"Insanity laughs. Under pressure, we're cracking." - David Bowie

It's currently 2:07 AM on a Thursday morning. I have my psychology final exam in roughly six hours. Did I mention it's optional? If this grade is higher than my lowest test grade, then my professor will replace it. Well, by the looks of how the night is going, I'm not sure it will be worth it, but I am still taking it!

I'm just taking a break from studying. My eyes hurt from reading and my fingers ache from typing, but nonetheless, I am very glad that I have not succumbed to the college student that turns to energy drinks or worse, Adderall, to stay up and study. I just have a lot of Christmas candy (chocolate, candy canes, you name it) and I'm good to go.

Wish me luck!

"Do this thing, this type of thing. Put a little money in this type of thing. I got nothing to worry about. " - Peter Bjorn and John

Today marks the beginning of finals week, and I just got done with my first final in What It Means to be Human. I'm happy to report that I did very well! My professor complimented me multiple times on my oral presentation... *sigh of relief*. Now I can relax for a few hours, go Christmas shopping downtown, and then tackle my next assignment.

Surprisingly, I've been handling the preparation of finals week quite well. Watching movies, eating all my food in my care package from my parents, and reading The Time Traveler's Wife... time well spent, wouldn't you say so? I have one final every day this week, besides Friday, so I get to go home one day early (I'm definitely using that as motivation to kick some ass on these finals). I have confidence that I will do alright, if not great... although I do want to believe I will do great! Just have to keep the positivity level up and I'm good to go.

And besides... Christmas is only 11 days away!

"The night is here, and the day is gone, and the world spins madly on" - The Weepies

AWESOME!

I read this blog, "1000 Awesome Things" every few days. It's a great blog to read when you're feeling down, because the things that the blogger mentions are truly awesome.

Well, I stumbled across Awesome Thing #625 and knew I had to refer to it immediately.

Although some of it isn't exactly true. I haven't been turned away from a roller coaster yet (not like I would go on most of them in the first place -- exception being any roller coaster at Disney World). I've been to 7 concerts and I could see just fine. I also plan on receiving my master's degree, and possibly doctorate's degree, thus making me MORE educated, thank you very much!

So what if I won't look like the next Taylor Swift (6'1")... at least I can look NOT UP, but straight in the eyes to powerful women like Dr. Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson's character on Grey's) and Shawn Johnson.

:)

"Fall is gone... winter is here" - Chase Coy

Thanksgiving break was simply wonderful... and too short! I did a lot of reuniting with friends & family... and a lot of shopping. This was the first year that my mom and I did not wake up early to go shopping on Black Friday. In fact, we didn't even buy a lot this year, but it was still great to continue our tradition. I got to pick out my Christmas present... and my mom even bought me a new pair of Uggs for my belated birthday (I ended up returning the Vera bag that I received. I decided the colors were overwhelming and am currently waiting for the new prints to come out in a couple of months!).

Classic short Uggs in gray

Christmas present!! -- Return to Tiffany bead bracelet
(The charm matches my earrings that I received for graduation
and my necklace that I received last Christmas)

Friday night, I attended a party with all my co-workers. It was very fun to catch up, especially since I haven't seen most of them since the end of the summer!! I also got to hang out with my best friends from home a few times. It was like nothing has changed, even if we were separated for a few months. I could tell the parents loved seeing us together again, and of course we loved seeing the parents too!

Now backtracking a little... on Thanksgiving morning, I attended the football game in Abington against Whitman-Hanson. It was the 99th annual game between the two teams! Of course (sorry RER :)) we won, 20-0. At halftime, the baseball team received their state championship rings and they look awesome! It was really great to see everyone together. Later that afternoon, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. This year, my parents hosted the holiday dinner and we ended up having 25 people in our dining room, each with his or her own chinaware and utensils (my mom likes to go all out for these occasions). Good thing we renovated a few years ago! Thanksgiving dinner was so delicious, comprised of not one but two turkeys, ham, homemade mashed and roasted potatoes, and the usual... completed by a homemade cheesecake with berries on top. YUMMY.

And although I had such a wonderful break, there are no words to describe how excited I am that it is finally December! The Christmas decorations are up, the iTunes is blaring the Christmas playlist (on repeat), and the Secret Santa plans are underway! Tonight is the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza.


YES!

