Graduation

So as I'm typing this up, I'm officially a high school graduate. Obviously my blog is not so much lifestyle, but I couldn't help throwing up this little post (mainly to have for myself later on). I just had my graduation ceremony and am now sitting in bed going through all of the pictures, liking all of my classmates pictures/statuses on Facebook, and retweeting all of the sappy tweets on Twitter. It's so weird to think that in September of 2009 I went into high school with only one friend from my previous school, and how much everything has changed.

I've drifted away from a lot of friends who were everything 4 years ago, when I was 14 years old. That being said, I've grown so much closer to a few old friends and made so many more amazing, new friends from my amazing high school. Words can't even describe how much they all mean to me and even though I have so much more coming up in college, I hope I at least remain in touch with them. This is a huge deal and going off to university seems so scary right now. I keep going through the phases of excitement and then nervousness. I can't seem to decide on one emotion! 

I know that in the grand scheme of things, high school is a mere four years of your life. People always say that you don't want to peak in high school, that there is so much more to come, but I'd like to think that it will always have a very special place in my heart. My graduation means the end of everything I've known. It's the end of a life at home with my parents, more independence, and the real start to creating my own life. It's so weird to even think about! Even though I hopefully don't think I've peaked in high school, I think I've had a pretty great time. I wouldn't change my school or my classmates for the world, even the ones who I wasn't close to. I've had the privilege to meet so many amazingly talented people who I don't think I'll ever be able to forget. It's weird to think that I may not even see every single one ever again. 

I obviously won't go into specifics, but I've met some pretty amazing people at this school. I don't think I could have asked for a more perfect group of friends. Along with that, I don't know quite how it's going to be without my family by my side 24/7 next year. I've got the best two little sisters a girl could ask for along with the most loving parents and best grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Just thinking about it makes me nervous, but excited because I want to do them proud, as most people do. 

I can't help but throw in a cliche: high school really did fly by. I remember at the beginning of this year, my homeroom teacher stood up in front of the class and looked at us all sternly to say that the year was going to go by in the blink of an eye and before we knew it, we'd all be getting ready for graduation with her. At the time, we all burst out laughing. Now, I completely understand. It seemed so overwhelming: all of my AP classes, the whole entire college process just beginning, etc. But, I was able to handle it. I shed so many tears this year, that I have to admit. Whether it was from pure stress and exhaustion, a bad test grade, a busy week, or sickness. There were times I felt so miserable and overwhelmed it was crazy. In the end, even though those days or weeks felt horrible and as if I'd never make it through, I always did. And the good truly outweighed the bad. I went on vacations this year, I was accepted into amazing colleges, I became closer to my friends and even made some more, and have so many memories I hope to never forget. I only wish I had realized this fact sooner and maybe payed more attention. I wish I took some more pictures and jumped at more opportunities. All in all, I made my experience the best I could have ever imagined and I wouldn't have changed all that much. 

I guess I'm just a big mess of emotions right now, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope this wasn't too annoying to read, especially if you made it all the way down to the end. I'll have a new post up in a few days. Thanks for reading and taking this peak into my life!