Just who am I, anyway?
Well, for starters, my name is Krista. I go to Clarion Area Highschool [Visit Clarion Area's homepage], your typical small public school. I live in Pennsylvania, so the weather is often dreadful! And I should know about weather--I've lived all over the country. I was born in San Louis Obispo, California. Illinois was the second state I called home; next, I moved to Abilene, and then Waco, Texas; after a few years, my family went to Tarkio, Missouri, and then Maryville in the same state; later, we moved to Douglas, Georgia. Finally, my family moved up here to Pennsylvania, the coldest, dreariest town of them all. Of course, I have lived here for seven whole years (almost half of my life)! Perhaps earlier towns seem more idyllic to me because I saw them as only a child could. Still, I think that the cold winters have an effect on people's minds in Pennsylvania--many seem to be frozen shut. Not that I should talk....
I'm only 16, but I've already had so many experiences shape my life. But I won't bore you with those, too.
In case you think about visiting my town, I would suggest that you don't. There's really not to much to do if you like urban life, or fast-paced living. However, Clarion does have some excellent points. There are beautiful forests in the area, endless creeks and a small river, rolling hills covered with a rainbow of trees in the fall, pristine white snow-covered fields, and majestic Spruce trees. Although I may complain about Clarion, it really is a wonderful place to be, except for the dreary rain that is common throughout most of the year.
Well, I did say this page was about me, not Clarion. I'm a junior in high school, and (unbelievably?) I do enjoy it. Although courses go slowly in small towns, I have some excellent teachers that have taught me a lot. Also, what you learn depends on how much you teach yourself. Besides an opportunity to learn and better myself, school is a great time to hang out with friends. My friends and I often are told to be quieter in class (wonder why!), but we don't ever get in real trouble because we are good students.
My favorite "hobby" would have to be singing. I sing constantly! Go here to see some some of my favorite song lyrics
. Sometimes I feel bad for the people around me, but at least I know a lot of different songs. One of my best friends, Michelle, has a similar problem--she talks incessantly (on and on...). So you can imagine sleepovers with a bunch of friends--I sing, Michelle talks, Stephanie laughs, Marissa jokes, Kristy dances, Sasha says, "Aliens; Troll," etc... In a word, it's LOUD! Unfortunuately, Kristy moved to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, and we all miss her. Anyway, I sing whenever I get the chance. I'm in choir, and our showchoir, and teen choir at our church, etc.
My favorite time of the year is the summer. But I have more than the obvious reasons (no school, sunshine, and hang time) to justify that. Since 6th grade, I have gone to summer camp for a week every summer at Westminster Highlands Presbyterian Church camp. Last year, I went to CIT (counselor in training) camp to learn skills and knowledge preparing me to counsel there. I was able to volunteer as a CIT (which means I counseled along with a staff counselor in a cabin) for two weeks last summer. It was a blast! I mean, as a CIT (or counselor), you get to help kids have a great time, make friends, teach, and be a role model. Besides that, I made some great friends at camp, and grew closer to some people I already knew there. Also, camp is the most beautiful place in the world (well, just about anyway!). Westminster Highlands is by Emlenton, PA, and is 640 acres of forest, creek, and river. Of course, I never roughed it any more than hogans and huts. But canoeing is lots of fun, and you can go fun-bugging on the pond. There's a pool to swim, and fields and woods to play Capture the Flag and other games in. The forest is full of trails and natural landmarks. Chapel Rock is a huge rock (at least 70 feet tall) with bench pews uphill that we use as an outdoor cathedral. A neat place to camp out is down by a creek, by remains of Little Brown Cottage. Down there, you'll also find Birma Bridge, a rope bridge across the river. It's fun, but some people get scared when you bounce it! Also at Westminster are high and low ropes courses--I've been on both. These are a lot of fun. The low ropes courses emphasize teamwork to get through. The high ropes are more individual and partner things, although everyone still has to spot and belay. Let me tell you, being 40 feet up in the air and belaying down to the ground is a wonderfully unique feeling. But even better than the ropes course, in my opinion, is the zipline! It goes off of a 60 ft. high cliff into the forest. It is awesome to zip down that wire (wearing a harness, of course) and whoosh through the air. It's a little difficult to get yourself to jump off the cliff, especially backwards, but it's a lot of fun. Well, if you want to know more about camp activities, you'll just have to go there yourself! [mail: Westminster Highlands, R.D. #3, Box 338, Emlenton, Pa, 16373] [email: CAPNWP@aol.com]
Like just about everyone else, I have some favorite tv shows. However, I've been able to watch a lot less lately, especially from working on my webpage in addition to normal work. Now, I'm lucky if I catch a couple of my favorite shows a week, unless you count the local news during breakfast. My favorite show of all time is "I Love Lucy." That may seem strange, but Lucille Ball cracks me up. That silly comedy can always make me laugh--even though the show portrays women in a less than satisfactory light for the '90s. I have probably seen every episode, and most of them many times, over the years of my childhood. But no matter how many times I watch an episode, I never play close enough attention so that I get bored the next time. My other favorite shows from Nick-at-Nite are "Bewitched" and "Dick Van Dyke." Of the shows made today, I like to watch "Spin City" (Michael J. Fox), "Third Rock from the Sun" (John Lithgow), "Home Improvement", "Diagnosis Murder" (Dick Van Dyke), and "Dawson's Creek"(silly and shallow, but fun to watch sometimes). Not that I get to watch these a whole lot...
