I Did It!

Hey guys!! I did it!! I GRADUATED!!!!!! 

First of all, I just want to say thank you to my mom who has been my best friend since day one. We've had our differences. We have had our issues and our fights, but in the end, you're always the one pulling me closer when I'm kicking at you to get away. Without your unconditional love, I would never have made it this far. 

Reflection time!! 

As you guys know, I have not had the best time in school. Friends weren't my thing, grades weren't either...basically I was just bad at school.

Kinda. 

I had to work a lot harder than most kids. I felt isolated and alone for most of my school career, but this is not a sad story. This is a story of victory. So lets start at the beginning and recount all the good memories. Here's to you, School, and all the lessons you taught me without even knowing it. 

In the first grade, I got 100% on almost all of my spelling tests. I'd come home from school, walking hand in hand with my big sister, knowing that my mom and brother probably had apple fritters waiting for us when we got there. 

In the second grade, I met Amy, who turned out to be one of my best friends. We fell apart for a while, but then this year on the cheer team, we had a lot of laughs together, and second grade really just started an amazing friendship. I still remember convincing our moms to drive us to each-others house at 6 AM. Still not sure how we pulled that off. 

In the third grade, I remember learning how to crack my first egg, and my mom let me crack eggs after that. I also got glasses, which I loved to death, and had a really sparkly pair of converse, and honestly, what makes life better than sparkly shoes? Nothing. Except Jesus, of course. 

In the fourth grade, Amy and I did the talent show to a song for the newest Hannah Montana movie. hoe-down throw down. We laughed together a lot. Mrs. Findly was an amazing teacher, if you read my blog, thank you. You were amazing. I can't express the impact you truly had on my life. 

FIFTH GRADE. I caught my passion for writing. I remember having to write essays and short stories and book reports and state testing and poetry competitions. I always just wanted to push. To read more, be better. Expand my vocabulary. Mrs Fisher really pushed me in the direction of personal growth as well. Mrs. Fisher believed in me, a ton. She promoted my writing, encouraged me, and helped me feel like in a class of people who isolated me, she was my friend. Mrs Fisher, you have been one of my absolute favorite teachers, ever. you taught me so much. Thank you. 

Sixth grade was a year of discovery. I met another two friends of mine, Lucy and Nodya. We were like, instant besties. Sorta. The start of the friendship Lucy and I had with Nodya is funny, but not instant best friends, lol. That was a good friend year. 

Seventh grade. Did not do so well in school. BUT. I did get to see my best friend from Russia, and I mean best friend. We've been friends since like, third grade? I also got a horse. Rachel and I fought over whos horse was taller and faster. Lots of races. I got to see her every day. It was also a good friend year. 

Eight grade, my family took a trip to Montana. It was so cool. We all got in the yellow truck with a camp trailer and the dog and just drove. We went through Utah and Montana and we saw yellow stone and Jackson Hole and so many places that I don't even remember. I do remember Jacob, Madison, and I all laughing in the back seat, I remember stopping at the state lines and getting pictures as the asphalt changed color. 

My ninth grade year, I met Mr. Pace, who became a hugely motivational part of my high school career. I would like to apologize to Mr. Pace right now, because I know that I wasn't the best student, but you really inspired me. You were always a happy face. I know I must have been difficult to watch self-sabotage. Walking into your class every day was difficult, because I knew I wouldn't have homework to turn in, but you were so passionate about what you were teaching, and so positive and supportive. 

My sophomore year was hands-down, the hardest year I have had thus far. Yet I learned so much. I learned about pushing through hard times, I learned about strength, I learned about who I was, learned where my boundaries were. I was stripped to the core, and that let Jesus get a hold of me. I got baptized that summer. I let grace come in and change me, radically. 

My junior year, I was getting the hang of letting God be in control of my life, and learned to be okay with changing schools, which turned out to be such a blessing. I met Maria and found home in a school, when I had been so used to being cast out. 

My senior year. Lets see. I got to be on the cheer squad. More than that, I was a part of the cheer squad. They were my friends. I got to ride on top of a fire truck for homecoming, I got to practice and have a car wash, I got to travel with them. The football team made it to state play-offs. It was a year for the under dog. I also got to go to my first dance at another school. Josephs homecoming was great. I just strengthened my friendships at the alt school, made new friends, was pushed to look inside myself, I grew a lot, learned a lot, smiled A LOT. Senior year was so good, so much more than I ever had hope of having.

Thank you, Maria. You believe in a bunch of kids who have a hard time believing in themselves, and it makes a difference. You showed me a future I didn't believe in a year and a half ago. You took tears of deep pain, and made them tears of gratitude. You took inner strife and doubt, and turned it into potential to grow. 

Jeni, you were a gift. I've never felt challenged by having to think about my emotions. I've always perceived myself as someone who knows whats up with themselves. I've always seen myself as a just happy person. You challenged me to search myself in a way that led to a lot of truths and understandings and a heck of a lot of growth.

Ahaha and Michael I am so sorry. You are probably the most tolerant person I know. I was very difficult during math, trying to talk my way out of math assignments. I also asked if we could blog, like, every day. You always lightened the classroom though. You were really fun, and soooo supportive. When I was making up my math credits, you were always there to support me, even when I had haughtily said, only a moment before, that I knew what I was doing. 

Ms. Pinkerton, you made my dreams come true this year. Without you, I would never of had the opportunity to cheer again, or to walk with my class. My senior year was a dream. A true dream, and I have you to thank. Thank you for being there when I got my diploma, thank you for standing up for me, thank you for taking care of me. 

Okay I know this was a long blog post, but I have no idea how to fit all of what I want to say into a  post. I'm not sad that high school is over, just insanely grateful that I got to experience it, and come out a much stronger person than I could have ever imagined.