First found on Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table.

Week #40: Greatest Accomplishment.

I took a risk in eighth grade. There was a new program that had just started at one of Chesapeake’s high schools, called International Baccalaureate (IB). The program coordinator, Mrs. Ingersoll, and two of the ninth-grade students came to Jolliff Middle to tell us about it, and how to apply.

I remember being so excited  that I couldn’t stop talking about it.

I completed my application, took several tests at Oscar Smith (and left my purse, school ID, and house key there by accident! I got it back, but I had to call the school on my own and explain what happened), and crossed my fingers.

I still remember the day I found out I was accepted. Mrs. Lyons, the guidance counselor, showed up during orchestra class. I nearly screamed in the hallway when she told me the good news. I wanted to call my parents, although they already knew. I felt like I was on cloud nine.

My euphoria was shattered a bit when several of my friends were very upset that I was leaving. I was excited for the challenge – New school, new friends, new ways of learning and thinking – but I was also sad. I leaving everything behind, except for my house and my parents, for something new. I was basically alone on the giant school bus – No one else from the Western Branch area was in the program when I started in 2003.

Despite begging my parents to go back to Western Branch probably every week for the first six months of my freshman year, I persisted. I struggled immensely, especially in the very beginning. At first, I had D’s and E’s on a lot of quizzes, and a even a few tests. I went to so many tutoring sessions, my head spun. My test anxiety was through the roof. I cried quite a bit. Everything was hard!

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However, being part of IB was completely worth it. It isn’t for everybody, but it ended up being a really good fit for me. I enjoyed myself – It fostered my life-long love for learning (with the exception of math). Plus, I learned to think critically, and challenge myself to do better and understand the concepts presented before me. There wasn’t a lot of memorizing or teaching to the SOLs, although we still had to take them!

Learning that I would receive my IB Diploma in 2007 was one of the big shining moments in my life. I felt a sense of massive accomplishment – Two years of prep work, and two years of application of the prep work paid off, in spades. Although the IB exams were immensely stressful, I wasn’t alone. There were 40 of my peers taking them with me, and our teachers did their best to prepare us for all of them. We all celebrated at the end of exams with a massive party!

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I learned so much about myself during my high school years, and I truly believe IB made me a better person. I started off college in a better place, and I did really well at Longwood due to being in IB. I didn’t have to take as many gen ed classes! I was able to get math and science completely out of the way by the end of my first year, and then I was able to focus on the classes I truly enjoyed – Creative writing, history, and communications.

Back in June, a good number of us got together for a 10-year reunion. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, reminiscing about our experiences from 2003 through 2007, while also catching up on our careers, aspirations, marriages, children, and hobbies. I’m excited to see what happens when we plan our 20-year reunion.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

First found on Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table.

Week #39: Your Heritage.

This post took some thought, and some research. On the outside, I’m an ordinary white woman.

But, my history / ancestry lays throughout Europe. My maiden name, Stricker, is descended from the German language. I’m fairly certain my dad’s family came from Europe. Grandpa Stricker was in the Navy for several years, and my dad was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, his family – Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie Marn, Aunt Nancy, and Dad – moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.

My mom’s paternal grandparents emigrated from the Ukraine, and my grandfather was raised Jewish in New York City. After starting college in Ohio and meeting my Grandma Grace, Grandpa Madan was in the Army during World War II. After the war ended, he got out of the Army, and they also settled in Florida, near Miami. My grandpa’s sister, Aunt Marilyn, lives in Boca Raton. Her daughter, Sherri, lives in Manhattan.

Besides the evident European ancestry, religion is a big part of my family history. My Grandpa Madan was raised Jewish. My mom was raised in the United Church of Christ. My Uncle Richard considered going into seminary. My dad’s family includes Methodists and Lutherans. I was raised in the United Methodist Church. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to attend services among several denominations – Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, Russian Orthodox, Congregational, Presbyterian, and United Methodist, to name a few.

Writing this post has inspired me to learn even more about my family, their experiences, and their history. I want to learn as much as I can, and document everything along the way.

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

First found on Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table.

Week #38: Music You Love.

In addition to the songs I mentioned in my recent Getting Personal post, here’s a few more insights into my musical tastes.

