Junior Year is Finally Coming to a Close! :)

Hello Everybody!

Hope all the readers of my blog are having an awesome memorial day weekend. I am sorry that I have not published an entry in a while! I have been occupied with other activities and responsibilities. I don’t know if I will be able to post another entry for a while after this because of my hectic schedule. I am super excited that the most challenging year for a high school student is finally coming to an end for me! 🙂

I feel truly blessed on this memorial day to be a United States citizen. It is not without all the sacrifices our fellow men and women have made by fighting for our country that we would have the freedoms that the US is known for. There are many countries that dont provide their citizens the rights to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, a speedy and public trial, a right to have a jury and many others. We take these rights for granted but, at least for one day, we should think about how lucky we are. Thank you to all the men and women who are and have dedicated themselves to our country! Also, Thank you to all of the families who have a mother, father, or husband fighting for 0ur freedom! 😀 While we might not know your name, our country is forever grateful to your service!

On a much happier note, I had a blast at Junior Prom on May 19’th with Becky Rama. A big thank you is needed for Amanda Keller and her entire family for letting everybody come over to her house to take pictures before prom! I had a blast and made some memories that I will never forget! I felt extremely special that night; slow-dancing with becky, talking to my friends, seeing everybody looking awesome (in suits). It all went so fast! Thank you to the rest of the Class of 2012 for giving me a once in a lifetime night! That night just proved that our class is EXTREMELY sexy!

My progress for my weight loss challenge has stalled out but, I look forward to getting back on track! 🙂 I am extremely excited to report that I finished my first ever 5K! 🙂 I know that Nick was looking down on me and he pushed me every step of the way! LOVE YA BUDDY! 🙂 I finished with a time of 50:21. While I know that is not a great time, I am just happy to say that I completed my first 5K.

Unfortunately, I was not selected by the band staff to be a drum major for the 2011 edition of the Marching Rams. We are doing music from John Barnes Chance: Incantation and Dance and Variations on a Korean Folk Song. I was devastated on Monday when the results were posted! I wanted it EXTREMELY badly and put a lot of time and effort into my audition! While I might not be the first one to volunteer for something, that doesnt mean that I am not passionate about it.  But as I have had time to reflect on it, I know that Sam Goryeb and Shaina Attanasio will do a great job and look forward to helping them lead the band next season! Even if I am not selected for section leader, I look forward to being someone that freshman can look up to and making an impact on people in my own little way

I am extremely excited for my People to People trip that is coming up in a couple of weeks! It is now official, I have switched delegations and I am going with a group from the Philadelphia area. While I am sad that I am not going with a group that I have attended meetings with and gotten to know, I am happy to still have this once in a lifetime experience! The people in my new delegation seem to be awesome and welcoming! I look forward to meeting them at their next meeting and going to Europe with them in 20 days. I just hope that I get selected for PGC and switching delegations at the last minute pays off for me. Since my departure date has been moved up a 3 weeks, my stress level has skyrocketed with the amount of work that has to be done before I leave!

The recent weather related events in Joplin, MO and down south have really made me believe that American can come together and be the UNITED States of America! We can obviously see that people are going down to help them rebuild, donating supplies and money for the recovery effort, and helping in many other ways. The political rhetoric in Washington, DC is very heated right now and it is doing us no good that Republicans and Democrats can not put their differences aside and work together! Politics is a very divisive issue and it is obviously having an effect on our government leaders. But, it is through times like this where the American spirit comes through and we put all issues aside to help people in need! Please keep the people of Joplin, MO in your thoughts and prayers as you go about your week! Thanks. God Bless the USA!

Jordan Barth

A Lifechanging Week

Hello Everybody!

I hope that all of you are enjoying my blog and it is providing insight into my life! I am so blessed to have some amazing friends and all the support that the have received over the past couple of months.

Drum major auditions are coming up this Friday. I am really excited for them! I know that I will make Nick Muccia proud by my audition. I can only do my best and hope that is enough to get the position. The practice sessions leading up to it have been really helpful. Peter, Maddie, and Derek have been invaluable to this process. It shows to their passion and classyness that they are willing to help out all of the candidates on an individual basis. I think that it is extremely ironic that the day of Drum Major Tryouts was the day that Nick’s funeral was held 6 months ago. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. I will definitely be thinking about him on Friday as I go about my day.