"And even though we all can still do more, there's so much to be thankful for" - Josh Groban

The countdown officially begins, since there are only 7 days left until Thanksgiving break starts, and only 9 days until the holiday! I thought this week was going to go by so slowly (and maybe it's too early to tell) but it's going by pretty quickly in my opinion. I have no more exams to study for and one 4-page paper to write until break, so I am very relieved!

Since it is Thanksgiving season and all, I am thankful for many things:

[Family]
I am thankful for having two wonderful parents, who always put their children's needs in front of themselves. I can be a (spoiled) brat sometimes, but they always make sure I am content and will do whatever it takes. I'm thankful for their ridiculous hard work, dedication, and love... not to mention their willingness to pick me up from school at any time. I am also thankful for my brother (although we act like we hate each other half the time) and I am so proud of how smart he is.

[Abington friends]
Regardless of the distances between us, I know I can always turn to them for a good laugh or time. They all have helped shape me into the person I am today and I would be nothing without them!


[Salve friends]
They have helped me feel comfortable here when I wasn't so sure at first. I love our Monday television nights and the fact that we can laugh at each other for no reason at all.

[PCC friends]

They have given me the best laughs, the best times, and the best memories. I am relieved that a lot of us have managed to stay in touch over the years, and I will always believe that Abington & Middleboro were destined to be one town!

[co-workers]

They are 50 of the craziest, funniest, and friendliest people I have ever met. I had the best summer, thanks to them, and I always look forward to our reunions!

[#1 best friend]

I am thankful for his compassion, kindness, thoughtfulness, and especially for the way he believes in me.

[Panera Bread (not kidding)]
I am thankful for their You-Pick-Two deals (half broccoli cheddar soup, half caesar salad), $0.99 Chocolate Chipper cookie, Cinnamon Crunch bagels, and lemonade. Whether I'm at school or home, I am thankful that there is always at least one Panera that is 15 minutes or less away.

[AHS Track & Field]
I am thankful for the dedication and self-esteem that I gained from being a runner. I am actually thankful that I was forced to be a 400m runner last year, because it pushed me to believe in myself (thank you, Mr. Lanner & Mr. Duggan).

[Jason Mraz & John Mayer (and music in general)]
When the rest of the world fails me, these are the two men that I turn to. I am thankful for the "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things" and "Continuum" albums. I am thankful that they are two absolute geniuses. I am thankful for music for being a wonderful foundation for friendship. I am thankful that I am a musician.

[Salve Regina University]
I am thankful for Salve Regina for providing me with a college education. I am thankful for their overwhelming generosity in financial aid, and I am thankful (and proud) that I am a first-generation college student.

[James Lafferty & One Tree Hill]
You know where to find me on a Monday night at 8PM... parked in front of the television, drooling over the hotness that is James Lafferty/Nathan Scott. I am an avid fan of One Tree Hill (I've seen every episode aired since the pilot episode in September 2004!) and I like to think I can vicariously live through their more-than-necessary drama...

And of course, I am thankful for good health and all that jazz, but here are a few other miscellaneous things...

- Hooded sweatshirts
- Jim & Pam's romance on The Office
- Pandora Radio
- the shuffle option on iTunes
- FML.com
- Disney movies
- New England weather (most of the time)
- LIFE!! <3

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough" - Oprah Winfrey

"You just can't beat the weather here in autumn" - Chase Coy

I can't believe November is already here! Where did the month of October go!?

The rest of October was wonderful. I went home the weekend of the 24th to spend some quality time with my family. My parents and I sat down by the fireplace, roasted marshmallows, and watched a movie together. That Saturday, my mom and I went to the Natick Collection and I hung out with my Abington friends! For Halloween, my best friend here at Salve and I stayed at Massart with her twin sister (also one of my best friends). We ended up at a party in Brighton and we went back to her dorm and hung out afterwards. It was a very fun Halloween. Not too crazy, and very laid-back... just the way I like it.

Last weekend, the same friend and I went to see A Christmas Carol 3D in IMAX at the Providence Place! I was expecting it to be as good as The Polar Express (one of my two favorite Christmas movies) because it's directed by the same person; however, I found it to be slightly disappointing. It was cute (and somewhat frightening at the same time) though.

