KC's updates...no Dr. Hargrove, I'm not from Casey and the Sunshine Band

Hey guys,
It's been a while since I've posted. I've kept up on reading what everyone else writes, but I thought it's time I contribute a bit again. Well, for those of you who didn't read the detailed description on my personal blog, there was the first big fight at MacArthur the other day...and it was like six inches behind me. I dove out of the way and turned back around to see fists flying in every direction, tables being torn wrecklessly down, chairs being thrown at people. My friends and I went back to our table after it was finished and found blood on our books and food that we hadn't had time to grab. Some kid had left pretty beat up evidentally. That was a scary moment for me, a real piece of the real world. Other than that, nothing drastic has happened. I'm finding my classes are going to be difficult, and it'll be almost impossible to pass with straight A's this year. Chemistry and European History are both college classes, and are INCREDIBLY tough. Socially, I suppose I'm doing OK. I'm still getting to know people, but I feel uncomfortably out of place. It's like as a Christian I don't feel like I can enjoy the leisure of blending into my surroundings. I have to bear the burden different. I don't feel like I can participate in the fun, the laughs, and the jokes, most of which are based crudely on some pretty messed up stuff. But I haven't figured out how to "keep myself unspotted from the world" and have fun at the same time. So for now, it's pretty lonely. Everyone else is having a great time, and I'm just kind of off by myself being the "goody-goody" girl. I'm afraid it's frightfully difficult to be myself, much more challenging than at DCS, where I immidiately felt at home with Christians and friends. I don't know how to react to a world that's completely different from me, so I just keep quiet, keep to myself. That's not a healthy perspective, I know, and it's not good for my spirit to be all shut up like that. But I simply don't have any friends there, and it's such a struggle to make new ones in a public school of 1400. OK, enough whining from me. I'm trying to keep my chin up and maintain a positive and trusting perspective. I'm not sure I'm succeeding.
But anyway, I'm enjoying church a lot, where I find myself suddenly revived, even with the strange new group we've formed. Between that and e-mail, I'm surviving. So if you have a few spare minutes some time, jot me a note...it means the world to me right now! And Jordan, I'm still waiting to hear about school for you...call sometime.
Flashes of DCS memories still run through my mind at least one hundred times a day, and I can't stop thanking God for all of you. What a joyful year you brought to me last year...you're the best group ever. I would appreciate your prayers right now, and I'm praying for many of you right now too. Miss you greatly.
Casey