Three Days in the Life of a Lone Peak Goer

School started on August 23rd and after three days of survival I have noticed many differences from the strict and often overpowering life as a high schooler in Virginia.


In the Hallways:

Yes, you see the picture; mullets are rampant in the halls of Lone Peak. How those boys think it's attractive, I do not know. They are all very attractive young men until you look at their head and you go from business in the front to WABAMM party in the back. Not a good looking hair style. If they're trying to bring it back, it will never work.

And what is more popular than the famous mullet is the rather obnoxious and quite disgusting rat tail. I am not a fan at all. I secretly wish that I was allowed to run around the school and snip them off of each boys head. They probably wouldn't even notice...

I'm so used to hats not being allowed in school so every time I see someone wearing a hat I expect an administrator to come flag 'em down. I never really understood why hats weren't "appropriate for school" so I'm excited to have that option. And even though I will most likely not wear hats on a regular basis, it's nice to have the freedom of self expression at my disposal.

In Virginia there was a strict rule against all electronic devices between the hours of 7:20 and 2:10 but at Lone Peak you are actually somewhat encouraged to use your cell phones in the hallways. As long as they don't see them in class, you can use them as much as you want. I see people walking down the hallway and talking on the cell phones between almost every class. I like this more easy going atmosphere.

This aspect of my new high school makes me feel like I'm in a movie because I feel like the stereotypical high schools have those kids that carry around their ghetto blasters and that's exactly what it's like. They blast the music through the hallways on a ghetto blaster just like the one in this picture. Not only that but at lunch they...:

Break dance and have dance parties. Seriously, I feel like I'm in High School Musical. This is my kind of entertainment for lunch. In Virginia they rarely played music in lunch and we never ever danced.

The "open campus" lunch is very different from Robinson Secondary. At Robinson, we had to stay in the cafeteria the whole lunch period unless we had a pass. Here in Utah, you can leave school and walk across the street to Subway, McDonalds, or Walmart, or sit wherever you want in the hallways, in the commons, in class rooms, ouside, etc. Once again, I feel like I'm in a movie. This is pretty stinkin' cool.
In the Classroom:
Everyone's Mormon. I've always known that Utah is mostly Mormon but I am shocked at how prevalent it is at school. In Virginia, there was a strong separation between school and church but here in Utah they almost intermingle. I was in theater yesterday and we were going around introducing ourselves and people openly talked about stake dances and girl's camp. To think that everyone understood that kind of lingo. Wow! I am in shock. In Math someone talked about their sister and the teacher told the class he saw that boy's sister at the temple. In my sewing class we had a survey we had to take around the room and get other students to sign if they had certain qualities. There were things like "same month of birthday" or "likes the same food" and then there were a few like "has a brother or sister on a mission" and "read their scriptures last night". I seriously can't even believe it. In English, my teacher talked about her mission in England. I love being so open about beliefs and the church. It's kinda like an extended EFY on some levels.


There are more differences that I've noticed and I'm pretty sure I could go on and on but I am not aiming to write a novel so hope you enjoyed. I think I need to work on ending posts. The End.

Letter to a Long-Lost Friend

Dear Running,


    We've known each other for quite a while now and our relationship hasn't been the steadiest. I would like to blame our rocky friendship on you, but I am the guilty one. I've been ignoring you for some time now and I feel it necessary to apologize. We used to be best friends and then I got lazy and let everything go. I know it's been almost 8 months since we talked but I want to let you know that, even when I don't act like it, I really do love you. 
   
    I remember when we would spend time together everyday and you built my confidence, letting me know that I could do hard things, despite my weak, human nature. You taught me to endure to the end even when the trail is rough. Our group of friends was so much fun and we were there for each other day after day.
  
    I think that if I tried to put my finger on why I haven't been the same around you the past few months is because the cold months got me down. I found it hard to see you when it took so much effort to get outside. Spring time came and I thought it the perfect weather to come see you but I felt so bad that I hadn't for so long that I stayed away. My next excuse was that it was summer and too hot to get myself out the door.


    But now the excuses are over. I am ready to be friends again, even with the awkward stage of getting acquainted once more. I promise to see you at least 5 times a week. You are too precious to lose. 