Speaking of Christmas... I am already looking forward to the Christmas season! It puts me in the best mood. I was at Derby Street on the first of November and they were already playing Christmas music! Here at Salve, my friends and I have already busted out the *NSYNC Christmas album (the best Christmas album ever). We went to Starbucks last week and got the Caramel Apple Spice... mmm. I love walking into Starbucks and smelling all the different, delicious aromas in the air. I love the little red Christmas cups too. I also cannot wait to go ice-skating in Newport, especially with one of my good friends who is coming down next month. She's been going to school in Wilmington, NC so I am very excited to see her! Ice-skating has always been one of my favorite things to do since I was little (I used to take figure skating lessons several years ago and wanted to continue, but unfortunately, it got to be too expensive). I'm so excited!

... Not to mention that the infamous Christmas tree has already arrived in NYC at the Rockerfeller Plaza! I have seen the Christmas tree here in all its glory before... absolutely gorgeous.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself though... let us get to Thanksgiving first!! Two more weeks until... all of my friends come home from college (especially those @ Syracuse, D.C., North Carolina, and Florida)... I have Thanksgiving dinner with my family... the annual Abington-Whitman-Hanson football game (GWP)... the Christmas tree is put up... lots of baked goods & desserts... PCC reunions... Black Friday for shopping... and many more fun-filled events in just a short weekend!

"Sometimes our only way is jumping. I hope you're not afraid of heights" - Gavin DeGraw

Wow, this post is three weeks overdue, but better late than never, right? Here's a recap of what has happened since October began...

The Celtics scrimmage (3rd) was excellent, even if it was only for 30 minutes. It was great to see all my favorite players and literally be yards away from them!

My 19th birthday (7th)! My birthday was during "fifth-week evaluation" so I had many, many tests to study for but thankfully, I was still able to enjoy my birthday and pass my tests with flying colors! That night, my friends and I went to Panera Bread (my favorite!) and we came back and had ice cream cake from Coldstone (also another favorite). Looooove my friends.

My parents sent down a birthday package for me and inside that package were:

Ralph Lauren perfume

a "Morgan" Vera Bradley bag -- the print is Symphony in Hue

a matching Euro wallet... and

three Sephora lip glosses

The best present, however, was that both of my classes were canceled on Friday, which meant I got to go home one day earlier than everyone else! I came home on Thursday (8th) afternoon and my mom took me to the Derby Street shoppes (which is like my second home). Friday, I went to the high school football game where I got to meet up with all my friends, especially those who went off to schools far away. It was so great to be reunited with everyone.

Saturday (10th), I went out to lunch with my PCC loves for my birthday. I had an excellent time with them all! :) That night, with a few of my very favorite co-workers, I attended a little reunion that they like to call "The Shootout". I have heard stories about these "shootouts" for the past three years, and I was glad to have been invited to my first one. Conveniently, it was at UNH this year so we got there in no time. My first time at UNH was fantastic and I absolutely loved the fact that I had a fun PCC-filled day. Nothing can go wrong when you're having a PCC day! :)

Nate is 6'6"... enough said.

PCC!

Last Saturday (17th), I went to a retreat for Salve SGA at the Y and it was so much fun! We had to do a ropes course and I (kind of, sort of, maybe) overcame my fear of heights! First, I was hooked onto a harness and had to climb up a 60-ft "telephone pole" (with staples, of course). Another telephone pole was connected, lying horizontally in the air, and I had to walk across it like a plank. I was terrified and shaking like crazy, but I successfully made it across! Once I had two feet safely planted on the ground, I looked back on my experience and realized how much fun it was. I would probably do it again, but it honestly was so scary! The next course was a "vertical playpen". Yeah, I kindly declined...

This is the vertical playpen... and you can see the obstacle that I did in the background

...so even though October is already halfway over, it can only mean that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I cannot wait at all!!

"It's October again. Leaves are coming down. One more year's come and gone" - Bethany Joy Lenz

It's the beginning of another week here and I'm very excited because October is literally around the corner! October is my other favorite month (besides April) because there are so many birthdays (including mine -- the 7th!) and I always have things to look forward to. The most important day in the month is always the 15th = my best friend's birthday. Usually I start thinking of what I'm going to get him weeks in advance, but October seriously crept up on me. I am not prepared at all and I only have two weeks left... oh boy.

