2013 in Review Tag (Part 1)

To herald the new year I have decided to make a long list of Bests. From best wake up to bonding experience, this will give a short summary on what has been a very long year. I hope you enjoy my reflections and post a comment or link me your response of the “2013 in review tag” which I have just made up right here, right now.

Best year 12 memory

My principal went to Italy and bought a picture book in Italian. She asked me to translate it into English and I said I would. One month later and just before an exam I rush to the office to drop it off. I hand it over and tell her how I organised it and she starts crying. “I really need to go to my exam now,” is how I responded to this sweet and unexpected outburst.

Best inspirational speaker

As a year 12 prefect, I went to a couple of conferences and events about leadership and service. Out of the blue at a Catholic school conference we had a keynote by Li Cunxin, the author of biography Moa’s Last Dancer. This biography begins when Cunxin is first chosen to begin ballerina training, his emigration of China to the U.S. and the dictatorial forces at work. I had seen the movie and heard about the book but it was completely different for the actual person to tell me. I admired his openness in sharing his struggles, some so extreme, cringe-worthy and heart-breaking that I saw many students pulling out tissues. I highly recommend the book and movie. Cunxin has changed my perspective on life for the better.

Best bonding experience

Sometimes the strongest bonds are made by accident. My friend was drunk, got into a fight and I helped her get out and looked after her. It was a vulnerable moment and although we don’t discuss it, I know that she knows I’ve got her back.

Best accomplishment

My hard work really paid off at awards night. Standing up on the stage as one of the Dux prize runner ups, I couldn’t believe what I had accomplished. Although I didn’t win, everyone told me afterwards that I had the biggest smile of the girls standing with me.

Best compliment

As a part-time scholarship I did two university subjects on creative writing and my tutor said that he loved my story. He said it was very much magical realism (which I intended) and compared me to a famous author (who I hadn’t intended but googled him later and felt very pleased about).

Best conversations

This is a difficult one but I will have to say my political/legal discussions with my friend Alex. Despite our lack of homework completion, we always had heaps to say on the subject and made the effort to dig deeper into the issues. Our discussion on saviour siblings for instance went for a good two days in classes, between classes and online.

Best phone calls

This is one of the things I will never forget about senior year: math is the only subject you MUST study for. If I had 3 subjects to do and only had time for 1, it would always be math because seriously... that stuff’s hard. Why on earth would you want to divide that? Where are they making this up? Why doesn’t  X just find itself? The best phone calls I ever had were the 2 hour math marathons with Georgie where it was dead silent on both ends until we finish the problem. “Did you get 93?” “Yeah I did.” “Cool. Moving on to chapter 9H, problem solving.”

Best Youtuber

I got very into the Youtube this year which was especially difficult during exam time. My favourite Youtuber is Dailygrace because she never fails to make me laugh.

Best OTP

Zalfie. They were so cute in Vlogmas.

Best Youtube series

The Lizzie Bennett Diaries are a phenomenal take on Pride & Prejudice. It was a brilliantly interactive, creative and addictive series. Emma Approved is also really kicking off now.

Best item of clothing

My green, paisley patterned dress. I love it, have worn it everywhere and wish to be buried in it.

*End of Part 1*

Remember to comment and post a response to one or multiple questions. I will upload the other half of the list as my next post. Ciao!

Writing letters

I have always been a big believer in the power of words. Some people don't think that words are all that useful in capturing exactly how a person is feeling at one moment but I really do. So for my graduation gifts -you know, the ones students give teachers at the end of high school to say thanks and don't miss me- I've decided to write people letters. Not just teachers either, friends and random people who've helped me so far. I am writing them all by hand and then folding them up into little envelopes like this. Consider me a postal service.

In year 9, I wrote my friend a short story about how we first met and why I respected her so much and thereafter all my friends wanted their own story for their birthdays too. Not only are stories or even memories hard work to put on paper, I sometimes felt as if I'm giving bits of myself away and opening myself for judgement. What if these feelings were one sided? Does the other person even remember it? I figure that since I'm leaving and may never them again, I will go for broke.

So far I have maybe 6 letters with many more to come. There are a couple for my subject teachers, friends, fellow captains and some people who have just had a perhaps accidental impact on my life. An example of this accidental impact is my year 10 English teacher who introduced me to Atticus Finch. Another is a particular librarian to whom I recommended a book and received it new, uncovered and fresh from a bookstore the very next day. I was first to read it. Another to whom I will write is my principal who I have a strangely friendly relationship with. Another to a teacher who always teased me about my hair until I teased him back. It is odd to think I am leaving these people for good. I hope that if they've forgotten what I'm talking about, they'll try to remember.

John Green quoting his wife wrote, "Thinking about the future is a kind of nostalgia." 

To this I say, "Exactly."

Let me know if you've ever written a letter to someone that you've regretted or what you gave for graduation gifts. Ciao.

The Crew

Disclaimer: what follows is sappy. Read if you so desire.

So yesterday was the school award's night, my last ever awards night as a high school student. I swore I wouldn't cry and I was very close to successful. I've been so lucky, blessed, to be part of the leadership "crew" 2013 at my school. I am one of the ten captains who sit in the front row. I am one of the ten who handed out trophies and medals to their worthy recipients. I am 1/10.

I don't think I can adequately explain how being a part of something bigger than you, being part of a united front, can make you feel. It's a family. We fight and some days we say the wrong thing and hate each other. In just under two weeks we will finish high school together, the gates are waiting for us and for this moment we cling to each other like life rafts.

#glorydays

I feel her pent up excitement next to me all night. "I'm so happy for you," Olive says to me. She's smiling like she just saw something wonderful. I feel that we are each others' cheer squad and that if anyone dared take it off me, my team would be all over them.

There is this euphoria as we received our gifts, as my class was called out and as the cameras flash. I am proud of everyone although there is nothing about them that I could take credit for.

To finish, I've included an awesome youtube video of a college graduation. This is definitely something I want to do in my last few days of school and it has great music.

Please let me know what your thoughts were at graduation, if you even remember it or what you feel about it now. 

Ciao.