MacKay Whalen, Norman North High School, Ballet:
My friends and I have been planning since we got here to go hiking. So, on Tuesday morning we were going to go on the sunrise hike, at 6 a.m. We set the alarm for 5:30, and when it went off I got up. I tried to wake up my roommates, but none of them would get up. Finally, I gave up. They were about to be waking up. Now my roomie Cassie says things like "If we skip dinner, we can go hiking!" The funny thing is, she is as serious as can be. Yesterday in class, we got about halfway done with our ballet for the performance. Flavio [Flavio Salazar, ballet instructor] also called me out to try the Pas de Deux with one of the guys, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get that part. Yesterday was a really good day, though. I got to hang out with my friends and enjoy the scenery here. It's so beautiful!
DJ Handy, Noble High School, Orchestra/Percussion:
Today, we [the orchestra] had to perform in front of the other OSAI students. We played the first movement of Scheherazade, and only one percussionist played. The director, Christian Knapp, wanted four or five people to try to conduct the orchestra. I agreed to be one of them. So, I get on the conductor's podium, and the piece is in two (two beats to a measure). Mr. Knapp gives me the baton and I try to take control. I conducted for a long time. Afterwards everyone clapped for me. Mr. Knapp said I "immediately started to create my own vocabulary." People have complimented me and told me that I looked like a bird, but apparently I did an amazing job. [Note: He was a natural! Everyone was very impressed.]
