goodbye

With a rather anticlimactic ringing in of the new year, I said goodbye to 2011. A huge part of me is upset and sad. 2011 was probably the best year of my life, despite one major thing. In 2011 I accomplished great things and made memories that mean everything to me and that I want to keep with me forever. I feel like a huge part of me has just been ripped away only to have a new year replace it. I had the greatest experiences this year. The most sad part about leaving 2011 is leaving behind my high school days and the friends that were there through it all. We're all going our separate ways, most likely not to see each other a whole lot in the future. But, although I may feel melancholy and upset that 2011 is gone, I know that 2012 will only bring me the freshest start anyone could ask for.

In 2011 I:
Played in the Utah All-State Orchestra in Abravanel Hall {January}
Played in a district honor choir/orchestra under the direction of Dr. Ryan Murphy, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir {January}
Went to my senior prom with my best friend in the best dress anyone could dream of {March}
Toured with my highschool orchestra to Disneyland where we took first place and I was asked to receive the award on the stage where the play Aladdin takes place {April}
Scored a 5 on the AP music test and a 4 on AP calculus {May}
Wrote my first 12 page paper {May}
Graduated American Fork High School {June} and said goodbye to the incredible memories and friends that I made there. I cannot even begin to describe the magnificent experience I had at that high school.
Traveled to the West Coast and stayed at the longest beach in the world {July}
My best friend received his mission call to the Belgium Brussels/Netherlands mission {August}
Started college at BYU {August}
Finished the entire Book of Mormon in 3 months {August-November}
Said "see ya later" to my best friend {November}
Completed my first semester of college with one A-, 2 B+'s, one B, and one C-. {December}
Celebrated my birthday and Christmas in the most chill way possible {December}

In 2012 I will:
Move out of my house
Make new friends
Go an entire year without seeing or being with my best friend
Become a junior in college
See my uncle and cousin from Germany for the first time in over 10 years and his new wife and baby for the first time ever
Travel to California with a friend
Celebrate my 20th birthday. 2 decades, baby!

Goals for 2012:
Go to New York City for New Year's
Take a picture every day
Document more
Write in my journal at least once a week
Read the Book of Mormon twice
Be more careful with what I say
Be less criticizing and more forgiving
Serve more
Let go of my pride
Practice my violin more
Attend the temple at least once a month
Write a letter a week
TRAVEL
Learn how to budget my money
Waste less time and study more
and BE HAPPY.

Happy New Year's, all. May 2012 bring you everything you could ever ask for. As for me, I'm ready to take it on.