UPDATES                                                                                                                                                                                     

So here's my attempt to keep you up-to-date on what's happening (some stuff, not everything!) The most recent stuff is at the top, so scroll down to the bottom and start there for the whole story!  :-)
 

Nordstrom BP Fashion Board

We had our first meeting and it was great! There are 12 of us on the Board. We were put into two "teams" and I am the leader of one. My project board and the other team leader's project were deemed the "winners" and have been sent on to a higher level (I didn't even know there was a contest involved!) I also found out that we have to go through new employee orientation and we are going to be paid, so that was a very nice surprise!

My school has a health center peer educator program that will meet 4 times in the summer, and I signed up to participate in the program. The meetings are only an hour, and people who participate are guaranteed a spot in the program during the school year, which is also paid! Woo hoo!

I think my participation on the health center may be a good way to use the $2,000 grant money from the Alliance, so it's a nice tie in. And I'm so happy to know that I will be getting some money coming in - I will have a crazy schedule so I'm glad that these two paid gigs worked out.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation - My Video is the Runner-Up!

So my video that I crammed to finish in a week was the runner-up - I just found out today, Thursday. How cool is that?! I scored $2,000 for my school! Since my Mom works at the district office, she went and talked to the fiscal director who suggested I have the check sent directly to the District (which the schools are supposed to do, anyway). They will set up a separate line item just for the $2,000 so I can determine what it should be spent on and track any expenses. I believe the grant is supposed to be used for health projects and/or health education/promotion, so perhaps the Senior Class will get some healthy snacks next year at the Senior Picnic or Senior Breakfast? Or I might want to do something else...maybe as part of leadership and buddying up with a local elementary school, we'll see...I am on a hot streak, right now! LOL

I'm a Discus Award Winner!

I found out Tuesday night that I won a Discus Award! (No, not the kind I throw!) It's basically an award that lets you select 3 areas (out of many) in which you excel and explain why, and provide photos and videos as backup. Since I am a winner for June, now I am eligible for a $2,000 scholarship. The winner will be selected at the end of the month. Here's a link to my winner's page:

http://www.discusawards.com/winner.php?id=17147

Mi Familia Project for AP US History (APUSH) Class 

I spent literally 40 hours on my project! Thank goodness we had that long weekend...I spent about 20 hours looking through photo boxes and papers to find the things I needed to make my scrapbook, then scanning them, editing them, printing, cutting, and gluing on background papers...then at least another 20 hours putting my scrapbook together - choosing background papers, working on the layout, gluing stuff in, and embellishing with facts and adding doo dads. WHEW!

I was the first to make my presentation on Friday morning and I'm glad I went first! We also had to bring in a dish from on old family recipe - I was up until 2 AM the night before making a bajillion cannolis! Easy work, just time consuming because I could only fry 7 shells at a time, and I had enough dough to make about 75! They turned out really well - I didn't lose a single shell and everyone really liked them...they even kept my leftovers! When I get my project back I will post pics and also the recipe to share...

100 Best Communities for Young People Application

So the city in which I go to school is applying to be designated as one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People". They asked me to write an essay to submit with the application. I heard on Friday that there were 6 essays to select from, but only 4 allowed, and mine was one of them. :-)

So if the city does get the designation, I will also get recognition for having submitted an essay. That would be nice! The city really does have a lot to offer, and they have some really knowledgeable folks working on the application (which is due June 1), so I am hopeful they will get selected!

Bank of America Student Leader Program

Well,  I wasn't selected for the program. :-( I'm not sure why; they don't give a reason, just pretty much a "thanks, but no thanks" letter. Of course I'm sure there were tons of students who applied, but I am bummed because now it's a bit late to sign up for anything else because it's going to be June, already...

So I'm hoping to get a job for the summer...although everyone's pretty much snagged all the summer jobs, by now, too! I will have college classes and the Fashion Board to keep me busy, but maybe I will also go to a thrower's camp, too. We shall see!

Meet of Champions

Well, I did better than I thought I would! I finished 17th out of 24, which isn't bad. My farthest throw was 97' and some inches...not the 102' I threw last weekend, but I don't think anybody threw as far as they did.  My coach wants me to get into the 120's next year, so I've got some training to do over the summer!

I'm on the Fashion Board!

I just got my letter today (even though it's dated May 18!)

"...You've been selected as a representative for the 2010/2011 Nordstrom's San Francisco BP Fashion Board. An exciting fashion and retail education program, the Fashion Board will be a fun and rewarding addition to the next year of your life. We look forward to collaborating with you on a variety of projects, and giving you an inside look at the fashion industry..."

The first meeting is June 15th where we will meet the other members and get an overview of what's planned for the year. Wish me luck!

JROTC Awards

Friday we had our annual "Comp Night". I got a couple more medals - academics and something else. I was also named as the Cadet Lieutenant Colonel for next year, and my friend Lachelle will be the Cadet Colonel. She's over the entire program, and I'm second in command. I'm basically in charge of the entire staff. Usually, the Colonel's don't really get involved; they're more "figureheads", but I'm sure Lachelle will be more "hands on" than other Colonels, and we work really well together so next year should be GREAT!

Alliance for A Healthier Generation

So through the Clinton Foundation (both my Mom and I are signed up to receive updates),  I stumbled upon a video contest that the Alliance was sponsoring in conjunction with the Clinton Foundation. I only had a week to do it, but I got it done and submitted by the deadline on May 24. (WHEW!) Winners are supposed to be announced by June 1 - they work fast! Anyway, the contest was to submit a 2-3  minute video about what your school has or is doing to promote health, including the food available, any on campus stores selling healthy items, teachers modeling healthy lifestyles, and opportunities to participate in healthy activities. California does a lot as far as health is concerned, so I think my information is pretty great!

The website says the "first place winners" (but didn't say how many) receive $5,000 for their school, and an all-expense paid trip to NYC for themselves and a chaperone. Other winners receive $2,000 for their schools. I have no idea how many videos were submitted, but I know I covered all the bases and got it in on time, so I'm hoping we win something! Watch my submission on the videos page.

