed with me; education, contacts, etc. are the most important things in a college education. 

So here I am, probably a month or so further down the road. I told my parents I wouldn't make a final decision until I heard back from Gonazaga, so I can't send in my deposit just yet.

But, I will be attending Washington State University in the fall. 

Isn't it crazy how fast things can change?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...a couple weeks late...

Hickory, NC got its first real snow last night. We got three or four inches. 

Woah.

Me being from Washington state, I am very used to snow all the time. When I moved here, I realized that we wouldn't get snow on a regular basis. 

This made me sad. 

There is something about the snow that is . . . I'm not sure. Therapeutic maybe? Watching it puts me in a trance. Walking it in does the same. The world slows down when the snow falls. 

This was a phenomena that I missed dearly. And I didn't realize it until last night. 

I belong on the west coast. That is it. Some would argue that the North East has snow as well. I've been there. Not. All. That. Great.

I need to go back where there is nature and cities. Where the cold is a blistering cold. Where the snow falls in feet. Where the rain is consistent. Where I'm happy. 

I need to go back to Washington. 

With my college decision coming up, all the colleges I applied to and got into are in the Pacific Northwest (WSU, U of O, and Gonzaga).

Where should I go?

Washington State has the education that I need. U of O has the campus and surrounding area. And Gonzaga has the sports and Spokane. 

They all have their pluses. They all have their minuses. 

I suppose I will end up following the snow. I will go to the place that makes the world slow down. That allows me to relax, but have fun as well. 

But for now, I'm going to enjoy the only snow I will see all year. 

Crazy Life

It's truly amazing how crazy life can be.

I know that billions of people have written on this topic. But for me, this changes everything.

As of two weeks ago, I was behind on my studies. I was terribly sick. I couldn't seem to get anything right. I just got over my ex-girlfriend and was working on dating again, which wasn't working. I was pissed often, and rarely happy. 

But something changed. Something flared in my life that turned everything around. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm sure glad that it happened. 

I found my groove. I became myself again after being in such a funk for so long. I was able to catch up on everything, and pull myself together. I found a new favorite band. I had enough time in the day to do everything I wanted. I am dating a girl now, and things are going as they should. 

I think that is the key phrase; things going as they should.

But who is to determine that? Who is to determine how things should go?

I say it's different for everybody. I think that you decide how things should go by feelings and thoughts.

So right now, things are going as they should in life.

When the pitcher of life has consistently thrown me impossible knuckle balls, as well as some harsh curves, I finally got my fastball down the middle and used it to my advantage. I slammed it as hard as I could and it's heading for the grandstands. 

Whether it gets there or not, I'm not sure. Something crazy could happen. The wind could pick up and stop its momentum. The outfielder could jump and make a miraculous catch. 

Anything could happen.

So I'm not trying to get my hopes up to much. I'm trying to take it all slow right now. I'm savoring every flavor in this portion that has been cut for me. 

That is what one has to do. Savor things. Don't jump and think that the whole steak is that same delicious flavor because it very well could be rarer, or colder, or burnt, or contain worms.

I'm sitting back and enjoying this until it runs out. Then it's time to take another bite.

Let me Introduce Myself

You know, blogs get a bad rap. People think that blogs are things on the Internet where people complain all the time about how sucky his or her life is.

Well, I'm not here to complain about life. I'm here to rejoice it. I'm here to give the public if even only a glimpse of the American Teenager. Thoughts, ideas, etc.

First, I'll just give you a general idea of who I am.

I am Branden Andersen, a high school senior in North Carolina. I play lacrosse and football, excelling only in lacrosse. I hold a 3.5 GPA (4.03 weighted) and have been accepted to Washington State University, as well as University of Oregon. I am waiting to hear back from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Gonzaga University. 

I would like to major in communications (with emphasis in Journalism) and become a journalist some day. Yes, it is a dying occupation, but I love to write, and would like to do it some day to bring in the big bucks.

That was a joke. Journalists don't make a whole lot of money.

Like I said earlier, I love lacrosse. The season is coming up in a month or so, and I'm getting really excited about it. I play currently in a winter league, which isn't competitive but still retains some entertainment value. 

I love to write, I love to read, and I love to just be an average kid. School, sports, food, sleep, etc. You get the picture. 

So that is all I can think to write right now, but may post later. I hope to keep up with this blog, and keep you guys posted. 

Until later.

Good night, and good luck. 

(Classic)

It's over faster than you think

“HEY! Move over! I’m trying to watch the game!”

 

I hear it every game. Most of the time from parents. Some of the time from students. Some of the time from fellow SENIORS. It’s weird.

 

I only bring this up to attention because where I come from; it was something that people did without question. It was something that was a high school tradition. It was something that I looked forward to doing since I went to Ferndale High School basketball games.

I looked forward to being in the “blue crew” for my high school team, no matter the sport.

 

I loved to go to football games. I went to volleyball games, baseball games, and even some track meets. I wanted to be involved. I wanted to cheer on my fellow high school students when they played the sport that they loved to do it. And I love it when my fellow students come to cheer me on when I play the sport that I love.

 

But now, it is senior year. This is THE LAST time I will ever get to cheer on Trevin Parks. This is the last time I will ever be able to cheer on the sophomore who dunks. This is the last time I will get to jump around hysterically when the best play or the worst call happens.

 

This is the last time to be a high school student.

 

Soon, my fellow seniors, we will be off to great things. Whether it is going to the University of our choice, skipping a year and traveling around, or simply following our dreams, we are leaving this little town called Hickory in North Carolina. And it’s coming faster than most people realize.

 

Seniors, we have 4 home games left. 9 games overall. Second semester is starting in a week.

 

Who doesn’t realize this?

 

I know that the letters are coming in for some of you and when you read the acceptance/denial, remember that you are that much closer to leaving this place.

Sure some of you will go back, see the homecoming game or senior night or whatever. But you won’t be a STUDENT anymore. You will officially be alum. Do you not understand? It’s almost over.

 

So here I sit, confused and asking myself why nobody cheers in the student section. Why no one gets pumped at the fact that Trevin Parks and Patrice Baptista are sinking threes all over the place and breaking records and milestones. Why no senior will even stop yelling at the only senior who is really trying to support his team for the last couple times in his life.

 

I’m sorry for standing in your way. I really am.

But there are plenty of seats around the gym that are higher and can easily see over us.

 

Take advantage of them if you want.

 

Or come down and enjoy front row seats. Jump around. Have fun.

 

Because it will only last for so long.