October is going to start off pretty well though... because the Boston Celtics are at Salve the entire week for training camp! I love the Celtics so much and I was very happy to hear that they were going to be on campus. The best part was the fact that students would have an opportunity to attend their scrimmage at the end of the week... but of course, there's a catch. We had to submit our names into the lottery system, and 175 people would randomly be picked. I WAS ONE OF THEM! I absolutely cannot wait. It's going to make this week go by so much faster!

This previous weekend was Salve's annual Fall Festival, the time when parents & alumni come visit the campus. My family and I didn't participate in these activities (in fact I went home), but I still had a wonderful weekend anyway :)

On Friday night, RER and I were reunited with the best girls ever. I was so happy to see them, but the best moment of the night was seeing their reactions when they saw us. Most of them did not know that we were coming up to see them, so they were genuinely surprised and grateful, I think. The expressions on their faces made me feel thankful that I was able to leave a lasting impression on them, while they have made their own lasting impressions on me. Those girls are truly some of the world's best people, and I am already looking forward to the next time that I can see all of them at once.

I woke up early on Saturday morning so my family and I could drive back down to Newport. We attended an awards ceremony on campus, where I got to see everyone who was receiving a scholarship or an award. My favorite part was seeing the alumni receive their awards. So many people have graduated from Salve and went on to make a name for themselves. Their stories were so inspiring that it put me in the mood to set big goals for myself. I am not a big "long-term goal-making" person, but there's no better time to start doing that than now. After the awards ceremony, my family and I went to downtown Newport where we spent most of the day. We haven't been to Newport in three or four years so my parents really enjoyed themselves. That made me really happy. We returned to Massachusetts to go out to dinner for my brother's & dad's birthday at Bugaboo Creek (my brother's choice). Afterwards, my brother hung out with a lot of his PCC friends while I just relaxed at home.

While at home, I ended up video chatting with a few people and somewhere in the midst of the conversation, a certain someone in the background said "Tell her I love her. TELL HER I LOVE HER". That brought me back on memory lane to one of the last times that I had heard that... It's funny how the only times I get to hear that is when he's intoxicated. He also told me that he can't come down for the Celtics scrimmage with me this weekend, even though he went out the other night. I don't think I'll ever understand him during times like these, but I think it's time I stop trying to understand... for both of our sakes.

Despite all the rain on Sunday, my mom and I spent some quality time together and went shopping. I hardly bought anything for myself but I was still glad that I got to go. Then RER drove me back to school that night.

Anyway, elections for on-campus and off-campus senators are next week, and I am SO nervous. I don't think that I am going to be completely devastated if I lose, but I will certainly be disappointed. I really want to be involved and I know this is the perfect thing for me. I just hope everyone else knows that too!

:)

"So I play the numbers game to find a way to say that life has just begun" - John Mayer

So it's Week 3, Day 2... of college. I spent my first weekend at school this previous weekend, and to my surprise, it wasn't so bad. On Friday, Salve's new president was inaugurated, so there was this big ceremony for her. That night, the friends and I ventured to downtown Newport, where we had dinner and saw 'Love Happens'. On Saturday, the same friends and I took the RIPTA to Providence Place... what an adventure that was. I was able to buy a Lacoste polo for my dad's birthday on Thursday. We also met up with our JWU friend since we hadn't seen her in so long! It was so nice to see her :)

(I realized I was being Negative Nancy in the previous post. I think I really needed to spend a whole weekend here to convince myself that this isn't all so bad. The toughest thing to believe is that this isn't just for a month now. This is for the next four-five years, so the only thing I can really do is to just get used to it. It doesn't mean that I've been completely oblivious to the fact that the Stonehill application is up already... but we'll see. I just need to be more hopeful and more patient with myself!)

Speaking of weekends, I am so excited for this upcoming weekend! RER and I are coming home on Friday to see some PCC students! It certainly has been too long since we both have seen them. We have been planning this for a month now, so no wonder why Friday seems so far away! I absolutely cannot wait :) My parents and I are going to go back to Salve on Saturday morning for an awards ceremony since it's Parents' Weekend. Apparently I am going to be recognized for receiving the William Hearst scholarship... that will be cool. My mom agreed to take me shopping around Newport afterwards so naturally, I am looking forward to that and just spending quality time with my parents and brother. Afterwards, we'll probably go out to dinner for my dad's and brother's birthday and I'll get to sleep in my own bed. :)

I am running for an on-campus senator position for the student government association. I am really nervous and don't really know what to expect, but I'm sure it will be interesting. I really hope I get elected because I am looking forward to getting back on the horse and be involved again. I'm also on the fence of running women's track. I already signed my life away to the NCAA last week, but I'm having second thoughts about it... oh well. C'est la vie. Such is life. I'll take it one day at a time. It's the only thing I can do.