Track & Field

I finished in the top 2 in both shot put and discus for my league, BSAL. The top 6 then moved on to compete in the North Coast Sectionals (NCS). I finished 7th in discus there, which means I nabbed the last spot to compete in "Meet of Champions" this weekend at UC Berkeley! Only the top 4 move on to compete at the state level...I don't think I'm going to finish in the top 4, but I am excited about participating nonetheless!

Season for Nonviolence Speech - I Won!

My friend Shawn and I left the Track & Field competition a little early so we could have lunch, change, and make it to the speech contest. I forgot my skirt, so I had to run over to Kohl's and pick something up. There were 7 high schoolers in the speech contest, and by luck of the draw, I got to go last! Thank goodness; the last few contests I've competed in, I've had to go first which is the worst spot - in my opinion. My other classmate, Hunter, had to go first, unfortunately, but he did a really good job!

There were lots of good speeches, but mine was the only one that was all positive. This year's theme was "How Can We Make Alameda the Best Place it Can Be?" Other speeches focused on the detriments of discrimination, war, and failing infrastructure. My speech was focused on - regardless of what it is you want to change - these are the steps to get it done.

I was pretty sure I would be one of the top 3, but wasn't sure of my placement. My friend from ASTI, RJ, came in third. Another girl from ASTI came in second. Then I was called as the winner! WOO HOO! $200 prize money!

A couple people approached me afterwards and asked me to write something for the "100 Best Communities for Young People" application the City is completing, so I will have to get going on that...posted a few pics from track and the speech contest in the gallery.

My winning speech is pasted below and COPYRIGHTED TO ME!!! Please do not plagiarize it! If, for some reason, you want to "borrow" some/all of it, just shoot me an e-mail and ask! Thanks.

The Power of One

While no city is a Utopia, for me, Alameda comes closer than many others. This "island city" as it's affectionately referred to, boasts beautiful tree-lined streets, historic homes and businesses, a commitment to green technology, small-town feel, great schools, and a tight-knit community. These integral pieces of Alameda complement each other quite nicely.

There are always opportunities for improvement and advancement, but rather than focusing on one specific issue that I think needs to be changed, I would like to speak with you today about the power of one and how that precipitates change. And what I mean by the power of one is not me or you as individuals, but joining with other community members to identify and focus on a common issue and combining our individual voices into a collective, powerful, voice of one. Like Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

If you haven't done so already, now is the time to determine what is your passion, what project or cause can you vest yourself in, and how can you make a difference right here in Alameda; for there are few things as powerful as when people come together in the collective power of one to make something happen.

But how do we get started? How do you, or I - as individual community members - join together with others to form this collective power of one? Well, let me start by pointing out again that we live, work, and/or attend school on an island. Geography alone dictates that we more often than not run into the same circle of people time and time again. And while of course many of these people will have viewpoints, opinions, and upbringings very different from our own, many of them may also share the same passion or advocacy interest that we do - whether it's the environment, education, human or animal rights, poverty relief, or political reform.

Talk to your friends, neighbors, coworkers, classmates and family members about issues of importance to you to identify others to network with. Attend an Alameda City Council or Board of Education meeting; volunteer with Girls, Inc. or the Boys & Girls Club; join Rotary; donate money, goods, or services to the Food Bank; or organize an information night about the Alameda Youth Collaborative at your church. Get to know the Alameda community by thoroughly reading one of the local papers, attending one of the many listed events, and get involved!

By giving of its time and talents and focusing on the positive, this collective power of one has the ability to be a catalyst for change. We can raise awareness, be a model to follow, and empower others to get involved in their own way. Through dedication, commitment, motivation and action, over time this collective behavior will ultimately reflect the transformation in Alameda that we want to see.

Once we start to make these connections one-by-one, our efforts - no matter how small or seemingly insignificant - will start rippling out into the rest of the community with infectious enthusiasm as Mahatma Gandhi envisioned: "A small body of determined spirits - fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission - can alter the course of history."

So I invite all of you - friends, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and community members - to identify your issue of concern, join or form a collective, powerful voice of one, and work diligently on your cause - which will inevitably contribute to making Alameda the best place it can be.

I leave you with the words of best-selling inspirational author, Rebecca Barlow-Jordan, and challenge you to really take these words to heart: "Believe in the impossible, hold tight to the incredible, and live each day to its fullest potential. You can make a difference in your world!"

Thank you!

State Qualifiers for Track & Field

Thursday I had qualifiers for shot put, and today I had qualifiers for discus. I came in second in both contests, so I will be moving onto the state finals next weekend! The same girl came in first in both events, and she's a senior so hopefully I'll be #1 in our league next year!

State is hard, though...I will be competing against girls from other leagues whom I've never competed against, before, so I'm not sure how I will do...I will just give it my best shot and hope for the best!

 Fashion Board Interview

I had my Fashion Board interview today with two assistant managers. I think it went well! They pretty much asked me like 10 standard questions based on the application, just like in a traditional interview.

I'm hoping to hear something positive from them soon! And while my Mom was waiting for me she bought me a couple of cute tops and some jewelry. :-)

AP US History Exam

Had my first AP exam today. Surprisingly, it was easier than I thought it would be and I am really confident that I passed. I guess drilling all that "extra" hard work into us helped! I have AP Bio and English tests next week...I'm not worried about English at all but I'm a little hesitant about AP Bio. Although I'm pretty sure I'll pass everything. I need those college credits!

Summer College Classes

I'm hoping to enroll in Statistics and a computer class. The computer class is a requirement for the AA degree and I'm planning on getting two (it just works out that the classes I've been taking fulfill the requirements to get two!)  

The college has changed its enrollment priorities, so now high school students - regardless of whether or not you're considered a "returning student" - have last dibs...I have to wait until June 1 to enroll, and classes start on June 21! So far, both of these classes are open, and I hope they stay that way...there are two statistics classes offered, so I'm hoping I can get a seat.

