James' blog

I’ve realised just now, sitting in dad’s office just how far behind I
am with all my school work.

It’s not a good thing, not good at all.

Bludging Year 11 was not worth it.

[Well, Year 11, and first term of year 12 at least.]

Well it’s Christmas eve, and the weather is just how I like it. The stifling heat, and humidity of an imminent storm. The blackened sky and lightning flashes.

It’s been a long and eventful time between blogs, even longer since I’ve posted anything of substance, longer still since any of it made sense.

Over the past four school terms, 3 as a year 11 student, and the last beginning my HSC:

• I passed the preliminary Higher School Certificate course with a low 70s average, and pleas from all my teachers to put in the effort to get back up to the 90s.
• I realised I need to ‘create a better working environment for myself (clean a path to, and some space on my desk), and actually manage my time.
• I felt suffocated by schoolwork (even though I wasn’t doing it often enough).
• I stopped being able to think with the clarity I once had.
• I stopped blogging.

• I finally had the $2000 the school owed my year group returned, money which had been payed for orders of the yearbook I’d organised, which the school wouldn’t approve for printing.
• I was elected to the senior council by my peers, and teachers with a majority of votes [& dealt with not being appointed captain].
• I helped organise a concert that was a quiet success, despite a number of setbacks.
• I helped organise the school’s winter sleepout, which raised a large amount of money [well for our school] to help the local St. Vincent de Paul society.
• I saw the Japan Trip which I’ve been lobbying for since 2002 come to fruition, hopefully returning as the biannual tradition it once was.

• I was told I was loved by someone close to me, but felt annoyed, and frustrated, not happy.
• I continued to selfishly take from my family without giving much back.
• I found a skill in photography I never knew I had.
• I became closer to some friends, and drifted away from others
• I gained a stronger idea of what I wanted in my future.

Added at 3:50:

Oh, I went to Goodooga with the Edmund Rice Centre on an immersion program.

I left my job.

Went hiking with school on a Duke of Ed expedition.

Was photgrapher at a Charity Dinner for the parramatta Vinnies Van, which provides food for homeless people in penrith and parramatta every night,

And went out as a volounteer on the van last tuesday night.

New Glasses: Thicker (eyesight worse), Different Shape, Can now see. 

Waking up this morning I found myself turning up the volume on the radio next to my bed [ which had been receiving ABC's Radion National since early this morning (around 1:00 AM)] to find the excellent Background Briefing program about to start.

Today’s Background Briefing looks at the ‘Need For Speed’, our need for immediacy and instant gratification.

This Week: Sunday 29 August 2004

Need For Speed

Produced by Anna Hipsley

It’s human nature to love the rush of energy and speed. It’s about life, but perhaps also a distraction from the certainty of death. The faster we move the more impatient we become, and the new technologies feed our habit.

Listen to the program

Sunday 29 August | Real Media | Windows Media

Giant Sandwhich [from the shop near Nautilis bar, Darling Harbour] – 14.08.2004 

So I’ve done every shift since Thursday (others sick / unable to be contacted), had half as much time to do schoolwork as I’d thought I would, and have ended up here, pulling another night / morning before job on the “Preliminary Chemistry Assesment Task 3″.

I’ve setup a new computer, driven maybe 45 minutes, and procrastinated for around 8 hours, but I blame ‘the job’ nonetheless.

….

One Morning. 

Mt. Banks – 0935 13.07.2004 

Goodooga

I’m back home after my week out west, and having spent last night on a family friends’ family’s farm in Crookwell,  haven’t really been able to reflect on what I’ve experienced in the last week as of yet. 

 

I’m off again tomorrow for a two day trek around, and up Mt. Banks (in the Blue Mountains National Park).