It's really hard to believe that my Oxford career is coming to a close. I never realized through out the whole applications process that me graduating early would be an outcome. I mean, I knew I would miss senior year but now that it's actually happening, it feels so weird.
A couple of days ago, Mitchell and I were (finally) called up to the counseling office to talk about making up the two classes for summer school. The district let us take more than the maximum amount of summer school credits. Yay! But that was all we found out. I wish we had more information about actual graduation and how we would get our diplomas but for now this is okay. I hope we get more information soon!
Because of that news, I've been feeling very nostalgic. I looked through all of the pictures I had taken during my Oxford years and it just feels..I don't know..to be leaving it all behind. We were all babies when we came to Oxford and now we're old and swaggy. It's just a really weird feeling.
Anyways, I found out today that the on-site orientation will be in Michigan. That's super legit! I'm excited to get on a plane to a state I've never been to. (:
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Tchüss, Spring Break
 |
| A very sad kitty. |
I spent the first weekend of my spring break having anxiety over getting the scholarship. I started using Duolingo. It's so cool! Easter was pretty chill. I spent it by going to church (obvs), eating at Cha2O, and then just chilling at my aunt's house with family friends. Then Monday-Thursday I just derped around doing nothing. I wish I could do that with my life. Hahaha.
Then Friday I hung out with Frances and we took really cute pictures after we watched House at the End of the Street and Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Afterwards we had super yummy KBBQ with my PK homies. I don't have any group pictures. ):
Then today I derped around half the day and then I went to Jeremiah's 18th birthday party. He's so old. More than a year and a half older than me. That's crazy.
Anyways, my spring break was pretty uneventful but it will be missed terribly. Two and half more months of school and then I'm free to worry about what I'm going to pack for Germany! ~
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Sentimientos
When I first got the e-mail saying I was a finalist I freaked out. I instantly called my mom and my dad and then told every living being that was online on facebook. I instagrammed a screenshot of the letter and posted it on facebook and twitter, too. I also excitedly called Mitchell to check his e-mail! (He got it too! More on that later.)
I felt like I wasn't really expecting for the worst. Then I had to humble myself and be thankful that I am given such a great opportunity to spend a year in a country basically free. Things like this don't happen to me. This scholarship is worth upwards of $10K and that's just crazy to me. Apparently, the application committees and interviewers had enough faith in me to grant me the scholarship.
There are so many people I should be thanking for this scholarship. Without that first call from Donna, I would not have remembered that I even opened the CBYX application. Without the hopefuls facebook group, my questions would not have been answered and I wouldn't have had some of the really great tips that they gave. Without my teachers who wrote letters or rec for me without even really knowing me, I would not have finished the initial application. Last but certainly not the least, without my parents giving me the chance and helping me through out the process I would have never finished.
Obviously, I'm very thankful to God for giving me such a great opportunity and I feel like this is His way of showing me at least a little bit of His plan for me.
In the first few hours of finding out all I felt was excitement. But I also felt sad because the on-site orientation is the same weekend as my first and last prom meaning I'll never be able to attend prom. I'm not really the type of person to get excited or even go to dances it still feels sad that I'll be missing the last high school milestone that I have left. Whatever, I'm going to Germany! haha.
Right now I feel like there's so many emotions going on in my head. It feels really trippy to know that I'm going to have to finish these last two and a half months of school knowing, in the back of my mind, that I'm going to be leaving for a year in August. It's going to be so weird leaving right before the end of my Oxford Academy career and then coming back with it over and with all my friends off to college.
But I'm glad I'm not doing this all alone. Mitchell applied with me and shared the struggles of long waiting periods, too. It's such a blessing that I'll have a friend with me to go through the same things. I hope we get placed close to each other so we can just take a bus or a train to hang out on weekends or take daytrips places. That would be so cool!
On top of all that, I have to manage getting good grades at school (I'm not doing too hot at the moment) and also take care of graduating early and getting all my college apps set up before I leave. I also have to make sure that I get my passport before departing because that would suck major balls if I didn't have my passport on time. I also started medication like right after I turned in my secondary app saying I don't take any medication so I have to tell FLAG about that... Whatever, I'll figure all that out later on.
Anyways, my mom was the one who told all my family in Europe that I'd be spending the next school year in Germany. I'm so thankful that I have family there because they've offered to buy my winter clothes and other heavy items for me which will be awesome. I can pack more things! Early August is going to be hectic because my aunts from France are coming with their families on the 5th and then I leave on the 11th. I'll only have a few days with them before I leave but I hope I get to spend some of Christmas or Easter break with them next year.
