This was possibly the best year of my life. To review some of the main things that happened:
- Got my driver's license
- Accepted my offer of admission to my university
- Quit my 10 year competitive gymnastics career
- Graduated from high school (aka the ninth layer of hell)
- Got a job
- Started college
- Finished my first semester
The year started off a little rough with rejection letters every other day, either from colleges or potential jobs. But after a very long time of meditation, I think I've mostly come to terms with everything. It still hurts to think about how much I sacrificed for some of those, but I am very happy with where I am now.
Graduating high school was the second best part of the year. It was one of the best feelings of my life to walk out of the ceremony, knowing that it was all behind me. Just imagine how it would feel to spend two years of your life wishing for nothing more to leave the place you hate more and more every second you're in it--and then, you leave. I consider myself very fortunate to never have to step foot in my high school again.
The best part of the year, of course, was starting college. Initially, I doubted myself, as unfortunately, I do in everything. I questioned whether I was actually good enough for college. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that the night before my first day, I felt actual terror. But it was okay. It was great. I am finally in a place that I feel I've needed to be in for a very long time, which is extremely comforting. Granted, there were a fair amount of challenges, annoying projects, and disappointing grades, but it all worked out okay. Regardless, I'm happy. And to be honest, I kind of wanted those challenges.
Also notable was getting a job; not my first job, but my first real job in a real company with real guidelines. It was completely terrifying and hard for a few weeks, but I'm really thankful I stuck with it. It's the first job I've had that has made going out my comfort zone second nature. That's saying something. Customers almost always are kind and appreciative of the tasks I do for them, which I guess is something I enjoy, a lot. Perhaps sometimes it is definitely thankless, but I enjoy helping others, a breath of fresh air from being a student, which is a completely self-centered position.
I am very happy with 2014. It had its downs, of course, as every year does. But the ups were definitely ups. Ups that make me very happy to be alive. You were great 2014. 2015 can only be better.
