Clean Up

Today I spent my day raking leaves for elderly and disabled people in neighborhood!

Four hours of work and TONS or trash bags to show for it, we certainly cleaned up this yard! 

crew memories

I was reminiscing over some of my favorite memories of the last spring season, and thought I would share them! Enjoy (:

Over Spring Break to keep us distracted from the fact that we must attend 2-a-day practices, at my school we like to do spirit days!

we raced mixed boats by grade, this was my 'sophomore' boat

Pirates vs. Ninjas Day

(all of the coxswains dressed up within the same theme for the week)

crazy twin day

for crazy twin day all of the varsity girl coxswains were superheros!

These beautiful girls raced in a First Varsity Four at our Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship regatta with me, it certainly wasn't our best race, but it wasn't our worst! 

As you read in my bio, I LOVE to bake, my most popular treat that I made for my rowers was the oreo covered chocolate chip cookie! It is so heavenly, and needless to say all of my rowers loved them too!

One weekend last spring I coxed the lightweight eight to a third place, this is us launching before the big race! 

NVRC

 For the past two fall seasons I have competed with the Northern Virginia Rowing Club for their fall crew program. This year was a little bit different for me because I was coxing boys, it was a total coincidence that the coaches placed me with boys, but I am so grateful that they did! I found that boys are a lot more aggressive and they prefer to hear an intense, powerful voice rather than an encouraging one. I learned so much about myself as a coxswain and my abilities from my rowers, and I don't think I would have discovered this being with girls.


I competed in two different races this fall the Occoquan Chase and the Head of the Occoquan.

This is me before the Occoquan Chase regatta where I raced in a Boys Junior 4

This link will lead you to some pictures from the Head of the Occoquan when I was in a Boys Youth 4

I took this picture one day after practice, I am so lucky to be rowing on such a BEAUTIFUL river like the Occoquan! 

SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE ATHLETIC TRAINING WORKSHOP

Summer 2011 I attended an athletic training camp at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. From day one we were learning something new at almost every moment. Some of the skills that I acquired while there were: 

My favorite skill was the Hip Extensor Strain Wrap! 

This camp offered such amazing opportunities for me that I would never had been able to have anywhere else. We sat in anatomy classes to discuses parts of the human body to review for what we would be seeing when we went to the cadaver labs. 

Never before had I analyzed the human body like I did there, it was so cool! 

The camp focused on lower body extremities for the week. It was incredible to be able to see the actual bones, ligaments, and muscles that we had heard, and seen pictures of in the class room. It is one thing to see a picture or a model of a specific area of the body, but to see it up close, watch its function and be able to touch it is an entirely different thing. 

I will never forget my time at Springfield College, it was such a wonderful learning experience, but it also altered the direction I would like to put future in.

These are all of my friends that I met while at the camp!

Key Club

What is Key Club?
Key Club is a student led service program for high school students who build themselves as they build their school and communities.

This will be my second year as a member of Key Club at my school. As a club we are hoping to bring opportunity to people in need by offering our services.

This past weekend I volunteered at a local lake clean up, to help better my community around me. For this coming weekend we are hoping to raise money by participating in Trick or Treat for UNICEF, my school's goal is to raise $2,000 for children and families in need.

DECA

DECA is an International Association of marketing students who come together to "prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe."

March 2011 I competed at the Virginia State Leadership Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. I presented a Professional Selling Event to a series of judges who presented me with an outstanding performance award. My power point presentation and ideas stood out among my competitors and I was given the opportunity to walk up on stage to receive my unique medal. 

This year I will be competing at the district and state level with a group of aspiring entrepreneurs as we conquer a Written Entrepreneur Event. Hopefully our marketing skills will take us to the next level and give us the option to compete in Salt Lake City, Utah at the International Career Development Conference!

Reflections

For the past three years I have entered my artwork in the PTA Reflections Contest, each year with a different theme I have entered a few pieces. In 2009 -2010 the theme was "Beauty is...", last year the theme "Teamwork means..." and this year for the 2011-2012 contest "Diversity means..." The past two years I have received an honorable mention award and last year was awarded a second place award. Hopefully this year I will be able to place again!


"The PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance a quality arts education by providing an opportunity for students to explore their artistic talents and receive positive recognition for their efforts. Students participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to their schools’ local PTA or PTSA. In Virginia and nationally, the program has six arts areas—dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts—and four grade divisions—primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior. " Courtesy of www.fccpta.org 

Maine Media Workshop Summer 2010

Since I was eight years old I have always dreamed of becoming a professional photographer. My dream became alive as soon as I stepped onto the Maine Media campus last summer. Everyone there shares a passion and love for some form of art, and to see people come together to create such beautiful things is well, magical. 

While there I spent two full weeks overnight participating in the Advanced Young Digital Photographers program where I learned all about Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, lighting, portraiture, action shots, but most of all, I learned about myself as an artist. Everyday I could see myself growing full of new knowledge and experience I never would have gained here at home. I discovered my strengths and weaknesses when it came to composing pictures. The two weeks there brought me new friendships and contacts of young artists all around the world. I mingled with Filmmakers and Film Photographers about their interests in the professional field of art and what they hope to pursue. Maine Media provided me with such a memorable experience that will always stay with me.




Here are some of my favorite pictures I took while there:

As of now I am not as active in my photography as I would like to be. I do occasionally post to my flickr account which is always a great way for me to keep up with my photos! Enjoy! 
Emily

Lake Braddock Crew 2009-2010

Last year was one of the greatest years of my life. I made the BEST decision to join my schools crew team. 


We began intense winter training in December, until mid February when we started water season. One of the last days of winter training when coach sat us down and told us all that he was looking for a coxswain. He explained what their duties were and what they were expected to do; I met the criteria to be one. So I took a chance, raised my hand and said that I was interested in being a coxswain. From that day on, I would be further known as a coxswain.


My novice year on the team I will remember and cherish forever. We had a great winning streak in our 1st Women's Novice Eight boat, and a group of girls that I will never forget. I am so happy to be a part of Lake Braddock's Crew Team, choosing to be a bruin rower truly did change my life.