senior year: graduation

To end a week of nothing but smiles, surprises, and pure happiness, I walked across a stage in front hundreds of people to receive my diploma. 

And not only that, but I got to deliver a valedictory address that I am incredibly proud of...

To the bishop and superintendent

Priests, faculty, and staff,

Parents, family, and friends

And to my fellow graduates...

When asked to write this speech, I felt like I should leave you with something important, with words that matter and not just fluff thrown together the night before. In searching for meaning behind my words, I chose to share with you a few things I find to be true, in the hopes that maybe a piece of this will weigh upon your hearts.

(Growth.)

We have grown here. whether you’ve been a part of this journey since k-4 or junior year, we’ve grown together

In knowledge

In friendship

In maturity

As people.

We have aimed to get the grades, make the touchdowns, and score the winning goals. We’ve aimed to be better and work harder. And now it seems that our work here is finally complete.

(Outgrow.)

However, while all these things have gotten us to this point, they do not define us. What defines us is what we do after this point with our accomplishments in hand and the knowledge and support we have been given.

We have so much left to learn, and life has so much left to teach us; lessons that can’t be learned here.

It’s time to move on from this place with the memories we cherish and the love of the people we hold dear.

And I quote “I am the combined efforts of everyone I’ve ever known.”

It is in this way that we will continue to carry each other and our experiences along this journey of life. It is the only way we know how because these people are a part of who we are.

(Continued Growth.)

So as you continue to grow, remember to shed light on the people you meet. Leave them a little better than when you came. Be generous with your smiles, and remember that kindness costs you nothing.  

Truly, we’ve been given an opportunity, a gift to be whoever we want to be as long as we’re willing to fight for the life we want to live. Lives full of service. Love.  Determination. Hope. And the most genuine happiness.

I was recently asked the question, “What is the good life?” And I can’t answer that for everyone in this room, I can barely answer it for myself. But, if there’s one thing I can leave with you all, is to not shy away from the tough questions. Because usually, the answers to those questions are the ones that matter, and to seek out your good life whatever it may be.

To end I’d like to bring to mind a scripture.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 reads, “There is a time for everything,

   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,

   a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3     a time to kill and a time to heal,

   a time to tear down and a time to build,

4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,

   a time to mourn and a time to dance”

And this is our time, Class of 2017, the time where we figure out who we are beyond these hallways.

We must remember that life is short, something my dear friend Morgan Parker Jones knew all too well. It is too short not to take the lessons we have learned in high school with us as we enter into adulthood. It is too short not to take chances and to make mistakes.

We must do as much as we possibly can with the time we have been given. Don't long for the past. But look with hope and press forward towards the future.  

I believe that this change, this future, is not something to be feared. If anything, we should welcome it with open arms.

So it is with my arms outstretched that I say, congratulations my fellow graduates, we’ve survived high school. And the best is yet to come.

Thank you.

High school was a ride. A rollercoaster of sorts. It was full of ups and downs. Sharp turns and unexpected twists. But for the things it taught me and the person it helped me to become, it was worth every second.

WATCH MY SPEECH BY CLICKING HERE!

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last day of high school

Today's the day. Well, the almost day. It's my last day of high school. The day that means I've completed enough courses to earn a diploma, to participate in graduation.

I feel excited, relieved, exhilarated, shocked, and nostalgic. I'm in disbelief. I don't know how to feel, yet I feel everything all at once. I've been waiting for this day for so long. I've been killing myself to get to this point. And now, it's here.

I'm actually finished with high school. I basically have a diploma in my hand. And it doesn't feel real.

On my last day before winter break a few years back, I posted something on Facebook that my mom teased me about. It was right after my last semester exam. Math to be more specific. And I struggle with math.

The post was along the lines of "I'm finally free." Though, I'm sure a ton of emojis were throw in there too. But my point is that no matter what my mother said to tease me, I didn't regret the post, and I didn't take it down. Matter of fact, I couldn't stop smiling. Because it was true. I was free.

I AM FREE. 

Don't get me wrong, high school has been an experience. One that, despite my lack of sadness upon leaving, I didn't take for granted. I am grateful for what it has taught me. The things I've discovered in and out the classroom.

So today, I cleaned out my locker and closed it with one final slam. All I took with me was a single binder filled with blank looseleaf and countless memories.

There was a quote that hung in my locker. It reminded me to remember the journey that has gotten me to this point. Everything has led up to this. A day that I never thought would actually arrive.

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

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senior year: prom

Crowns, heels, after parties, and dancing. Masks, glitter, pictures, and poses. Prom twenty-seventeen didn't disappoint. I had a great time with the gals, and can say this was the best one yet!

My favorite photographs from the night...

 Someone once told me that Prom is for us, and graduation is for our parents. For some reason, I don't think this statement is 100% accurate. Prom may be where we have our fun, but graduation is what really counts. 

And the countdown begins...graduation here we come.

"Always wear your invisible crown." Lilly Pulitzer

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coming to a close: my senior quote

In the past couple of weeks, I was given the task of choosing my senior quote. This should be easy right? Pick a quote that you love, something meaningful, something you've always related with. The problem is I'm a somewhat of quote-aholic, if there ever were such a thing.


I had difficulty choosing one quote, so here are the runner-ups. They deserve some love.

1. "She believed she could, so she did."


