The Clean Up

My boring study corner - look at all those textbooks (Y)

My Japanese styled bed

1st wardrobe, top hanger

1st wardrobe, bottom hanger

Louis Vuitton 2012 Collection

English speech palm cards - Had to remind myself to smile during the speech :')

Snacking on dragon fruit

Hello my dear readers! It has been months since my last blog and I am sorry for that. I have the HSC on my back and whenever I take time out of study for leisure purposes, guilt trips me over. Please don't think I study all the time, because I don't. I'm just an extremely slow worker which means I spend twice as long as other students would to complete homework and notes. Might I add procrastination to the list - Facebook and Youtube wishes me to fail my HSC.

Let me start off by shouting out, "I FEEL SO GOOD NOW THAT EXAMS ARE OVER." I think we all know how torturing exam weeks can be, but to be honest, the last three weeks came and went in a whiff for me. First I had the 'speech' English assessment, then 2U Maths and Agriculture, and the rest of them just ordered themselves one after the other and before I knew it, I was done with half-yearlies, go me!

I will be truthful to myself - I don't think I put in 100% effort. I always promise myself I will, but I never do. "Next exam, I'll try even harder because I didn't do so great this time round." Nah ah, never going to happen, sorry self. But it's okay, because I don't think I felt stressed...I stayed way too calm during those exams, which I guess is a good thing. I can only perform to my ability, not to others', and whatever I get, I get, right?

Anyway, after exams my room was a mess. I don't know how it happened, it just did. I had to sort all the past papers and notes into folders and throw away whatever was scrap. It took three long hours, but my room is now back to its original state. I have OCD and am proud of it. I also had to clean up my wardrobe because it too, was getting rather messy and only after cleaning it up, did I realise how boyish I dress these days. I have 1 skirt. 1 SKIRT. The rest of my bottoms are shorts and jeans. I have T-shirts and polos for tops and too many jackets and hoodies. I think I might need a new wardrobe before University... I really do like fashion, but can't afford it yet. Pretty shoes and fancy handbags will have to wait till I grow up.

My holidays officially commence today so I will blog more during the holidays hopefully. Dad told me my family is going for a road trip on the weekends, so I'm looking forward to that. Till then, bye!

Hot weather and Yu-Gi-Oh!

Hurlstone boys: Kenny Tieu, Simon Chau, Miss Vo, Thomson Trang, Alan Ly

Yu-Gi-Oh! cards

What our "healthy" school canteen sells

Left to right: Ashley Wu, Anh Le, Me

I cannot exaggerate enough how hot today was. My mum's car read 38 degrees and I thought that it was pretty extreme for Spring. The weather isn't helping the Year 12 workload at all too. I am constantly stressed about homework and notes and exams which are springing up in a couple of weeks.

My plan for lunchtime, was to look through some Senior Science books, but the library was closed for ex-Year 12 students to study for the HSC. So Ashley, Anh and I decided to keep ourselves entertained by watching the intense Yo-Gi-Oh battles between the boys. Yes, why are they still playing card games? I don't know. Yu-Gi-Oh was primary school stuff, stuff of 5 years ago!

But you know what, it's not surprising at all that the boys started playing Yu-Gi-Oh again. Although we're the oldest kids at school now, we're still running for trains, playing tips and what not. Kenny's deck was astonishing. He said he spent $100 plus on that deck and it shows, because he has red/black protective sleeves for all of his cards. He must have been spoilt. Enough words said. I'm only kidding, he's very hard-working now, that is, in the classroom.

The Prefects are back! I looked at photos on Facebook and it seemed like a really fun camp. Oh well, I had fun at school...right?

Aphids and Agriculture

Diligent Hurlstone students

"Cute, little Aphid"

So all the Prefects (cool kids) are gone to camp and that's basically means that all my bestfriends are gone too. The weather is warming up and I don't know if I'm fancying that. Though I am in Year 12 along with my Hurlstone friends, it seems as though we're still interested in looking at flies flying in circles. Today in Agriculture, we looked at Aphids: sap sucking insects. "Aren't they cute?" Mr Schippers said. I'm just amazed at the photo above. It was taken through the lenses of a microscope.

"Magic Outside of Hogwarts"

EOS Club

My birthday cake from my bestie, Julia!

Julia Tran and me

Christie Duong's butt slice

Eating out at Sands Restaurant

Beautiful wink Miss Tran!

Cute little tea cups

Crab and Vermicelli Noodles

Sweet crab meat

Salty prawns...

Sweet and Sour Oysters

Fish...

That's my mummy and our messy table!

Coconut Jelly Dessert

Beautiful Tania

Hey, it says 17, I wonder what for...