Love,
Michaela Proctor


P.S. I thought it would be good to include a few pictures of us together. We had some good times!

Look how happy we are together.

We've gotten through some tough times.

Us and all of our friends.

Taking a water break.

O Jerusalem

        I was spending the day at my Grandma's house last week and we got talking about Jerusalem and how special it is. She rummaged through her office to find a book that my brother, Andy, made after his experience at the BYU Jerusalem Center. My Grandma left me to journey through the pages of that book and as I did I felt a longing I had never felt before. This force like magnetism, drawing me to that holy place. I had heard my family tell me over and over how wonderful that Holy Land is, but I had never felt it's power until I read that book. After this realization of the love I have for this place I have yet to go to, I have resolved to do everything in my power to get there. I want with all my heart to walk where my dear Savior walked and to feel the power of those ancient walls. I can see how Jerusalem has marked my family and I want that mark on my spirit as well.
        This realization came with a yearning for travel in general. I love to experience new places and learn the history and the culture of a people. I love photographing sights and capturing feelings. My parents have always told me to not let my schooling get in the way of my education but now I know that I shouldn't. Will I remember two weeks in Jerusalem or another two weeks in high school? O Jerusalem, I long to see thee. I want to be changed by your spirit and filled with your beauty. Here is a video my sister made after her experience at the Jerusalem Center.

So today marks the day I have resolved to do everything in my power to experience all that I can, to pull back the fleshy parts of my heart and let life in.

The Big Picture

      I had Girl's Camp this past week and Trek the week before and I have been filled with a knowledge of the love the Heavenly Father has for His children. His great love is so incomprehensible, and yet we can be given a taste of His love if we just ask. Trek was a trial of faith as we hiked through the hills of Virginia. I am so grateful that the Lord sees the big picture and knows exactly what experiences we need in order to be successful in life. He knew that just a day after Trek I would be making my own trek west and using those same lessons I learned in the "wilderness". He knew that as I learned to really put my trust in Him during that trying women's pull, I would know to put my trust in Him when it felt like I was pulling that handcart alone in life. I only have the view through a telescope, but He can see the whole universe. 

       One of my favorite trials from Trek was when we were blindfolded and had to pull the handcart as a group. We had to listen closely to the instructions of our Mas and Pas and had to walk slowly so we had time to follow their promptings. That experience was really a type of life. We seem to be very blinded in this world and the only way we can get to our destination in safety is to listen to our Father in Heaven and follow his promptings exactingly. Even if we feel like we are walking blindly, we have the guidance of our Father to help us whenever we need it. This is a lesson I have learned on my own Trek west.

       The day after Trek ended I packed my bags and took a plane from Virginia to Utah. Although I did not have to endure the hardships of the trail and the physical pain the pioneers had to endure, I still felt a lot of pain and made a seemingly large sacrifice. I still had to leave behind everything I knew and loved and I had to forge the way for myself. We are all on our own journeys. We are on wilderness journeys that can sometimes feel lonely and difficult. Isn't it comforting to know that we have Heaven on our side? Even though leaving my home behind, not to mention my friends and family, was hard, I'm already realizing what God has in store for me. The spirit prompted us to move and so I knew I had something wonderful in my future. 
        Girl's camp in Alpine was one of those wonderful things that God blessed me with. He blessed with fast friends and a ward full of strong girls and great leaders. It could have been so much harder. I could have made no friends and I could have been placed in a small, struggling ward. How was I so blessed to be put in this town, in this house, in this ward, with these people? God's love is endless.
        Although moving could be considered a trial, I'm just going to count it as one of my many blessings. Leaving my life long home and close friends was not easy, but I know that because I trusted the Lord and moved forward with the prompting to "trek" west, the Lord will provide. Even though I left without my family, our house in Virginia hasn't sold, and I am living out of a suit case for most of the summer, I have so many great things to be thankful for.
       One devotional we had on Trek was about finding the good in everything, like the pioneers. To persevere and push forward with hope even when you think all is lost. This is what I am trying to do now. As I look for all of the blessings I am given, I realize just how wonderful life is and how much my Father in Heaven loves me. There are a few things to be sad about but there are many, many more things to be happy about. Oh how grateful I am for a Father who orchestrates my life so that I go on Trek and learn to endure trials right before my own great trial, who gives me friends in a place I am unfamiliar with, and who has blessed me with a positive attitude at this time when a negative attitude would be so much easier. May God bless you with that same knowledge, for it makes life so sweet.

