Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Moving On

That's really a cliche title for a post, isn't it? But I've never been too creative in the the 'title' area, so I guess it's going to have to suffice.

It's been an interesting month and a half. I graduated, learned 2 new instruments, dealt with kids way longer than I should have, and have slowly but surely been letting go of my youth group and some of my 'high school friends'.

I know I usually complain about how scared I am of college and how I don't want things to change and how I can't stand to be away from my friends and how I'm going to miss everything and blah blah blah whine whine whine, but as of right now, I'm totally ready. College, let's goooooooooooo!

I'm sure this seems rather odd, especially coming from me, but I've become so burnt out on what I've been doing lately that I'm totally geared up for the next step/stage/chapter so I can be refueled and rejuvenated again! I'm prepared for college (I go to orientation Thursday-Friday), I'm ready for the challenges of classes, and I'm in the mindset to have to live with someone in close quarters. Piece of cake right?

Haha! Well, I say that now, but chances are I'll be calling my mom crying in the middle of the week because I'm mad at her for making me take psychology and it's hard and stupid and I hate it, but that's what college is, right?

Nonetheless, I've reached the point in my life where I can say I'm ready. My very next step is closure, and I'll get most of that on August 7th. I'm taking each day for what it is, and appreciating and enjoying everything its 24 hours has to offer in entirety (though %33.3 is spent sleeping). I have good memories, great memories even, to look back on, and I have an enduring hope for the future, but I'm focusing on the here and now in order to give God the glory in everything I do, instead of worrying about what's going to happen to me or how I'm going to feel or what I'm going to experience.

The only thing I may not be ready for is having my best friend 2.5 hours away from me, but thank God for advanced technology (Skype/cell phones/facebook) so it won't be so bad.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and a wise friend of mine just recently gave me some great advice: to go out, spread my branches into the world, grow as a person, but always remember your roots at home and that you can always come back to them.

Yeah, I'll miss it: high school, childhood, Chi Alpha Youth, my friends, my teachers, my own room. But I am confident in God's plan that this work He began in me will continue through college and will not be finished until He returns. Although, I guess that COULD happen in college. :)

On a separate note, my instrumental abilities are growing to more piano, guitar, clarinet, flute, and I will soon be getting a violin and a saxophone, so as soon as I get them, I will learn how to play them!

But this blasted guitar! I cannot learn these silly barre chords! I am trying, though, to little avail but then again, I only learned them an hour ago.

SO, I'm going into college with confidence, initiative, determination, and with a good attitude! I am SO looking forward to this experience!

Song of the moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEqdDdvFXZ0

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you!
'Cause He made you to do every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face;
To tell the story of grace with every move that you make
And every little thing you do!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bucket List

I've never had one before, but when I do something epic I always say I can cross it off my 'Bucket List'. So instead, I've decided to make a list of my top most amazing experiences of my life post-high school so that I can put my life into perspective and not be bummed about ending such a huge part of my life.

1. Learning to play the guitar: 6.10.11
2. Getting a 5 on my AP Calculus exam: 7.6.11
3. Spending 6 days with the VBC Youth Choir and my best friend sharing the love of God through music: 7.14.11
4. Seeing the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: 7.15.11
5. Making my own coffee: 7.27.11
6. Got a MacBook Pro for COLLEGE!: 7.28.11
7. Getting a debit card and using it for the first time: 8.17.11
8. Passing my first college calculus test!: 8.22.11
9. Staying up until 3 am to study for a college test: 9.20(21).11

That's all for now, but I suppose I'll keep it updated so I don't forget anything.

P.s. I just got back from that choir trip to Boston/Providence/Hershey and it was one of the most wonderful experiences ever. I've never felt closer to God or my friends, and I'll never forget it as my senior choir trip. Thanks to all who made it special, and rode so many roller coasters with me, physical and emotional, and those whose light continues to shine throughout the world, everywhere they go.

Matthew 5:16

Embrace the music; hold it in your heart.
Sing the song that life has given you.
Embrace the music no matter where you are.
Let music be a part of all you do.