up and coming new year.

current issues:
-this one is a more personal note.
-i know that doesn't seem possible, since this blog is already about my life. but you'll see.

here is a run-down of the last year, plus advice, life lessons, and it's all mixed with humor.

senior year started. 
which was overwhelming and horrible and everything awful in the world combined.
i let stress get the best of me and dreaded going every day.

but then you kind of learn to let go a little, have your friends over, and study while you eat loads of food and goof off and talk in russian accents.
those nights with katie, david, mal, and brock (even though he wasn't in school) were some of the best. lots of laughs. lots of stupidity. but lots of really good memories. i also had a really difficult time coping with the idea of my friends moving even just a little ways away. there were a few tears shed, but now, i feel like everyone is where they need to be.

WHY DID I STRESS THE HECK OUT ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE.
i had this weird mental tick where i felt like i had had had to go to college. i didn't want to do more school, and i felt like i was trying to find a major that i could tolerate because people (school, teachers, even friends and family) made me feel like cosmetology school was a fallback. i had toyed with the idea of going to cosmetology for awhile, but kept going back and forth about it. i thought about scad, then finally realized i wasn't going to let people talk me out of what i really wanted to do. if you have a passion that you can turn into a career, do it. don't let people talk down what you love. i love hair. i love everything about it. so take that. i feel like that's one of my mantras......

                                                        do what you love, love what you do. 

sadie hawkins dance.
was the bomb.com. the most fun dance i've ever gone to. (seriously.)

the christmas party.
was a total bust. do not plan christmas parties for your friends who are clearly not as sophisticated or as appreciative of nice things as you are. it's not worth the time. try easy mac and a board game next time. do not waste turkey burgers on the picky. 

new year's slumber party.
fun fact: blanket forts are fun at every age. so is sparkling grape juice. 

i hate pictures of myself.
this really only relates to senior pictures. which are awful. i hate posing, i can't fake smile for more than .34 seconds, or it really looks like a fake smile. and i only like my face at weird, very particular angles. senior pictures aren't worth it. 

do not pierce your ears at home. 
they will get infected and it's not a smart idea. also, pain. 

dinner and shopping in atlanta can cure all things.
get your butt in the car, get your best friend. drive yourself to perimeter. and spend money. a little retail therapy goes quite a long way. i can't even tell you how many times we would call each other and say "i feel like spending money, go shopping with me." the answer is always yes.

that a&p test isn't going to study itself. turn off netflix. 
i was an addict. to my netflix account. my brain shut off when i was watching shows and then would kickstart again around one am when i realized that government homework was finished and i had four chapters to read for english. also, i had to wake up in five hours and mornings magically make me a raging monster. get your homework done, kiddo. 

if you want to wear lipstick, do it. 
i don't care if the bright red stain you want to wear clashes with your plaid skirt. do it anyways. thats you. you clash. wear what you want. 

new york city with friends is always a good idea. 

relationships after high school go so much better. 

graduation, the last day of school, and the day your best friend moves into her dorm and you can't be with her because you got your wisdom teeth out are very emotional days. 
the last day of school, i think i cried 15 times. i wasn't prepared for how emotional it would be. (heres another fun fact: after you graduate, you don't miss high school at all. and you remember how annoying you thought people were. or maybe that's just me. i have a very low tolerance level. oh well.) you remember all the good on the last day, like senior trip and the day you skipped class to get food and got caught by mrs. bennett and then had to clean tables for stupid character building. which doesn't build character at all. 

and graduation was like that, but without the crying. graduation parties are kind of like christmas parties. not worth the effort. skip it. just send out the stupid announcements. 

perhaps though, the best memory was senior prank. 
the fake newsletter and letting the people have what they want: a jean day.
which turned into a corruption of power, an overthrowing of evil dictators, and a new world order for the heritage community. (and maybe another clause added to the code of conduct.) 

so there is it. the past year all wrapped up. 

with love, and always helpful advice.
-lys.