The Bubbles

So I took the SAT for the first time Saturday morning (June 7). Yeah, I know. I should have taken it sooner but....whatever. So anyway, at approximately 7:45 that morning, I, along with several of my very own classmates, embarked on the journey known as the SAT (I've actually learned that "SAT" is an empty acronym. Hmm, who knew?). The event began with almost every student being unable to locate the actual testing building (resolved by Taylor F.) and a precious kitten that followed us into the building (also later resolved by Taylor F.).
We entered a small classroom and did exactly what we do in school-sat by the people we knew. My best friend was actually with me which made the experience less tense. As we all got settled in and caught up with each other's summers so far, our SAT administer came in looking like Mr. Ikner. Since only one other student wasn't from VHS, we all had to do a double take. So Fakner (Fake Ikner) began to read the instructions and hand out the testing materials. As I examined my test booklet, I noticed how not different it looked from all of the other standardized tests I've taken. My nervousness died down and I became even more relaxed than I was before. We were given our answer sheets and began filling out the informational sections on the front. I absolutely adore bubbling in this part of the answer sheets we test with. I can't pinpoint exactly why but I get a little excited when we are required to do so. As we were moving from section one, I noticed the biggest difference of the whole SAT test. There was no race section. There was not an area to identify my race and ethnicity and it got my attention. Since the beginning of my school testing years, I've always had to bubble in "Black/African American" and to me it was a small act of pride. I take great pride in my heritage and not being able to claim it as I have always done struck me for a moment. We all know that your race is used to make statistics off of test scores within certain races. I immediately remembered that that information was entered online when registering for the test. Still, the realization of not doing what makes me proud the most is irrelevant to SAT until test scores come back. It was a notable experience for me. Small but notable.

Camp Days

On an early Saturday morning, my siblings and I attended the 6th Annual Natalie White Basketball Camp for the first time. Ms. Natalie played with my mom in high school and is a very good friend of my mother. The camp started on a great note with an intense Nae Nae battle between me and a 7 year old. I of course lost to his undeniable cuteness. Oh well. Still an interesting start to an amazing 3-day camp. I learned so many new skills and drills and even got some college advice. Not much I didn't already know but to have an immensely accomplished woman such as Ms. Natalie talking to us was so inspirational. She's turned herself into a resourceful business woman with connections all throughout the world of basketball. She's even helping gain some leverage with the FAMU coach. Her jersey number is hanging up in the stadium and she gave the Rattlers the greatest four years a women's basketball player ever has at the school. She set records! Having her on my side is a tremendous blessing and I plan to utilize this connection to benefit her and myself in the upcoming years.