Lessons learned over the summer...

Here's a list of some of the most important things I've learned so far this summer:

1. Don't tell my parents anything that I disagree with. Seriously, I get nowhere doing that because the only thing they ever do is tell me I'm wrong and make a big deal out of some little thing that I was just bringing up casually or thought that they would agree with me. Oops, guess I was wrong. I thought parents were supposed to be supportive. My bad.

2. Anything with junk food is freakin amazing. I've fallen in love with Jolly Ranchers, Twerpz, Ice Cream (best string camp group ever), cake, Reese's... I could go on forever.

3. I've noticed more and more that when I'm around my friends I do a lot of talking... I believe I should work on that.

4. There is nothing better than swimming in the ocean in the Caribbean. Nothing. It is so freakin incredible how warm and fun it is.

5. People lie to your face all the time. Here I was, believing every word you said. I thought that you were actually telling me the truth and making an effort to fix it, but I guess I was wrong. It sucks, but I'm done with you. I'm done trying to impress you, I'm done trying to be your friend, and I'm done thinking about you... if only I was telling the truth.

6. There's something wrong with my car. I just can't figure out what it is. My car is a POS. That's for dang sure.

7. Not talking to some of your best friends for like 5 weeks is extremely tough. I NEED to see some of them soon. Especially Allison. I miss her oodles.

8. There is always somewhere you should draw the line. Unfortunately, I still can't always figure out where and when that is. I've done too many things this summer that I really shouldn't have, and I'm still regretting it.

9. Plaid shorts are the greatest things ever. I may look like I'm gay, but they have got to be the most comfortable pants I've ever worn.

10. Albertson's customers are all demons. I'm so sick and tired of dealing with people being rude and annoying to me and my coworkers/friends. Seriously.

11. I'm also frustrated with Albertsons themselves. Their lack of ability to find competent workers sickens me. Take one of my coworkers for example. She was asked about her sister and she says (and I quote), "I don't have a sister. Well, I have a little sister". I think that explains it all.

12. It still amazes me to this day, eight years after my first strings camp, how much the camp really affects people. I know that if I never went to strings camp, I would probably be choosing a much different career. I would be missing out on so much. Thank you, Mrs. Nelson, for making such a large impact on my life, and on others' lives as well.

13. I want to change the world somehow. Really really bad.

14. My cello has got to be the most amazing thing in the world, and I love love love LOVE to practice. It's growing on me (and just in time, too).

15. Its the best feeling in the world to know that I've changed someone's mind about music and being told that I'm a good role model. Especially because I view myself as someone who you really shouldn't want to be.

16. Planning for college really has a certain thrill about it. Sure, it costs me a crapload of money to go to college, and that has me freaked out beyond belief. But I think somehow I'll make it. Just spending time working on all of it has made me feel so much better about it.

17. I have really really strange crushes. I mean, it ranges from people younger than me to just people who I never really had considered liking before. Its a strange feeling. And a confusing one. Luckily, there hasn't been much contact with anyone for a while, and its probably better that I keep it that way.

18. Girls don't typically like being told you're going to marry them. Huh. Who knew?

19. Stay away from big pine trees. They make my eyes swell up like freakin chia pets.

20. Having a bunch of fifth and sixth graders bombard you with water for about fifteen minutes CAN be the highlight of your summer. What a great day it was.

21. Mooching is fun. And bad. But mostly fun.

22. I think differently now. I believe in myself a little more every day, and I keep growing in my belief that my life is going to turn out for the best. I feel like I'm on the right track, that soon I'll be doing what I love to do and being who I want to be. I'm really excited to see the rest of my life unfold. And at the same time, I'm extremely scared. I don't want to be a failure. I don't want to be in debt my whole life. But, unfortunately thats the way it's probably going to be.

23. My main goal in life is to influence someone so much, that they change into a better human being because of it. It's something I've always wanted. Especially through music, because I've been influenced so much by my musical experience, and I just love the way I feel whenever I'm immersed into music. I want others to feel how I feel.

24. Monopoly is the best game. Especially if you have hotels on all the orange ones. Because then you win.

25. I'm going to miss all of the great memories I had from high school. Homecomings, orchestra, all those things... but I think I'm going to remember senior prom for the rest of my life. That was by far one of the best memories I had from high school. I don't care how it turned out, or what it turned into, I just know that it was one of the most amazing nights of my life, and I don't want to ever forget it...