this is too much for me to hold

Facing fears and letting go.

It was time. 

there's no turning back

 I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn, if we let them and we help them in return and because I knew you, I have been changed for good.

 There comes a time in life when you have to let go of all of the pointless drama and the people who create it and surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus solely on the good. After all, life is too short to be anything but happy. 

 

 Around here however, we don't look backwards for very long, we keep moving forward. Opening new doors and trying new things because we are curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

  There are far far better things ahead than any we leave behind.

 We can't become what we need to be by remaining who we are.

Thanks Timpview, it's been a good run.

hang with the rats and smoked cigars

#1 Washington DC Student Gov Trip 2010

"NOTHING IN AMERICA IS HIGHER THAN FREEDOM!" 

There is nothing like traveling with a group of high school kids. As a sophomore, I had the opportunity to go to DC with the Stud Gov kids. We survived a crazy thunderstorm in the Jefferson Memorial, successfully broke a trolly window (Thank you Gabe Davis), mastered the metro, and discovered many of the famous museums and monuments.  Honestly, it was the best experience ever. There aren't words for how amazing it was.

our last metro ride together :(

We came, we saw, we conquered.

this feeling's like no other

#2 Seeing My Yearbook For The First Time

Sitting in Sophia Osmond's baby blue bug, I recieved a text that said, "The books came!"  I freaked out. Honestly, opening that box and seeing a year of work, misery, love, and devotion in real life was unbelieveable. Honestly, probably my favorite feeling ever. 

sit down, it's just a talk

#3 English Classes

Especially AP English last year.  Ms. Van Orden changed my life and so did the many people I met in my English classes over the years. And it's because of these people and classes, that I want to be an English teacher.

say you wanna dance

#4 High School Dances

BJ Dodge,  James Summers,  Max Jensen, Joe Roberts, Taylor Sorenson, Trent Kupka, Stuart McGraw, Jake Knell, Travis Tyler, Ben Crowley, Alex Burdge and Mike Witham: Thank You.  Honestly, dances are the epitome of what high school is. And because of all of you, I went to each of them. That is quite spectacular if you ask me.  (Except el Cheapo, but that was Chrystalyn Finch's wedding so I couldn't go with a date, but I did go stag after)

I absolutely loved this and I sure and gonna miss it.

 

Random adventures around town, the comic book store, Wingers, ice cream at Mady's, hiking Stuart falls, getting lost, hide and go seek, carving pumpkins, dressing up as ninjas, skittle bowling, pirate isalnd pizza, Outback, Iggy's, ugly prom dresses, pretty prom dresses, long walks and talks, Magelby's, the truths and lies games with pebbles, some amazing hugs, power tumbling, La Jolla Groves, dinner at Lauren's, Things, Color Me Mine, Noodles and Co, Ikea, Aquarium, Cafe Rio, Sleepy Ridge, She's The Man.  

For some reason I can't find a bunch of pictures: Valentines 2010 with James Summers, Sadies 2010 with Taylor Sorenson, Valentines 2011 with Trent Kupka, Morp 2011 with Stuart McGraw,  Homecoming 2011 with Travis James Tyler, and  Sadies 2011 with Ben Crowley

i am not the kind of girl

I'll never be that girl that blasts music at a stoplight, hops out of the car and dances. 

I always go the speed limit because I fear that the car behind me is an undercover cop. 

I do extra credit for classes I have a 95% in because I am worried my grade might drop. 

I find myself checking the oven after someone cooks in it because I am fearful it might be on and burn down my whole house. 

I prefer to sit and talk instead of go around and do silly things. 

So I'm paranoid and a little weird, I sing what I am thinking half the time and have an obsession with Sharpies. You might catch me making monkey noises and I have a loud laugh. 

That's me and that will never change.

Take me as I am, or watch me as I go.

plenty of sunshine

 #5 A Cappella Tour 2012

Randomly bursting out to "Somebody That I Used To Know" on the bus, waiting in lines with Heather, going backstage at Disneyland, scripture time and bird calls with Lauren, Mackenzie, Brenna and Tiani, deciding to marry James Summers, riding "Thunder Mountain Railroad" with Marshall, World of Color with Alex, Tim, and Heather, Baker California for 3+ hours, eating Carls Junior with Henry and Jacob, sneaking to the secretaries' room, tropical sno, and splash mountain.

Just a few of my favorite things from tour.

 

MAGICAL.

taking on the world together

#6 Dollar Store Nights and Gift Exchanges

Since eighth grade, my best friends and I have had a tradition that every Christmas we would pull names and give good gifts instead of giving everyone their own gifts. Along with that tradition has come dollar store night. Each year (some the same night as the gift exchange, some other nights) we would all go to the dollar store and pick out one or two gifts for each person. We'd always go in pairs and spend the time waiting in Desert Book. The one dollar gifts have been some of my favorite things. Traditions like this have taught me that I honestly have had amazing best friends for all of high school. Although we lost a few of them along the road and picked a few more up, I certainly can say that I've had the same best friends for all of high school.

 

frosh year $1 store

JR. Year Gift Exchange

8th Grade Gift Exchange

this was during our twilight phase

frosh year gift exchange

cuties

senior year $1 store

senior year $1 store

the war outside our door

#7 Senior Assassins

It started with a little over a hundred of us, fearing to leave for our cars in the parking lot. Everyone was paranoid, everyone was excited. 

We gathered our weapons and started for the kills. People were constantly dying. 

Waiting for Sam Cusick outside his home, hiding in the bushes for two and a half hours for Josh Burr, or even lying to some of your great friends (ie Aubrey Snelson or Camille McKeon): these were all ways we killed them. 

I don't know if I liked it so much because suddenly, for the first time, our grade connected or if because the thrill was always there. 

After I died, it was all about Macall and Andy. I always hoped it would never become between the two of them because I honestly don't know whose side I would have taken. 

I realized that I am a great assistant. I saved Macall and Andy both a number of times and we were a trynamic trio.

Basically, it was the thrill of a lifetime. 

running this town

#8- Running in General

Dania somehow convinced me to do Cross Country my junior year.  (I continued through my senior year as well) I wonder to this day how on earth she ever convinced me. Well running soon became one of my passions. Improvements were made and I earned the "Most Improved Runner" of the season. It was superb. 

 I ran 2 half marathons while I was in high school. Few things are greater than the feeling of crossing the finish line of a half marathon. I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments. 

I traveled with the team and traveling with the school is the funnest thing ever. Cedar City, California and Idaho were all such different fun trips. I treasure the memories I made on each of those vacations. 

But if you asked any Timpview Cross Country runner, they would say the best thing about running cross country is the people you get to work with and how much you grow as a person through running. It's a tie between the two of them. There's no picking. I honestly loved every single girl I ran with. We bonded together through hard times and laughed at each other and did silly things. Quite frankly, I think it's the cross country kids that I might miss most about high school. They're great kids and I love them. 

"In running, it doesn't matter if you come in first, the middle of the pack or very last. You can say 'I have finished and there is a lot of satisfaction in that."

-Fred Lebow, Co-founder of NYC Marathon