Moving On

Hello world!
So I know I would said I would post after my college trip to Oregon, but I decided to put my two college trips into one post so here it is.  

College trip number one:
Last week I went to Oregon to visit Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon and Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. 
At both colleges I stayed overnight with a host and went to classes in the morning.  Overnight at both schools, I didn't do much, but that was because it was the beginning of the week.  I'm sure if I visited both schools on Friday and Saturday there would've been much more going on regarding activities, but I still had fun.  The classes I took at both schools were good and overall I had fun!
I could write more about this experience, but it's not the main point of my entry. 

College trip number two:
Yesterday and Sunday, I was in Wisconsin, looking at Beloit College.  Again I had an awesome time and there was a lot going on, on Sunday evening because it was an admitted students day.  I had fun and took classes in the morning, again.  I also took a tour of the campus. 
Again it was fun.  It's amazing how different the social environment is in college than high school. 

Deciding:
I really liked Linfield and Beloit.  I've decided not to go to Willamette because it's just not my place, I guess.  I'm sure a lot of people succeed there and good luck to anyone who's going there next year. So now it's between two and I have to decided by May 1st, that's less than ten days!
I know I would say I would take pictures from those trips, but I didn't have time.  Oh well, I have amazing memories from all of the places and both my trips. 

Moving on:
The real purpose of this post is not to talk about college.  I graduate high school May 15th and my last day of high school, ever is May 10th.  Graduating from high school has been a really bittersweet experience for me.  I think I'm ready to move on, ready to graduate, go out and see the world.  But it's also the point where you realize that you're becoming an adult.  I'm going to college in about four months, that's crazy soon.  I guess it's just weird to see yourself become an adult.  I can't describe how I'm feeling with words, but to think that this is the point where my life changes is to feel every emotion all at once. 
I said I was going to college in four months, but I leave my family, my friends, everything in about two months to go to Turkey.  

I decided to call this post moving on because weather I want to or not I'm going to have to.  This summer is going to be amazing.  I know I'm going to change a lot and learn a lot.  I've also been doing a lot of self-reflection about who I am, where I'm going and what growing up actually means.  

There are a lot of things I need to do before I graduate.  There are also a lot of things I need to do before I go to Turkey.  Thankfully time is constant, it will continue to move forward.  I will be in Turkey sooner than I think and know where I am going to college sooner than I think, as well.  I guess that's the weird thing about graduating high school, you see your life come together, fall into place.  You can see who you are and where you're going. To be honest that's where I have mixed feelings, it's a paradox that I can't explain. 

I'm not sure if I mentioned this is my first blog post.  I decided to call my blog Turkey and everything after because going to Turkey represent the point in my life where everything changes and I hope to continue writing this blog after I get back from Turkey. 

This is something I want to share with you.  My U.S gov teacher showed this to us back in November.  I almost cried because all of my friends in my life are going to college and I just assumed that it was an opportunity most people have the chance to take.  This is also why I want to travel in my life, to help people.  Here it is:
50 would be male, 50 would be female

75 would be non-white; 25 white

67 would be non-Christian; 33 would be Christian

80 would live in substandard housing

16 would be unable to read or write

50 would be malnourished and 1 dying of starvation

33 would be without access to a safe water supply

39 would lack access to improved sanitation

24 would not have any electricity (And of the 76 that do
have electricity, most would only use it for light at night.)

8 people would have access to the Internet

1 would have a college education

1 would have HIV

2 would be near birth; 1 near death

5 would control 32% of the entire world's wealth; all 5 would be US citizens

48 would live on less than US$ 2 a day

20 would live on less than US$ 1 a day

Sorry about this post. It barely makes sense to me, just some thoughts I needed to write out.  I wanted to express my thoughts at this crucial time in my life.

I think most posts after this will be more upbeat/relevant. 

Till next time

-Sarah