So after a busy, crazy month, I'm finally back!
It still hasn't really clicked that I've graduated. It hasn't quite set in that I might never see some of those classmates again or that I'm now old enough to date college-age guys. And that's partly my fault because ever since January, I've refused to think about it. Pondering such things really isn't a good thing for sentimental hearts; I would know. I still don't have senioritis because of that. People would announce that it was our last Friday ever and cheer while I would sulk. Those halls held tons and tons of memories and I didn't want to be torn from what was familiar and thrown into the big, unfamiliar world. But, I've since recovered some. Prayers and people have helped. I've been able to muster up some more courage to face the world--naivety, lack of cooking skills, and all--and know that, in reality, I won't be alone. I never have been. And the Dr. Suess quote used by our Valedictorian in his speech said it perfectly, "Don't be sad because its over; smile because it happened."
That's the goal for this post. To smile at what has happened and give a sort of tribute to everything that made it so great. In short, the hows and whats and whos of why I have that diploma.
1. AR Books. They got me in trouble in Chemistry class but oh how they helped! There were days when all I looked forward to (other than lunch) was that twenty minutes they gave us to read. Getting lost in fictional worlds has always been a hobby of mine.
2. Teachers! I've had the best of the best. English teachers that really show me how to do things on my own, Math teachers who come before school, at lunch, or a few minutes after to help me with my constant strugglings in that area. And the P.E. teacher who gave me the Oustanding Student award for trying.
3. Lockers. And friends who clean them out for your birthday. I've since become a little more organized.
4. Creative Dates. From the manquin in my car to the donuts in my locker and from mud-bogging to paint-ball with slingshots. Thanks guys :)
5. My parents. They will always be my lifeline. Whenever I've forgotten my homework, broke down in tears over the drop of a hat, or chatted on and on about my latest story idea they've always lovingly put up with me. I pretty much owe them everything.
6. My friends. Some have been close since kindergarten, others since this year, but all were needed! I've been lucky enough to have 'good' friends. Great friends. Ones that would never lead me to the dark corners, but only the places of light. Ones that were full of clean jokes and contagious laughter. Ones that knew me so well they brought and extra towel to girls camp, knowing I'd likely forget mine, and brought over a spotted cake when I had chicken-pox.
7. Peers. I've had the privlege to grow up in and LDS community which does wonders for the High School career. Peer pressure is positive in my class. I have a 4.0 GPA and still rank in 5th. Everyone is either an athelete, a musician, or both. Of course, all the drama seems to have flown over my head all these years but at least I don't have to put up with near the things I read in the New Era. It might come back to bite me later in the form of culture shock but for now, I love it!
8. Family. Immediate to the extended, I've constantly felt like I have my own personal cheer squad. Everyone thinks I've done such a good job at things but how could I not when I have support systems out the wazoo? No matter what it is, they're there in the audience. Or if they miss that, they're clapping me on the back Sunday night at Grandma's or when we go to Phoenix to visit. Even my ward family seems to be in on this. I've been given so much in this area I feel that if I don't do something, I'm going to be in trouble.
9. Siblings. Niclaas for years of Pokemon, Harry Potter, and keeping me in line and Seth for Phineas and Ferb, Teen Titans, and throwing me back out of line. I want to stuff them both in my suitcase.
10. The Gospel. One of the biggest parts of my life both literally and figuratively. Seminary, church meetings, mutual, callings, tear-filled lessons, leaders, teachers, scriptures, firesides, girl's camp, EFY, temple trips, youth speakers, General Conference--I think Heavenly Father knows how to deal with teenagers. Or at least this one. And I'm sure H knows how to deal with young adults too.
11. This blog. And all of you who read it and keep telling me to write it. It helps me put my life in perspective when things get confusing and reminds me that I'm not as bad off as I sometimes think.
12. Teacher's Aid Hours. A whole free class period to work on English and Precalculus assighnments after procrastinating! The senior's best friend.
13. Modeling Clay. I loved coming up with new things to display in the library. It kept my creative side going and even cheered me up on my rougher weeks when I'd giggle at my own ideas or people would compliment me in the hallway on the way to class.
