hello sophomore.

freshman year has come and gone in such short time. it seems like just yesterday i was walking into the unfamiliar hallways of high school, and now im walking out, only to return again in the fall...

bittersweet goodbye.

When you look back on times we had, I hope you smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmKqc67m-ik&feature=related

"Whenever You Remember"

When you look back on times we had

I hope you smile

And know that through the good and through the bad

I was on your side when nobody could hold us down

We claimed the brightest star

And we, we came so far

And no they won't forget

[Chorus]Whenever you remember times gone by

Remember how we held our heads so high

When all this world was there for us

And we believed that we could touch the sky

Whenever you remember, I'll be there

Remember how we reached that dream together

Whenever you remember

When you think back on all we've doneI hope you're proud

When you look back and see how far we've come

It was our time to shine

And nobody could hold us down

They thought they'd see us fall

But we, we stood so tall

And no we won't forget

Whenever you remember times gone by

Remember how we held our heads so high

When all this world was there for us

And we believed that we could touch the sky

Whenever you remember, I'll be there

Remember how we reached that dream together

Whenever you remember

Yeah, Oh

We claimed the brightest star

And we, we came so far

You know that we, we showed them all

And no they won't forget

Yeah

Whenever you remember times gone by

Remember how we held our heads so high

When all this world was there for us

And we believed that we could touch the sky

Whenever you remember, I'll be there

Remember how we reached that dream together

Whenever you remember

Whenever you remember

Oh, whenever you remember

Couldn't wait to get goin', But wasn't quite ready to leave

As this school year comes to a close, I want to look back on the memories of my first year in high school. This year was one very memorable year that I will never forget, and I hope that the next three years of high school are the same. At this time last year, I was deeply scared for high school and the aspects going along with it. I was scared of being the small fish in a big pond, especially coming from middle school were you are at the top. Its like starting all over again. But as this year began, I started to realize that high school is not like the movies. Now, I go to a private christian school so its completely different from public school. All the silly rules we were under in middle school, suddenly seemed to not affect me in high school. Many people always ask me if I like my school, and feel sorry for me that I go to a private school. Well, I love my school and if I had the option to go somewhere else, I would turn it down.

Freshman year has not only brought wonderful memories and unforgetable moments, but I have built lifelong friendships. In the past year, I have really discovered who I can trust and who my real friends are. I have started friendships with many awesome people, and built great bonds with alot of seniors, juniors, and sophmores.
I've really enjoyed getting to know some awesome senior girls who encourage me and strengthen me daily. I'm extremely sad to see them graduate and start a new chapter in their life.
For the seniors, with graduation growing closer, alot of them are ready just to leave. But when I'm a senior I know that it will be really hard for me to say goodbye to the place I have called 'home' for all my life, or been raised to put God first in life, where I have met lifelong friends, or the halls that I walked everyday. Graduating in my option, will be a bitter-sweet memory.

complacency.

When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”-G.K. Chesterton

Right now I'm in a place in my life where I feel content with myself and who I am. Although, I have realized how much I take things for granted. Whether its living another day on this earth, always relying on a friend that suddenly walks out of your life, a nice home and food, or just the simple luxary of a cell phone. Psalm 39: 4-5 says "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath." What I have to keep reminding myself is that we are not guaranteed another day on this earth, and daily God blesses us with one more day to serve him. that is something I take for granted.

Another thing I take for granted is friendships, in my mind I just assume that I will always have these people to surround me and love me. But in the blink of an eye, any one of them could be taken away. As humans we grow complacent with people. Its not until they are almost taken away from you, when you realize how much you really need them. In my lifetime, I dont want to take my friends for granted, because as much as some of them bug me, I love them all. Our life is too short to hold middle school grudges and form hateful ideas towards someone. Cause in the end, its not about how many people loved you, or that you were homecoming queen. Once you die all that has been stripped away from you. Some advice I give to myself, dont get cought up in the friendship drama because one day you could lose it all. I want to challenge myself to treasure each one of my friends because they mean the WORLD to me and I dont want to take them for granted.