It’s been a while since I've had a new blog post, but
December was a busy month for me. But
here’s a new one now. Hurray!
This being a brand spankin new year and all, this post is
going to be my way to reflect on 2013 and say a few things about what would be
nice to see happen in 2014.
The short story: 2013 was a year of milestones for me. I mean, a lot happens in your senior year of
high school between the whole ending grade school and starting college thing.
So obviously, a big part of 2013 was graduating from high
school and having the best time ever at graduation. You know those moments in life that were so
much fun that you want to do again? I
would love to give my speech again. That
was so much fun, people.
There was just something about feeling like I had conquered
my shyness. When I was up on that stage
giving my speech, the moment I had daydreamed about for at least four years
straight, I felt confident, I felt euphoric, and I felt like I was such a
boss. Because, let’s be honest, I was. And the feeling I got when I got to the point
where everyone said, “thank you Mr. Brady,” with me? Oh my goodness, people, that was so
great. I had been so paranoid that it wouldn't turn out right and everyone would forget or I wouldn't be clear with my cue, but it worked perfectly! So a
humongous thank you to everyone who helped with that. You’re all awesome.
Another big thing that happened for me was being named a
National Merit Finalist. For those of
you that don’t know, being a National Merit Finalist is a big deal. A huge deal, really. It’s a forever long process that caused me so
much stress I’m surprised my hair isn't gray.
First, I took the PSAT (a terrible, terrible test) in October of my
sophomore year. 2010, for those keeping
score. Then me and thirty-odd students
from my class that also took it got chosen to be in the PSAT class, a class
aimed at increasing PSAT scores. It
lasted from spring of my sophomore year to October of my junior year. The class had three teachers, each helping us
with a different area of the PSAT (English, Critical Reading, and Math). The class was the hardest one I had taken up
to that point (oh, if only I had known what AP English had in store for
me). It had so much work and it just
stressed me and everyone else out. But
you know what? All that work paid
off. We all took the PSAT again in
October of our junior year (2011). This
was the test that counted. In December,
we got our scores. I scored the highest
out of my PSAT class! Then the next
semester I got a letter saying I had scored high enough to be in consideration
of being a National Merit Scholar. Then,
then, in September of my senior year (2012) I got a letter saying I was a
National Merit Semi-Finalist (eep!!). To
be in the running for Finalist, I had an application to fill out. It involved:
1)
Taking the SAT and not doing terrible on it
2)
Filling out some basic information about you
3)
Filling out a short resume
4)
Writing an essay based on the topic of a person
or event that had a big influence on your life
The hardest part was the essay. I mentioned this in a previous post, but I’ll
say it again. What the National Merit
people basically want you to do it pour your soul into this essay and give it
to complete strangers to read and decide if it’s good enough to let you into
their club. My friend who is a year
older than me is a National Merit Finalist, and her essay was very
personal. She doesn't let many people
read it. But I couldn't think of
anything as personal as hers. I had
ideas, and I would start to write an essay, but I never got anywhere.
In the back of my head I had an idea of what I should write
about, but it was such a big thing to me that I didn't think I could do it
justice. I didn't think I could make
complete strangers feel the emotion that it had for me. I didn't feel like I could explain it
right. And really, I didn't want to let
the person that’s involved in it down.
I was sitting at a football game, and my teacher and best
friend’s mom (both the same person) came over to see the band. Most people aren't allowed to just stand
there with the band all up in our business during games, but she does what she
wants, and she’s cool enough. She was
talking to me and my other best friend (who is also a Finalist and so was
working on her essay) about our essays. I
told her how I couldn't think of anything that would be emotional and personal
enough. Then she looked at me and say, “You
know what you need to write about.” We
both knew what she was talking about. I
told her how that was an idea, but I didn't think I could write it the right
way.
I went home that night, after the game, so it was about
11:00, and wrote the first paragraph in fifteen minutes. I wrote it pretty much how it appeared in my
final essay. It was the easiest
experience I had ever had writing, and I know today that it was because it came
straight from my heart.
You see, I didn't have to worry about writing the essay in a
way that the National Merit would feel the emotion behind it. Because I was so overwhelmed with my own
connection to the topic, all the emotions I felt because of it, that the
emotion practically dripped off of the pages.
There was no way I could have written this essay wrong because I cared
too much about the topic to let that happen.
The day after I finished the essay, I took it to school to
let my teacher read. I told her
something like, “you were right. This is
what I needed to write about.” I asked
her later about it, and she told me it was beautiful. After being my Gifted English, PSAT, and AP
English teacher, she had read a lot of my essays, and she had read a lot of
other peoples’ essays, but I had never heard her call an essay, “beautiful.”
She took the essay to my other Gifted and AP English teacher
(they teach alternating years, so I had had them both), who had never heard
the story behind my essay. She said even
though she was an outsider to the situation, she completely understood it from
what I said. That made me so happy.
My best friend cried when she read it. She asked for a copy of it.
I still cry sometimes when I go back and read it.