I am very excited for Junior prom! It is scheduled for Thursday at Hanover Manor from 6-11pm. I am taking Becky Rama with me! She is a really awesome person and I am looking forward to catch up in detail with her over the past year. I havent seen her since Nick’s funeral. I miss her so much! I am taking pictures with some of my friends at Amanda Keller’s house at 5pm and will be going straight to the Hanover Manor from there. “After-Prom” plans are up in the air but, I know that I will be busy this weekend.

Unfortunately, my weight loss challenge has not gone exactly how I expected it to go. I expected to lose 25 pounds by today (Day of Junior Prom) and that just hasn’t happened. I slacked off a little too much in March-mid April and that has greately hindered my success. While losing 10 pounds is still commendable, I am very disappointed that I haven’t reached my goal. My new goal is to lose the rest of the weight by the end of the school year.

I am extremely excited for the Run for Rachael! It is a 5K that I am doing with my People to People delegation. Unfortunately, it will be one of the last events that I am doing with them as I am leaving for Europe before they do with a delegation from Philadelphia. We are leaving in one short month, on June 20.

During the Spring concert last night at RHS, the wind ensemble had its final performance as an ensemble before everybody moves into preparing for graduation and next year’s marching band season. We have made so much personal and musical growth together as an ensemble! I will miss everybody from this year’s wind ensemble. Best wishes everybody!

Jordan Barth

It’s Marching Band Time!

Hello Everybody!

I find it shocking that the 2011 Marching Rams season (Senior Year) is getting closer and closer. It was not that long ago that last season ended at Giants Stadium in December with the Randolph Rams becoming state champions. Our show this year is based on the music of John Barnes Chance. The music is from Incantation and Dance and Variations on a Korean Folk Song. This season, I hope to take on a new challenge, becoming drum major for next year’s edition of the marching rams. I want this position VERY badly! I am willing to move mountains and do anything that is neccessary for me to get the position. Ever since I started playing an instrument in 5th grade, I have wanted to be a drum major. The competition this year for those two spots is intense and whoever gets it, truly deserves it! Even though Marli is trying out, we are going to work together and help each other so, hopefully one of us gets it! Fortunately, I have been getting help from Peter Liu. His advice has been invaluable. I wish everybody luck in their quest to become drum major!

Well, I finally have an update. We got in touch with Spokane about my logistical issues. The other option that is being discussed among the family is to leave the last day of school with a delegation from Philadelphia. I would leave June 20 and would not be able to see my senior friends graduate. I dont know any of the people with my new delegation. Leaving behind the people who I have gotten to know through many meeting with them would be saddening. Nothing has been decided yet but, I have a feeling that I will have to be gutsy because of the wait time for the PGC results and pull the trigger on this idea. While I thought that my PGC interview went well and I am confident that I will be picked, there are so many more hurdles that have to be climbed before I can finally celebrate.

I am so happy to have great news to talk about. I am SO excited to have a prom date! I feel extremely blessed to have Becky Rama coming to Junior Prom with me. It will give us some time to reconnect after a while. I know that we are going to have a blast together at the Hanover Manor. All my friends have dates and I am now working on all of the details of before and after prom. Unfortunately, one of the drum major training sessions that I need to go to is the day after prom. Coming into school even with a 2-hr delay will not be fun whatsoever!!! Then, on Sunday, I have the RUN FOR RACHAEL! I am very excited about this and it should be a lot of fun. It’s a good way to indefinitely postpone my weight loss challenge. Also, this run is to complete the mandatory service project requirement for my People to People trip this summer.

While I am very excited to play in the State Gala at Kean University tomorrow, I am sad that Wind Ensemble is giving way to graduation band and marching band. Playing there was a great experience. I am happy to report that both the RHS Symphonic Winds and the RHS Wind Ensemble did an awesome job! I feel so blessed to have gotten to play in the top ensemble in one of the most well-known and prestigious music districts in the state. I have gotten to play some amazing pieces of music and I thank Mr. A for putting his heart and soul into “his baby”, the Randolph High School Wind Ensemble. I have just had a blast this year in Wind Ensemble and I have made huge strides as a person and a musician! Thank You Mr. A!

Since becoming SPL of troop 53 in March, a lot has gone on. While I knew that I would be stressed out, it was more of a challenge than I expected to deal with all the personalities involved. While I made some comments (that I wish I could take back and reword to specify what I ment), I have not regretted anything that I have said or done during my time as SPL. I know that I am not perfect but, I hope to work on my weaknesses to become a better leader and give back more to the troop. That is my goal and I will be disappointed if that does not happen. Best Wishes

Jordan