Spontaneity At Its Finest

This weekend has been full of fun times and spontaneity. Friday night I spent my time with three of the most amazing people I know. We had a great time running around late at night and doing the craziest things. It's those times that I feel like a real teenager. Like I've captured that "high school" feeling that I dreamed about as a kid. Nothing planned, just completely off the wall and care free. Not caring who is watching or judging you, you will make a long chain of straws at Five Guys. Not caring how uncomfortable it is, you will cram into a tent and watch Letters to Juliet on a lap top in the back yard. Not caring how dark or muddy it is, you will run through the woods with your white shoes on (yeah...they're not white anymore). Not caring how illegal it is to trespass on a play ground at night, you will sit on the swings and talk forever. That feeling of complete freedom and excitement is hard to beat. I wish we had taken pictures that night, but it might have taken away from the craziness of the whole thing. Some of my favorite, spontaneous memories:
(these aren't in any kind of order)

Having a trampoline party on a school day in March 2010

Climbing in the rafters at Girl's Camp 2010

Playing the spinning dummy game on Pizza Night with the gals in my group at EFY 2009. I took a lot of videos...but the health counselor was the best!

Finding a tunnel under Blarney Castle in Ireland and finding a little cave where we took a picture.  Good times with those fun people. (British Isles Cruise 2009)

Other times I don't have pictures for:


Running through the fountain at Fairfax Corner with a bunch of friends and then have it start to pour rain. What made it even better was that we randomly asked these boys to dance with us so we danced with them in the rain. Oh man. I wish I could replay that day. (2009)


Having a bonfire with a bunch of awesome Mormon people and then running down Sideburn Road at 11pm and stealing road signs. Wow. We are illegal. (2010)


Driving to a dance with Ariel Campos and friends. I was scared for my life but we blasted the music and danced in the car and I felt crazy but it was so fun. I was a 14 year old with a bunch of 17 year olds and I was on top of the world. (2009)


I would continue but my spontaneous, teenage self must follow some rules and get to bed. Here are some pictures from Mormon Prom to entertain you until the next post:

The beautiful ladies

The group. Aren't we kinda pretty? :)

The studly guys

Me and my date, Jeff

I loved my dress! The little details were so pretty. 

Curly hair is my favorite. 

Me and one of my best friends ever, Ariana

Thanks to Beautifully Modest, we were looking pretty fine in our super modest dresses!

Our fancy dinner in Ariana's backyard

Given to See

A few months ago when my Mom was on a plane, mid-flight, a thought struck her that has now struck me today like a ton of bricks. As she was sitting in her cramped seat, reading a book, she heard her neighbor ask for a cup of cranberry juice. As the stewardess was preparing the drink, my Mom was shown in her mind's eye a scene of the stewardess dropping the cup all over her book. She had a feeling to move her book so that the juice would not hurt the book, but of course, she thought nothing of it. "My mind is being quite creative" she thought. "Of course that wouldn't happen". And do you know what happened? Exactly what she saw play out in her head. To my Mom, it seemed crazy that such a random event would be given to her to see before it happened. The spirit acts in mysterious ways. Why would she be given to see that inconsequential moment in time? I think that God is teaching us to trust in him, even in the smallest of situations. To trust even the tiniest promptings because you will be blessed for following them. But sometimes what you are given to see isn't an action you need to perform like moving a book, but sometimes it is just a little reminder that all things will work for your good. I experienced that kind of thing today. I ordered a dress for the Mormon Prom a couple weeks ago and I had been a bit nervous that it wouldn't come in time. The dance is this Saturday, the 21st, and as this week began I was feeling a little scared about having to go to Prom without a fancy dress. But in the back of my mind I had a feeling that Tuesday would be the day that it would come. I knew it, despite my nerves. Why didn't I just trust that feeling and let go of that worry that gripped my stomach? I realized I need to trust those feeling more often. Trusting in the Lord and what He tells me makes life a lot easier. Instead of thinking, "What if this dress doesn't come? What if I get it a day late? What will a wear? Will it fit? Are things going to work out?" I should make life a little easier on myself and let that worry go.


