seventeen things i learned at seventeen

I'm 18! Can you believe it? Haha neither can I. While it's only a fraction of some people's life, I feel like it's a big mile stone. Because honestly, it is!

I mean, I'm kind of an adult now....

Anyway, while I still have a lot to learn, here are some of the things that I either learned or had a "gentle" reminder of this year.

1. Speak positivity. 
If you speak positive things into the world, positive things will happen to you in return. If you want something to happen, say it out loud, scream it from the roof tops. Set goals, believe in them, then make them happen.

2. It's okay to step out of your comfort zone.
Actually, it's encouraged.

3. Learn to be a social butterfly.
It helps in life, especially when meeting new people. Be the first to say hello. I usually tell myself, "Channel your inner Metri."

4. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
I'd rather feel stupid asking a question than look stupid doing things wrong.

5. Stress less.
You can make it through anything. Just try to enjoy the ride. There will be more good days than bad. Remember, "God is within her, she will not fall."

6. Workout more, nap less.
I don' think this one needs any explanation.

7. You have to be self-motivated.
No one is going to hold your hand through life. You have to know what you want and do what it takes to get it.

8. Decide to make everyday a great day.
Don't let other people's moods and crap affect you. If you want to smile, smile. Do things for yourself, I don't mean be selfish. But keep your best interest in mind always, because at the end of the day, you're only responsible for your own happiness not others'.

9. Treat yourself (every once in a while).
Whether it's sleeping ten minutes extra in the morning, buying yourself a new dress, or going out to Mexican (my favorite), you deserve it! Fill life up with the things that make you happy. Don't spend all your time doing schoolwork. It'll still be there when you finish, just don't miss any deadlines!

10. Don't skip out on washing your face before bed.
This is a must! And this goes hand in hand with not waiting until you're on your last uniform shirt to wash your dirty clothes. Don't judge... we all have our lazy days.

11. Your planner is your best friend.
I definitely need to keep this one in mind. But generally besides filling out my planner, I make a lot of to-do lists and other random notes. This keeps my brain from getting cluttered.

12. It cost zero cents to be a kind person.
Just remember to be nice to people, okay? Okay.

13. Keep your faith close to your heart.
It's the best way to live. And you never know when you'll need it most.

14. Productivity is the key to life.
Stop being lazy! Everyday is a chance to get one step closer to any goal. Don't waste it. You feel so much better when you've had a productive day.

15. Write more.
A worthwhile hobby, I know. But hey, to each their own, right?

16. Enjoy the now.
The moment will fade, and the memories are simply the next best thing, so enjoy each and every day. Don't sleepwalk through life. Live a life that makes you feel something.

17. You still have a lot to learn, my friend.
Just try to learn something new everyday. And remember to stay open-minded.

If you read this all the way through, thank you so much! I'm so blessed to see another year, and I frequently remind myself not to take anything for granted.

I wonder what this next year of my life will bring?

Whatever it is, I'll cherish the memories, live in the moment, and look forward to the future.

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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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stressed, and well... stressed

What actually is stress? I mean honestly.

Is it the feeling of a weigh on your shoulders? A drowning feeling, like you're gasping for air? A mess of commitments and responsibilities? A warning before you explode?

Or is the answer simply all of the above?

Well, this post is for all the people who get it. The ones who know stress all too well, and the ones who are just beginning to encounter it. Maybe, it's even for the ones who haven't yet... because you'll need all the help you can get.

It's something we all have to deal with sooner or later. Later is preferable. But we all know that life doesn't care about our preferences.

This post is a makeshift response to a post by Danielle Marie Carolan titled "Stressed, But Well Dressed." And ya'll, this girl gets me! She knows my struggle...haha. And if a high school senior all the way in Florida can relate, there must be much more reliability to this topic. 

No, but really if I didn't believe it when they said Senior Year is no joke, I believe it now (which I feel like I've said a hundred times, but it genuinely keep smacking me in the face). And of course, I'm one of those people who brings these extra commitments upon myself. But, this semester has been like no other! Especially this past week because our school play (Into the Woods) opened this weekend, talk about a time commitment.

