So college apps have finally ceased to take over my life. That's relaxing. Pretty good weight off my shoulders.

School...is. I'm still usually excited to do my homework when I get home, even if I do procrastinate for a couple of hours before starting. It's pretty fun. Except for the part where my Mentorship paper is about to start taking over my life.

I have an appreciation for the humanities again. It's a pity that it's taken this long for things to be this good in those classes. Or maybe junior year just seemed like forever and a day.

It's the new year, which I suppose means time for some random reflection. Seems appropriate for extremely late the night before school starts again, after I've napped for three hours in the car and don't feel like going to sleep.

Every year has its ups and downs, and this one was no exception. There were some scares, some trials, a bit of depression. But there were celebrations, too. In particular, one that I waited a year and a half for. The wait is horrible, but finally crossing the finish line is one of the best feelings in the world. I learned a few things from that:

1) No matter how much you want something, as soon as you get it, you'll want something more
2) This is incredibly cliche, but never EVER stop trying. It's in the moments when you want to turn around and give up that you learn how much you love something and need to cling to it dearly.
3) Some things in life are simply beyond your control. Try to explain it and fix it all you want, but let it go and move on.
4) Always believe in yourself. The next move on the board is yours. Take it confidently.

I survived junior year, got through college apps, learned how to fence...REALLY fence (for the millionth time), accomplished something meaningful with Photoshop, got some rants down on paper, figured out what art really is, picked up way more information about musical theatre than I can begin to digest, heard and read some truly inspirational stuff, rediscovered the comfort of friendship, managed to stay in touch with some friends who have moved far away, and hung out way more with my friends close to home than I ever would have thought.

It's been a wonderful year. The next one should bring even more excitement and joy and hopefully I will report a year from now as a student who's gotten through one full eighth of the college experience!