Tests and Sleepless Nights

"You do things and do things and nobody really has a clue." - John Updike

Ringing in the new year with my closest friends.

Hi long time no talk. Again. I have a completely legitimate reason this time though! It's nearing the end of the first semester for the school year which means nothing but tests. Last week I had multiple tests every single day of the week, and this upcoming week won't be much different. I am dying with sleep deprivation, but I'm so excited to finally hit another milestone in my life. People keep telling me not to worry too much about my grades because I'm already in college, but I want to keep trying. I wish I could get more sleep out of all of this, but lol some things never do change I guess.

I hope that 2013 has been amazing for all of you so far! I plan on getting started on more things on my resolution's list as soon as midterms are over! I'm looking forward to exercising more and reading more for sure. I've been such a bum lately focusing on only my studies and not my personal pleasure/health so February needs to hurry up and get here! I can't wait for this year to really get started because I'm positive it'll be amazing. :) It's crazy that January's already almost over, but I'm glad in a sense. Life is passing me by, but it's so worth it.

The test schedule that I made for the mid-end of this month.

But alright. Tons and tons to do tonight! Good luck to everyone in my school over these next two weeks! Second semester is only a few days away. :)

Letting Go and Moving On

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Twenty-some years ago: My dad (I suppose my love for photography comes from him) // my grandparents with my older brother: May you rest in peace, 奶奶. I love you. 3.7.12.

In these pictures, I wasn't even born yet. And here I am with nearly 17 years and 5 months to my name, and I am just so overwhelmed where life has taken me and my family.

2012 has had its ups and downs, but I am so excited for 2013 that it's too hard to coherently think about this past year. I hope you all had a year as wonderful as I did and are getting ready to have an even better 2013!

Here's a glimpse at some of my New Year's Resolutions for this upcoming year:

• Spend less time on the computer and social media sites
• Learn how to say "no"
• Sleep more because 2 hours of sleep isn't healthy
• Stargaze
• Watch the sunrise
• Laugh often
• Learn to ignore the people who make you feel bad about yourself
• Bike ride more often
• Be more outgoing
• Read the news

I am ready for another year. I am ready for a fresh start. I am ready for 2013.

Lost in Life

"Some memories are realities, and are better than anything that can ever happen to one again." - Willa Cather, My Antonia

Hey guys. So awkward moment when I've been inactive for a month. (A MONTH. How?!) I can't believe how much has changed in four weeks, and I completely blame myself for not blogging earlier because this time it was just laziness.

But nonetheless, I AM ALIVE. I'm praying that I start to blog more in 2013 because it's kind of sad how I have essentially no posts for the second half of 2012. Senior year is intense, I'll say that much. But I'm on winter break right now until Wednesday when I go back to another 3 months of school before spring break (how bad is it that I feel like counting down the days already?). It's been such a relaxing week for me, but I've spent it mostly alone since my brother never came home for the holidays and my parents evidently have more of a social life than I do. I just want to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas! (Eek I totally meant to blog, but I was caught up with playing Trivia Pursuit and a Chinese card game.) Anyhow, I hope you all had a wonderful wonderful holiday with your family and friends! I ended up visiting this BEAUTIFUL house with Christmas lights (seen above) on December 23rd and even though I went last year, I couldn't stop taking pictures. It was super cold, but it was totally worth it for the lights.

The second thing is............I GOT INTO MY DREAM COLLEGE!! All day on December 14th, I had been freaking out because I knew I was going to hear back at 6PM. And I honestly can't describe to you how amazing it felt. It was like I finally made it to the finish line--all of the work I've done over the past 17 years paid off and everything was even more wonderful than it already was. I don't want to disclose the college on here (I'll tell you if you ask me privately!) just for paranoia reasons, but I am so overwhelmed still that I don't think I'll ever be able to write properly about it.

I went to go visit (for the 3rd time) this past Friday just to, in a sense, confirm it. And it was even more beautiful than I remembered. I know it's winter and everything looks kind of lifeless and bare, but I couldn't stop smiling while I was there walking around on the campus. I kept thinking, "This is it. This is where I'll be next year." And everything just felt so right.

I also had a Secret Santa with some of my friends two Fridays ago to kick off winter break! It was so much fun to hang out with them again. I'm not even sure what we did really other than talk, play a few board games, and laugh, but I don't know how to explain how good it felt to talk to them again. We've all been so boggled down with school that it's hard to find the time to meet up anymore.

Other events of winter break include:

• Starting Friends and finishing season 1 in a matter of 2-3 days
• Watching The Avengers (FINALLY) and Pitch Perfect
• Putting Michael Buble's Christmas album on repeat
• Meeting up with a friend to eat pho and froyo (ugh, heaven)
• Writing a peer evaluation for a friend
• Editing a college essay for a friend
• (Spending more time on college-related things than anything else...)
• Researching my school for next year :)

Anyhow, I should go start my biology project that's due in 3 days. I'm hoping to be back tomorrow with a post to reflect upon 2012. If not tomorrow then definitely on 1/1/13! Have an amazing remainder of winter break and 2012. <3

Perfection

"We would be together and have our books and at night be warm in bed together with the windows open and the stars bright." - Ernest Hemingway

Ithaca, New York.

One of the emptiest and most peaceful hikes I've ever been on--a re-connection with nature.

Today was one of those days that tops all other days. I can't begin to explain it very well as I feel like words don't do it justice. I've realized I'm becoming less and less oriented around writing about small details in my blog which makes me kind of sad. (But at the same time, with the amount of work I have and the number of college apps I still need to do, I understand the change.)