But I'm not complaining... I'll throw in a positive twist momentarily;)

School is a lot in itself, but adding extracurriculars on top of that can sometimes seem impossible. But hey, that's life! It's all about balance.

There will be plenty of tough times, you just have to be tougher. No wait, you are tougher, as Danielle would say.

One things for sure though, while I understand the stress part, where does the well dressed part come in, because I dress like a hobo half the time. I guess I'll have to work on that!

Which brings me to my next point. I want to start adding some different lifestyle elements to this platform. Change is coming!! So definitely, definitely, stay tuned.

Now, what I can't understand is why I'm still awake at 11PM typing up this post when I have tons of homework left to finish.... I guess I should add procrastination to the list of things I haven't quite mastered. Oh well, everything comes with time.

"Sometimes you need those bad days to help you appreciate the good ones."

Danielle's Post: "Stressed, But Well Dressed" 

Check her out. I really love her content!

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why not?

Why do I have to try so hard?

Why is there so much to do?

What am I doing all of this for?

These are the everyday questions that plague our minds constantly, and with senior year in full swing, I'd be lying if I said these things haven't come to my mind once or twice.

But if you think about it, there are so many more reasons why you should try than why you shouldn't.

Why not take the harder class?
Why not go the extra mile?

Honestly, what do you have to lose?

Why not fly when you have wings?
Why not jump, if you know someone will catch you if you fall?

Why not ask until you get a yes?

Why not swim if you can see the shore?

But what if there's not a parachute or a safety net?

What if no one's there to catch you?? So what?

What is life without a little risk?

What is anything worth if you didn't work hard for it?

Take a chance, sing in the rain.
Life’s too short to play it safe.
Life won't wait for you to catch up.

So... RUN!

Take the leap of faith, climb the mountain, and reach for the stars.

Never say never. And never give in.

Always dream bigger. Worker harder. Want it more. Be better.

Your light is as bright as you make it.

Why not blind them?


"The happiest people do not have the best of everything. They make the best of everything they have."

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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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twenty sixteen recap

I made really great memories last year.

I met some amazing people.

I made some amazing friends.

And I did some amazing things.

I went to prom (twice).

I played guitar on a stage.

I won a talent competition.

I coached a girls soccer team.

I laughed on the steps of the U. S. Capitol.

I saw the Phantom of the Opera at the Kennedy Center.

I went to a professional baseball game.

I sang constantly that "I'm almost there."

I overused the phrase "like a dog."

I experienced the craziest penalty shot out of SJS soccer history.  
I cheered our boys on to the third round of playoffs.
I screamed UCA! UCA! at the top of my lungs.
I greeted a room with "HI HOBY."
I learned that sometimes it's okay to be P-E- to the T-T-Y.
I took naps on the softest dorm room bed ever.
I pretended I was a college freshman all July.
I followed the craziest U. S. election of all time.
I danced to juju on that beat.

I slept in.

I stayed up late.

I binge watched "Are You the One?"

I cheered in the rain.
I overate on holidays.

I wore a pumpkin shirt on Halloween.

I sang carols on Christmas Eve.

I grew in my faith.

I decided to become a Rebel.

I started a blog.

Time is precious. Time is not guaranteed  or promised.

These memories are priceless.
These memories are mine.

Goodbye 2016, you've been good to me.

2017, you've got a lot to live up to.

I'm unbelievably excited for what you have in store.

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oh, so very thankful

November is coming to a close. Matter of fact, this year is coming to a close. It's usually this time of year that people look back on the things they've done, regret the things they didn't do, and make plans for the year to come. We vow to be better, do more, and live fully. Because "where has the time gone!"

Spring. Summer. Autumn. They have all come and gone, and despite the twinge of sorry we feel for the passing days, or about getting older, we are still excited because we hope there is more to come. We are grateful for what we have and who we are. We are always looking ahead.

Grateful, grateful, grateful. Really, I'm trying to say that we shouldn't rely on the holidays, the turkey and the dressing, the constantly ticking clock, or the man in the big red suit to remind us to be grateful for all the things that God has blessed us with. We shouldn't wait until the end of the year to look back and remember the good times.

We should always remember the good. We should always strive for better. We should never take for granted what we have or what's in front of us.    

Always be thankful, thankful, thankful.

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