Wow, it seems like forever since I’ve had the time and energy to sit down and write. But summer’s finally here, and I have the time. It’s wonderful to have a break again. This will definitely be the longest summer I’ve ever had, too.

I graduated May 30, and I couldn’t believe it. I had been waiting for that moment for so long, but it came around faster than I’d anticipated. I was the salutatorian and gave a speech (scary!), which was really neat. I honestly thought I’d break down afterward, but I was a little distracted and didn’t shed a tear. It all seemed so unreal, and the adrenaline kept me going. It still hasn’t sunk in totally, but I’m sure it will in a month or two.

In other news, I leave for college on September 20! I’ve been getting ready for the move (slowly, but surely) by buying things that I need and trying to get my room in semi-order. I go to orientation on July 17 and 18, which should be good. I’m really nervous about it, actually, but I know it’s better to get used to the campus and meet some people before making the move altogether. At least I’ll got to school knowing SOMEONE, and maybe I’ll even make some friends.

Otherwise, this summer I’m just relaxing. I’ve been hanging out with my friends a lot… it is, after all, our last real summer together. Actually, last night we just said goodbye to the first friend among many… our friend Annika, a foreign exchange student from Germany. She’s flying home today, and we’re really going to miss her. We all got really close this year.

It’s so hard saying goodbye. I’m terrible at it, too. I hate letting go, and I’m horrible at moving on. By the end of this summer, I’m sure I’ll cry for a week straight. Especially once I’m actually alone at UCSB, and I realize I’m not going to have all the familiar faces around to keep me company. I love these people. It’s going to be so hard to leave them, but I know it’s for the best. I know I’m going to meet new people who I love just as much. I know I need to leave home and grow up in a lot of senses. But it’s still hard. I’ll figure it out somehow, one day at a time.

Hey all, sorry I haven’t posted in a while… everything’s been so hectic that it’s just slipped my mind. I’ve had a LOT of stuff going on.

First of all, the Academic Decathlon team competed twice since I last wrote… we went to the regional competition at the beginning of February and took first place. I just got back last Monday from the state competition, at which we took second (not too shabby!). I also got an individual medal in Music and a medal for being the highest-scoring member of our team overall. And we won first in SuperQuiz! It was a great weekend. The competition was in Sacramento, and our team had SO much fun.

Swinging at the Ritz was on March 1, and it went really well. It was a lot of fun… the singing, the dancing, everything. And… I have a boyfriend now! Pretty exciting stuff.

I’ve started getting my college admissions letters in… so far I’ve been accepted to 3 out of 6 (UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO, and CSU Stanislaus). I’m still waiting on admission from the other three. UCSB will post their admissions on Monday; UCLA and UC Berkeley are waiting till the last minute and making me wait till the end of March… no fair. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be a Santa Barbara girl next year,though! I’m really happy about that. Like I said before, I went to the campus and LOVED it… I just felt so at home. I have a couple friends that graduated last year who are down there too, so that will be nice.

One last thing… I received my first scholarship so far! I was given the Violet Richardson award for outstanding community service ($500 for me and $500 for an organization of my choice). I was really happy to win that award. I’ve also been selected as a finalist for another scholarship I applied for, and am having a poem of mine published in an anthology.

Less than 50 days of school left, and counting…

I’ve been busy lately, but not in a bad way. Life is awesome. Even with all the responsibilities and stresses, I love it. I’ve been smiling constantly and enjoying every day… I really feel like I’m getting to know myself better and becoming more comfortable with who I am.

As I probably mentioned a couple of months ago, I started playing the guitar. I love it. Playing music and singing is such a release to me; it’s a great way for me to vent my emotions. I also started writing my own songs. I’ve written four full songs so far and a lot of little “pieces” of songs. I wrote my favorite a couple of days ago. It is stuck in my head all of the time now, and just thinking about it makes me happy. Soon I may try videotaping and posting a song or two, and eventually I would love to record a single in a studio.