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." - Orison Swett Marden

I think this will be the quote I live by for my time here at Salve...

"When I am alone, when I am thrown off the weight of this crazy world... that's when I miss you, you who are my home" - Alexi Murdoch

So I'm sitting in the McKillop Library right now, which is probably one of my favorite places on campus. I really think I might live here for the next eight months or so. It is so quiet and so peaceful... well, just like a library should be.

I'm in the middle of my second week as a Salve freshman and it's going alright. I'm enjoying my classes, especially my Intro to the Justice Process class. My major is Administration of Justice, so of course I would like it. I think the law enforcement and all the laws are so interesting. There's also so much to learn too, so I think it will be a good semester. I just need to stop procrastinating and get my work done... I don't really know when that will happen though...

However, quite frankly, I'm homesick as ever. It's weird, because I wasn't home all summer, and now I decide to be homesick. It makes no sense to me, but nonetheless, I'm homesick. I miss my parents and I miss my brother. Today is my brother's sixteenth birthday and it kills me that I'm not home to celebrate it... (Happy birthday, Nam-Du! I love you!)

I miss my best friend too... Before I left, he gave me a letter and told me not to read it until I was all settled in my dorm room. Well, he doesn't know this, but I broke that rule and I read it before I went to sleep that night. The front of the letter has a big, yellow smiley face on it. This is an inside joke with us that dates back to 2004. I used to leave little notes in his locker when we were in junior high, and he would make me cards to give back to me. However, he isn't the most artistic person on the planet, so he would only draw smiley faces, which lead to smiley faces drawn on Paint. Every single year, I've received a card on my birthday with the exact same smiley face on it, and of course it always brings a smile to my face. His cards are always so intricate and thoughtful. On my seventeenth birthday, he included a picture of us in our "childhood". In reality, he had taken a picture of him when he was little and a picture of me when I was little and edited both onto a picture of a playground. On last year's card, he edited a picture of Jason Mraz -- half-naked, might I add -- saying happy birthday to me, because he had gotten me Jason Mraz tickets as a present. Anyway, this letter has to be the most heartfelt letter I have ever received. To put into words how thoughtful it was is quite impossible, but it does give me the sense of hope that I needed, to believe that our friendship will endure all the changes that have already come, and those that will come in the near future.

"There are 6,470,818,671 people in the world. Some are running scared. Some are coming home. Some tell lies to make it through the day, others are just now facing the truth. Some are evil men at war with good, and some are good struggling with evil. 6 billion people in the world, 6 billion souls, and sometimes, all you need is one." - One Tree Hill

"And as we lie here and let the world fade away, the sunrise tries to end it while we try to stay" - Joshua Radin

TWO days until I leave for Salve! I'm so excited, but the nerves are definitely starting to kick in. I haven't even packed yet... that may be a problem, but oh well. I'll make it work.

Today, I'm going out for ice cream with some of my PCC loves before I leave, and I'm very excited to see them. I have been so lucky to have had the opportunity to work at PCC this summer. Project Contemporary Competitiveness is a six-week overnight advanced studies program for incoming freshmen and sophomores from southeastern Massachusetts. I attended the program as a student in the summers of 2005 and 2006. I worked as a desk proctor in 2008, and I was a proctor in 2009. For six weeks, I listened to their stories, played childhood games with them on the REC field, witnessed their talents on stage and in class, danced to "Single Ladies" with them every Thursday night, and by the end of the program, I sobbed with five hundred people. It was so difficult for me to say goodbye to those people who I got to know over the six weeks, students and co-workers alike. The students were always so enthusiastic and a lot of them didn't have a care in the world (it made me miss the times when I didn't know any better and just wanted to have fun). I looked forward to every day that I got to spend with them. My co-workers, on the other hand, are the craziest, most entertaining people I have ever met. Being one of the two youngest staff members, they definitely taught me a lot about being a leader and an authorative figure. I gained more confidence this summer, not only to discipline children, but to have fun also. I got to go on stage and teach kids how to pee ("Oh my, oh me, this is how you pee!") and I got "caked" in the face by my boss. It honestly has been the best experience I've ever had. PCC taught me so much about myself while I was there as a student and I only wanted to give back to the program that gave me so much. There is no better feeling than hearing a kid tell you that you made an impact on them and that their summer would not have been the same without you. That, I believe, is so rewarding, and I only hope that I can experience this same feeling again for many summers to come.