Contemporary Christian Music

• Avalon — “Testify to Love”
• Casting Crowns — “If We Are the Body”
• Casting Crowns — “Thrive”
• Chris Tomlin — “How Great Is Our God”
• Citizen Way — “Evidence”
• Hillsong United — “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”
• Jeremy Camp — “Walk By Faith”
• MercyMe — “I Can Only Imagine”
• Relient K — “The Best Thing”
• Steven Curtis Chapman — “Dive”
• Steven Curtis Chapman — “I Do Believe”
• Switchfoot — “Dare You to Move”

Country Music

• Blake Shelton — “All About Tonight”
• Blake Shelton — “Austin”
• Blake Shelton — “Neon Light”
• Brad Paisley — “Old Alabama”
• Brad Paisley — “Perfect Storm”
• Carrie Underwood — “Some Hearts”
• Carrie Underwood — “Blown Away”
• Carrie Underwood — “Heartbeat”
• Charlie Daniels Band — “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”
• Chris Young — “Voices”
• Chris Young — “I’m Comin’ Over”
• Darius Rucker — “True Believers”
• Florida Georgia Line — “Dirt”
• Florida Georgia Line ft. Luke Bryan — “This Is How We Roll”
• Florida Georgia Line — “H.O.L.Y.”
• Garth Brooks — “Friends in Low Places”
• Lady Antebellum — “American Honey”
• LeAnn Rimes — “One Way Ticket (Because I Can)”
• LeAnn Rimes — “How Do I Live”
• Lonestar — “Amazed”
• Lonestar — “I’m Already There”
• Martina McBride — “Concrete Angel”
• Rascal Flatts — “Life is a Highway” (cover)
• Rascal Flatts — “Why Wait”
• Scotty McCreery — “The Trouble with Girls”
• Scotty McCreery — “Feelin’ It”
• Scotty McCreery — “Five More Minutes”
• Shania Twain — “Up!”
• Shania Twain — “I’m Gonna Getcha Good”
• The Band Perry — “DONE.”
• The Band Perry — “If I Die Young”

Glee

• I loved Glee from Day 1!
• I have almost every CD that’s been released.
• If I need a pick-me-up, one of these CDs usually does the trick.
• There are waaaaay too many songs that I love from this show to list! I should make a separate post.

Soundtracks

• A Chorus Line (1985)
• Back to the Future (1985)
• Batman (1989)
• Chicago (2002)
• Dirty Dancing (1987)
• Enchanted (2007)
• Flashdance (1983)
• Footloose (1984)
• Footloose (2011)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Ghost (1990)
• Grease (1978)
• Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1 & 2 (2014, 2017)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
• Interstellar (2014)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• Mamma Mia! (2008)
• Night at the Museum (2006)
• Purple Rain (1984)
• Saturday Night Fever (1977)
• Shaft (1971)
• Space Jam (1996)
• The Bodyguard (1992)
• The Guardian (2006)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
• Top Gun (1986)
• Tron: Legacy (2010)
• Wicked (2003)

Here are links to other blog posts I’ve written about music:

• Writing Prompt #4: Music and Identity (September 2014)
• Adventure Time: Virginia Beach, VA Edition (The Magical Music of Harry Potter) [October 2016]
• Writing Prompt #38: My Favorite Christmas Music (December 2016)
• Commentary #49: Rec’d and Wreck’d – Music Albums! (March 2017)

What about you? What are your tastes in music?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

First found on Life Lessons Around The Dinner Table.

Week #37: Something You Created.

Going away for a long weekend is really discombobulating! I was definitely not prepared for this week’s post – Haha!

This is my “new” novel-writing journal. I’ve been so lucky to have received so many wonderful journals as gifts, and I’m starting to fill them up. However, I’ve had constant thoughts of actually finishing the three novels that I’ve already started, plus having a good idea for a fourth one.

So, a few weeks ago, during a lunchtime trip to Dollar Tree, I decided to do something about it!

I fell in love with the cover the minute I saw it!

I’ve been following several bloggers that use bullet journals, and I’ve always admired how creative they are, and how pretty they look. They’re taking planners and notebooks and turning them into works of art.

That’s part of my goal, as well. I want this notebook to be a source of inspiration, as well as a path to finishing these novels!

I’m really excited to dive in and write freehand, for once. I type so much now, between my work computer and my laptop at home – I think my cursive needs a workout!

What about you? Have you created anything recently?

Have you tried a bullet journal? I would love to hear from you!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