(Doesn't this look like a photo shutterlove would upload? lol)
So GUESS WHAT!!??
I'm FINALLY DONE WITH THE SAT!!!!!!!!
.......for now :) I will definitely take it again.
but the good news: it went MUCH better this time than it did last time...aside from ONE ..."minor" problem....
(there's always problems! haha)....
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So today...since it's my second time taking the SAT...I knew sort of what to expect. The only reason I was nervous...besides the fact that I automatically feel that way for big tests anyways...was due to it being located at a different school. So I wasn't familiar with the building…but to compensate for this, I just made time to get there extra early.
Okay so last night... I made sure to get my sleep and avoided waking up at 5:30ish this morning like I usually do every morning...I set my alarm for 6. I took my shower last night so I could get that extra half hour of sleep. Smart thinking...I know I know :)
So I wake up right? and I have some time to spare...I take my time...I eat...I fix up my make up...I try to relax...then it comes near time to leave. So I make sure I have everything. I went down the check list of things to bring....and okay, I'm ready to go.
So the school is 10 minutes away. I listen to music on the way to get my mind of the SAT...and try to make myself think I am just going to school for another normal day....
I'm slightly early...so no rush. I know I'm at the right place...okay.
then I look in my purse to make sure I have my SAT admission ticket and school ID handy....
admission ticket....check.
school ID.....
....
...
THE ONE DAY OUT OF ALL THE BAJILLION DAYS IT COULD HAVE BEEN...MY WALLET (with my LICENSE and SCHOOL ID in it) IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!
whats up with that??! I was freaking out. had no idea where it could be. time was running short. I called my dad's cell. no answer. I called the house phone...a sleepy father answers with a weak, "Hello?".....
THANK THE LORD!! haha so I'm still freaking out...I don't want to be late...I explain to my dad what my "life time crisis" is..(okay okay, I exaggerated :D) and he just starts listing places it may be. I'm like no, no, no, I HAVE NO IDEA!! (I feel bad for waking him up, and maybe having tone...not purposely, but it was early on SAT morning, so you can imagine how I was feeling...especially considering the first time I took the SAT, everything just went down hill..and I did NOT want that to happen again!!! so dont worry, I will give him a big fat hug and a thank you and an I'm sorry when I am done writing this :D)...so then he's like, "I'll find it. Don't worry. Just go in and see what they say and tell them I will be up asap. You will be fine Lauren. Everything will be okay."
Although this made me feel a little better...I STILL didnt have my school ID in hand...so I went in, and of course....I need my ID. Luckily, 2 minutes later my dad calls and says he found it.
(Guess where it was, of all places? In the camera bag!! …okay I guess that’s not TOO surprising ;) haha but I NEVER keep my wallet in there...coincidentally though… I had JUST signed up for a photography class a couple days ago at Ivy Tech where my mom works...I'll explain more about the class later --sorry I have soo much to say!!!!...hope I'm not boring you to death :P-- and anyways so I took the camera to the class of course...but I had so much to carry that I just stuffed my phone and wallet into the top compartment of the bag...yea and then forgot them :) so I dont know how my dad thought to look in there...but he did, and I'm thankful!)
So I go to the doors and wait for my dad. He finally arrives...and somehow, they havnt started testing yet. I grab my ID and run to the cafeteria where I was supposed to take my test...just.. in… time :)
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So yep, there was my delima...but in the end everything worked out...I feel like I did WAY better than last time...but my brain hurts. That test is just WAYYYY TOOOOO LONGGGGGG :) :)
ahh. but I'm just glad it's over. so anyways....thanks SOO much for all of the support yesterday and the day before. You guys are just....BEYOND awesome!!!... (Chris...you're just beastin ;D)
Okay so now that I got that story out of the way....onto my picture.
Obviously I edited it...to bring out the colors :D ....but there is a certain significance about this photo.... (besides the fact that it is colorful...and edited that way BECAUSE that's how I am feeling: bright, cheery, and relieved. Woo!)........
I feel like this picture sort of represents my day...and my life as a whole. The tree itself is growing...as I am...
all of the petals on the flowers could maybe represent my goals, dreams, stressors, and/or accomplishments. My life is full of stressors...and I have countless upon countless goals and dreams...and I have accomplished many things.
Each falling petal though, represents a goal reached, a dream come true, a load off my back, or an accomplishment. In this case...these falling pedals represent an accomplishment... and a load off my back. Today, I accomplished something. I took the SAT. I got through it. I didn't let my fears stand in the way...and I can now be happy and proud of myself for this accomplishment...I can relax because what was causing my stress, has now been defeated.
…I know there is still more stress to come...(I mean after all..it IS a crazy world and sometimes "life's just not fair")...but with each petal that falls, a goal is accomplished or a dream has come true... and I can move on.