Formal is coming up next weekend, and I actually have a date! Not really a love-interest-type date, more of a friend-type date, but I’m happy nonetheless. I asked him because I knew we would have a lot of fun, so I’m sure it will be a great time. I bought a red dress that I love ($25 at Ross!) and I’m looking for silver shoes to go with it. Yay!

I’m hanging in there with school. Even though I don’t always like the work or the early mornings, I have so much fun when I’m there. I have strong connections with so many people, and I love being around so many different personalities and opinions. I’m sure college will be even more amazing that way, and I’m looking forward to it!

College acceptance letters should start coming in by March, and I’m on the edge of my seat. Even though I have received letters from some colleges saying that if I apply, I will be accepted, I can’t help but be nervous. I want to be able to hold the paper in my hand and say I know where I’m going.

Oh, one more thing, I almost forgot! I finally got a chance to visit UC Santa Barbara over Christmas Break, and I loved it. I felt at home on the campus and in the community. I love the atmosphere, the location, everything. So, I guess I won’t be a Davis girl after all! I thought I had made up my mind, but obviously I hadn’t… I’m now 99% sure I’m going to Santa Barbara next year. I can’t wait!

Vacation’s over, and all too soon. It was great while it lasted, but, as always, it didn’t seem to last long! Now I’m back to school and all the stresses it brings. It’s the last semester of my senior year! I know I have so little time left, but sometimes it feels like too much.

I go to the local competition for Academic Decathlon on February 2 and the state competition from March 7-10. Honestly, I’m really burnt out at this point. I’m having trouble focusing and getting any work done… yes, I have the warning signs of “senioritis.” Hopefully I can outlast it, at least until I accomplish everything I need to at the end of this year.

The FAFSA is now open, and I want to get busy on it! Receiving grants from the state is my best bet for being able to afford college. I’m hoping that I will get quite a bit of help. I’m not counting on this money paying for my entire tuition, but I am hoping to be able to fully pay off my first year with financial aid and scholarships. I may have to take on a loan, but I really would like to be debt-free.

The intensity of my choir is picking up as well… we have one of our biggest performances, Swingin’ at the Ritz, coming up on March 1. It is my favorite performance of the year by far, and definitely the most classy and fun one. The theater is set up really nicely with individual tables, there is a considerable ticket price, there is amazing food, and the whole event is set up to be as enjoyable and professional as possible. After we perform, the local Columbia Kicks Band plays and everyone dances. I’m really looking forward to it.

Well, that’s all for now… I’ll keep you posted!

I am so glad it is Christmas Break. I badly need a vacation, and even though I’m sure this one won’t be nearly long enough, I’m grateful to have it at all. I have been so busy lately it is incredible.

The cardboard car race went well; it ended with my team getting 4th place and a lot of extra credit. I ended up with over 100% in Honors Physics for the first semester. Phew!

Academic Decathlon also kicked into gear… we ended up getting way behind at the last minute and trying to make up for all the time we had lost. With a new coach (who, by the way, took an unexpected “medical leave” with no actual injury/illness) the team is really struggling to come together. Finals week consisted of 3 1/2 to 4 minute prepared speeches and an announcement of the final 9-member team, which I am once again on! I don’t think we’ll pull off a first place title at state this year, but I hope we can at least place. No matter what happens, I know it will be a lot of fun and a great experience to look back on.

In other exciting news, three friends and I are starting a Sweet Adeline–in other words, a girls’ barbershop quartet. I am absolutely ecstatic. I’ve been trying to find people who were interested in starting one for a while now, and I finally did. It’s going to be so much fun. Hopefully, if we can get some pieces together in the next few months, we’ll be able to perform at Swingin’ at the Ritz, my favorite (and by far the classiest) event all year.

So… Christmas Break is here, and the first semester of my senior year is over. It’s almost 2008. It may sound cliche, but this year flew by, just like all the rest. Merry Christmas everyone!