This is a really long post but honestly this stuff goes through my mind on a loop. It's so hard to concentrate and get back into school mode knowing that I have all of this and more to think about.
I felt like I wasn't really expecting for the worst. Then I had to humble myself and be thankful that I am given such a great opportunity to spend a year in a country basically free. Things like this don't happen to me. This scholarship is worth upwards of $10K and that's just crazy to me. Apparently, the application committees and interviewers had enough faith in me to grant me the scholarship.
There are so many people I should be thanking for this scholarship. Without that first call from Donna, I would not have remembered that I even opened the CBYX application. Without the hopefuls facebook group, my questions would not have been answered and I wouldn't have had some of the really great tips that they gave. Without my teachers who wrote letters or rec for me without even really knowing me, I would not have finished the initial application. Last but certainly not the least, without my parents giving me the chance and helping me through out the process I would have never finished.
Obviously, I'm very thankful to God for giving me such a great opportunity and I feel like this is His way of showing me at least a little bit of His plan for me.
In the first few hours of finding out all I felt was excitement. But I also felt sad because the on-site orientation is the same weekend as my first and last prom meaning I'll never be able to attend prom. I'm not really the type of person to get excited or even go to dances it still feels sad that I'll be missing the last high school milestone that I have left. Whatever, I'm going to Germany! haha.
Right now I feel like there's so many emotions going on in my head. It feels really trippy to know that I'm going to have to finish these last two and a half months of school knowing, in the back of my mind, that I'm going to be leaving for a year in August. It's going to be so weird leaving right before the end of my Oxford Academy career and then coming back with it over and with all my friends off to college.
But I'm glad I'm not doing this all alone. Mitchell applied with me and shared the struggles of long waiting periods, too. It's such a blessing that I'll have a friend with me to go through the same things. I hope we get placed close to each other so we can just take a bus or a train to hang out on weekends or take daytrips places. That would be so cool!
On top of all that, I have to manage getting good grades at school (I'm not doing too hot at the moment) and also take care of graduating early and getting all my college apps set up before I leave. I also have to make sure that I get my passport before departing because that would suck major balls if I didn't have my passport on time. I also started medication like right after I turned in my secondary app saying I don't take any medication so I have to tell FLAG about that... Whatever, I'll figure all that out later on.
Anyways, my mom was the one who told all my family in Europe that I'd be spending the next school year in Germany. I'm so thankful that I have family there because they've offered to buy my winter clothes and other heavy items for me which will be awesome. I can pack more things! Early August is going to be hectic because my aunts from France are coming with their families on the 5th and then I leave on the 11th. I'll only have a few days with them before I leave but I hope I get to spend some of Christmas or Easter break with them next year.
This is a really long post but honestly this stuff goes through my mind on a loop. It's so hard to concentrate and get back into school mode knowing that I have all of this and more to think about.
Application Tips
So while the memory is fresh, let me give advice to any future CBYX Hopefuls.
First, you'll wait until the application is open. You can sign up on the website for a reminder when it comes out! The application process varies through out the different regions so note that I'm talking about applying through FLAG, the organization for the Southwest.
General Tips
The Application
You should be honest in your essays, but also play up your strengths. For me, the strengths that I emphasized was my appreciation of different cultures and being open to change and challenges. The essay questions can seem difficult or vague at first, but find a way to answer the questions and then bend it so that you can talk about qualities that will make you a fab foreign exchange student. Make sure you address the things that the review committees will probably be looking for. Also, make sure not to make yourself seem like you're going to be using the scholarship as a way to travel all of Europe and get shitfaced because of the drinking age. Obvious no-nos.
Honestly, the application is really straightforward and easy. Make sure you don't leave any spots blank! Also, don't wait until the last minute to get your teacher recommendations. (:
The hardest part after this is all the waiting.
I turned my application in on the first week of February and I heard back after about three weeks (February 27ish). Make sure to keep yourself busy and don't look at your application after you've turned it in. I promise you'll find something you want to change and it will bother you and make you really paranoid.
The Interview
Congratulations if you've made it this far! If it's the same as they did this year, you've already secured an alternate spot for yourself. But if it's not the same as this year, don't worry about it. The interview I think was the easiest part for me. I know it can be intimidating and nerve wracking, but trust me, the more calm you are and the clearer you'll be able to think and impress your interviewers.
There's really no way you can prepare for the interview other than to remind yourself of the qualities that would make you a great exchange student. They're looking not only for kids that will represent the US well, but for kids that will make it through the whole year long exchange.
