About Me

Hello! My name is Molly Northrup. Although I am not a stranger to the world of computers and technology, blogging is a new language for me. As I adventure into this new world of "blogging" I am sure that the mechanics of it will become decreasingly less foreign and more enjoyable. I am a student eager to learn, I have never been one to shy away from commitments (class courses) labeled as rigourous. I am greatly looking forward to this year's class due to the fact that school Literature and English subjects are not just classes to me, but chances to spend "mandatory" time at school participating in enjoyable discussion and beneficial learning that allows me to forget that I am, in reality, at school.

I believe in making education enjoyable. I have always been able to find some sort of humor or entertainment in any learning process, as a young girl who's mind works in a technical fashion, I enjoy mental stimulation. I think perhaps what I enjoy most in my english classes is the discussions that take place over controversial and heated subjects brought to light in our books or our learning. English is my passion, If I knew I was the type of person who could sit at a desk or a certain space for countless hours and stay focused, I would happily become a writer. I however believe that honesty is the best policy and would be lying to myself if I said that I knew I was capable of such a profession and hobby. For my senior year I have enrolled in multiple AP classes and I am very excited as I expect my year to be very rigorous but also very rewarding. I am the most excited about this class, and the least excited about my AP calculus class, I expect it will be very challenging, and many hours will be spent in tutoring and on studying, but I know at the end of the year I will be thankful that I pushed myself to take on such a class. Math as you may have noted is NOT my forte.

Outside of the time I spend in school and completeting school related activities, I have hobbies that I adore and spend most of my time on. My main passion is horseback riding, the specific type I compete and train in is English Show Jumping. I have been riding horses since the age of four. My mom introduced me to the world of horseback riding as early as possible because she had ridden horses her whole life. She was a team captain on the Tufts Equestrian Team and was a lead competitior at multiple national championships. She transfered to UC Davis in her mid twenties to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian and became the Team Captain of that equestrian team as well. Horseback riding is in my blood, and is the one element that my life completely revolves around. My first horse was bought by my mother when I was 6, she was a stunning paint quarter horse mare named Lena that had been winning in the west coast show circuit for numerous years. I still have the mare and she is sitting out fat and happy in the back pasture of our current property. Over the years I have acquired numerous show horses, none of which, fortunately, I have had to sell. I love each and every one of my horses, they are my bestfriends, some of which I even call my guardian angels, they are truly magnificent creatures that have changed my life in ways I can't describe. I am currently at a standstill with my horseback riding. I had been riding with a very well-renowned trainer in Calistoga at the barn Diamond Mountain Stables. Her sole purpose in my riding career was to help me get to young riders, which is the equestrian world equivalent of Junior Olympics. Unfortunately my trainer had a severe miscommunication with my mother and myself which lead us to no longer ride at Diamond Mountain Stables. My mother and I decided that the relationship between my trainer and I was no longer healthy or mutually beneficial and that it was time for a change. I am currently searching for a barn in which my trainer will share my love for riding, and want me to succeed as much as I want to succeed. I have never been a person to be selfish or walk away from a challenge, horseback riding is my passion and my life, and although I am aware there will always be bumps in the road, I look forward to the day when I find a trainer who not only adores horses, and the sport, but her riders as well. Even though I have endured many dissapointments in my riding, I will never lose my passion for it. When you jump over an obstacle on a horse, it's like you're flying. The fact that a 1500 pound animal can soar over a jump with such grace and stability, without wings, is truly fascinating to me. Horses are the closest things that humans can find to perfection. My ultimate dream would be to make it into Stanford, pursue computer science and engineering, and join the Stanford Equestrian Team.

One of my other passions is engineering and learning the mechanics of things. I share a strong love for cars and computers because both are such complex objects, that once you find the mechanics of them, are truly impressive. Since I was a very young girl I have enjoyed playing computer games and video games and actually helped my dad build my first computer at the age of 9. Even though math isn't my strong suit, dealing with formulas and basic mechanics is something I enjoy doing. I crave constant mental stimulation, and when one works with a computer or car, you learn that everything is connected in some way or another. The connection may be as small as two components that are connected by a single bolt, or so complex as that of an engine, or hard drive, where no one piece can function without the support of another. My family holds a long line of mechanics and engineers. I find pleasure in two main things when it comes to engineering, fixing a problem, and creating something completely original. Within the last year I have started computer programming. Programming is not only interesting to me, but rewarding. When I complete a program, or fix an error in a program that keeps it from running, I feel ecstatic.

This blog posting was designed to be a simple "about me" but as you can tell by the long paragraphs, and frequent ranting, I am still learning the "blogging" language. I greatly look forward to spending time in this year's AP Language and Composition class, and know it will be a wonderful experience!