So, long story short, I felt confident about becoming a
National Merit Finalist after that essay, and in February of my senior year
(2013), two years and four months after taking the PSAT for the first time, I
got a letter congratulating me on becoming a National Merit Finalist. Today, that title means so much to me because
I know how hard I worked for it, and I know how much emotion was in that
essay. I really did pour my soul into
it. So yeah. That was a big part of 2013.
Another great thing from 2013 was being named one of the
Star Students of my senior class. Me and
this guy had tied for the highest ACT score in our class, so we both got to be
Star Students and each got to pick a Star Teacher. I picked my Gifted English-PSAT-AP English
Teacher Best Friend’s Mom, obviously.
And may I say that our paragraphs about each other were both
fantastic. The student and teacher
usually talk about each other, but we both said much more than anyone had in years
past. Part of that was because we have a
lot to say in general, but the main part was because of how well we knew each
other and how much we had both experienced.
She saw me grow up from a shy little kindergartener to a confident
senior. She saw me fight through all the
hard classes, and she always offered to help me find the right answer. She was more than an English teacher. So that whole experience was super fun. Plus our picture together in the yearbook is
totally adorable.
I also went on some important trips in 2013! I went on my first trip to Washington D.C. Super fun experience. I got that opportunity from being in a
leadership group in my county, so I got to go with some great friends. I learned a lot, saw a lot, did a lot, and
had such a great time with them. I also
was in the Mississippi All-State Lion’s band (a huge honor and an even bigger
deal) and got to travel with them to Germany and Austria. In Germany, I got to march in the Lion’s
International Parade, and that was such an experience. So.
Many. People. We won and became International Champions for
the 29th time! Lion’s Band
explained in a super short way: band kids from all over the state audition for
the band, they take about 120ish, and they go to Lion’s Band Camp in July where
they learn their parade routine (it's like a little marching show. It’s a cool concept) and also prepare a
concert. At the end of camp, they
perform the parade routine and the concert for parents and friends, and then
soon after, they board a plane and head to wherever the Lion’s Convention is
being held, where they compete in the parade and then spend the rest of the
trip sightseeing and such. It was super
cool, and I got to go back to Europe with my best friends (hurray!).
What else happened in 2013?
I started college, so that’s pretty big. I learned that I really like college. It’s super different from high school, but it’s
not always a bad different.
I met lots of new people in the band and at other places,
and I formed some friendships that I really don’t know how I've survived
without them all these years. I can’t
wait to see what the rest of college has in store for us.
I learned how to make a pizza from scratch, so that’s cool.
I got to watch my high school band get second place at State
Championships. Being an alumnus of such
a great program makes me so happy inside.
Also, also, I got to talk to the band before they boarded the buses to
head to championships. A few days before,
I had posted my blog, “My Best For You,” and after reading it, the band
director asked me to read it to the band.
I was so excited! I had always wanted
to be allowed to say inspirational things to the band, and this was my
chance. I read the blog and said some
more things afterward, and I really enjoyed myself. I made a bunch of people cry, and that always
makes me happy (not that they’re crying, but that my words moved them so much
that they cried).
I saw FUN. in concert, and that was super fun. Me and my friends got tickets on the floor,
so we got to be super close to the stage, and when the confetti fell, we were right
there getting rained on. At concerts and
events and such, I've always been so jealous of the people that get rained on
by confetti. I loved being one of those
people.
I played the bass clarinet for the spring contest of my
senior year. I had never played the bass
clarinet, but I like to say I did really well. However, between that and playing the
contrabass clarinet for Lion’s Band, I learned that I prefer my little regular clarinet.
Speaking of my little regular clarinet, I made the Wind
Ensemble at college! I’m one of the two
freshmen clarinets, and even though I’m last chair, hey, I’m in the band, which
means I get to go to Italy next May! Woo
hoo! Back to Europe!
Oh, and something I definitely can’t forget! I got my first boyfriend in 2013! *cue awww
from studio audience* He’s a super
fantastic guy, and he asked me to be his girlfriend in the most adorable way
ever, so you should all be super jealous.
He most likely was one of the first people to read this post, which
makes him even cooler. I can’t wait to
see all the adventures we’ll have together.
I probably ate a taco or two in 2013.
I also slept quite a few hours.
So, overall, 2013 was pretty great. Sure, there were some pretty terrible times
that I absolutely hated at the time, and probably still do, but there were also
some pretty awesome times, and I made some pretty awesome memories.
Here’s to many more great years like that.
So what do I want to see happen in 2014?
I want to see myself challenged in even more ways than last
year. That means physically, mentally,
and emotionally. I want to learn more
and do more. Basically, I want to
continually see that I’m not perfect and I don’t know it all, and that God’s
there to show me just that. But I also
know that if He does that, then He’ll also show me how to make it through all
those challenges I’ll face, and because of them, I’ll only get better at life
in general. Because we could all get
better at that.
I also would like to see myself run more, and my roommate’s
determined to make sure of that.
I hope you wish for the same in 2014 (the being challenged
part, but the running part too if you’re into that).
Peace out, 2013, it’s been real. Thanks for the memories, and thanks for the
lessons.
2014, get ready, buddy, because here I come.
Mo