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and THAT....is why I added this photo :)
(....again. I apologize for the essay....and wordiness. I guess Barb has rubbed off on me ;D)
First I will start off by saying, I love this photo! The colors are amazing, and the sentiment behind it is beautiful too. Second, that sounds like quite a stressful ordeal this morning, and I am glad that it all was worked out. Congrats on getting the testing out of the way and feeling like you did so much better!
oh Lauren!!! i feel like watching "24", the number on the clock was flashing...my heart was beating faster and faster...thank God everything is fine now, whewwww! glad you feel much better this time, it's all about practicing :) now about your photo, boy i love it! i can't believe you captured the petals while they are falling! must "fav"! big hugs too! :)) have a relaxing weekend!
Loni - you know what. I am going to be more confident with my work. THank you Loni :) I deleted that part. thanks so much for the fav!!! :) :)
Vicky - thank you soo much!!!! It was pretty stressful at the start...but once it got going..everything was okay :) I'm surprised you had the time and effort to read that whole thing :) thanks so much! It really did go much better than last.
Chimom - hahahahaha 24? I guess I did make it sound all dramatic :) that is hilarious! chimom, you crack me up! :) thanks so much for the comment!! I'm so glad you like the photo. It was windy when I took it...just luck I guess :)
I agree with Rainee - this is magical! I expect a wood sprite or flower fairy to come peeking out from the top of that tree any second now!
And I love your words - so much so that I'm going to let my kids read them, and hopefully it will give them inspiration. You're wise beyond your years, lil grasshopper. :)
I'm relieved right along with you that the SAT is DONE!! Now sit back, congratulate yourself and wait and see... xo
I really really love this picture and have added it to my faves. I think it very well conveys how you are feeling. Congrats on having the SAT out of the way (hopefully). I only took it once (as well as the PSTAt of course), and I was glad it was over! :)
Julia - you put that very nicely : "everything seems to go wrong when you need it to go smoothly"...but you are totaly right. Each time it happens we become stronger :) thanks!
Mady - aww thank you!! would that not be the coolest thing? to see a little fairy come fluttering out of a flower...oh I would fall flat on the floor :) ...and you are going to let your kids read this?! oh I am so honored Mady. You placed a huge smile across my face...I am flattered..I just don't know waht to say!! thank you so much! You are wise too you know :)
Lux - That is the reason I love this photo. It conveys how I feel and is personally sentimental to me. It has significance. thank you for the comment Lux!! :) :)
Oh Lauren, this could so easily be a chromachrome picture from the 20's as a Children's Book Illustration...Robert Louis Stevenson, or out of of an old book I have from the 30s, "Sung Under the Silver Umbrella"...an anthology of children's poems. What I mean to say is it's charmingly old fashioned...well, timeless... Just a beauty, Lauren; you did that so well!
Three cheers for getting through all the trials this morning (Yea Dad!) and having great success on your SATs!
I agree whole heartedly with Chimom...felt like I was watching "24". I do believe I DID hear the clock ticking! You are too darn cute! SO happy it all worked out and you have that SAT under your belt! LOVE love LOVE love this picture. Absolutely beautiful. Your editing is great and the colors are just perfect! Did I mention I LOVE this picture? :D
love this magical storybook picture and your description of the nail-biting start to your SATS test. You have the talent to be a great writer or photographer, whatever result you get in your test (and I'm sure you'll have aced it). Thank you for your comment on the alpaca song and for introducing me to the llama song - hee hee, that is just so funny...
What a beautiful shot! We had a tree like that in our yard when I was a kid and I always loved it! I totally remember my PSAT, SAT and the truly awful LSAT to get into law school. During the LSAT my gum fell out of my mouth onto the test booklet. You have to to sign and turn in the test booklet at the end, and the pages are like telephone book pages so I could not get it out! When they called my name to hand in the test, I told the proctor what happened and he said, "Don't worry, you aren't the first!" I felt like such a loser! (But I did get into law school, so it wasn't the end of the world.) (Of course, I hated law school and did not enjoy being a lawyer and quit after around 10 years of misery! Now I take care of horses, which, of course, requires NO standardized testing! If I had only known then what I know now!
Beautiful picture! I think that this has to be the prettiest ones that you have taken and it's so appropriate for today being May Day! :) I'm so glad that things worked out today...and so glad that your dad was there! Relax...and enjoy and start thinking....good thoughts. You know? Like summer! :)
Bwaahahahaaa....I think you have overtaken the wordy master, Kid.
Wax on, Wax off.
SO SO happy that you did well and the SATS experience is now behind you.
And, YAY for dads!
As I was reading your story, I was getting all panicked and worried for you...you remind me so much of Kelsey, and I know we've had similar experiences. Yep, there have been a number of times, SOMEone I know left something important at home.