It's pretty nerve wracking to have to wait until June to find out, though...

Season for Nonviolence Speech Contest - Finals Next Weekend

My Mom gave me a flyer that was dropped off at her office promoting the speech finals. For the high school level, there are 3 kids from my high school, 3 kids from the early college high school (my brother went there), and one girl from the Catholic high school in town. She also competed in the local Rotary speech contest.

So if they're going to pick the top 3, then I have a good chance of getting in if I'm only competing against 6 other students, but we'll see. Sometimes you never know what the judges are "really" looking for.

I always try to dress professionally and look very polished - I know that even subconsciously, people always look more favorably upon you if you look good! And I think my speech is good. I think it's organized well and flows well, and answers the question.

The City finals are on May 15th - the same day I have league track finals! But at least the throwers compete in the morning, so it should be no problem to make the speech finals at 2:00 PM. I may even go early to watch the middle school finalists. I'm always interested in other students' perspectives and it would be neat to see what specific topic they selected.

Fingers crossed!

Season for Nonviolence Speech Contest - Round One

Today my school selected the top 3 competitors to move on to the City finals next weekend. I was selected, along with my classmate Hunter and my good friend, Shawn. Funny, I actually talked Shawn into it last night and he wrote his speech today! He did a great job for such short notice.

The topic is "what can we do to make Alameda a better place to be?" Hunter's speech was about education; Shawn's was a little about education, but also how that ripples out into other topics; and mine didn't tackle a specific topic, but I talked about what you had to do after identifying whatever cause was special to you in order to get something positive done.

I think there are 3 other high schools sending top 3 competitors, so we've really got to "bring it" in order to win! The winners get $200, $100, and $75 respectively.

Leadership

Well, I decided to take Leadership next year, although everyone who wanted to be in the class had to meet with the teacher for an "interview" because there are only so many slots available in the class. Luckily, I got one of the slots and he named me the Athletics Commissioner, and also asked me to help with publicity - I'm guessing because he liked my campaign posters!

Anyhoo, I'm looking forward to being a part of the class; the teacher's great and it will give me a way to really have some input my senior year!

AP Exams This Week

I have a really hellish week - 3 AP exams: Biology, English, and US History. I'm praying I pass all of them so I can get community college credit and stay on track to graduate high school next year with an AA degree.

Season for Nonviolence Speech Contest

I won this contest when I was an 8th grader - the first year they had it. My school is participating in it this year, and I "just" got the info yesterday...our school contest is Thursday! Gee, thanks for the warning! I actually had a draft speech, but unfortunately I lost the flash drive that it was on so I have to recreate something since I can't really remember what I wrote from a month ago. :-( 

I just hope whatever I come up with is good enough to move on to the City finals in a couple weeks!

New Photos!

I finally had a new photo shoot today; mostly headshots, but I love how they came out! check out the pics in the Photo Gallery.

Fashion Board Interview!

I got a call to set up an appointment for the Norstrom's BP Fashion Board interview. I called them back, but the manager was already gone so she'll hopefully give me a call tomorrow...interviews are either Wednesday or Friday, May 12 or 14. I just hope there's still an afternoon appointment left so I don't have to miss any school. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Miss Teenage California - Results

Well, I didn't make the top 30, but I did learn a lot after participating in this system for the first time. If I choose to enter again next year, I'll have a better sense about what can/can't and should/shouldn't be done. 

The winner was a really lovely girl from Danville. sThe answers to her questions were great and definitely seized the crown for her. What I loved is that she was very natural; her answers weren't "pageanty" at all, and that was refreshing! 

I haven't decided if I will enter another pageant or not; with such a heavy school load, I really hate to miss a single day, and my summer is still unknown because I'm waiting to hear about the Bank of America Student Leadership Program and the Nordstrom BP Fashion Board, as well.

We shall see! If I "retired" now, I'd be perfectly happy with myself since I already have local, state, regional, and global titles under my belt;  but I've only competed in a couple teen pageants and no miss ones, so we'll have to play it by ear.

At any rate, it was fun - albeit very hectic - weekend trip to La-La Land!

Miss Teenage California - Day Two

We just had preliminaries. My Mom said she left after my friend, Monica Godecki went. I'm #42 and she's #45. It took an hour and a half to get to that point and there are like 146 girls in the competition!  

Today we gave our 20-second educational and career goal speeches in our evening gowns, each worth 33 1/3% of our overall score. It's hard to say how I did because I didn't see all the contestants, and you don't get to read everyone's application, which is the other 33 1/3% of the score.

My Mom said there were a lot of girls who went way over the timeline - some by only 2 or 3 seconds, others by 15 or even 30 seconds! I know that tactic is what makes some girls "stand out" from such a large group, but I think it's really unfair to those of us who followed the rules and stuck to the timelines. Although I don't think there are any repercussions because our handbook says it is an "unwritten rule".

I stumbled on a word but recovered quickly; I tried to be loud enough so people could hear, friendly with conviction and good diction. And I at least kept to the 20 second timeline.

Nevertheless, it's been a great experience and I really enjoyed meeting so many new people. All the girls are really nice - which, sad to say, is not always the case. Oh, and nobody had the same dress as me which is definitely a plus! LOL

Miss Teenage California - First Day

My roommate didn't arrive until pretty late, so I was able to take a nice long nap before our orientation at 7:00 PM. The room service here is pretty expensive - they charge 17% gratuity plus a $4 in-room dining fee, so basically everything winds up being about $25. At least there's "The Bistro", where you can buy a sandwich for $9! And there's a Carl's Jr. down the street.

There are A LOT of girls here and we're spread out all over the hotel...but orientation went well and I am looking forward to rehearsals and the preliminaries tomorrow!

 What a C-R-A-Z-Y Day!!!

Talk about a hectic day...so I had to be at school by 7:00 AM for zero period, and we were supposed to wear green for "Earth Day", I had to dress up for marketing class, and I had to give my election speech today. Luckily, I had one green shirt to wear!