P.S. I will post pictures of the dress ASAP :)

Frozen in Place

This picture describes my current feelings about life. I feel frozen in place between normal life and a huge leap into the unknown. Moving has been so much apart of our whole family's thinking since November and after processing it over and over again in my mind I am ready. I'm ready for this huge change and yet it still hasn't happened. I have to wait over two months. I am enjoying the time I have with friends, but I always have the move in the back of my mind. I try to continue making connections and memories with people, but I can't help but putting up a barrier in my mind to keep me from making wonderful memories in this place because I know I'm just going to move anyway and it will be even more painful. Silly, right? I know that if we thought that about every change then we would continuously be in a lame duck stage forever, but my soul has already chosen the lame duck and can't seem to get beyond it. I feel idle and that is possibly the worst feeling in the world. This strange sensation could also be caused by my restlessness in school. I'm tired of it. That is all. I guess this time of waiting for the summer changes is a trial of patience. I'm trying to be patient. At least I'm filling my time with photography. That has really been a lot of fun for me. It gives me something to do and each time I do a shoot I feel myself getting better. From my most recent shoot:

This is my escape from the idleness and restlessness of my day to day.

New Found Love

I think we all have the "perfect girl" (or boy) image in our minds. This image is what we see to be beautiful and talented and maybe even a goal of ours to reach. In my mind, one quality that the "perfect girl" has is the ability to sing and play the guitar. Recently, I haven't had a lot of homework and I've had a little bit more free time, so I decided that I was going to play the guitar. Now, I have tried and failed to learn to play multiple times, but this time, I was determined. I started teaching myself four days ago and can proudly say that I can play 10 chords! I really love playing the guitar. It will be fun to be the girl that can play for everyone singing around the camp fire at Girl's Camp or play at "coffee house" shows at school. The only thing I need to get passed are my bruised, cut, and sore fingers. I guess those fingers will just be evidence that I am not lying when I say that I have finally conquered some guitar chords. Oh, I lied. The fingers are not the only things I need to get passed. I also need to work on my fear of singing and playing for others...

Photo I took of my friend playing guitar.

P.S.

I love this picture. We look a little taken off guard, but it's good to know that even when we were off guard we were still together.

We Walked Side By Side

This day is a very important day to me. It could be because it's National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day or it's the day that Elvis Presley joined the army, although I never cared for raisinets or The King. I could venture to say that it's a Thursday which means tomorrow is Friday, but Thursdays come every week of the year so I wouldn't call them outstanding on the importance scale. I do have a chorus concert tonight but once again, there's something even more important. Okay, I'm done beating around the bush. On this day, March 24, 2011, my best friend is turning 21. I can't believe it. Mariah is 21. It seems like just yesterday that I was heading out the door with her to my first day of Kindergarten in Virginia. Oh, how the years have flown. I love so much about my best friend but I will just name a few. Actually, I'll name 21. 


These are not in any particular order. I am just writing them as they come to my mind. 


1. Did I mention this best friend of mine is also my sister? Isn't it handy that my best friend for eternity was born from the same womb? Some siblings don't have the close ties that I have with my sister, but I'm glad I can confidently say, "Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends" author unknown. 

2. Mariah is one that never takes the same picture twice. Her face always displays a different crazy expression. Her philosophy: "Why have a ton of pictures of the same face? Isn't that boring?" To Dad, this is a frustrating philosophy being the constant photographer because he can never seem to get a decent, smiling picture out of her. To me, I find it quite amusing.


3. I love that Mariah is never scared of what other people think. She doesn't make decisions based on other people. She isn't afraid to do something crazy in public because she doesn't care for the judgments of others. She is just her. She's never faltering in being herself. I admire that about Mariah because I find it easy to be influenced by culture around me. It's funny to think that it takes courage to be yourself, but that, my friend, is the truth.