I also just adore this picture.
You did a wonderful job with the colouring, and it's amazing that you were able to capture the falling petals.
Very beautiful! The sentiment is just lovely!
Mady is right, you are so very wise!
This warms the soul - such a gentle picture.
The foliage on bottom/grass is slightly distracting, but you didnt grow it, so not much you can do about it :)
Congrats on making it through an insane morning! It will be a funny memory some day ( I know this from experience! ) Your photo is beautiful, filled with inspiration. I love the metaphor you wrote------life takes courage, perseverance and a good dose of humor :o)
What a beautiful picture, I love the way you captured the falling petals. I think that this would represent my goals & hopes too. Congratulations on the SAT.
what can i add that hasn't been said. stunning, beautiful, gorgeous, interesting, old fashioned,. colorful, amazing, fable like, picturesque, etc, etc, etc,- love it -
So happy all went well with your SAT! That is a pretty traumatic test. =) I'm sure you did well. I know you are a bright and talented girl just from your pictures. =)
wow! thank you guys!! I just dont know how to respond!! :D
Snappy N happy - ahahahaha thank you sooo soo much. You are too kind :) I'm so glad you like this photo!! well....love LOVE love LOVE love it hehe
Helen -oooh. magical storybook picture :) I do think I am going to go into photography....or it will be a big part of my career anyways...but although I can write about my life and situation with ease...I dont think I would want to become a writer because I just don't enjoy it that much. Its too bad really, but a known fact :) haha yea, and that llama song..nver gets old :D
Amy - ohhh!!! hahaha thank you SO much for telling me your story, while I enjoyed reading it (and felt bad for you at the same time) it really made me feel better. that is so funny, I bet you look back on it and just laugh, like I hope I will in my situation :P I can only imagine how hard the LSAT was :X my mom was going to become a lawyer, but now shes a math teacher...so she would know how you feel. I also find it AWESOME that you take care of horses. they are my favorite animal...I just love riding them! but I'm not an expert :/ lol
Murray - haha that's fine...its only for those who have time or just feel like reading it. I know its a lot. I didnt think it would be that long until I posted it and kept scrolling down...and down..and down...and I was like "oh well, if they dont want to read it then fine :) I Can still look back on it and appreciate it when I'm older."
Sierra - wow that's impressive! what math level are you at then?
Shutterlove - thank you shutterlove :) and it makes me so happy that you know my photos enough or at least read my captions to remember that the last time I took the SAT I added that "try try again" photo. I think that's what you were refering to right? :)
Jesse - Yes I know what you mean. that was the only reason I debated on not adding it. but you should have seen the original!!! there were branches all over behind the falling petals. You wouldnt believe how long it took me to edit this just to make it clear like that. so considering how much work and time I put into it, I just added it...more because it also expressed how I was feeling and was a good representation of my life :)
Barb(with horse picture)- I bet I will look back and laugh too :) at least everything worked out. thank you so much for the comment :D
Barb - I shall go take a look and comment :D :D
Rowan - I am so glad you feel the same way!! I am sure we are in mutual agreement due to the fact that we are both still pretty young...you are probably a few years younger than me (how old are you anyways?)...but we are both growing and going through some of the same things...thanks Rowan!
bruni - :)
Nancy - Oh I hope so too!! cant wait till I get my scores back :D
wow that's an insane delimma. i'm glad your dad found your ID though! that's awesome!
the SATs are from the devil. they were painful. i only took it twice. i don't do well with tests and it was just intimidating. i hope you relaxed the rest of the day to give you brain a break! i know that's what i needed hahaha
as always, the photo is great! :) i LOVE the colors! and the analogy is fantastic i almost cried. i wish i was kidding. i can definitely relate!
right out of a storybook.... you captured real magic here Lauren, really. This is stunning!! I read your essay above and your words with this photo leave me breathless. *love it and favorite for sure*
I'm sorry you had a traumatic morning.. the camera bag of ALL places... you had me rolling on that one. ;)
I'm so proud of you for finishing it though and your attitude is so admirable.
Beautiful post and dreamy shot. Thanks for your inspiration my dear lil' sis! :)
Congrats on your day being better than last time!
Vicky - thank you soo much!!!! It was pretty stressful at the start...but once it got going..everything was okay :) I'm surprised you had the time and effort to read that whole thing :) thanks so much! It really did go much better than last.
Chimom - hahahahaha 24? I guess I did make it sound all dramatic :) that is hilarious! chimom, you crack me up! :) thanks so much for the comment!! I'm so glad you like the photo. It was windy when I took it...just luck I guess :)
congrats, too, on the SAT and that you did better than the last time.
Congrats on getting through the SAT and what a beautiful picture and thoughts you have to go with it!
Im glad that the SAT's went well!!
