State+of+the+Student

My first semester at Foothill was far from what I imagined it to be. I imagined that I wouldn't have lived past the ninth grade project and that I would have no life except homework. However, the Ninth Grade Project was not nearly as hard as the upper classmen made it seem, and the homework load is manageable. I still have time for surfing friends, and friends.

I’m going to start off by talking about my academics. I have a fairly good grade in all my classes. I'm taking school more serious this year. It has moved up on my list of priorities; however it still falls behind surfing. I am beginning to realize that my actions now will affect my future, especially with finals. Anyways, on to my classes.

First period I have Honors Geometry with Mr. Huffman. In Honors Geometry, we do 2 lessons a day and 2 lessons of homework. This is probably my most difficult class. Right now I have a B+ and hopefully my final will boost it up and an A. If I can pull out an A in geometry I will be very, very happy.

Period 2 I have Biology with Mr. Duston. Mr. Duston has very dry since of humor that only 1 or 2 people seem to get. Whenever he tells a biology joke, the students find it more puzzling than funny. I have a B+ in his class also and I hope that my final will bring it up to an A.

Third period I have Spanish with Mrs. Leaf. Spanish is...interesting. Our class stories are very strange, such as the leprechaun clown named Skittle who lived in a box of Lucky Charms at the end of the rainbow in Ireland. Overall Spanish is very easy. All you have to do is draw pictures and pay attention in class. My current grade is an A-.

Period 4 I have Mavericks with Mrs. Stevens. I don't know Mrs. Stevens very well, due to the fact that we have close to 50 kids in our class. At Mavericks, all you have to do is show up and you get an A. You really don't have to do anything. I usual just stand there and talk to my friends for an hour. I currently have an A+ in her class.

Fifth Period I have Education in the Digital Age with Mrs. Faulconer. Mrs. Faulconer is one of the strangest people I have ever met. She calls us angel potatoes and is apparently from the "Mothership." My current grade in her class is a B+.

Period 6 I have Geography and Health with Mr. Prewitt. Mr. Prewitt is a very good teacher. He very rarely censors himself. Even though he is half-deaf, he is a remarkable person. Geography and health are fairly easy classes. We rarely have work and when we do I can either get it done in class or get close to finishing it. Right now I have a B+ in his class.

Last but not least, seventh period I have English. I have never really been an English person, meaning I have always preferred math or science. I have never enjoyed writing essays (such as this one), but I know Mr. Geib would say something along the lines of, “You don't have to like it, but you still have to do it," or, “Overruled!" Right now I have a B in English.

Now onto my friends. When I was still going to school at Balboa I knew pretty much everyone in one way or another. Most of My good freinds went to either Buena or Ventura, leaving me with only a handful of friends at Foothill, like Andrew Perez and Sam Beppler. I have also made new friends, such as Adriana Doyle and Evan Askar. I have also been reunited with old friends like Scott Hamlet and Matt Cobos. Outside of school, I generally hang out with my old friends from Balboa, or my friends on the surf team.

Two of my closest friends are Andrew Perez and Blake Gurrola. Andrew is a freshman here and Blake is a softmore who also goes here. We have always done everything together, even when we were younger. I first moved to Ventura when I was 3 and known Blake and Andrew ever since. We practically live at each other’s houses. We even live on the same street. We have helped each other through a lot, such as when Andrew's dog died or when I lost my great grandmother. We are more like brothers and less like friends. We have our differences, but we are still close.

Something new this year for me was the Ventura High school Surf Team. I had never been on a surf team before and it’s been, and still is, a very fun and strange experience. I knew some people on the team prior to me joining like Eric Ronning and Tyler Han, but I also met knew people like Deanna Levin and Joe Hendrych. We are all one giant, thirty person family. We all know each other and are comfortable around each other. Surfing may not be a team sport but we still have the team mentality and spirit. Even if we aren't competing in the next contest, we still show up to cheer our team on. We actually have a contest the Sunday after finals against Malibu.

My family life is pretty average for a teenager. I would generally like to be with friends or surfing, or surfing with friends, and I fight with my mom, a lot. My parents are divorced. I only live with my mom and I'm an only child so if she has any pent up anger or if I do, we take it out on each other. We never stay mad at each other though. My grandparents are amazing and generous people. My grandma always drives me to the beach or where ever I need, or want, to go. My grandpa is almost as into my surfing as I am. He’s always asking me if I have learned a new trick or if I have filmed with anyone.

Overall, this first semester has been fairly good. I am most defiantly not transferring and will finish out my four years of high school here. I look forward to seeing all of you change and grow into your own unique people, and for any of you transferring at the end of the semester or year, good luck in whatever awaits you at your new school.