In addition, I'm a trekkie. Sorry if this offends you, but that's life. My dad and I watched the original Star Trek when I was very young; I started watching The Next Generation when I was in jr. highschool, and DS9 and Voyager in the past few years. But I have less time, and I never get to watch Star Trek anymore (I don't even know when it's on). Babylon 5 is also a good show, but a little darker than Star Trek. The Star Trek books are definitely worth reading--I've read maybe 15 of them myself. Both the episodes and original novels are good: I'd recommend Sarek (A.C. Crispin), Blaze of Glory (Simon Hawke), Imzadi, The Devil's Heart, etc.
I'm going to talk about my favorite books because I enjoy reading, and what a person reads tells you a lot about them. I'd recommend anything by Michael Crichton or John Grisham, and Robin Cook writes good medical thrillers. If you haven't read The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, or The Jungle (Sinclair Lewis), then you should!
Lately, I've been reading different sorts of books, partly for a change, and some because of English class. After all, science fiction is nice, but sometimes I feel like meatier or more challenging reading. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James is an excellent, but long and wordy, novel about Isabel, a young, free-spirited girl, and her struggle to surpass the accepted role of the nineteenth century woman by making something of herself with her ingenuity and zest for life. James also wrote The Turn of the Screw, and interesting ghost-story/psychological thriller. I did a term paper on that one. If you're looking for a Christian author, C.S. Lewis would be my immediate reccommendation. His The Screwtape Letters is a wonderful fictional novel that illustrates the struggle against evil in the world. This is shown through letters between a junior and senior devil--doesn't that sound strange! But the book is chock-full of insight and sound opinions. Also by Lewis is another novel, which I am reading now, called Till We Have Faces. So far, it's very good. An interesting criticism of slavery and society in general is told by Mark Twain's Huckelberry Finn. This philosophical book is in the guise of a children's story, but its sarcasm is cutting. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is another book by Twain in which he speculates, philosophies, and comments on society. This time, the setting is a modern man stuck back in medieval times. I find it very amusing. I just finished reading O Pioneers by Willa Cather--this is not a book I would read for sheer enjoyment. It is powerful, I suppose, but a bit to realistic and sad for my taste. However, it was a short book.
You may be wondering why the heck I decided to make this web page. Of course, it's fun, and a new challenge. Also, it's something to do, and it seems like everyone's getting one. In addition, I'm a Christian, and the internet is another way to share my beliefs, philosophy, and the gospel. But most of all, I suppose I am doing this for my benefit. After all, not that many people will visit my page. So, by writing out my opinions, etc., I myself see my own situation better. Sometimes you can't figure out, or aren't sure of, what you think and believe, and writing it out helps you to organize your thoughts. And mental organization is something I can always use!
Thank goodness (and God) that it's finally spring. I love sunny weather! It makes for beautiful nights, too. And there's nothing better (well, ok...) than a starry black sky when it's warm enough to appreciate it. Everything seems better when the sun shines.
Easter vacation is coming up, so my friends and I are going on a little shopping spree to a local outlet mall. We're so excited--it's our first big trip where we can drive. Michelle is driving the hour journey... Browsing with your girl buds is a great time, if frivolous. I can't wait.
Cars are very scary places. Want to read a story about it? Another time, I locked my keys in my car. Luckily, one window was rolled down a few inches. My friend Travis stuck his arm down and miraculously unlocked it. Now, he is my CAR HERO!
Well, I'm tired of writing for now. As you can see, I am long-winded. Thanks for visiting, and be sure to check out the rest of my page, and link to my friends' pages. Adios!
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