See the Difference?

This a picture taken of me during the fourth term of seventh grade.

This is my most recent picture of myself.

Not a whole lot has changed in the last two years. I've grown up a little, I've learned where and when it's ok to be silly, and when it's not. I have become a more intelligent person, and (I believe) a better person to be around. I've become a better writer, student, and friend. I've become more determined to do things, and I think I know where I want my life to go. Things change though, and so I know that I am not going to stick to the path I'm on now for my whole life.

I'm beginning to realize now that this is the end of junior high. I turned in my last AR contract today, and as soon as I finish To Kill A Mockingbird I will take my last AR test. We have 56 days until school is out, and I won't be there for my last day as a 9th grader. I'm ok with that though. It's taken me awhile, but I can honestly say that I am so stoked for nationals, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm sad that I'm going to miss my last day, but that just means I will have a different last day. My last day of classes will be my last day at Fairfield. The last week I will go to school for a grand total of two days, but you know what? I'm thinking those days are going to be some of the most memorable.

It is hard to think of what next year will be like. One of my strongest memories is that first day of seventh grade. I walked into my first period class (Keyboarding 1 with Bitner) after a ten minute struggle with my locker. I walked in and I saw that a lot (2 or 3) of my friends from my elementary school were in the class. I also saw that a girl I knew from Harry Potter Camp (I'm a nerd. Deal with it.) and her friend were there. I said hi, and in a nervous (yet excited) conversation about the day to come we decided that we were officially "keyboarding buddies". When that class ended we found out that the three of us were also in Beginning Orchestra together. I am sad to see that I don't really talk to one of those girls at all anymore, and although I talk to the other one we aren't really that great of friends anymore.

So all this makes me wonder. I'm going into high school with quite a few more friends than I had almost three years ago. My best friend in the whole world is taking almost all of the same classes as I am. I know we are going to have a great year, but by changing our school now, by going to a new place, in a new situation, etc. What am I going to lose? What friends are going to drift away next year? Who is going to find someone they get along with better? Will I be the one who goes in a new direction next year? I'm scared to tell you the truth. I love my friends more than anything, and I'm worried that if they split and go in a new direction I will be left to find my own way, and I'm afraid I'll get so lost that there will be no way back.

I'm excited though. In a way I'm looking forward to see who is going to find a new direction. I want to see the new people and the new places. I'm excited to see how much better block scheduling is. I can't wait to try all these new things.

Sure the familiarity will be gone, and I might sink for a while, but eventually I'll learn to float. I know I've planned a lot of things for next year. Two AP classes, two honors classes, debate, spanish, and hopefully Science Olympiad. It's a lot to handle, but I think I can do it. I think that as long as I have a few good friends (new or old) by my side I will be ok.

So here we go. Fourth term is here folks. We're finishing our last year as a Falcon. Already we're shaping into loyal and proud Lancers and Darts. We're so close to being finished with junior high. We need to make the most of the time we have left, and we need to enjoy every second of it.