all the schools i went to + how they were like

sorry for being mia for almost a month. life's been crazy lately, but i'm back and ready to share more with you all.

i moved schools a lot, and while i'm not naming any of them, here's what each one was like and what i learned from being at those schools.

school 1:

this was my first school. it was small, cozy, and had that familiar vibe. it felt like everyone knew each other and the environment was super relaxed. 

what i remember:

• small classes, like around 20 kids.
• the halls weren't crowded, and it was easy to get around. 
• it felt easy to adjust to.
• teachers would literally ask about your pets.

school 2:

when i moved to this school, it was a big change. the school was huge, the hallways were packed, and it was so much to handle.

what i remember:

• you couldn't tell if the crowd was a fire drill or just regular switching classes.
• finding a lunch seat felt like a challenge.
• you would meet new people, even after months of being there.

school 3:

this was the one with the long school days, and i was there for two years. it felt like a marathon everyday.

what i remember:

• it was so tiring, but i met a friend named valentina there. while we aren't in contact anymore, it was a fun time while we lasted.
• the school day was 9 1/2 hours. every single day. early release was like a breath of air after being underwater for so long.
• the school felt big, but not overwhelming.
• most of the time, the building felt humid.

school 4: 

this school was the opposite of chill. it was high-pressure, tests every week, and i felt like eveyrone was constantly competing. 

what i remember:

• the stress of keeping up with everything was tough.
• the workload was insane.

school 5: 

school 5 was sketchy and poor. the building was kind of run down and some of the classrooms looked "tired." the area around the school felt unsafe, which made it feel uncomfortable. looking back, i was probably just paranoid. the school itself wasn't dangerous, but it still felt awkward. even though the school wasn't that strict, the whole vibe felt off. i was so relieved when i left.

what i remember: 

• the school building was old and run down
• some classrooms literally looked like they were falling apart.
• the area around the school was sketchy (i was probably paranoid)
• the playground had worn paint and equipment that looked outdated (though it probably wasn't)

school 6 (current school):

im at school 6, which is pretty strict compared to others, and the rules are a little set the school feels more intense than school 4, with more expectations for everything from grades to behavior. i don't have a lot of friends here, and i'm okay with that. 

if i could go back to any of these schools, i would pick school 3. even with the 9 ½ hour days, it was still my favorite because of the friends i met there, but for now i'm just getting used to it.

thanks for reading! 💕

explaining my first story (i gave it to leticia)

back in first grade, i became super interested in books. i loved reading them, and at some point, i decided i wanted to write one myself. so, i grabbed some papers from... somewhere (i don't remember), sat down, and started writing. my story was about a girl named zeynep, who was the new kid at school and trying to make friends. the plot wasn't anything crazy, but at the time, i was really proud of it because it was the first story i had ever written.

after i finished, i wanted it to feel like a real book, so i stapled the pages together. in my head, that made it official. then, i gave it to my neighbor leticia. i was kind of nervous because i didnt know if she'd actually like it or if she'd just take it and forget about it. but after she read it, she told me she liked it and that she was going to keep it somewhere in her room. i don't know where that "somewhere" was, but she sounded like she actually meant it, so i just went with it.

a year later, leticia moved away, and i never saw her again. but sometimes, i still think about that story and wonder if she kept it. like, is it still sitting in a random box somewhere. did she forget about it completely? no clue. 

a note to leticia: if you still have my story, let me know. i want to know if first-grade me was a literary genius or a nonsense writer.

50 girl names i like + their meanings

i've been thinking about girl names all week and i keep finding ones i really like. whether they're rare, have cool meanings, or just stand out, here are 50 of my favorites!

1. natalie

origin: latin

meaning: "born on christmas day"

2. diana

origin: latin

meaning: "divine, goddess of the moon"

3. amy

origin: latin & french

meaning: "beloved"

4. nohemi

origin: hebrew

meaning: "pleasant, delightful"

5. elaine

origin: french

meaning: "ray, sunbeam"

6. celine

origin: french & latin

meaning: "heavenly"

7. solette

origin: french

meaning: “sunlight, little sun”

8. renata

origin: latin

meaning: "rebirth, born again"

9. priscilla

origin: latin

meaning: "ancient, venerable" 

10. evangeline

origin: greek

meaning: "good news"

11. evalie

origin: french & american

meaning: "to breathe, to live"

12. maialen

origin: basque

meaning: "of Magdala, high tower"

13. ingrid

origin: scandinavian

meaning: "Ing's beauty, fair"

14. liliana

origin: latin

meaning: "lily"

15. mireille

origin: french

meaning: "to admire"

16. melisande

origin: old french & old high german

meaning: "strong in work, brave strength"

17. arabella

origin: latin & scottish

meaning: "beautiful"

18. aurelia 

origin: latin

meaning: "the golden one"

19. felicity

origin: latin

meaning: "happiness" or "good fortune"

20. ariadna 

origin: greek

meaning: "most holy" or "pure"

21. aimee

origin: french

meaning: "beloved"

22. vianey

origin: french

meaning: "alive, lively"

23. yesenia 

origin: spanish

meaning: "palm tree" or "flower"

24. mabel 

origin: latin

meaning: "lovable, dear"

25. bianca

origin: italian

meaning: "white"

26. rosalie

origin: french

meaning: "beautiful rose, rose garden"

27. marisol

origin: spanish

meaning: "sea and sun"

28. yoselin

origin: spanish

meaning: "little goth"

29. jocelyn

origin: french & german

meaning: "young, cheerful"

30. leticia 

origin: latin

meaning: "joy, gladness"

31. karly

origin: german

meaning: "free woman"

32. denise

origin: french & greek

meaning: "follower of Dionysius"

33. pilar 

origin: spanish

meaning: "pillar"

34. nayeli 

origin: native american

meaning: "i love you, open"

35. azalea

origin: greek

meaning: "dry"

36. chiara

origin: italian

meaning: "bright, clear"

37. violet

origin: english

meaning: "purple"

38. alina

origin: slavic

meaning: "noble and kind"

39. amparo

origin: spanish

meaning: protection

40. paloma

origin: spanish

meaning: "dove"

41. maritza

origin: spanish

meaning: "bitterness, beloved, wished-for child"

42. adriana

origin: latin

meaning: "from Hadria"

43. rocio 

origin: spanish

meaning: "dew"

44. chelsea

origin: english

meaning: "chalk landing place"

45. mireya

origin: spanish & latin

meaning: "admired, miraculous"

46. lissette 

origin: french & hebrew

meaning: "of Elizabeth"

47. angelica

origin: latin

meaning: "angel"

48. anahita

origin: persian

meaning: "immaculate, pure"

49. azucena

origin: spanish

meaning: "Madonna lily, white lily"

50. yazmin (my name)

origin: persian

meaning: "jasmine flower"

i hope one of these names become your new favorite! 

all about me

Hey, I’m Yazmin Santos. I decided to start this blog because… why not? Maybe I’ll write about random thoughts, cool things I come across, or just whatever’s on my mind. No set theme, no big plans, just me putting things out there.

Will this blog be consistent? Probably not. Will it be interesting? Hopefully. Either way, it exists now, so let’s see where it goes.