Summer

The summer is a time we all associate with fun, friends, pool parties, and laziness.  That is – unless you are going to college.  For college students summer is a time of working two jobs, summer courses, internships, and skipping meals to save money.

In middle school the primary concern in the summer was whether or not we would have someone to have a sleepover with the night postceding.  Middle schoolers are at a great age in which they can attend camps, take vacations, hang with friends, and al of this at no expense to themselves.  Then high school rolls around.  Freshman and sophomore year are a little bit akward during the summer because you are still trying to find your niche of friends but once junior year arrives,  you are ready.  By the summer of Junior year jobs become a significant part of the summer.  Be it working a part-time 15 hour a week job or a “Kill-Yourself” 40-hour weekly job, you can still make tme to hang with friends.  But the second that high school finishes up its time to get crackin.  Two jobs is a norm.  30-hours a week is average.  You are now the counselor at the camps you once attended.  And you just about die everyday you dont get to hang out with your friends becaue you know you will be gone away at college in a short two months!!!  …no… of course i am not speaking from my own life…

Summer is still one of the greatest times of the year.  It brings once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and experiences.  This summer,  camp centre stage is that experience.  I have now been at Camp for 10 years.  It is a funny thing to think of myself doing ANYTHING for 10 years.   I was told by another staffer, “Its funny to see how the staff at this camp actually cares.” It’s a theatre camp and so over the course of the summer we put on a show.  Its a true treat being able to see, again and again, children who shy away from attention and spotlight taake the stage bravely and perform in front of their friends and parents.  Its a good feeling to know that i am a part of something like camp.

Besides camp and work i have just been getting ready for college.  I find out my roommate in July and will probably have a whole blog describing them!  I thought when i graduated high school that i would be done with the whole “summer reading” thing but when i logged into my online account it informed me of the book i was expected to have read upon arrival.  The book is not a terribly difficult one and so i am not stressing reading it.  It is called Three Cups of Tea.

Three cups of tea (keep in mind i have yet to read it) is the story of Greg Mortensong, a mountaineer who had recently filed a K2 climb, who is moved by the impoverished inhabitants of Pakistan/Afghanistan.  Its a story of the strangers of One Cup of Tea, the friends after two cups of tea, and the family of three cups of tea.  It is a powerful story f compassion and human spirit.

So on the plus side, at least it will be a fun read…  as long as i dont get sidetracked playing Sims 3.

MAS

The Adventures of Huck Finn

Parents can be annoying.  Most of the time my parents are very good about letting me live my life.  But every once in a while those tiny, miniscule details that parents dont approve of explode.

I have been very busy recently as you all know.  I ended up only taking one of the two jobs i was offerred, Bath & Body Works (or as my Dad refers to it,  Stinky Stuff).  I am also in Wedding Singer and teaching at Camp Centre Stage.  Along with all of that i have been making videos and going crazy!  Despite all the chaos i have been feeling very confident and positive lately!

So, as it goes, my parents had to put a damper on my confidence.  I was coming home from a concert with my sister and i had worn a tee-shirt and jeans,  but the jeans were rolled up around the ankle.  I walked in and mom gasped at me and asked what i was wearing.   When i told her that i liked it and that i thought it was cute she proceeded to go get Dad so he could have a chuckle as well.  She said i looked like Huck Finn.  He just said “No.”  My sister told me i looked cute as well, and well…  i trust my 21 year old sister a bit more than my 50 year old parents on what is stylish.

But nonetheless my confidence got shot, i changed clothes, and wont look cute anymore.  I guess The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will have to come to an end.  Shame.

Make sure you get a chance to check out my vdeos i have posted over the past week.  I have three total.  Two on my channel www.youtube.com/masansgaard and the other was a substitute video for a collaboration channel called 5moreawesometeens.

Hold your head up!  If you hold it high enough noone can tear you down!

MAS