2. "Some days there won't be a song in your heart, Sing anyway." Emory Austin


3. "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within." Maya Angelou 

4. "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller (Someone in the class ended up picking this one.)

5. "You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7


Ultimately, I went with...
"God is within her, she will not fall." Psalms 46:5

Because at the end of the day, my faith is the most important thing to me. And those are the words I cling to. These words keep me going. They bring me hope for the future.

I could have went with a funny quote, like a lot of my classmates did. Maybe that would have been easier, and honesty it probably wouldn't have been any less true.

But we all need something to hold on to, while we hold our breaths and wait for the future.

Here's mine.

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hello semester two: life update

When I say hello...I mean HELLLOOOO!! 

Because second semester of senior year is definitely hitting me. I'm trying to tell myself it's okay...only a few more months. But when days feel like weeks...(okay, I'm overexaggerating a little!) 

 You get the picture though, I'm really busy, and tired all the time. Between my course load, extracurriculars, and trying to hold on to the little free time I do have, I almost feel like a thin crust pizza (worst metaphor ever). 

Don't get me wrong I signed up for this stuff. I even dropped some clubs and a sport this year and I'm still on the brink of tears. 

 But this post isn't for you. It's for me. I'm gonna read this in weeks, months, years from now and remember what it was like being a senior in high school, being behind in online class, procrastinating until the night before a test, & arguing with my little sister over the most irrelevant things. So many things are happening. Good and bad. There are so many things rushing through my mind these days. Always on to the next thing. Always moving forward. Trying to keep up.

 I hope to post more often. I would LOVE to be able to post more often. I'm going to try to post as often as possible. Just typing this makes me feel like its been wayyyy to long.

This makes me happy. And it's important to do the things that make you happy. 

More to come...stay tuned.

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senior year: homecoming

In the spirit of senior memories and all... here's a homecoming week recap!

TUESDAY: famous people day

My class decided to make this dress up day simple and coordinate our outfits. We dressed up as the cast of Grey's Anatomy. I personally had never watched this show until last week, but, of course, a lot of people at school are obsessed with it. Now I'm binge watching it on Netflix, so I understand the hype.

Anyway, I was Dr. Maggie Pierce...





WEDNESDAY: farm day

So, yeah, these dress-up days have no rhyme or reason, but for farm day, I decided to paint a white shirt with black spots. I was going for a cow, but most people thought I was a dog. Oh well, both can be classified as farm animals...

(Photos lost)

THURSDAY: pep rally

Thursday night was the Homecoming pep rally in which the cheerleaders performed. Our performance (which went very well!) was followed by the Homecoming Court presentation and a slideshow that showcased the girls. All and all, it was a pretty good night plus the middle school team won their football game!

FRIDAY: homecoming game & dance

This is the night we have all been waiting for right? I mean the sparkling dresses of the court, the screaming fans, the after party that lasted for hours... Unfortunately, this isn't really how I remember it. However, the girls on court did look amazing, more fans showed up to the game than usual, and my after homecoming plans turned out well.

The main problem was that I had a massive headache during the football game, which made it extremely hard for me to keep up with calling out cheers, let alone knowing whether we were on offense or defense. Thankfully, my headache subsided by halftime, and I got to enjoy my bestie have her moment on the field!

And I can't forget to mention we won the football game 55-0! 

The dance was as to be expected of any high school dance. If you wanted it to be fun, you had to make it fun. The DJ or the decorations don't really matter, it's about who you are around and the if you're in the moment.

So, all in all, homecoming was good this year. It didn't surprise me, but it didn't disappoint. I'd say that's a win.

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senior year: the beginnings

It's a month into senior year, and there have been a lot of firsts.

The first day of senior year.
The first time I parked in the seniors' row of the parking lot.
The first senior party.
The first time I stepped foot in a Calculus class.
The first time I got to leave class five minutes early for break and lunch.
The first time someone asked me what college I was going to attend.
And the first time my actions were justified with the phase "because I'm a senior."

While there are many firsts, there are also many last.

My last first day of high school.
My last high school cheer camp.
My last opening game of football season.
My last time having long bus rides with the soccer team.
And there are so many more lasts to come.

While I'm the first one to say I'm ready to leave high school, I guess I'm saying all this to remind myself to cherish the moments while they are still here. I can't take life for granted.

People keep telling me I'll remember this year forever, and maybe I will. Despite my reservations to still being in high school, I have so much hope for this school year. And it is the vision of myself walking across the stage and receiving my diploma that keeps me going. The past four years of high school couldn't have all been for nothing.

My classmates are all pretty laid back. We squash our drama among ourselves, and generally keep to ourselves. We bicker with each other. We complain about each other. But at the end of the day, we take up for each other. The class is basically that dysfunctional family with people in it that you don't want to claim, but you know you have to.  I'm pretty sure we are the class that everyone wishes they were in, but doesn't want to admit it;)

This year I want to laugh, cry, hope, and dream.
I want to feel alive in a time where it's so easy to forget how fortunate we really are. I want to make memories-- the kinds that adults say you never forget. I want to learn, grow, and find myself even more than I already have. Because honestly I don't think we ever have it figured out, some people are just better at pretending they have. "Fake it 'til you make it." That's the motto, right.

Well we will see how the next 9 months go...
 

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