So ... I've been looking back on my journals here recently.  I look at all these emotions and experiences and memories, and I'm just thinking to myself, "dang ... has all this happened in the span of only a few years?"  It's somewhat strange, because I read these and it feels as though I was a completely different person back then than who I am today.  Still, there are parts of me I can recognize that are still a part of me to this day: the introspection, the open-mindedness, and the emotional investment I have in certain things.

It's just absolutely amazing how much I've changed in such a short span of time.  Well, it's essentially short, but it's felt like so long to me because my time in high school has felt like such a huge and lengthy part of my life.  But maybe saying that I have changed isn't the right way of describing it; change, to me, implies a person that completely strays away from their older ways.  I don't really think I have done that.  I'm essentially the same person as I was back in my older journals, but some parts of me have dynamically changed for the better.  Even though I still have years of life left ahead of me (well, I hope that will be the case anyway ), I'm impressed with how much I've grown and improved as a whole.

In that case, I'm excited to see where I'll be in the next few years.  Experience truly is one of the best teachers ever.

...
Now for those who're wondering about my whereabouts:

I'm doing great now!  Well, things aren't always perfect, but at least it's great compared to how I had felt back in my earlier high school years.  I'm wrapping up my Senior year, and will be moving on to a liberal arts college in their classes and residence halls alike.  I think it'll be a very rewarding and great experience through both the pleasures and hardships of that kind of atmosphere.  In addition, I'm just glad I'll be in an academic atmosphere where people are more mature and really care about their classes and education.  Although things at high school for me have definitely improved since the Freshman year, I'm absolutely ready to be out of there.

If you wanna chat with me about how I've been or what I'm up to now (or just chat in general I suppose), feel free to toss me a message.  I love a good conversation, after all, no matter what form it takes.