Laura’s place

Hey Everyone! Haven’t written here in a while…Anyway, I have some BIG news!!! You see, my school has a program called GEAR UP which is to provide information and help kids get into college. Our GEAR UP person, Ms. Rong, approached my friends Teresa and Kenneth and I with applications to this program called Academic Talent Development Program (which is actually a strange name. Academic talent??). There were several courses to choose from such as environmental science, algebra I, the writing process, writing for high school, mathematics, and even marine biology! Most classes cost $500 or more, plus $30 enrollment fee, and the price for the books. The application was like applying for college! We had to write an “interest inventory,” include an essay or other piece of writing/science project, and get a teacher’s recommendation.

I signed up for the writing process. In fact, we all did. Partially because we all have the same interests, partially because we just want to have the same class. We gave our applications to Ms. Rong and earlier this month we all got the acceptance letter!!! I’m so excited! This course is at UC Berkeley, mine is in the Evans building. We all have the writing process but with different teachers and Teresa’s is in the morning while Kenneth and mine is in the afternoon. We all have classes in different buildings but all our buildings are right next to each other, around the same little courtyard.

Oh, and I still haven’t said the best part…it’s completely free for us! GEAR UP is paying for all of it! ALL OF IT. Including the $30 application fee and books!!! GEAR UP is also providing BART tickets! Can you believe that? I was doubtful at first because the course takes up most of my summer and leaves little for me to do whatever I want (don’t worry, it’s only twice a week though). But I mean, come on. Who would pass up an opportunity like this? I have many many more summers for me to do whatever I want. This summer will be dedicated to my academic learning. I can’t wait!!

My other piece of news: the Indigo Girls are coming to town!! I got tickets!! They’re touring for their new album “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug.” I bought the album on iTunes and I’ve been studying up, memorizing the words so I can sing along at the concert. The new album is seriously kick-donkey. Though, honestly, it isn’t quite up to their usual standards. The songs don’t have that same feel as their older songs. It sounds a little like they’re running out of ideas (but I don’t blame them. I’d probably run out of ideas too if I had over twelve albums under my belt). But it’s still awesome. Just…not quite as awesome as all the others.

So yeah. Get their new album. It is awesome.