starsandsons

hike thursday!

someone really important to me died last weekend. he was one of the first people I met at USC, and his death has brought everyone together here. the worst part is, he was in love with a girl that really made him happy. They were returning from a weekend get away, she was driving, and they got in an accident. She survived and he died. It will take her so long to be able to live a normal life. RIP Sandy Roberts

this makes 3 people I know that have died in the past 2 weeks, 2 from car accidents. David Solowitz's girlfriend and best friend of 2 years is gone. a mutual friend also died last week that I never met, but was hit by a drunk driver..my mom knew his father and some of my friends at USC were involved in Jewish youth groups with him. someone else I know died last month. and then three people I knew died from an accident senior year of high school. Death is all around me and I just don't really understand. My mom told me she never knew anyone her age that died when she was my age. I just want everyone to drive carefully...and gain perspective about what is important. This girl will never fully recover from this. They were so in love, and she isn't even able to grasp what has happened yet because she is so drugged up in the hospital, recovering from a collapsed lung and everything else imaginable. I just pray that no one I know will die for a long time, and that the people close to my heart will be able to stay near for as long as possible.

Going abroad to Amsterdam in the fall. Its all I can think about...I think this is the perfect place. I already bought myself a camera...a little early I know.

1st semester sophomore year was great. Barely updated this blog only because I was busier than I think I've ever been in my life. I was balancing three jobs or so, USC concert choir which I got into this year, a community service sisterhood I joined called the Helenes which I absolutely love, all on top of 18 units. Once Orientation Advisor duties minimized, I started working for USC's office for parents program planning parents weekend. So that was 10 hours a week. And then I got a job working for USC protocol and events, hosting swanky parties for Deans and football tailgates and what not. And an odd job every so often. So I wasn't getting much sleep, but things have definitely slowed down over the past month. I just finished finals last Thursday and they went pretty well. I feel like I really developed my "freindship circle" this semester, and for once in my life, I have a great group of friends, not just a bunch of different friends that don't know eachother. Which makes things really fun. I'd say the highlight of the semester was my birthday, we threw an awesome party at the house which was loads of fun. AND I FOUND OUT LAST WEEK that the drivers license issue was solved, on a technicality! My lawyer pulled it together so I get to keep my license. My parents are pretty stoked, and I guess it was worth all the money. The most important highlight however, was singing with the concert choir and performing Bach's Mass in B Minor with the orchestra and the chamber singers. Most exhilarating experience ever. Nearly 300 pages of music, and an entire semester dedicated to learning it. That performance was one of the highlights of my life. I've been thinking seriosuly about going abroad. Either to London or Madrid. I was going to go this upcoming fall but now I'm thinking next spring, in a year. I know that if I don't go I'll regret it. One of my favorite things about this semester was constantly seeing students around campus that I helped at orientation. Even today someone I don't remember at all (I kind of recognized his face) was working at the bookstore, and he said hey alex how have you been? I like to think that I made enough of an impact on most of the students for them to remember me. In terms of excitement, this semester has been full of it. The bittersweet changes I predicted that would take place this semester did take place, but after experiencing them I have decided that they are changes for the better. Its definitely a change living off campus, but the bike ride every morning always wakes me up.

i'm starting to realize how much I'm learning/have learned at USC, in terms of academics. I feel like everything relates back to history.

I genuinely love life for the most part.

while working at international orientation this morning i went into a complete daze. it was a mix of greeting all of the new foreign students and seeing how excited they were to be on campus, and standing in the center of campus in one of my favorite spots and imagining all the diverse people that I have seen walk in that area. I realized college is only 4 years, but its the best time of my life and it goes by fast as hell. You never meet the kind of people you meet in college, and its a 4 year period when life is always exciting. I think the daze was a fear that I was taking my time here for granted, and a love for all the relationships I've developed and how much I've grown. I just love all of the wonderful and diverse people on this perfect campus. sometimes I really feel like I need to write in a journal when these feelings happen so I can document them better.