14. Sleep. It works miracles.
15. Extra notebooks, both for when I forgot my original ones and for when I'd get ideas. I think every notebook I own holds excerpts from at least one story I've tried to write. Some have more. It's always fun to go back and look through, jumping between the adventures of Agent Trian Gull and the thoughts of air-elemental Airika.
16. Stake Dances. A good hunk of my social skills were formed there, as well as a good hunk of laughs.
17. My iPod. It's edges are now scraped and its surface scratched from years of driving class, sports trips, running, dancing when I'm supposed to be doing my make-up, mowing, and lots and lots of dropping.
18. My phone(s). The poor thing. I've missed so many calls and texts and even left one of them out in the rain. So I guess I really should be thanking my friends' patience level and my parents' budget here.
19. The little, orange pillow on my bed. There are now small mascara stains on it from having many a good cry. Looking back, I don't remember why I cried so it was probably over something of little importance, but I'm glad it was there.
20. Disney movies. I adore these things. If you think me watching them on the weekends is bad, you should've seen me at Disneyland.
21. "The Loop". My walking, running, venting, pondering, biking, daydreaming, family-home-evening, four-wheeling route.
22. My old bike that I rode through wind or snow until I got my car. Yes, I've since become wiser.
23. My art teacher who let me draw princesses and wizards instead of buildings and dogs.
24. Cold cereal. Breakfast of champions, lunch of the brain fried, and dinner of the exhausted.
25. My Buick!! It has gone through the thick and thin. The empty gas tank and the blown tire. Piling in cousins and hitting curbs. And the only revenge its ever given me is freezing its doors shut while I was inside.
I know there's more but you get the gist: the summary of my Highschool year. And I'm so sentimental its pathetic. But if it was hard for me to leave elementry and highschool I can only imagine what its going to be like for me in college. I'm sure I'll whole-heartedly embrace myself to that as well only to be pryed off again. It's alright though. I'll just keep on writing in my journal and smiling that it happened. :)
It still hasn't really clicked that I've graduated. It hasn't quite set in that I might never see some of those classmates again or that I'm now old enough to date college-age guys. And that's partly my fault because ever since January, I've refused to think about it. Pondering such things really isn't a good thing for sentimental hearts; I would know. I still don't have senioritis because of that. People would announce that it was our last Friday ever and cheer while I would sulk. Those halls held tons and tons of memories and I didn't want to be torn from what was familiar and thrown into the big, unfamiliar world. But, I've since recovered some. Prayers and people have helped. I've been able to muster up some more courage to face the world--naivety, lack of cooking skills, and all--and know that, in reality, I won't be alone. I never have been. And the Dr. Suess quote used by our Valedictorian in his speech said it perfectly, "Don't be sad because its over; smile because it happened."
That's the goal for this post. To smile at what has happened and give a sort of tribute to everything that made it so great. In short, the hows and whats and whos of why I have that diploma.
1. AR Books. They got me in trouble in Chemistry class but oh how they helped! There were days when all I looked forward to (other than lunch) was that twenty minutes they gave us to read. Getting lost in fictional worlds has always been a hobby of mine.
2. Teachers! I've had the best of the best. English teachers that really show me how to do things on my own, Math teachers who come before school, at lunch, or a few minutes after to help me with my constant strugglings in that area. And the P.E. teacher who gave me the Oustanding Student award for trying.
3. Lockers. And friends who clean them out for your birthday. I've since become a little more organized.
4. Creative Dates. From the manquin in my car to the donuts in my locker and from mud-bogging to paint-ball with slingshots. Thanks guys :)
5. My parents. They will always be my lifeline. Whenever I've forgotten my homework, broke down in tears over the drop of a hat, or chatted on and on about my latest story idea they've always lovingly put up with me. I pretty much owe them everything.