4. Mariah is full of ambition. When she makes a goal or has a dream, she stops at nothing until she reaches it. It takes a big heart to say to yourself, "It didn't work out this time, but I'll go for it and try again." It's so easy to give up and have the mind set of "not being good enough". When she had the idea that she wanted to do a study abroad in Thailand, I thought she was a little crazy, not going to lie. I was amazed at how resourceful she was. She entered contests and made a "kickstarter" project online. Many people have a barrier over their heads telling them their limit as to what they can do and accomplish. Mariah has taken the barrier away and however cheesy this is, she knows that the sky is the limit.


5. Like me, she's a hopeless romantic and like her, I love this painting: 

We discovered this painting in a little B&B in England.

6. Part of the reason I started this blog was because I want to get better at writing and guess who my inspiration is? Mariah. Every time I read any article, letter, wall post, etc. I can always hear her voice saying it. That is a skill that not all people have. I struggle to put my own voice into my writing. For me, there's me and then there's the writer, but for Mariah, they are one. Read her writing here.

7. She is my travel buddy until the end. We have traveled to many countries together and I wouldn't rather travel with anyone else. One of my favorite traveling experiences with her was going to England for summer 2007. Whether it was hiking through the Lake District or going on a ghost tour of Woolley, I enjoyed being with her the whole time. Hopefully, we have many trips to look forward to together. 


8. Mariah never complains. When it's freezing outside and she has no jacket, she won't complain at all. When she is tired from a long day she never whines about it. Although I wouldn't call myself a complainer, I could work on keeping my mouth shut when all I can think of is the negative. I remember the day she made the decision that she would stop complaining. I don't think I've hear a complaint out of her since. She's just happy with life no matter what comes at her.


9. I'll always be impressed at how bold Mariah is. She once wrote an essay about her goal of making bolder choices in life. She had a certain amount of time and a certain number of bold things she had to do and I was amazed at what kinds of things she did. She kidnapped a whole classroom and made them listen to her monologue or something. Ok, so I'm a little fuzzy on the details. Let's just say that you always know a person by the way they jump into water. She doesn't even feel the water's temperature before she runs and jumps. I want to take more chances in life and go for the "run and jump". 

10. I would call Mariah a free spirit. We all have a picture in our heads of the people we know and the picture in my head I have of Mariah is probably this one:

She is happy and ready to embrace life. No matter what hits her and no matter the clouds and the rain, she's always walking in sunlight.

11. I guess each of the things I love about Mariah are things I would like to become more of. She is such a great example to me. Although our Mom and Dad have always told both of us to read the Book of Mormon everyday, Mariah was the one that really influenced me to make the commitment to read everyday because I saw her doing it.

12. This is similar to the last one but another habit I observed in Mariah was daily journal writing. She would faithfully write everyday and add pictures and fun thoughts. And like the little puppy that I am, I followed her in that habit. Now I keep a daily journal with pictures in it. I will treasure my journals forever and they were brought to be because of the example I saw from Mariah. 

13. Mariah is so talented and puts all that she has into every role, every song, every dance, every speech, and every costume she does. She really throws herself into her character and makes up stories about the pasts of the characters she plays. I love that she puts her full heart and soul into acting because it really helps the audience believe what she is portraying. She has made me cry multiple times on stage. She might not even know that, but there's my confession.

She makes me laugh. This was from her role in "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1920". I might have the date wrong on that. 1920? 1950? 1940? I'm not sure.

14. I love that we can be crazy together. I loved driving to school with her during her senior year and blasting the music and talking. I can always be myself around her. I never have to hold back my feelings or feel embarrassed to speak my mind. We can each be who we really are when we are together. I can tell her about the boys in my life and giggle like a twelve-year-old girl, or I can have a deep gospel discussion with her. I found this photo and laughed (it was crazy hair day). We were and always will be bosom friends.

15. I can tell Mariah anything and I know that she will give me good advice. She always seems to know just exactly what to say and just exactly what I need to hear. I have called her many times in tears and she has helped me think straight. She is sympathetic but also straight forward. I can't believe how blessed I am to have her in my life.

16. Mariah is a die hard movie buff. Watching movies together is something I love to do. One movie that we both love to watch is "Spirited Away". It reminds me of a dream. Which brings me to my next point.