We all filed into the gym during 3rd period - 10:00 - 11:00 AM to give our speeches. My second period class is across campus, so out of the 3 of us running for President, I walked in last - which means I had to give my speech first...and if you've read my updates, you know how much I HATE to go first!!!

Then as soon as we were done, I had to run outside and hop into my Mom's rental car so she could take me to SFO to catch my flight to LA for the pageant. Since I had to be there by 6:00 PM at the very latest, I had to fly because you never know how traffic is...

My Mom wound up getting here at 6:30. But we'll be driving back after the pageant on Sunday night so I can make it to zero period on Monday morning!

Oh, and my classmate and friend Mariana won the election, which is fine. At least I know she is really into it and she will do a good job! I know they're going to ask for my help, anyway when it comes to the Homecoming Skit and fundraising. I just wish I could've given a speech at graduation...oh, well.

Running for Class President

So, I sort of got talked into running for Senior Class President for next year. I was the Sophomore Class VP and I ran for President for junior year, but I lost out by 20 measly votes...then the student that was elected had to quit because there's a minimum GPA requirement that the student couldn't meet.

So anyway, some of my friends who are on the football team were lamenting about how this year our class didn't raise any money and we don't have enough funds to cover all the activities for senior year. So they apparently decided they made a mistake and should have elected me (DUH!), and have been rallying the class to try to get me to run.

I decided I would run, after considering my schedule - class officers are required to take the leadership class. And I decided just in time, too, because the paperwork is due on Monday and elections are Friday!

I'm just hoping I can give my speech really early in the morning on Friday because that's the day we have to leave for the pageant - and we're driving!!! It will probably take about 6 hours, but we definitely don't want to be driving through LA during rush hour traffic...I'm just hoping we can make it there 6:00 PM...

Anyway, I'm hoping I'll win - especially since people are regretting not electing me President for this year. I guess they expect me to "rescue" the class and make enough money to cover all the events Senior year...I will certainly do my best!!! Check my campaign poster below...needless to say, I like to be creative so I really love the grungy effect to my photo. My friend Shawn came up with the slogan.

And the best part is the Senior Class President gets to give a speech at graduation, so that will be great.  I gave the "address to the class" at my 8th grade graduation, so it would be nice to continue the tradition. And I'm a good writer and speaker and I would love the honor of addressing my class one final time.

My friend Lachelle is running for ASB President, so it would be great if we both won and were the girls in charge next year! We'll probably be the ones in charge of JROTC next year, too. GIRL POWER!!! LOL

A Very Rainy Sunday

Wow, the skies were so dark today, it looked like the heavens were going to open up and just pour - which it did for awhile!

But my fashion board application was due today, so I braved the weather for a minute to run into the BART station. The nice thing is that the Powell Street station comes right up at the mall entrance, so at least I never had to go outside once I got to the city. :-)

I haven't been in the mall in years, and I kinda got lost! Nordstrom's is basically on every floor, and I didn't figure out where BP was until I was already in the elevator and had a chance to read the signage. But my Mom and I finally found our way to the junior department where I handed in my fashion board project and application.

I looked around at their stuff and saw a cute charm-style bracelet I liked for $10 so decided to buy it. When I went to the counter, the salesgirl said she really liked my project board, so that was nice of her. I wonder how many applications they got? Anyhoo, they'll be interviewing over the next 2 months, so we'll see if I get selected...

Yuri's Night Out! 

Don't know if you know, but this is a great celebration of space around the world! The biggest one this year is in Mountain View at Moffett Field because of the Ames NASA Center. Luckily for me, one of the Music programmers at a local SF radio station was "impressed" with my resume and offered to put me on the guestlist. :-) So me and my Mom went...although the celebration was all day - from noon to midnight, we got there about 3:00 PM because we wanted to see N.E.R.D. who was performing at 5:00!!! I was so excited - I love Pharrell Williams and we were right in the front! Needless to say, they didn't disappoint! Check out my pics in the gallery! 

DJ Q-Bert was also there and performed prior to N.E.R.D. He's AMAZING - check out the video on the video page. Not the best audio - remember, I am right in the front which means the bass beat was booming right in front of me - but if you listen carefully, you can hear his incredible scratching skills on the turntables!

Fashion Board

Came back from JROTC camp today, and I'm finally done with my Fashion Board submission project! Check out the photos in the gallery!

West Side Story Review

Here's the article that ran in our local paper:

"Encinal High School's production of West Side Story is superb, sharp, edgy, dramatic and infinitely satisfying. Set in New York City during the mid-1950s, the play is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet but with unique twists that reinvent the old tale. Allie Villa and Matthew Strasser are ideally paired as the star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony. Their convincingly romantic performance gives the play its unique feel.

The tension between the characters Riff and Bernardo leaders of the rival gangs Jets and Sharks (played by Jose Montes and Mahmood Kohgadai) had the audience sitting on the edge of their seats. Performances by John Keck as Action and Ethan McGuire as Baby John provided appropriate comic relief in between action scenes. Max Coyne shines as Maria's betrothed, Chino.

One of the musical's most famous songs, "America," is filled with passion with performances by Lachelle Laulu-Finley as Maria's best friend, Anita and Kaeleigh Thorp as a Shark girl, Rosalia. Every scene is so well rehearsed. With such a huge cast of 73 students, and an effective but tricky set to move around (cleverly designed by the stage crew) the musical's precision gives the whole production its polish. Director Robert Moorhead constructed an amazing performance.

After the musical's opening night, Moorhead said, "I was very pleased with the performances. The energy from the entire cast and crew was great."

As a director, Moorhead was able to truly inspire and support his cast. "My favorite part was after the rehearsal last night. Mr. Moorhead said, 'This is so good!' and then I was really excited to perform," Villa said.

"What made this play different was that even though we were separated [during rehearsals] we were all still really close and were able to come together for an amazing show," said Kiara Heath, who played Teresita, a Jet girl.

