School update - My First Day

Ok, it's time to tell y'all how my first day went. Hmmm where to begin. Well, first of all I almost missed the bus, but I didn't. I had plenty of help knowing exactly what to do from my way sweet seventh-grader friend Krystel.
My first class was choir. I felt awkward because I didn't know anyone, and I didn't know the songs (although I must have picked up on them quickly cause I have them stuck in my head now). I was pretty much ignored in that class. Also we had to do an activity where we wrote notes into measures. We had to use every kind of rest, and every kind of note, and write eight measures, and they all had to add up to 4/4 time (each measure had to have four beats). It was harder than it sounds, and I totally didn't get how to do it. I'll work on that before I have to be tested on it.

My next class was English. That is my favorite of my new classes so far. I am pretty good at most kinds of English (reading, writing, grammar and sentence structure). The teacher was nice and made an effort to introduce me to everyone and explain everything that we were doing. So I didn't feel lost. Also I knew a couple of the kids. I sat behind a boy that I pretty much know from my stake. Him and another girl were asking me questions (in a good way) and making me feel welcome.

Lunch was a little awkward. I didn't quite know what to do with myself at first. And I had a hard time getting my stupid locker open. But I found my cousin, who had asked me the day before if I would like to eat lunch with her. I can't eat much when I'm nervous, but I managed to get in a string cheese and a yogurt.

Then was my art class. Believe it or not that's the one that scares me most right now. First of all, EVERYONE says that the teacher is crazy. Some of the kids even gave me a friendly warning to be prepared because she stresses you out if you aren't used to her. I have not met her yet, because there was a sub. Also I am a little worried because it is an advanced art class, and I have never taken an art class at all. We just watched a really long movie about how to do a landscape painting, and then the sub told us that we were supposed to draw our hand. That took me by surprise and freaked me out at first, because I never draw hands!
Here is a picture of the hand that I drew. (I didn't have to turn it in yet). I did play with it a bit with 'Picasa' because when you take a picture of a drawing it tends to get really washed out. As you can see the proportions are not quite right. I definitely was not pleased with it.
When I got home I decided that I needed to try again. So I drew a different kind of hand. So here is my second attempt. This one is more cartoon like, and a bit scary. I think it might be that hand of Dracula's wife. Hehe, just kidding. Anyway, the proportions are better, except for the thumb.

Then I looked up some websites on how to draw hands and found one that shows how to get proportions and knuckle placement right, So here is a diagram I drew after studying that. Pretty cool I think. =)

Now I am going to take my sketchbook everywhere and practice drawing freehand style. Usually if I want to do a nice drawing (and usually it's a portrait like the one on my sidebar) I use a grid. So I need more practice doing freehand. So, although it scares me a lot, I am already learning from my art class I guess.

Then I had to rush after talking to some of the kids in my art class, get my stupid locker open again to get my scriptures, and run outside and up the hill to seminary. But I admit that I was relieved when I was sitting in my desk at seminary. It was familiar and comforting after a long day. We did scripture chases, which was fun. And for the first time I understood why kids sometimes nap with their heads on their desk during seminary. I almost wanted to. But I have promised myself that I will never do that. Seminary is the class I need most, and I don't want to be disrespectful to Brother G. (my teacher).

So altogether this is my summary. It could have gone better. I was nervous the entire time. I have no classes with any of my friends so I was mostly alone walking down the halls. I did run into some people I knew who stopped me curiously (they aren't used to seeing me there) and talked to me. Also when I really could not get my locker open I always found a friend to help me. And I was aware of the fact that the day could have been much worse, and I am grateful that there are lots of people who love me.

I don't know for sure how much I am going to like it. I am going to give it a while. Only time will tell.

Thank you all for your support.

Love ya!

Tiff