Progress Report

Welp. I'm still unemployed and I still can't drive.

But! I have returned to public school. I'm taking three AP courses; Biology, English Literature and Composition, and European History. I'm also taking Honors Precalculus. So far I'm set to pass all of them, but not necessarily with flying colors. I've got a high C in History, Bs in math and science, and an A in English. I'm caught up in regards to the summer projects required for the AP courses. Life is good.

I'm also taking a course in financial literacy, which should help me out. I've learned a bit about money management, and while I still don't know how to file taxes, I have a basic idea of how paychecks work and what to do with them.

I took the SAT for the final time in October. I improved, but not significantly. My score rose from 1390 to 1410. That still gives me a pretty good shot at Rutgers, so I'm okay with it. Plus, my score is high enough that I don't need to take Camden's placer test.

Incidentally, it might not be such a bad thing that I can't drive yet. There's a PATCO train station in my town and I can use it easily to get to Camden and Rutgers. It also turns out that considering the fact that I won't have time for a job until I graduate high school, I probably won't be moving out of my parents' house until I'm in my early twenties. I won't have the money for it until then. I'm hoping to move into a certain apartment complex in town with my boyfriend at that point, but I can't make any concrete plans about that because I don't know what my income will be, what the rent is like in that building, or what my boyfriend's situation will be at that point.

Here's hoping for the best.

No more tests! (just kidding)

I'm done with the SAT this school year. I took the SAT with Essay on Saturday. The last day of school is the fifteenth, but I'm still going to study afterwards. Three hours a day, five days a week, until October first when I take the test again. It might even give me an edge with my education at the public school. I bet most of the other students won't study through the whole summer.

I'm also hoping to get a job and a license over the summer. Walgreens seems like a good starting point, since it's easy work and from what I've seen, I'd likely have friendly coworkers. There's also a pizza place which seems to want employees, but they're always really busy and I don't know if I can handle that. We'll see what happens.

Moving On Soon

I took the Bio test. It was easier than I expected, and I think I did well. I would guess I got something between 600-700, but I don't have my score yet. Being in the public high school, seeing all the students, all the other test takers, and some of the teachers, I felt something. I've made my decision. I'm going back to public school for my senior year.

I'm still a little worried they won't let me in as a senior, but it seems I'm the only one who thinks that's going to happen. It's more likely I'll get in, go through twelfth grade, and graduate like a normal person. I'll finally feel like a normal person again.

That might have been a tad unprofessional, but I'm leaving it anyway. It's how I feel, and I'm no longer writing this for the essay, right? I'm writing for myself now.

I took a practice test too, earlier this morning. Since it was a retake of the first one, I boosted my 1310 to a 1420. I owe most of the added success to memory, though, since they told me exactly what I was doing wrong the first time around. Hopefully I'll continue to improve.

I Made a Mistake

I screwed up.

I misunderstood the rules about the SAT, and missed the fact that I can only take one test per day. Since I asked to take both, they put me down for the Biology E test, but not the regular test. I tried to get it changed, but I missed the deadline. Consequently, I'm only taking the Biology E test on Saturday. In June, I'll take the regular test. In a way, this is good because I get more study time, but I feel guilty for messing up the form. I'll have to remember this incident when I register for the October test.

Disappointed

I did terribly on my practice test today. My score was 1290, my lowest score yet. I did the math and my average is about 1310, so I'm hoping to do at least that well on the actual test this Saturday. Even if I bomb the thing, I get another chance in October next year.

Speaking of next year, I may still be here then. I haven't completely decided. Because of that, I already have something like a plan in place. Next year will mostly be about my thesis, and I know what this year's been about - preparing for the SAT and college. Next year I'll send out my application to Camden County Community College. Depending on how my Bio test goes, I might look for something else to study. Once I'm finished there I'll apply to Rutgers, and maybe Drexel in case I get rejected. I only began thinking of that today, so I can't be certain.

It's Almost Time

Rutgers Day was a huge letdown. It felt more like a state fair or community outreach event than a chance to really check out the campus. The event was poorly organized and we weren't even supposed to go inside the buildings.

My mom doesn't play by the rules. We went inside.

We got a good look at one of the lecture halls. It resembled a small theater.

I took a third SAT practice test. While my overall score has improved - I went from 1300 to 1350 - I did terribly in math and only saw improvement because my english score skyrocketed to a 770 from a previous 690.

The test itself is this Saturday. Here's hoping I don't mess this up.

Routine Uncertainties

I spoke with Reb yesterday about my desire to return to public school. He said that it's understandable that I'd struggle now, and that it takes time to adjust to the free school environment. He also said that I don't have to sign the forms anytime soon, and I could go ahead and attend public school if I wanted. If I get tired of that, PFS's doors are always open. That's a comfort.

For the past couple weeks I've been following a study routine. Three days a week I practice for the main SAT - that's the reading & math portion - and during my free time those days and the whole day the other days, I study for the Biology Subject Test. I'm still worried about my performance there, but I took a practice test for the main one and got 1310 out of 1600, so that's good.

I intend to keep this routine up until the test, for which I'm now officially registered. I'm to take it at the public school in town, which will give me an opportunity to familiarize myself with the location.