And I love your words - so much so that I'm going to let my kids read them, and hopefully it will give them inspiration. You're wise beyond your years, lil grasshopper. :)
I'm relieved right along with you that the SAT is DONE!! Now sit back, congratulate yourself and wait and see... xo
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Julia - you put that very nicely : "everything seems to go wrong when you need it to go smoothly"...but you are totaly right. Each time it happens we become stronger :) thanks!
Kristine, Stephanie, Ira - Gracias :D
Lux - That is the reason I love this photo. It conveys how I feel and is personally sentimental to me. It has significance. thank you for the comment Lux!! :) :)
Three cheers for getting through all the trials this morning (Yea Dad!) and having great success on your SATs!
Nice shot etc etc. :o)
Sorry too busy at work.
Wax on, Wax off.
SO SO happy that you did well and the SATS experience is now behind you.
And, YAY for dads!
As I was reading your story, I was getting all panicked and worried for you...you remind me so much of Kelsey, and I know we've had similar experiences. Yep, there have been a number of times, SOMEone I know left something important at home.
I also just adore this picture.
You did a wonderful job with the colouring, and it's amazing that you were able to capture the falling petals.
Very beautiful! The sentiment is just lovely!
Mady is right, you are so very wise!
Glad to read the SAT went better. I applaud you for try try trying again and not giving up. Keep up the great work! :)
The foliage on bottom/grass is slightly distracting, but you didnt grow it, so not much you can do about it :)
Snappy N happy - ahahahaha thank you sooo soo much. You are too kind :) I'm so glad you like this photo!! well....love LOVE love LOVE love it hehe
Helen -oooh. magical storybook picture :) I do think I am going to go into photography....or it will be a big part of my career anyways...but although I can write about my life and situation with ease...I dont think I would want to become a writer because I just don't enjoy it that much. Its too bad really, but a known fact :) haha yea, and that llama song..nver gets old :D
Amy - ohhh!!! hahaha thank you SO much for telling me your story, while I enjoyed reading it (and felt bad for you at the same time) it really made me feel better. that is so funny, I bet you look back on it and just laugh, like I hope I will in my situation :P I can only imagine how hard the LSAT was :X my mom was going to become a lawyer, but now shes a math teacher...so she would know how you feel. I also find it AWESOME that you take care of horses. they are my favorite animal...I just love riding them! but I'm not an expert :/ lol
Murray - haha that's fine...its only for those who have time or just feel like reading it. I know its a lot. I didnt think it would be that long until I posted it and kept scrolling down...and down..and down...and I was like "oh well, if they dont want to read it then fine :) I Can still look back on it and appreciate it when I'm older."
Sierra - wow that's impressive! what math level are you at then?
Shutterlove - thank you shutterlove :) and it makes me so happy that you know my photos enough or at least read my captions to remember that the last time I took the SAT I added that "try try again" photo. I think that's what you were refering to right? :)
Jesse - Yes I know what you mean. that was the only reason I debated on not adding it. but you should have seen the original!!! there were branches all over behind the falling petals. You wouldnt believe how long it took me to edit this just to make it clear like that. so considering how much work and time I put into it, I just added it...more because it also expressed how I was feeling and was a good representation of my life :)
Barb(with horse picture)- I bet I will look back and laugh too :) at least everything worked out. thank you so much for the comment :D
Barb - I shall go take a look and comment :D :D
Rowan - I am so glad you feel the same way!! I am sure we are in mutual agreement due to the fact that we are both still pretty young...you are probably a few years younger than me (how old are you anyways?)...but we are both growing and going through some of the same things...thanks Rowan!
bruni - :)
Nancy - Oh I hope so too!! cant wait till I get my scores back :D
Andrea - :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
bv - aww!!! thank you !!!!! :) :) that is one of the nicest compliments I have ever recieved. you are so nice :)
thank you to everyone!! really, you all make my day...EVERYDAY :)
the SATs are from the devil. they were painful. i only took it twice. i don't do well with tests and it was just intimidating. i hope you relaxed the rest of the day to give you brain a break! i know that's what i needed hahaha
as always, the photo is great! :) i LOVE the colors! and the analogy is fantastic i almost cried. i wish i was kidding. i can definitely relate!
I'm sorry you had a traumatic morning.. the camera bag of ALL places... you had me rolling on that one. ;)
I'm so proud of you for finishing it though and your attitude is so admirable.
Beautiful post and dreamy shot. Thanks for your inspiration my dear lil' sis! :)
*sending you more sunshine*
I'm so glad that your SAT went better this time!
Glad to see your SATs went well :)
If it wasn't already 1am over here, I'd probably say more lol
Seriously...cannot get over how much I love this shot
Beautiful photo, its dreamy and the colours are amazingly pretty. Nice spot!