This, That, and What's Next

Yes, I am a person who enjoys planning.  Even if my plans are outrageous sometimes.  If it's not in my planner book, then it doesn't happen in real life (maybe the Germans are rubbing off on me a little bit here.)

Granted, I am ready for anything life decides to throw at me, but it's always good to have a plan no?

August is looking a hell of a lot closer from this side of New Years, and after realizing that I will *eventually* have to go home then, I think that I need SOME sort of plan for what's next in life.

Because you know me.  There are no rests, I'm going to be dropping out of Europe, and hitting the ground running.

School:

Yes, I have one more year of high school.  Or technically.  I have a handfull of credits to get legitly finished with Highschool.  I need an English Credit, a Health Credit, a PE Credit, and possibly an extracurricular credit.  This in theory, means that I could graduate this December.

But what?  That's only 3 classes?  Hardly a typical senior year!  Well I have plans to fill that time.

Instead I plan to use my entire last year of high-school to full capacity.

For my English Credit, I plan to take College level English at UAA (University of Alaska Anchorage).  I haven't decided whether or not I am going to take an independent English class for the first semester, as classes begin IN August, and I don't plan on returning to Alaska until after the 1st of August at the earliest, and I would like a semester to get back into English mode.  I will definitely be taking 2nd semester at University though.

I plan on taking my health credit online.  Not so difficult.  For my Sport/PE Credit, I MIGHT be able to get a note from my German school.  Why not put the last semester of enduring volleyball to good use?

I have had a discussion with my class teacher here in Germany also.  For the second semester, I can try to get grades if I want.  I am planning on trying for an English Note, a Sport Note, a DSP note, maybe a Music note, Geography note, and a Biologie note.  Which means, if the Alaska school system accepts the german credits, I will technically only have one class to take to finish my highschool education.

I, of course, will be continuing German.  I believe I can get credit hours for German from all the time on exchange (as far as I know, I have to take a few exams to prove that I am proficient, but I could be wrong)  I may continue at University level if available, or independently.

Either way, I want to stay fluent.  German books are available online or at Barnes and Noble, I have friends here that have also given me their Skype names so I can talk to them regularly.  I also plan on talking to my host families quite a lot... because they are family to me now :-)

So I shouldn't have a problem keeping German up. At. All.

I want to continue studying Spanish and French also.  There is two more language credits.  Even if the school doesn't *count* them in their credit run up, I will still take the courses.

I don't need a history course, but I should keep up on my History anyway.  I plan on ordering a Klett European history book *in German* from Amazon.  It may not count towards graduation, but it helps my knowledge and German.

Math and science....I am VERY tempted not to take math.  But that is stupid.  I need to take math.  I want to take a VERY light math course, so I don't forget everything.

And Science: if I have learned anything in the science classes here, is that science is not meant to be taken independently... and studying Chemistry online is even more stupid.  I might take Chemistry at ERHS, or I might not take it at all... I may even just skip CHEM and go into advanced biology.  This will all be determined when I get home.

Oh, I almost forgot.  The SAT.... whoo. fun.  the next year is going to be study. study. study.  I also will be working on several different scholarship applications, which will eat up a chunk of time in the first semester, as most are due in December/January.

Ok, you're a Senior now.  But what about after highschool?!

What are my plans after higschool.

That's a toughie.  I have several options I am considering.  Some even involve more highschool. :O

Gap Year Abroad:
A Highschool Gap Exchange Year is my first choice for what I want to do after highschool

There are three gap year full scholarship programs run by the government.  One is a scholarship to Germany, Another is a scholarship to critical language countries (Thailand, China, Russia, Turkey etc).  The last... and the one I am leading towards the most is YES Abroad, which sends to Muslim prominent countries with the idea of bringing peace to the world.  They offer places like Oman, Ghana, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Egypt, Turkey, and Malaysia.  I'm very much interested in Oman, Indonesia, Thailand, and Turkey... but like I stated in an earlier post, I'm going to write 'any' for what country I want on the form.

Au-Pair:

Ok, so what happens when you don't get selected for a gap year?

Well, after much thought, I have decided my second choice is to be an Au-Pair Mädchen to Austria, Germany, Switzerland.  This wouldn't happen (necessarily) right after my Senior year of Highschool, but I have been looking through programs and it looks like a possible option.  Need to look into it even more!  Going to start looking into this more closely later on in the game.

University Alaska/ University Abroad

University.  It's going to happen somehow.  I know if the first two options don't work out, I am going to be heading to University right after highschool.  I have no interest in wasting money on going out of state for the first year university.  Yes, believe me, I don't want to be in Alaska for that much longer, but I would rather save some money for the first couple years that I am back, and go to University in Deutschland for year, rather than go somewhere in the US for four years (You wouldn't believe how much research I have done on University of Hawaii, Hilo... the pricing isn't too bad, plus it's part of the WUE.... so possibility?  I think so.)  I am quite interested in UAS or UAA for my first and/or second year.  I hope to go abroad for my 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of University.  It will happen.  I know it.

But what about the big picture... what do you want to DO?

I know now EXACTLY what I want to do.

It became clear to me this September: 

I want to teach English abroad.  I know for a fact, that I wont be remaining in the US for the rest of my life.  It wont happen.  I have found that I really enjoy studying languages.  I plan to do whatever it takes to become an English teacher, and at some point moving to Europe to teach.

Obviously, specifics need to be worked out.  I have been talking in depth with my host mother about the specifics of my plans.  She says that it would probably be a good idea to look into becoming a Deutsch citizen if I plan on teaching English here.  From the research I have done, it one hell of a process, probably if not AS difficult, MORE difficult than becoming a US citizen, especially if you have no significant other in Germany (ie, Marrying into citizenship)  But it is completely possible.

It is completely possible.

It is completely possible.

Because with God, what isn't possible? :-)

This, my friends, is what I want to do.  And it's going to happen.  All it takes is time.

Now let's say a prayer, and hope for the best!

Hasta Luega Amigos.

Sarah