The students and staff of Encinal High School have done it once again by turning out an amazing show.

The next shows will be on March 25 and 26. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors, $12 for regular seats, and $15 for reserved seats."

Better Late Than Never!

I forgot about this article...I just ran across it today and wanted to share! This is an article from Turn For The Judges about me completing my internship.

Miss California National Teenager Completes Internship

Kaeleigh Thorp, the reigning 2009 Miss California National Teenager, just wrapped up her fall internship with "Organizing for America", President Obama's grassroots organization.

"I never thought I'd be selected when I applied," said Thorp, "but they called to interview me and offered me an internship." The fall internship was 12 weeks long and required a minimum of 12 hours per week. "I don't have any statistics on the interns, yet," she said, "but I'm pretty sure there weren't very many high schoolers selected. I may have been one of the youngest ones selected for the program."

And just what exactly does a high school junior do as an intern for Organizing for America? "Because of my heavy involvement in school and extra-curricular activities, I concentrated on helping out with data and phone banking,which I could pretty much do on my own time," said Thorp. "After a training session on how to use the VoteBuilder software, I was off and running! It was a great experience; I met a lot of dedicated, smart, politically-savvy people who have continued to keep in contact with me, even though my internship has ended."

And when she refers to a heavy schedule, she's not kidding! "As Miss California, I've had a busy year, making appearances all over the Bay Area." Some of those appearances include serving as a celebrity judge for a Bay Area talent contest in San Francisco; judging the talent portion of the Miss Black California pageant in San Jose; emceeing the community stage at the San Leandro Cherry Festival; and volunteering to man the membership table on the USS Hornet at the 4th of July celebration in Alameda, among many others. "That was a fun one," she said. "I think I broke some kind of record for signing people up! It was the crown...people came over to find out who I was and what I was doing there!"

Thorp also participated in an intensive summer training program to become a Youth Attorney and was voted Valedictorian of the class,is a weekly writer for an online teen news outlet, member of DECA and Junior Statesmen of America, member of the varsity track and field team, and continues to log community service hours on the President's Volunteer Services Award website - over 1200 hours thus far.

She also participated in several educational videos, was cast in a national commercial, and is portraying "Rosalie" in the spring production of West Side Story.

All this while simultaneously maintaining a 4.43 high school GPA and a 4.00 community college GPA! "I definitely have a tough schedule, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love to push myself. I only wish there were more hours in the day!"

Thorp will travel to San Diego in February to crown her successor, and next up on her agenda is competing in the Miss Teenage California pageant in April as Miss Teen Alameda County.

http://www.tftj.com/db/pageantnews.htm/206

Nordstrom's BP Fashion Board

I'm pretty much done with my application - I just need a copy of my transcript and my Mom's co-worker is doing one of my letters of recommendation. I'll be working on my fashion project this weekend in addition to doing homework (I missed all last week since I was in D.C.) and packing for the JROTC leadership camp trip. Busy, busy, busy!!!

I'm looking forward to possibly being on the Board...next weekend I'll be dropping my application and project off in San Francisco. BART only takes 15 minutes to get there, and you get dropped off right at the mall so it's a very convenience commute! Wish me luck...

Back from D.C!

I'm back from the Close-Up trip to D.C. Although it rained the first couple days, it was really hot the last couple days and it was a lot of fun! We had a great time interacting with everyone and learning even more through our visits and tours. Check out some photos in the Close-Up gallery!

Now I'm packing for JROTC leadership camp...we leave on Monday!

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

I forgot to mention, after the last Rotary speech contest, the Rotary Speech Chair approached me and said that he could tell I had "strong leadership skills" and suggested I get involved with RYLA. I think I got an e-mail about it awhile ago, I hope I haven't missed any deadlines! But I will look into it - there's a lot of stuff going on over the summer so I'll have to check my schedule and make sure that I can participate before I apply!

Close-Up Trip to Washington, D.C. 

I'll be in DC the last week of March for the Close-Up Trip. I went in 8th grade so I know a little bit about what to expect, but I've heard the high school experience is a little difference. There are only 2 juniors on the trip - and 13 seniors, but it will be fun to get to know some new people and have visit our nation's capitol!

Rotary Speech Contest

Track & Field 

We had a track meet on Thursday and I came in first for discus. I'm not sure where I placed for shot put, because I had to leave as soon as I threw in order to get back to school in time for another West Side Story performance!  

West Side Story - UPDATES!

We now have microphones for "I Feel Pretty", so I will repost once I have a new video of that performance. I also might repost "America"; my dress was way too big on opening night, and it has since been fixed (my straps broke 3 times!!!) 

West Side Story 

West Side Story opened tonight! Things went well - we had some mic problems (we always do), but overall it was good. I posted "America" and "I Feel Pretty" on the videos page 2 and some photos in the gallery.

Busy, Busy, Busy with Pageant and Musical

I am getting my stuff together for the April pageant. I have my gown, which I absolutely L-O-V-E, my opening number dress, I've got my 20-second speech down...I'm just waiting on one more piece to my orientation outfit and I'll be all set - at least clothes-wise! I am really looking forward to competing in this pageant - I've heard great things from past participants so I'm sure I will have a great time.

I got a little cold from DECA this past weekend, but I'm trying everything I can to get rid of it before West Side Story Opening Night this Friday! I don't want to sound stuffed up or nasaly when I sing...that wouldn't be pretty. I'm drinking tea and taking medication, so I'm hoping it goes away in the next few days and I'll be all set to go.

Just got back from the DECA State Conference

I've been gone since Thursday - we took a bus to SoCal for the DECA State Conference.  This was only my second conference, but I am happy to report that I placed in the Top 8 in the State in the Marketing Management division! 

Now I've got an APUSH essay to write before tomorrow morning, so I'm signing off...

I'm Movin' on with Rotary!

I found out today that the girl who "just edged" me out of a win at the district Rotary contest (their words, not mine!) can't move on to the next level, so they've asked me to go in her place! 

