My Year in Photos

Self-Discovery

 This past year has really presented me with a lot of opportunities to discover who I really am as a person, and who I want to continue to be as I go out into the world. I've developed many new interests such as painting and films, and I'm really enjoying a lot more in life than just my old standby of music. I’ve also made up my own mind about a lot of issues and subjects related to family, their beliefs that stem from religion (and my dissent from those beliefs), as well as with myself. I’ve embraced my strong will and refusal to compromise what I believe and how I see things in order to placate my friends or family. I’m very content with the person that I’ve become, and I wouldn’t dream of changing myself at all.

Independence

I’ve also realized that I highly value my independence. That’s not to say that I won’t accept help from someone else, but I’ll accept it on my own terms. I’d rather get something done myself than have someone else come in and do half of the work for me. I’m ready to go out there and make my own way in the world. It’ll be tough but I’d rather do that than be utterly dependent upon other people for my entire life.

Friendship

 I’ve gained some amazing friends this year, and had some of the best times of my life. I wasn’t very optimistic about moving to Homedale last year, and I was a loner for the first year here. But now I’ve got a great group of people who I can hang with, and it makes me really happy. I also lost some friends, and distanced myself from people who made less than desirable company. It sucks to lose friends, sure, but I’m not going to keep people around who aren’t up to the standards of people I want to be close to.

Confidence

I am shy, and I am awkward around people most of the time. It’s no secret. A lot of people mistake that for me believing that I’m too good to socialize, when really I’m just an introvert. I’ve suffered through self-esteem issues, and depression, and it crippled how I dealt with people a lot. But this year I’ve managed to coax myself back out of the shell I’d created for myself. I don’t care what people think of me anymore, because people are going to judge me no matter what I do. I’ve come to terms with that. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me in the end, because I love myself.

No Time

 There has been no time for anything. Seriously, how did I manage to get anything done at all? There were so many things that I wanted to accomplish and now here I am in the homestretch of high school with very few of them actually finished. It’s a good thing I’ve got my entire life ahead of me, because apparently eighteen years isn’t enough time for much.

Fun

 Along with the new friends I’ve made, I’ve had tons of fun with them all. In years past I never got out much. I was content to sit in my room all day long throughout the summer months and just be alone. I still love my alone time, and there are days where I don’t talk to anyone and just spend my time off by myself. However, I’ve learned that going out and having fun with my friends is just as important and my own time to reflect upon things. Between going to the movies, dinner, and having Friday night get-togethers to watch Supernatural with my pals, it’s been a great year.

Family

Last but not least, my family. My last year at home before I move into my dorm at college has made me see how much I love them. Yes, even my obnoxious brother Dillon. They’ve done right by me, and my parents have raised me to be a wonderful person. I’m going to be a little sad when I leave for school because I won’t see them every single day (especially after next May when Dillon leaves to join the armed forces). I fully appreciate how important family is to me.