Wow, oh, wow!  -It’s May already? As we draw closer to the end of this school year, and GRADUATION the more excited I get! I can’t wait to walk down that hill here at Ohio Hi-Point.  Convocation is just around the corner!  I can still remember my oldest sister Tara’s graduation/ convocation just like it was yesterday, and the feeling I had that one day this would be me, and that was back in 2004. My older brother Matt’s convocation was just a few years back in 2008, which made me that much closer and excited!
Everyone has told me since I started high school that the years would fly by, and I was like “yea right,” but now I realize that they were all right because it has really flown by! I can really say that I can’t wait to be out of school, but at the same time I know I will miss it. Everyone has also told me that I will miss high school and wish I still was in school, and I do not doubt them on this!
Hi-Point has given me so much, that when I look back on it now I am seriously wowed!  I have gained so many new friends that I probably would have never met if I hadn’t come. I was privileged enough to be a lead ambassador for both years, which has really helped improve my leadership skills. I was also one of the first groups of Hi-Point Journey bloggers, which has been a great experience! All of our readers get told first-hand how life is here at Hi-Point and that can really give you the inside scoop on what is happening and  what to be ready for and to look forward to! Mr. H. has really spoiled us with our FlipCams and digital cameras, and the luncheons at Bob Evans and Tumbleweed!  Not to mention our boost in popularity! Hah! I feel like everyone knows who I am, and I’m still meeting new people who seem to already know me, because they read my blogs! –So thank you!
I actually feel like I mean something to Hi-Point!  The staff here does their best to make your last two years great!  I would like to thank all of my teachers that had the privilege of having me in class and putting up with me! I’ll remember each of you forever!

Class at OHP is different than how classes were at Bellefontaine High School.  A lot of schools now are doing block scheduling which is like 90 minute periods! At OHP you have your lab for approximately 2 and ½ hours each day and our academics run 40 minutes long each class, and you take 3 academic classes each semester. My classes I started out in the beginning of the year I still am in, and that goes for most everyone unless they decide to switch out of a class for whatever reason. Class work is just as important as lab work because you have to pass everything in order to be able to attend Convocation at the end of your senior year!
In the class room, the work is a little bit different than my home school because we do a lot on our laptops! We gather research, study a subject, and create projects using our computers instead of textbooks. Some classes still have textbooks, but it’s rare that you are assigned a book and have to carry it with you everyday to class and home!
Everyone has access to this online management system called Angel, which all of our academic teachers post what we are doing in class, homework, quizzes, tests, etc., which is pretty sweet because if you’re absent you can log in at home or from whereever and see what you missed, do the work and submit it to be graded. It’s an easy way to see what you missed while you were absent from class if you’re gone with your lab on a field trip or if you are privileged enough to be a lead ambassador  and are gone with Miss Spain.
Academics are important at OHP,too!! We are awarded honor roll and merit roll just like home schools do, and Hi-Point has incentive days for perfect attendance. This year we went bowling and had a movie shown in a room off of the cafeteria on a big screen with snacks and refreshments!  Not to mention if you keep your grades up and have perfect attendance you can receive your laptop for free at the end of your senior year so you can use it for college! Teachers at OHP do care about whether you are understanding the material and there is also a class called intervention where you can go for extra help, a quiet study, or be assigned to if you have missing work! The teachers in intervention are there to help you, and you’re not sent there for punishment, it’s because your teacher wants you to get your grades up so you can pass their class!

Editor’s Note: This week, we are allowing some of our bloggers to “Sound Off” about what they don’t like about OHP.  Ohio Hi-Point, like any other school, is not perfect (I know, hard to believe!).  And we want to paint an honest picture about life in our high school.  So we asked some bloggers to share their dislikes!

As most of you know, I love OHP, but, with everything else in the world there are things that I don’t like about it as well…

I really can’t stand the hair color policy!!! – I mean I understand that for some labs it is “not professional,” however, for labs such as Cosmetology and Printing & Graphics, which are both labs that you would use creativity in everyday, why should we be limited in expressing our individualities to everyone !? And another reason teachers are against the hair colors such as hot pink, purple, green, blue etc. is because it is distracting, but I don’t understand how? And people should respect the way others express themselves to the world and not hate on it so darn much!

I also can’t stand the facial piercing policy, I understand that we should not have an overwhelming amount of metal in our beautiful faces. However, a nose ring? That is sooo common now-a-days and many business people have them! I think it should be based on the lab, and “professional appearance” for that lab should determine whether or not the student can have it or not!
Many would say that this would be unfair to those students who wish to have the piercings and can’t and those who are allowed, but it all boils down to how much you want your future to shine and go on with your life and the rules no matter how much you hate them! Because there are rules everywhere!

All in all, when I look at it in a different light, I see that these little things aren’t that BIG of a deal and have not hindered my mad love for this school!!! OHP has given me so many more opportunities.  Even some private schools are way less giving to their students and could care less whether they succeed or fail…. And I know OHP has my back!

HELLO OUT THERE!!!!! Hahaha! It’s been awhile since I last blogged, and for that I apologize! Senior year is full and jam-packed full of all these things that we have to get done! But I made a promise to you all to keep you updated, and I am going to stick to it!!!

It’s really hard to believe that it is almost March already!!!! Time really does fly, and before I know it, it will be graduation time and then I’ll set off to start my career and the rest of my life! I’m really excited to be on my own, but I’m just as scared as everyone else would be!