Regardless, as I said, today was amazing. I haven't had such a good time since summer, and it was just so nice to do something to take away from the dreary coldness that's coming into the U.S. Winter's almost here, and I'm not looking forward to it. Snow is beautiful, yes, but the cold makes it all not worth it.

It's hard to describe how much I valued today. Perhaps it's because I finally got to go out (thank you, early dismissal!) or maybe it's because everything was utter perfection. I laughed until I got weird stares from nearby people, I tried new things, I showed my quirks and habits, I drove until the hum of my tires combined with the static on the radio. I loved every last second of it.

It's funny, really. How much things can change over a matter of time. As I scroll through old blog posts, I reminisce about everything that's passed me by. I have changed so much year after year, but I have yet to regret the person I've become as the days fly by. I am just so happy right now that it's hard to write.

I can't believe how fast this year is going though. It's crazy how today's the last day of November, how December is merely a few hours away, how in 15 days I will know the truth. I am too excited for the holidays, the atmosphere, the long nights, and well, everything. December should be spectacular.

I am terribly busy this weekend with school work and more college apps (I'm pretty sure every post I've made this school year has had those words in it), but as I said, I am happy. And that's all that really matters.

Almost There

"For lonely people, rain is a chance to be touched." - Simon Van Booy, The Secret Lives of People in Love

Old picture for old memories.

To sum up this month in regards to this blog: Wow, I suck.

This past month, in reality, has been pretty amazing and stressful at the same time. First quarter ended a few weeks ago so it was crazy trying to keep up with all my tests and papers. But at the same time, I've had my fair share of fun times so I shouldn't be complaining about anything.

• Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. I didn't get hit as hard as others did, but I was still without power for 40 hours and without school for 3 days. Even Halloween got moved to that Saturday!!
• "Halloween" was spent having dinner, trick-or-treating, hanging out, and making s'mores with my friends. All in all it was a beautiful night. That I meant to blog about but we only took 1 picture which is on my friend's phone so one day...maybe...haha.
• I sent in my first few college apps in October/the beginning of November and I already heard back from 2 of them! :) Say hello to a girl with 2 college acceptance letters! It was honestly such a wonderful feeling to get those in the mail.
• Thanksgiving was on Thursday! We had our annual Thanksgiving party, and there was, of course, lots of food involved!
• BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING WAS AMAZING haha. I went shopping in the premium outlets from 6AM-11AM and then continued at Target and other random stores from 1PM-3PM. I got so much stuff, and I'm so happy about how it turned out. :)

But speaking of college apps, I have tons more to finish before the deadline hits on New Year's Day! I finished one last night, but I have around 14 more essays to write. I PROMISE I'll try blogging more with December coming up and all! I am a huge fan of December and the holidays so expect posts!

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of November! And to any high school seniors out there, we're almost there. ♥

Homecoming

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." - Ferris Bueller

HI EVERYONE! This past week/this weekend have both been extremely eventful (and hectic). I sit here with 300+ new pictures in my hands and a terribly sore throat from all of the excitement.

So Monday through Friday was spirit week! It's an incredibly wonderful time of year, and each day had its own theme. Monday was college apparel/hat day, Tuesday was spirit day (where you wear my school's logo), Wednesday was dress-up day, Thursday was pajama day (so many onesies everywhere! haha), and Friday was class color day! (Seniors are black, juniors are white, sophomores are blue, and freshmen are red!) This year, the themes were: seniors-Harry Potter, juniors-Stormtroopers (from Star Wars), sophomores-superheroes, freshmen-CandyLand!

As a senior, I couldn't wait for Friday to come because of everything that goes on. Each grade decorates their own alcoves and all four looked amazing this year!

My grade's alcove!

It was so much fun working on the alcove this year! And I'm glad it turned out so nicely. :)

The juniors' alcove!

The sophomores' alcove!

The freshmen's alcove!

The rest of the day was really nice even though a bunch of my teachers tried to teach.

Me and Emily!

Me, Andrea, and Emily!

Tae and me!

Berenice :)

Calc BC class! Familim <3

Me and John!

ASIA! <3 Eddy, Nick, Emily, John, Me, Andrea, and Michael!

At the end of the day on Friday, we have this huge pep rally which was TONS of fun this year especially! I love being a senior. :') Hahaha. There was cheerleading, male cheerleading, step team, free throw shooting, and lots and lots of screaming! As seniors, we got rally towels and sunglasses, too, which made everything that much better. Every time we (the seniors) lost, we'd turn around and put up a triangle symbol to represent the deathly hallows.

^Credit goes to Casey Lee

And then the results came in............and we finished first!! :)

But later that night, we had the homecoming football game! I was there with Tae, Emily, and Nick. But then after a while, I just hung out with Eddy and Tae because Emily and Nick left.

A few of my friends were on homecoming court so at halftime, they got to ride in these fancy convertibles. :) The game itself was horrible though haha. I left with 5 minutes left in the entire game, and it was 14-42 which was pretty disappointing, but the touchdowns we scored were really exciting!

And FINALLY, last night (Saturday) was coronation! Coronation is our homecoming dance, and it was a lot more fun than I thought it'd be!

Carol, Sam, Christina, me, Andrea, and Emily. ♥

After the dance, Alan, Andrea, Eddy, Emily, Iris, Jason, Michael, Nick, and Shawn came over my house for a little after party, haha. I was exhausted (and still am), but it was fun!

But now that everything's over, I need to work on college applications and get some homework done! I'm so happy with how everything turned out especially because it's my last year in high school.

Have an amazing remainder of October! Halloween's only a few days away!