Speaking of goodbyes earlier, I have to say goodbye to my very best friend tomorrow night. My best friend and I share the most complicated, confusing relationship out of any two best friends, but it's also one of the best relationships I have. He and I have been friends for six years now and physically, we are complete opposites. He's tall, I'm short, He has light brown hair and blue eyes, while I have black hair and dark brown eyes. We look so funny when we're together, but I love it. Disregarding our physical features, however, we are the same person. It only takes one look to know what the other is thinking. We think the same and we feel the same. We have the same fears and dislike the same people (as bad as that is). We are connected through music, and that connection is unbreakable. It's definitely going to be difficult for me to be away from him this year, considering everything that we have been through: the passing of his father, my father's temporary lay-off, breakups, makeups, our wonderful trip to Disney World, concerts, etc. We have had so many conflicts and times of struggle between the two of us (one so difficult that it almost ended our friendship completely). But I am so grateful, still to this day, that we were able to resolve our differences over and over again to be the best friends that we are today.

I wish I could be there to see his progress in school and with the college application process. I wish I could cheer him on in his sporting events, to see him lead as president of the NHS, and to see if he will get accepted into his dream school, Boston College. I am constantly proud of him and I want to see all that he can do this year while I'm gone. It's going to be hard to say goodbye to him, because a part of me feels like our friendship is ending... but I know we'll make it through this year. We have to.

But anyway, here are some pictures.

My favorite student & me at semi

My two girls and me on the last day

My co-workers on 5Shea

RER & I at the School Spirit dance
(my Salve Regina best friend!)

"Someday I'll be so damn much more, 'cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for" - John Mayer

So... after a night of reading various blogs and discussing blogging with a friend, I've decided to start my own blog. Now, I don't believe my life is "blog-worthy" in any way, but I'm hoping that this will be something that I can do when I am stressed out of my mind during school. It'll also be pretty funny to look back on a couple of years from now...

First, let's talk about the title of my blog: Live Righteously, Taking It Easy. Taken from the lyrics of "Live High", the sixth track off of Jason Mraz's latest album "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". There's no question that I am a big fan of Jason Mraz (obsessed, even), and there is just something about this song that instantly makes me feel better. It's so carefree and chill and I believe Jason is sending out the right message. "Live high, live mighty, live righteously, takin' it easy".

The word 'righteously' has two definitions: "1) acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin 2) (slang) genuine, excellent" (Merriam-Webster). Although I am a girl with good morals and I live my life by my morals, I don't plan on being this permanent "Ms. Goody Two Shoes". I want to break free from that connotation. I live my life how I want to live it. I take it one day at a time. I'm living my life righteously. Excellently. Genuinely.

In two weeks, my life will be changing... for the better, I think. In two weeks, I'll be moving to my new home for the next four (five?) years in Newport, RI. I will be a freshman at Salve Regina University. No doubt, this will be a little difficult for me, considering Salve was not my first, second, or even third choice. But I'm learning to make the most of what I have. I honestly am grateful that this school has been so considerate and generous to my family and me. Therefore, all complaints about Salve will end today.

I'm excited to move into my dorm and meet my roommates. I'm excited to meet new people, try new things, and as cliche as it sounds, learn more about who I really am. However, there's one thing that I am very worried about. As a recent high school graduate, I can safely say that I had the best high school experience a student could have. In simpler terms, I was a "big deal". I was the class president and secretary for the National Honor Society. I was part of many extracurricular activities. I had close relationships with my teachers and administrators. I literally could go anywhere in the school and I wouldn't be questioned. But now, I'm starting fresh, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to live up to the same expectations that everyone had for me while I was still in high school. A lot of people have faith that I'm going to succeed in college... but to what level? The leader in me wants to rise to the top, but in a school of two thousand students, instead of a measly six hundred, I don't know how that's going to be possible...

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.