"i get by with a little help from my friends"

Food for thought:

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.

Although friends may be miles (and even countries) apart, the images of memories made will always stick.

And even if those friends return for a short time, it's like they never left.

Friends are the people that stick with you through thick and thin. They're there to see your successes and failures. They're there to share in incredible experiences. The way you make memories is by making an effort to do so.

It took effort to plan a way to ask boys to a dance over a 1 week period, 2 months in advance. It took effort to practice hard and participate in a music festival under the direction of our Church's most famous music director. It takes effort to practice and take first place in competitions in Disneyland. It takes effort to have fun. It takes effort to mend broken hearts and fix relationships. It takes effort to find the perfect dress. It takes effort to get together and have Star Wars marathons. It takes effort to ask a friend to borrow a dress that would make you feel stunning. It takes effort to get past your fears, audition, make it, and play with 9 other friends in the top orchestra in the state. It takes effort to study calculus and help others understand. It takes effort to bring milk and cereal every Thursday. It also takes effort to put on a Star Wars shirt and parade around the school with your best friends beginning a tradition. It takes effort to bring a lightsaber to school and battle on the front lawn. It takes effort to make it to the end of high school, sit on the stage with your best friends playing the best music in the world, then walk across the stage to conclude the best 3 years of your life.

But was it worth it?

Oh yes.

If you haven't played a game of miniature croquet, I highly suggest you do. Because 1. you don't get penalized for the amount of strokes you use (hallelujah) and 2. it's a great activity to do with friends and much less cliche than miniature golf.

After making the mistake of watching Dear John with my roommate last night, I texted a dear friend asking him if he wanted to do anything cause I was extremely bored (having already done my homework for next class). He immediately called me:

"We're going to play miniature croquet at the Riverwoods in Provo, do you want to come?"

Oh boy, did I. Afterwards, we got Little Caesars, came back to my apartment, and played Phase 10 for like 2 hours. I'd forgotten how much fun I can have with friends that I don't see as often.

And for those friends that aren't with us, there will come a time when we will reunite again. We have to. I mean, we have to make new memories. Even though the experiences of high school are gone and fading, we can remember them. And we can have more.

We just have to make the effort.

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.

I'm a graduate.

I honestly thought this day would never come. I've always dreamed of graduating high school and being done with public education. It was a dream that finally became a reality last night as my name was read, I walked out on the floor, shook hands, and received my *diploma.

Changing the tassels was when it hit me. We all stood. We changed them. We were then graduates.

Looking back, I remember looking up to the seniors and thinking they were so old. I never thought I'd be in their position and still can't believe that I am.

I've graduated high school. But more importantly, I've graduated from American Fork High School, home of the Cavemen. I will be forever proud to be a Caveman. I couldn't have graduated from a better school.

So many memories were made there. I cried there. I laughed there. I stressed there. I sweated there. I played my violin there. I made friends there.

These past three years have screeched by and I know it won't slow down any time soon. I am excited to see what the future holds for me. And I'm glad that my foundation is AFHS.

PROUD TO BE A CAVEMAN.