So I don't really know where to begin. I can't quite describe the newfound happiness I've discovered over the past few months. I just feel like a different person, and less...insecure.

some highlights include having the best job in the entire world this summer. I could not have grown more from having the opportunity to advise incoming freshman and welcome them to USC. Their happiness and excitement brought me back in time to a year ago when I was transitioning into the same journey. I loved having a job that made me feel more productive than I've ever felt. Thinking back to the days of hostessing in a restaurant is honestly nauseating. I had the ability to impact the lives of over a hundred freshman that were specifically under my influence, and the coolest part was they had no idea that they were so close in age to me. I was the youngest one hired for this job, besides one other girl. It is heartwarming to know that my personal experience as well as my opinions and knowledge about USC were so heavily valued. Everytime I get a facebook message or an email or a call from someone I met at orientation I just feel warm. This job definitely developed my communication skills and ability to speak on the spot and in public, helped me wake up early without complaining on a regular basis, and even soothed my stage fright.

another highlight includes a really talented musician actually taking the time to listen to my music and out of the blue, randomly mentioning that hed like to work with me. regardless of whether it even works out, I was so flattered that someone in USC's jazz program would actually want to work with me on music. I know I was used to collaboration when I lived in the desert, but ever since USC I was never really asked to do anything musically. This has kinda helped me get motivated to start writing again. I've also met some really outstanding musicians over the summer that have made me realize how much I appreciate jazz, but also how much more I have to learn. Same goes for funk! Sometimes I really wish I wasn't trained as a classical musician so I could view music as they do. The fact that this group of musicians I've befriended over the past few months or so, from saxophonists to guitarists to drummers, even TALKS to me is honestly an honor. I've had a year long break from music and I think thats enough.

Moving into my new place is wonderful. Because I had an awful roommate situation last year, having my own room, but in a house full of 8 other sophomores, all musicians except one I believe, is legit. I decorated my room as I've always dreamed, with cute urban outfitters curtains and furniture that ties in well with the victorian-esque look of this nineteenth century house.

Also, the fact that my family moved to the LA area has been really nice. I see them all the time which has helped the summer pass by nicely, and its a lot more free food than I experienced last year. they live 5 blocks from the beach, so I've turned a new ethnicity and people keep asking me if I'm egyptian. It is the weirdest thing.

Everyone moves back to USC next week and I couldn't be more excited to see people I haven't seen all summer! Life is really about to pick up. I'm wondering if it will be as fun, more fun, or less fun than freshman year. People mention that every year gets more fun at USC, but its going to be hard to believe that anything will top the freshman experience.

I started going to the gym and eating healthy food this summer. This is probably the whole reason behind why i'm doing so well, to be honest. I work out at least every other day and run. I also buy the right food and make sure I get everything I need nutrients wise. And my body has definitely changed a lot, and the best part about it is that my mom doesn't give me shit any more and finally makes me feel good about how I look. Feeling confident changes everything. Honestly, waking up and not feeling fat anymore changes an entire day...its like waking up on the right side of the bed.

I guess the only negatives about this summer are 1) that I still have yet to find out about the driving situation. The hearing keeps getting continued but its set for September 14th. And yeah that kinda sucks. If we lose thats 3500 dollars wasted. But our lawyer is Paris Hilton's lawyer so that gives me hope. And 2) the fact that my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But we're pretty sure he's going to be just fine.

School starts in less than two weeks and I couldn't be happier with my schedule. I'm taking Censorship in cinema (Hugh Hefner's class, he does one of the lectures!), Intro to TV and Video, Intro to Music Law, Drumming Proficiency for the Popular Musician, and Exploring Culture Through Film. In my opinion it doesn't get better than that. Now that I've gotten into the film school my 4 year plan is looking like a Cinema major, with Music Industry and Visual Culture minors. Nice to know I'm going to college to graduate with degrees in film, music, and art. I just have nothing to complain about!

weirdly longing for the impossible. how UNUSUAL. however, i'm thinking things may work out just because they usually do.

i'm so excited, I moved into my new room in my house at USC! I DIG IT. Will post pictures soon. Life is good.