I was excited to hear the news, but WOW, what a busy schedule I have...this week I am going to the DECA California Conference, then on 3/26 I have to go to San Jose for Rotary, and I have to come back that night to perform in West Side Story...the next day is closing night for West Side Story, and I have a red eye flight out to Washington, D.C. for the Close-Up trip! YIKES!

I'll be in Washington, D.C. the last week of March, and then 2 weeks later I'll be gone for JROTC Leadership Camp, then in LA for the Miss Teenage California pageant...ever the traveler! :-)

Send good vibes my way for the speech contest!!!

Athena Girl of the Month /Teen Spotlight, March 2010 - The Teen Toolbox 

Here are the articles! Not 100% accurate, but pretty darn close...

Rotary  Speech - District Level - 2nd Place!

So I placed second in the district level contest...unfortunately, I drew the first slot, and the first person who goes almost always never wins! But I have to say the winner had an excellent delivery; although I believe I had the best content! I am pleased to have participated and won some more money, and was proud to represent Alameda! My teacher has already told me he wants me to enter again next year, so now that I have this experience under my belt, I'm goin' for the "W" next time! See my video posted on page 2.

Rotary Speech Contest - Next Level

Tuesday is the next step in the Rotary Speech Contest. I won the club level, so I think mythis is the district level where the area club winners compete. I'm not sure who I'm competing against; but I guess I'll just plan on giving it my best shot - that's all I can do!

I'm Back from San Diego!

So I'm back from the 2010 ANTSO California pageant. Although tiring, it was a lot of fun and it was great to see Evelina and Monica Godecki - my sister queens - again! And of course, Jenny and Michael were there and it was great working with both of them - especially Michael the choreographer.

All the girls were really nice and I hope they all decide to return next year! I wish them luck at nationals. For some pics, check out the photo gallery!

Athena of the Month

 I just found out that I will be the featured "Athena of the Month" for March! :-) Athena is an online magazine started a couple years ago by a college-aged girl to be sort of an "anti-17" magazine. There are a lot of writers, and they try to focus more on substance rather than teen celebrities and gossip. When I get a copy of the article, i will post it in the updates section. Stay tuned! :-)

I Won the Rotary Speech Contest!

The speech contest was today; despite my disadvantage of not having much time to prepare/write/practice, I won! There were 4 of us - 2 from my high school, 1 from the other big public high school, and another from the parochial high school -- all girls.

My classmate Kiara was fantastic, but she was penalized because she went over the 5 minute time allotment. :-(

I came in first, and the other 3 "tied for 2nd place". The newspaper took a group photo, so I will post that whenever it turns up.

Onto the next round! :-)

I Will Be the March 2010 "Spotlight Teen of the Month"

Check out www.theteentoolbox.com in March! I was selected to be the featured "Spotlight Teen of the Month". "I think that Kaeleigh is the PERFECT teen to SPOTLIGHT for Women's History Month."  That's pretty cool! If you don't know what The Teen Toolbox is, it's a youth development consulting company dedicated to providing mentorship and life skills programs and activities that enhance the strength s and experiences of teenagers and empowers them to take charge of their lives and develop into their potential. I am honored to have been selected!

Rotary Speech Contest on Tuesday, February 9, 2010!

So my APUSH teacher told me and my classmate Kiara that he entered us into the local Rotary Speech Contest...mind you, he's known about the contest since the first week of January, but just told us LAST WEEK! I literally just wrote my speech over the weekend, and the speech contest is TUESDAY!!! ARGH. We practiced today by giving our speeches to a public speaking class.

Unfortunately, I don't have enough time to memorize it by tomorrow -- but we're allowed to use one 3x5 card...I had to write my speech hecka tiny on it because I don't have it memorized. It's pretty small, but I've been practicing so I hope I'll at least perform well!

I feel a little bit at a disadvantage because I'm sure the other students in the competition have been working/practicing on their speeches for at least a full month; but hey, you never know...maybe me or Kiara will put out the big win!!!

Open House & 8th Grade Info Night

Wednesday is Open House at my school and 8th Grade Information Night, when current 8th graders come to find out about our school and what high school is like.

I'm going to be pretty busy that evening...my Songfest group was the only asked to perform, to give the 8th graders an idea of what Songfest is like. I was also selected to be on one of the two debate teams so they can experience what an AP debate is like, as well. And the West Side Story cast is going to perform.

Our Info Nights are usually pretty good, especially compared to the other high school. Their 8th graders sit in the auditorium and are basically "talked to" by the Principal. We always throw performances and examples in, just so the incoming students can get a realistic feel for what some of their classes might be like.

I am looking forward to it; it should be fun!

Bank of America - Applying to be a Student Leader

 I'm working on my application to become a Bank of America Student Leader! It's due February 17. Basically, I'm done with my portion - I just need my principal and two of my teachers to write me letters of recommendation that I can upload with my application.

This is a really exciting opportunity for young people who want to effect change in their communities!!! It includes an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit and a week long Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.  I'm sure competition is tough, but I'm hoping I get selected for this great opportunity; I've been to many leadership conferences and trainings, and it would be really great to work directly with a local non-profit as an intern and put some of what I've learned to practical use!

Wish me luck. :-)

Organizing for America Internship Ends

OK, I haven't received any "official" word - I would think they would send us a paper certificate or something - I'm pretty sure the internship is over since it was supposed to run from September to December 7. We started late; I don't think I was interviewed until the last couple weeks of September, but it's already been 4 months, so I'm assuming we're all finished. 

It was a lot of fun! I met some great people at the data parties and it was great to be able to help out the cause by doing some data entry and inputting. Even my Mom signed up and helped input data!

Another Day, Another Pageant!

So this week I have to complete my application to the Miss Teenage California pageant. It's pretty prestigious, and what I like about it is everyone in the Top 10 gets some kind of scholarship money to use wherever they like, which is what I'm really looking forward to! This pageant is going to be very different, however; I heard last year there were 160 contestants!  I know I have a great resume and I interview really well, but keep your fingers crossed that I don't get lost in such a big sea of accomplished young women!

