It's setting in

It's starting to set in that I'm senior. That so many of the people I have loved won't be in the halls of NFHS with me this year, so many of them won't be in this part of the state, so many won't even be in this state. It's all honesty starting to seem quite scary and saddening. In the past week I've said five goodbyes each worse than the last.

One friend has already been gone for a week an even came back this past weekend for Jazz Fest which like the past two years we spent mainly together.

Last Thursday I made my way out to an Anderson's ice cream place to say goodbye to three of my best friends who are a part of the eight, occasionally nine of us who do almost everything together since Presbyterian Youth Triennium. Saying goodbye to them made reality set in. I handed the twins Jamie & Ian their grad card and gave Mark his last present. Mark over this past year has been a life savor at so many points, I really don't know what I would have done without him. We didn't become close though until one late night (all-nighter) at a lock in last december. So I took the picture of us from that night and put a Weepie's quote uderneath.

We all hugged goodbye. I went on to the last night of marching band camp (which was a disaster) and they went home. I began to sob. The next day Mark moved into school and like I've always known even if we can only talk once a day we will stay good friends.

Monday night of this week I got together with two people I've recently grown very close with who are also leaving. We spent the night laughing, not to bad for a goodbye I believe. :)

School will just be different this year, I have no doubts about that. But I'm starting to get excited for the year ( even if my schedule is a mess). I'm pretty sure that's a good thing to feel with the year starting in six days. ;)

Day 1: How do you measure a year in the life?

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Moments so dear

.Five hundred twenty-five thousand

Six hundred minutes

How do you measure, measure a year?"

~RENT

As I rapidly approach the beginning of senior year I can already tell it's a year I want to document. The summer before has been nothing but chaos of love, loss, friendship, growing up, moving on, and finding peace with different things that have happened ( I'll explain more later.) School starts for me in 13 days. Just under two weeks. Two weeks until the last school year I have to call NFHS my home.

Some of what's keeping me busy this upcoming year is already starting. Last night was the first practice for Marching Band. As a Drum Major this year, it's my job as a student leader to well, lead the group. Destinee ( The other drum major and i) have to line everyone up, teach them the basics of marching and prepare them for next week when the upperclassman come in. Last night was truly exhausting but so worth it. The freshman were so nice to meet, they seem like good kids for the most part. Destinee I even matched for the practice although I forgot to take a picture of our attire.

My friends are slowly but surely heading off to college. The worst one has already left but as the week continues more leave that I know I will miss, especially during the periods of band. Jazz Ensemble will not be the same without everyone. I'm excited for them though as they head off to various locations, I know they will represent our school well and go on to do some incredible things.

I'm also busy with my figure skating as I'm training for Regionals which don't take place until mid October but are cause for major worry already at the rink. Along with training intensely, I'm trying to run the board for girls between the ages of 12-18 as we do fun things together and try to also do service projects for the community.

I've started filling out college applications. That just leaves me with more questions than answers when I start answering the questions and I put forth the time to research the answers to the last few questions I have. In all honesty, I'm getting scared. I always thought I wouldn't be.

There is so much going on. I don't want to miss it. I want to record it. For those who aren't exactly here maybe this will provide a good way to see what I'm up to. It's going to have it's ups and downs. It's going to be an adventure. It's going to be over before I know it. That's life though, isn't it?

“As you’re reading this, your life’s getting shorter. It’s ticking away. I’m not saying this to frighten you. Or even scare you. Though it may. I’m saying this to awaken you. To inspire you. To rise you out of your deep slumber. To really know you won’t live forever. To share your unique gifts. To ignite your great inner fire. To ignite your great inner strength. To ignite your great inner light. To shine. Brightly shine. To awaken your great inner beauty. To motivate. Yourself and others. To love. Yourself and others. To paint. To write. To teach. To innovate. To sing. To dance. To care. To feel. To listen. To learn. To laugh. The clock’s ticking. The world needs you. Make your move.” ~Mike Litman