My Ferrero Rocher Ice-cream Cake

All the cards I was given

I'm guessing that I've been an ass (annoying) to some this year, hehe. 

I love this card, it's lovely!

I've officially turned 17 today and can now "do magic outside of Hogwarts"(Quote Nathan)! Although no birthday I've ever had could beat my 16th birthday, today was quite a splendid day. The day started off with a 'BANG', I'm being punny here. Julia was sneakily handing out poppers to the train kids at Cabramatta Station and as I was trying to talk Vivian into making a friendship bracelet for me, my friends popped colourful streamers all over me and sang me happy birthday.

I received many cards, hugs and 'happy birthday' greetings as I got to school. Period 1-Extension English  was a bore because I had to get on with my own work which was Exercise 6 on Series and Sequences, as I dropped Extension English. But as expected, Agriculture was fun. We sprayed herbicide all over our lettuces and were told that we'll be harvesting next Monday! "Lettuce for dinner!" Simon Banh said.

Julia made me an oh-so-moist chocolate cake which was scrumptious! You're a wonderful friend Julia and everything that you've done for me or given to me, I will cherish and never forget. I also started Senior Science today and for now, it seems rather interesting and easy. The rest of the school day was quite boring.

My godmother and godmother's mother (HAHA) came over to my house in the afternoon to celebrate my 17th birthday. We ate out at Sands Restaurant, located in Cabramatta Rugby League Club for the first time, and my first impression of the food there is a rather good one. As Miss Tran and her mother are vegetarians, we had "seafood" on our minds when ordering the food. The food was delicious! We were also given Coconut Jelly dessert which I didn't like very much.

For a change, my godmother bought ice-cream cake for me, instead of the usual, spongy cakes, and it was very nice.

That pretty much sums up my first day of being 17. Thank you to everyone who wrote me lovely cards or sang 'happy birthday' to me, you made my day amazing!

ABC Kids

Well actually, Mr Gee likes making jokes more than teaching..

I really like Mr Pernickety, and Mr Scatterbrain!

Too bad this photo blurred...he's so cute!

I have chosen 'McBean' as my Varsity Jacket nickname. Tracey McBean, get it? The famous inventor with short orange hair, freckles and glasses. My other options were: TNT, TRACEthesmell, tracesofnuts. I cannot put to words how indecisive I was about that decision. It took me months to decide...Last night, I was still asking all my friends on MSN for their opinion. I'm happy with my final decision because I know I won't be embarrassed to wear my jacket out in a few years time, unlike TRACEthesmell.

I came home from school and wasted half an hour watching cartoon shows on ABC Kids. They've got like 4 channels now? Correct me if I'm wrong. Anyway, the cartoons were very amusing and cute. I watched Peppa Pig, Mr Men Show and Yo Gaba Gaba! That green, furry long-armed blob is so cute! For Show and Tell, he made a lobster, HAHA!

I know I'm turning 17 soon, but what can I say. I have a weak spot for cartoons and will always love them, even if they have turned weird and freaky like Yo Gaba Gaba. I remember the times when I used to watch Arthur, Yoko Jakamoto Toto, Koala Brothers, Angelina the Ballerina, Banana in Pajama...Yes, I did watch alot of T.V. Like many other Year 12 students at Hurlstone, I think I'm still a kid at heart. It's a shocking thought that we're even in Year 12!

Time to Exhale

My dad went and bought all these books a while back for me...

The thought of coming back to school was a daunting one for me. The reality was that I completely flunked my Yearly Exams and I knew this because I wasn't really trying towards the end of the year and found myself falling to sleep as I crammed in my bed.

I luckily did not perform too badly as expected and ended Year 11 on a sound note, maintaining most of my ranks if not, only slipping a few. HOWEVER, my maths result was shocking, so so shocking. I cried myself to bed for two days thinking that I would not be accepted in 4u. But guess what? I'm in for it and am jumping for joy! (so are my lovely parents)

Danica Huynh, you honestly are a great friend to me, something that I often take for granted. You were there to counsel me when I had little faith left inside of me and could barely see the future.  You are such a wonderful person and you clearly care about me because you looked for my name!

And thank you Margaret Tram, you comforted me and  kept me in good spirits whilst I sulked, ranted and complained to you at school and at home on the phone. I love you so much! I am so happy for both of us, we must push ourselves to the limits in this final high school year. You and me Marge, I'll install an engine on our little boat.

I also hope I get Sproule as my Advanced English teacher, otherwise I would rather stay with Mrs Davis because I'm kind of scared and worried about the pressure I might get from being in Top class. I will not let myself side track this year like I did with Year 11. I've changed to Senior Science from Physics and Mathematics Extension 2 from English Extension, and I am very keen to start Year 12 now.