In lab we are getting prepped for skills competition! We have to do a haircut, wet style with rollers pin curls and finger waves, and after lunch we will comb them out and style! All that we do is going to be judged by a panel of licensed cosmetologists! All us are going to be a number to the judges so it is fair and they know no names! It’s going to be a crazy day working hard in the lab all day long besides our lunch break! The winner of the competition will go on to regionals!

Sometimes I feel like a Funambulist (in other words that means a tightrope walker because I walk a thin line!)

Sometimes I feel like I’m juggling a million things at once, with lab work, school work, home work, family/ social life, and finding a job!

Sometimes I feel like a Lion Tamer, being in a lab with all girls!

Sometimes I feel like Bearded Lady, because I’m the one with facial hair!! (LOL)

Sometimes I feel like Trapeze Artist swinging swiftly through the air, because I’m always running here, there and everywhere.

Sometimes I feel like the circus clown, when I do my hair crazy, and I’m in a goofy silly mood!

Sometimes I feel like the Ring Leader, because I am a good leader and can take charge!

And last but not least…

Sometimes I feel like a person in the crowd, watching and enjoying the show!

I once had plans to go to college, but then came the recession! I feel that since I graduate with my license in cosmetology, and since it’s basically what I want to do for the rest of my life, I’m going to pursue that first! I want to move around a lot and see the world! My dream is to live many places making my living doing hair on-stage and off! I want to get a taste of everything! Maybe someday when our government money situation gets a little better, I’ll go back to school for massage.  I just feel that I should take advantage of what Hi-Point has given me and start working ASAP! Jobs are tough to come by now-a-days, and I know that I have a job waiting on me now at Trade Winds Day Spa here in Bellefontaine. Jackie Smith (owner) is a great woman and has already taught me a lot just while I go visit mom at work. Also my dad just moved to Mississippi because he was having trouble finding a HVAC job around here. He got a job in the Hard Rock Casino! He says it’s really sweet, and that they have a day spa in the casino that has my name all over it! Moving to Mississippi wasn’t on my agenda, BUT IT IS NOW!!!

I’m sure that no matter where I go in life, I will always come back home and remember what school gave me this GREAT opportunity! THANK YOU HI-POINT!!!!

My parents were happy with my decision to come to OHP! My mom was so excited that I was following in the footsteps of other family members! My dad was happy if it was what I wanted to do. My mom came here and took the Cosmetology program as well and has loved the industry since. I believe all of my parents are really happy that they will end up paying only about 1/3 of the price for the same schooling I would get at a private school after high school to become a cosmetologist! Beyond my parents, Hi-Point is a family tradition, and I’m just glad that COSMETOLOGY is a lab here, giving me such a huge advancement into my future! In other words, we are all happy with my decision to attend!

First of all, the thought of being a senior isn’t as precious until someone else reminds you! When someone says, “Hey, you’re a senior!,” you get that reminder, and it is AMAZING!!!

* I start out my day in my Cosmetology lab with Mrs. Harlan as my instructor. We have lab from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM then we switch with the juniors for our turn in the classroom for our ” related” – bookwork!!!

* After related we have lunch. Even though most labs do not, we tend to push tables together so we can all sit together! We can’t help that we are such a tight knit class!! lol

* 7th period starts my academic classes! (: I have government with Mr. Lang, which is not my favorite subject, but I think it’s important to learn before I am voting and trying to choose who is right to vote for President of the U.S.A.!!! Mr. Lang seems to be a pretty nice and cool guy, so I foresee a great year!

* 8th period is current world issues with Mrs. Loy!!!  This class isn’t a piece of cake, and I think I like that most! Learning about the world today, how we got to where we are now, and what measures it’s taking to pick ourselves up and carry our bodies through the “storm” of today’s everyday living. Not that the world is all bad, but there are just a lot of things we need to be more aware of and different measures that need to be taken in order to make sure things go as smooth as possible. HEALTH CARE IS A HUGE ISSUE!!!!!!!

* Last but not least, 9th period – English 12 with Mr. Gilbert. English is and has always been one of my favorite subjects… we went through our 17 steps in power writing and read Beowulf. We are about to start comparing Beowulf to other epic heroes in other readings.

Besides my classes, I continue to meet new people here at Hi-Point! Being that I am the only guy in Cosmetology, many know who I am, but I have no clue who they are before I meet them. But I guess it’s good to know that people know who I am!!! WOOT WOOT!

We received our Flip Cams for our blogging; meaning not only pictures, but also videos!! yee-haa!

I go on my first trip for lead ambassadors for this year tomorrow, 9/24, to Ridgemont. I am excited! And I hope to get pictures to show you! And I continue to look forward to keeping you up-to-date regarding “my journey,” so I hope you keep reading!!!

A little about me:

My name is Michael, but I’ve went by MYCOLE since middle school.

I strongly believe in being different and making my mark on the world.

It takes creativity, hard work,  BIG DREAMS and goals to achieve great things;

And I plan to do all I can to SUCCEED!

I am currently 17 but my 18^th birthday is November 12^th!!!

I am in my SENIOR year of Cosmetology!!!

I try my hardest to keep up with my grades and other school related activities.

Along with being a Student Blogger, this is also my second year as a Lead Ambassador!

Hi-Point is a great place to support, because it has so many benefits for all students that attend.

I enjoy making new friends, and Hi-Point had my back on that!

Coming to Hi-Point can be a BIG step for a lot of people, because everyone can get some kind of time off from their college career and or get their license (LIKE ME!!!) before Convocation!

I am really looking forward to this school year to complete one of the greatest and most memorable years of everyone’s lives; SEN10R YEAR!!!!