6. My friends. Some have been close since kindergarten, others since this year, but all were needed! I've been lucky enough to have 'good' friends. Great friends. Ones that would never lead me to the dark corners, but only the places of light. Ones that were full of clean jokes and contagious laughter. Ones that knew me so well they brought and extra towel to girls camp, knowing I'd likely forget mine, and brought over a spotted cake when I had chicken-pox.
7. Peers. I've had the privlege to grow up in and LDS community which does wonders for the High School career. Peer pressure is positive in my class. I have a 4.0 GPA and still rank in 5th. Everyone is either an athelete, a musician, or both. Of course, all the drama seems to have flown over my head all these years but at least I don't have to put up with near the things I read in the New Era. It might come back to bite me later in the form of culture shock but for now, I love it!
8. Family. Immediate to the extended, I've constantly felt like I have my own personal cheer squad. Everyone thinks I've done such a good job at things but how could I not when I have support systems out the wazoo? No matter what it is, they're there in the audience. Or if they miss that, they're clapping me on the back Sunday night at Grandma's or when we go to Phoenix to visit. Even my ward family seems to be in on this. I've been given so much in this area I feel that if I don't do something, I'm going to be in trouble.
9. Siblings. Niclaas for years of Pokemon, Harry Potter, and keeping me in line and Seth for Phineas and Ferb, Teen Titans, and throwing me back out of line. I want to stuff them both in my suitcase.
10. The Gospel. One of the biggest parts of my life both literally and figuratively. Seminary, church meetings, mutual, callings, tear-filled lessons, leaders, teachers, scriptures, firesides, girl's camp, EFY, temple trips, youth speakers, General Conference--I think Heavenly Father knows how to deal with teenagers. Or at least this one. And I'm sure H knows how to deal with young adults too.
11. This blog. And all of you who read it and keep telling me to write it. It helps me put my life in perspective when things get confusing and reminds me that I'm not as bad off as I sometimes think.
12. Teacher's Aid Hours. A whole free class period to work on English and Precalculus assighnments after procrastinating! The senior's best friend.
13. Modeling Clay. I loved coming up with new things to display in the library. It kept my creative side going and even cheered me up on my rougher weeks when I'd giggle at my own ideas or people would compliment me in the hallway on the way to class.
14. Sleep. It works miracles.
15. Extra notebooks, both for when I forgot my original ones and for when I'd get ideas. I think every notebook I own holds excerpts from at least one story I've tried to write. Some have more. It's always fun to go back and look through, jumping between the adventures of Agent Trian Gull and the thoughts of air-elemental Airika.
16. Stake Dances. A good hunk of my social skills were formed there, as well as a good hunk of laughs.
17. My iPod. It's edges are now scraped and its surface scratched from years of driving class, sports trips, running, dancing when I'm supposed to be doing my make-up, mowing, and lots and lots of dropping.
18. My phone(s). The poor thing. I've missed so many calls and texts and even left one of them out in the rain. So I guess I really should be thanking my friends' patience level and my parents' budget here.
19. The little, orange pillow on my bed. There are now small mascara stains on it from having many a good cry. Looking back, I don't remember why I cried so it was probably over something of little importance, but I'm glad it was there.
20. Disney movies. I adore these things. If you think me watching them on the weekends is bad, you should've seen me at Disneyland.
21. "The Loop". My walking, running, venting, pondering, biking, daydreaming, family-home-evening, four-wheeling route.
22. My old bike that I rode through wind or snow until I got my car. Yes, I've since become wiser.
23. My art teacher who let me draw princesses and wizards instead of buildings and dogs.
24. Cold cereal. Breakfast of champions, lunch of the brain fried, and dinner of the exhausted.
25. My Buick!! It has gone through the thick and thin. The empty gas tank and the blown tire. Piling in cousins and hitting curbs. And the only revenge its ever given me is freezing its doors shut while I was inside.
I know there's more but you get the gist: the summary of my Highschool year. And I'm so sentimental its pathetic. But if it was hard for me to leave elementry and highschool I can only imagine what its going to be like for me in college. I'm sure I'll whole-heartedly embrace myself to that as well only to be pryed off again. It's alright though. I'll just keep on writing in my journal and smiling that it happened. :)