Dress nicely. I'm not saying go out and rent a tux or buy a super nice dress, just dress business casual. Think of FBLA business attire but down one level. You don't need to wear heels or have pantyhose on. And if you're a boy, you don't need to have a suit on.
At your interview, be the best you you can be. That's so cheesy, but it's true. Be polite and make eye contact. Take a minute before answering questions so you don't end up stuttering and backtracking. (Not that it's bad, I did that a lot, but I think it would have been a lot better if I didn't answer questions so quickly.) At my interview they asked a lot about things I would and wouldn't miss and a lot about homesickness and how I would deal with it. They also asked about things I like to do which made it feel really casual.
Don't be afraid to answer honestly. If you answer a question honestly and it seems like it's something they wouldn't want to hear, solve your problem by adding the solution in your answer.
Also, don't forget to have personality! (:
The Waiting
There are many points in the application process where you'll just be waiting. and waiting. and waiting. The last waiting period was the most excruciating and I tried my hardest to find things to keep my mind off of thinking about CBYX. I kept myself busy with school, sports and extracurriculars.
Then, when you get that last e-mail, you don't have to wait anymore! Yay!
First, you'll wait until the application is open. You can sign up on the website for a reminder when it comes out! The application process varies through out the different regions so note that I'm talking about applying through FLAG, the organization for the Southwest.
General Tips
- Join the hopefuls facebook group. There you'll find out that most of the kids are top notch and high achieving. Don't get discouraged. They will be helpful. (:
- Know that certain organizations are much more competitive than others. If you're in FLAG region (SW) you have at least a 1 in 3 chance.
- Know what the program is looking for. I was fortunate enough to attend an application orientation where someone from FLAG told us what they were looking for in winning apps.
- Demonstrate applicant's desire to be a great ambassador for the United States.
- Demonstrate life and academic skills that will be relied upon during exchange.
- Demonstrate the applicant took the time to have their application edited i.e. no stupid spelling or grammar mistakes.
The Application
You should be honest in your essays, but also play up your strengths. For me, the strengths that I emphasized was my appreciation of different cultures and being open to change and challenges. The essay questions can seem difficult or vague at first, but find a way to answer the questions and then bend it so that you can talk about qualities that will make you a fab foreign exchange student. Make sure you address the things that the review committees will probably be looking for. Also, make sure not to make yourself seem like you're going to be using the scholarship as a way to travel all of Europe and get shitfaced because of the drinking age. Obvious no-nos.
Honestly, the application is really straightforward and easy. Make sure you don't leave any spots blank! Also, don't wait until the last minute to get your teacher recommendations. (:
The hardest part after this is all the waiting.
I turned my application in on the first week of February and I heard back after about three weeks (February 27ish). Make sure to keep yourself busy and don't look at your application after you've turned it in. I promise you'll find something you want to change and it will bother you and make you really paranoid.
The Interview
Congratulations if you've made it this far! If it's the same as they did this year, you've already secured an alternate spot for yourself. But if it's not the same as this year, don't worry about it. The interview I think was the easiest part for me. I know it can be intimidating and nerve wracking, but trust me, the more calm you are and the clearer you'll be able to think and impress your interviewers.
There's really no way you can prepare for the interview other than to remind yourself of the qualities that would make you a great exchange student. They're looking not only for kids that will represent the US well, but for kids that will make it through the whole year long exchange.
Dress nicely. I'm not saying go out and rent a tux or buy a super nice dress, just dress business casual. Think of FBLA business attire but down one level. You don't need to wear heels or have pantyhose on. And if you're a boy, you don't need to have a suit on.
At your interview, be the best you you can be. That's so cheesy, but it's true. Be polite and make eye contact. Take a minute before answering questions so you don't end up stuttering and backtracking. (Not that it's bad, I did that a lot, but I think it would have been a lot better if I didn't answer questions so quickly.) At my interview they asked a lot about things I would and wouldn't miss and a lot about homesickness and how I would deal with it. They also asked about things I like to do which made it feel really casual.
Don't be afraid to answer honestly. If you answer a question honestly and it seems like it's something they wouldn't want to hear, solve your problem by adding the solution in your answer.
Also, don't forget to have personality! (:
The Waiting
There are many points in the application process where you'll just be waiting. and waiting. and waiting. The last waiting period was the most excruciating and I tried my hardest to find things to keep my mind off of thinking about CBYX. I kept myself busy with school, sports and extracurriculars.
Then, when you get that last e-mail, you don't have to wait anymore! Yay!
Adventure Awaits
Hi, my name is Bianca (obviously, because it's on this page at least three times) and in approximately four months I'm going to be leaving everything I know and am comfortable with to live in Germany! (:
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