Earlier this week, I fulfilled my duty to the Gods of senior year and sacrificed two school days to drive around on a quest to obtain T-shirts and ACT statistics. In other words, I went on some college visits. I visited Truman State University, and University of Missouri Columbia (Mizzou) on Sept. 9, then Saint Louis University and Washington University in St. Louis on Sept. 10. Overall, I liked it more than I thought I would; before my attitude was that I could obtain 90% of the knowledge gained from a college visit through a google images search of the campus and looking up their tuition and ACT statistics. I really wasn’t wrong, but like I said, I’m still glad I went.
Some important details: I want to become a doctor. I’d prefer to go to a school with a pre-med program; as I’m not really sure if I should major in a science or play the non-science major into med school route. I also have a large family: six siblings, so cost is a big deal.
Looking back from now, four days later, the biggest impact of the visits happened on the Campus of WashU. Before, I had seen the school as being too good for me; my ACT is only a thirty, which is pretty low for their statistical acceptance rates. I was okay with it sitting on my couch playing Smash Bros: “They’re a good school. Tons of people can’t make it into WashU.” But when I arrived on campus and sat down for the informational meeting, with kids from New York and Chicago, who all looked like they were cooler and had a higher ACT than me, Mr. thirty coming from Rolla Missourah, I was getting pretty anxious/experiencing feelings of hard inferiority. But on the campus tour I was able to see tons of students; they didn’t have their brains bulging out of their ears, they generally looked well-off, but overall, I was able to see myself walking among them. They looked similar enough to me and kids I’d see every day. After that, I had an interview with an admissions counselor, who was an overall cool lady that I felt went very well: I just talked about Journalism, being a Band section leader, my Smash Bros. mains, but mostly my love of the different groups and classes I’m in at RHS. Honestly, the interview was what really made everything come together: I felt confident, determined, successful, and had discovered something about myself: I am very driven by passion.
As I said, the interview went well: the overall cool lady told me she was very impressed and excited by my passion for talking about my involvement in Journalism, marching band, German, Eco Club, and my academics in general. I am more clubs and stuff than the average student. Some I love, and am passionate about, some, not really. At all. But I realized after my interview, for the things I am passionate about, I absolutely do love. I love my ECHO staff and want nothing more for them to do their best and to get it. I love my section in band; I’d back them up in almost any fight, even if they are a crazy motherintercourser named Ice Cube!
So upon returning to school, I felt fresh and new, enough to create a Back To School Resolution! (Mid-September can still count as back-to-school-territory): I have discovered this truth of mine, and I am now determined to find out how to spread my passions to other clubs and activities; to utilize it more in academics; to be a better friend to those I care about; to be more active in school; and to simply have more fun through time spent with things I love.
This post was slightly more serious than I plan to regularly do, so I made a rap when writing this in order not to bore you, dear reader/mom, it’s mostly on college decisions/my future, and possibly racist. I made it loosely on the beat of Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf’s 1993 hit single Methods:

Tall lanky kid outta Rolla, Missouri.
Transcript flamin: academic baller:

Got a thirty for a superscore.
So well rounded.
Extracurricular leavin’ the scouts dumb-founded.
Tell the plebs: I finna be a doctor
Stethoscope, lab coat, long-butt Greek words
I’ll be spittin’ diagnoses so fast,
Got Hippocrates sayin “Good Lords”.
I’ll be spending my days healin all the sick kids.
So now senior year: And there’s one big question, ya squids
Where the flip am I gonna place my academic…bids.
First understand: I got a big family
those merit based scholarships are sweeter than can-dy.
So now you see me: ol’ John Giesey
Got the ladies lining’ up to see my nice personality
Passion’s the word
Where is the key?
I’m tellin ya, its in my clubs and activities!
Gotta spread my joy around
Write a blog; bout bein profound!
Now dear enlightened reader
How will I spread the passion that is so new-found?