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