The pageant's going to be in LA in April. I have to crown my National Teenager successor in February - I heard from another contestant that they moved the event from Fremont to San Diego, but I've yet to here from anybody telling me so...um, OK...I hope they let me know soon - it's already almost January! I don't even know what weekend in February it is for sure...but as long as they're paying for me to return to crown my successor, I'm cool. Maybe I can do some emceeing as well - that will be fun!

West Side Story - here we come!

Our spring musical is going to be West Side Story. Although I really wanted the role of Anita, I am going to be Rosalie, who pretty much sings "America" with Anita, anyway. Sadly, it was a domino effect...basically if there's a senior who wants a major role, they'll get it if they're at least halfway decent. So that started the bumping! My friend who wanted to be Marie got bumped to Anita, and I got bumped to Rosalie! Oh, well...I'm sure it will still be fun and a lot of work. Looking forward to getting started once we get back from break!

College GPA - FINALLY!

I was sweatin' a little bit...this fall I had physical anthropology and cultural geography as my college classes. Although, I have to admit the cultural geography class was REALLY easy. I even got 100% on my paper about Australian Aborigines, and the teacher's comments were "I don't often give perfect scores on papers, but yours was so outstanding." 

It was the physical anthropology class that I was worried about. It was a lot of reading, a lot of technical terms, and a lot of quizzes! I got an "A" on my paper for that class, too, "Darwinius masillae as a transitional species", but I barely squeaked out of the class with an A! My overall grade was 89.58, and it rounded up to a 90 to give me an A. WHEW!

At least so far I'm able to maintain my 4.0 college GPA...but in the spring I have macro economics and Mexican/Latin American Relations, so we'll see how that goes!

SONGFEST 2009!

 Songfest 2009 was held on Thursday night. :-) We were the last group of Juniors to go, and we got a great response! Check out our latest performance on the videos page. (I'm the one who's portraying the teacher - the one in the shorts).

LATEST EDUCATION VIDEOS!

I posted the most recent education videos I was in. I was going to just crop to my own parts, but the format's not compatible with Microsoft Movie Maker, so sorry, you're stuck with the whole thing! Check the video page for the uploads.

FIRST REPORT CARD

I FINALLY got my report card and all my hard work paid off! I got an "A" in every class, and my GPA is 4.429, which is the highest I can get. :-) My goal is to maintain that GPA throughout the course of the year...keep your fingers crossed! The busier I get, the harder that goal is, but as always, I'll give it my best shot. 

I joined DECA and we are fundraising for a competition in December. We had a "mock" DECA conference on Saturday with real DECA judges. It was a pretty easy role play exercise, so I'm hoping the actual conference goes just as well.

And the AP Songfest is also coming up in December. My group has been working feverishly on our routine. We have all our music and have only 1 song left to do choreography to. Auditions are next Tuesday (11/24) and the Songfest is December 10. I'm sure Nhi will videotape it again, so I will post it on the video page when it's done!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

So including all the activities I mentioned below, I have a pretty decent schedule this year, too. I have JROTC zero period, which starts at 7:00 AM so still have to get to school early every morning. I decided to take my track coach's Marketing class, which is involved with DECA, so maybe I will get involved with that club and do some competitions, as well. I have AP English, AP Biology, and AP US History, and I decided to take Marine Biology with Horwitz this year, too. I also have ceramics -- I need some down time! But I will basically be done with my credits by the end of this year because of the college classes I'm taking. This semester I have Anthropology and Cultural Geography. I plan to take Statistics over the summer so I have another year of math. Needless to say, I am a master of time management and organization! I'm working hard to stay on top of everything I need to do this year...

INTERN FOR OBAMA!

I submitted myself for an Internship with Organizing for America. I was interviewed and am waiting for more information, but very excited about this opportunity! As you know, President Obama is all about grass roots efforts, so this internship will be very different from traditional ones. I am ready to go and to get involved in spreading President Obama's message to the people!

KAELEIGH THORP - YOUTH ATTORNEY!

I participated in an intensive summer training program for the McCullum Youth Court. Basically, we covered all different aspects of trying cases, and other job duties like the Clerk and Bailiff. We had a picnic at the end of the program, and I was voted Valedictorian of my class. I just tried my first 2 cases last week and it was fun! One of the judges ruling on one of my cases said that I sounded like a real DA in my arguments. My friend Kelly told me that the other judge was looking for me after my case, but I didn't know that so I didn't stick around.

Anyhoo, it's a lot of fun -- I have to dress professionally, read up on the cases, and prepare my opening statements, arguments, and closing statements. It's great practice and for now I'm really enjoying it!

MORE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS FOR PEARSON!

I was asked to return this year to shoot more videos for Pearson Learning. There were a lot of kids this time, and they included a day of rehearsals. It was still a lot of fun - I participated in two videos, one about finance and one about insurance. Hopefully I will get links again and post them on my videos page.

MISS TEEN ALAMEDA COUNTY!

So I found another pageant to enter next year after I give up my Miss California crown in February. It's the Miss Teenage California scholarship pageant, and it is great for me because it really IS focused on scholarship. And it's a much better value than most pageants out there; the entry fee actually INCLUDES my hotel stay, and if I win, it will include an ALL EXPENSES PAID trip to the nationals in Washington, D.C. Not that I expect to win, but it will be great competing in a real scholarship pageant since that's where I excel. :-)

MEET YOUR NEW 2009 MISS CALIFORNIA NATIONAL TEENAGER!

Yep, that's right - I WON!  This is my second time participating in the ANTSO (America's National Teenager Scholarship Organization) pageant.  I really like it - it's very similar to the JTA (Junior Teen America) system, which I competed in several times, as well.

RENT PHOTOS IN MY GALLERY!

Posted some photos from the RENT production in my photo gallery!!!  Still working on getting some live video, but check out the pics for now!

