Let's have a little recap of the past year, and put into perspective if this year was better than last year.
This was the list of things I wrote for myself on the third day of the year:
see the cab in concert, at least twice.
meet someone i'll never forget
exercise more
re-read Harry Potter multiple times
finish this year in college with at least a 3.4GPA.
beat the elite four in pokemon pearl and platinum and gold.
catch a legendary pokemon using only a pokeball.
be a happier person
This year started out at Redline, and then Redline ended. It was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. A frequently asked question as this winter season begins was "are you doing Redline again?" No, I'm not. This year has taught me a lot about myself. Firstly, that everyone at Redline had this special connection with music. The majority of people there at Redline enjoyed music way more than I will ever. They took music way more seriously than I will ever. Music to me is just a hobby, while to them, it seemed like their life. I'm not good enough to compete with the big boys anymore. I just don't have the drive in me anymore to continue playing music like I used to. This year, I put to rest the music part of my life. No more marimba's, no more xylophones, no more vibraphones. It's been buried since April, and I don't plan on exhuming it.
I survived my first year of college this year. I survived my first, and hopefully last worst roommate ever. I could go on and on, and bitch and moan about how horrible she was to me. But then I’d be just like her. Instead, I choose to think about what she taught me. She taught me how to be a good roommate, and how to accept people for who they are, even if we don’t get along. She taught me that the majority of humans judge without getting to know, including myself. She taught me how awful it feels when you put someone else below yourself, and to think of yourself as the queen of the universe. She taught me how to be a good friend, and how to not stick my nose up at every single thing that comes my way. Thank you, Alyssa Lynn Shuluga for everything you taught me. You were the worst roommate I have ever had, and I’ve learn so much from getting to know what you are.
When I finally managed to stand up for myself, I moved out of that awful Mac East 122. I moved in with a girl named Sara. This girl is by far, the happiest thing I have ever met in my entire life, and I owe a lot to her. The third floor of Mac East was a lot less cliquesque, and I am so very grateful for that. I met so many wonderful people, and actually for the first time, made friends in college. I do, however have to thank Jordan Chavez for sticking by me that entire year. I know we're not so very close, but I really really want to thank you for making it seem like I have one friend. I survived living in a dorm full of inconsiderate people though.
This summer, I met a group of the best people in the entire world. This job was completely life-changing. For the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to be accepted by a group of people for who you were, and what you weren't. I was so very lucky to get to know this group of people. King's Island will forever be one of the most memorable places I will ever remember. I rode my first rollercoaster this summer and I rode slingshot alone twice. I tackled the fears that were hiding in the back of my mind for years. I seriously cannot believe I did half the stuff I did this summer. It doesn't seem like it was actually myself who was accomplishing those things. For the first thing on my list, I accomplished it. I also managed to meet quite a few people I will never forget. I never got to really thank you. So, this is my undying gratitude to my Delirium crew. You sincerely turned my life around.
I made it to Drum Corp International semi-finals this year. It wasn't necessarily Finals, but I loved every moment of it. I got to see Ross play with the Cavaliers, and Bobbie with the Bluecoats. Even though I put to rest the playing part of music in my life, I will never lose the love of watching and listening to music.
I think I've figured out what I'm doing with the rest of my life. I am going to be a photographer, which is what I've always wanted to do in my life, I was just too scared to tell anyone. I was too scared to tell my mother who thinks I need to be an accountant because they make money. I am going to be a photographer, and I am going to be a damn good one at that.
"With recognition comes hate, the double-edged sword"