MY SCHOOL'S DOING "RENT"!

So my high school is one of the first ones to be doing a production of RENT! We have been working out BUTTS off, and opening night was last night.  It was a packed house - in fact, they actually had to bring out MORE chairs!  I think because it's more modern, and it's fresh in peoples' minds, too.  I am in the general cast, but I also play a waitress during the "La Vie Boheme" number, and I'm a dancer in "Tango Maureen", and I'm also the blanket homeless lady.  Unfortunately for me, my mic wasn't loud enough opening night -- my Mom said she didn't hear a word I sang during the blanket homeless lady part.  :-(  But I am working on getting a DVD of the last dress rehearsal, so I will post my bits in the video gallery.  SEASONS OF LOVE, people!  :-)

FINALLY - NO MORE METAL MOUTH!

Got my braces off (FINALLY) a couple weeks ago.  :-)  Great timing, because I just took some new headshot photos last Sunday!  It was wierd the way it kept working out...the rain kept delaying my photo shoot, and my appointment to get my braces kept getting postponed.  Finally, it worked out to where my braces came off and then the weather cleared for my pics!

Shot them in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco with KIRA STACKHOUSE.  She is editing and cropping and what not -- can't wait to see them!  It's been such a long time since I've seen a photo with no braces! I'm pretty sure she got some good shots, and I felt pretty good about it, so I'm sure there'll be something to work with!  Will post in my gallery once I get the CD of photos. 

 ARGH - I STILL HAVE BRACES!!

I was told they would come off on January 27, but when I got to the orthodontist, they said they had to take impressions in order to fit me with a retainer, and couldn't remove my braces yet. In fact, they put TIGHTER wires on and rubber bands on BOTH sides of my mouth! It's been really fun eating nothing but mashed potatoes for the past couple days and trying to sing in Rent rehearsals! 

My next appointment is February 16, which is conveniently the day AFTER my photoshoot for new headshots -- which were supposed to be WITHOUT braces! I'm going to go ahead and take the photos, because I could potentially be losing work if my management agency doesn't have updated headshots to submit for jobs...

I'm not even sure if they're going to take my braces off on February 16, either, but I hope they do!

NEW VIDEO POST!

Posted a youtube video of my group's performance form this year's AP Euro Songfest.  Enjoy!  :-)

UPCOMING PAGEANT! 

I'll be competing in the American's National Teenager Scholarship pageant again for the California teen title.  It's in April, the day before Easter, but I'm gearin' up and gettin' ready!!!  The skateboard shop that sponsored me last year has already told me they will sponsor me in whatever I'm in throughout my lifetime! I thought that was really nice of them. Whenever I'm in there and the owner's there, he'll come out and tell all the other shoppers that he sponsored me last year and I got 2nd runner up in the state competition, and that I'm Miss San Leandro. LOL Gotta love that kinda support, right??

 ENCINAL FIRST HIGH SCHOOL TO PERFORM RENT!

Yeah, so my high school is the first one to put on a production of Rent!  How cool is that? And yes, of course, I'm in the cast! I'm also "blanket person"...if you've seen Rent then you know who that is.  Rehearsals are going on now, and we perform in March. Hope I can get some clips to post.

BRACES COMING OFF ON JANUARY 27! 

FINALLY! My ortho appointment is at 2 PM on January 27. Finally after 3 years these braces will be coming off.  And I have a photo shoot for new headshot scheduled in February, so this is perfect timing...can't wait to get more work! I'm really looking forward to earning some more dollars!!!

STILL LOOKING FOR REXONA!

 SORRY, HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN AWHILE!

No real updates since the Rexona commercial shoot, but I've been busy with community service stuff - gathering, boxing, and shipping stuff up for our adopted Marines, and my JROTC class is working on holiday cards for the Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team!

 PRESS COVERAGE FOR PSA!

In the local paper today, there was a large article about the JROTC Cadets participating in the PSA, with an accompanying photo of me next to the director and the cadets in the background!  Pretty exciting -- read more in the pdf file below!

FUTURE SUPERMODEL?

So my Mom has been shopping my photos around to some different agencies (via snail mail).  We found out, through research and some word of mouth, that I am actually a perfectly proportioned plus model!  (Regular fashion models are usually a size 0-2, sometimes to a 4 if you're really tall; plus models range from sizes 10-16).

Wish me luck!

PSA FOLLOW-UP

I received an e-mail yesterday from the producer of the public service announcement that said (and I quote!):

"...It was amazing, and the footage looks fantastic.  We are so thrilled.  Kaeleigh is a star."

How cool is that???  The PSA is still scheduled to launch on the 20th, so will post once I receive my copy!

PSA SHOOT AT MY SCHOOL         
The PSA was shot on Friday!  All 16 people I handpicked to be in the shoot were there, dressed in their Class A uniforms and ready to go.  The director arrived with a cameraman, sound person, and another helper.  We practiced marching while they waited for the sun to come up a little bit more so they could get some natural light in the shot.

They had us move to the track where I commanded the marchers, and then I read my lines.  The group got to get in on it too!  They recited the "We, the Youth of the United States" line!  So we all get to have a speaking part in it, which is really cool.  We were done before first period, but had to rush to change out of our uniforms and get to class.

The PSA should be out around October 20.  I am supposed to get a link and/or copy, so will share if I can when it comes in.  In the meantime, check out some photos!

"GENERATION WE" PSA
So I got confirmation today from the Producer, Lisa, that the shoot is a go!  I'm so excited -- I think it will be really cool to have the Jet Battalion and my school featured in this PSA!  Lisa sent me the script and it reads like it's going to turn out to be a pretty cool shoot.  I don't have exactly which lines I am going to read, yet, but the Director, Stephen, will send them to me and may ask me to do some "on the spot", too.

This campaign is supposed to kick off later in the fall, but before the Presidential election which is only 5 weeks away.  I'm sure the JROTC program, and probably the whole school for that matter, will be "abuzz" once the news leaks out about the shoot. 

Wish us luck!