17. I love that Mariah is a dreamer. She dreams the most interesting things. I remember one time I was having a sleep over with her and the alarm started going off on her side of the bed so I sleepily turned over and told her to turn it off. Meanwhile, she was having a dream that the alarm was a bomb and I was yelling at her to turn it off. Not knowing what was happening in her subconscious, I was yelling, "Turn it off! Turn it off! Mariah, turn it off now!" while she was yelling "I can't! I don't know how! I can't!" I was so mad at her because all I wanted to do was sleep and all she wanted to do was shut the bomb off but she didn't know how. There are many other similar stories, I recall. Let's just say that having sleep overs with Mariah is never boring.

18. Many a inside joke has come from the funny accents that Mariah produces out of the blue. Perhaps my favorite is the Wisconsin accent: "Robert the Bruce! You get down here right now and eat your cheese cake!" If you didn't know already, the picture is of the statue of Robert the Bruce. He's a real person. She has such talent in making voices for different characters. While we were in England, we read the Narnia series out loud to each other and each character had a different voice. I loved the voice for Reepicheep the best. "Do I understand that you do not intend to give me satisfaction? Then take that—and that—to teach you manners—and the respect due to a knight—and a Mouse—and a Mouse's tail—" (VDT, Ch. 2) If you would like to hear her talent, you can always call her or our Mom or Dad because their answering machines are of her talking in different accents.


19. Mariah is a deep conversationalist. She loves to talk, write, and think about deep topics. I know it seems like I should write the most about her being deep and the deep things that we've talked about, but all I have to say is this: whoever marries her is going to have to be very talkative, smart and outgoing. He must be pretty special if he gets Mariah for a wife.

I love this picture (even if my eyes are closed). I feel at home when I hug my sister.

20. It's hard to find someone to talk to that is genuinely interested in everything you say. I feel loved when I talked to her. I feel like she wants to hear everything that comes out of my mouth. I feel special knowing she pays attention to me out of all people when I am just a little 16-year-old with little experience. But I don't think she just does that for me. She makes everyone feel loved when they talk to her. She is a constant listening ear that is never judgmental but always helpful. Mariah, thank you for being interested in me. I feel like a real somebody around you.

21. Ok, now I will explain the title of this post. When I was born and still in the hospital, Dad was at home with little 5-year-old Mariah. She was playing with her toys with Daddy in the room when she suddenly stopped and looked up at Dad and said, "Daddy? Did you know that Michaela and I walked side by side in the pre-mortal world". Of course our Dad was shocked. Where did she get this from? Dad asked, "What did you say?" Mariah earnestly repeated, "Did you know that Michaela and I walked side by side in the pre-mortal world?" As she said it the second time she took her middle and pointer finger on each hand to show how we walked together. Dad was speechless as she went on playing with her toys. Although this little Mariah probably didn't even realize what exactly she was saying, I believe what she said was true. I do believe that Mariah and I walked side by side in heaven before we came to earth. We didn't happen to be born to the same parents, we have been sisters for eternity. I love her so much. If she were a season, she would be summer. If she were a song, she would be Viva la Vida by Coldplay (classic). If she were a movie she would be "Pride and Prejudice". If she were a fruit she would be the sweetest raspberry. If she were a place she would be the Lake District in England or Edinburgh in Scotland. She is all my favorites wrapped up into one lovely package of sister and friend. I'm blessed to have her and I am so glad she was born.


Happy Birthday, Soul Sister.

Multiple Identities?

As I go through life's trials, I feel like I have two identities. One identity is the weak, emotional girl who acts impulsively and is easily hurt. She is fragile and has a hard time understanding what to do when everything and everyone is against her. She would act selfishly in order to get out of the mess she is in. She has a hard time forgiving others. She often feels stuck and doesn't know where to turn. This weak identity seems to have one strength, however. This identity is the one that is most often present and therefore displays its frailties more openly.

The second identity I feel inside of me is the strong spirit. This girl that can think straight and rolls with the punches. She keeps her chin up and understands that trials don't last forever, even when everything is going wrong. She gives of herself selflessly, even when it is against what she would want for herself. She forgives unconditionally. She always turns to Jesus Christ in times of need and prayer is a constant in her mind. This strong identity seems to have one weakness, however. This identity often lets it's feeble counter part do most of the thinking. I love the times I can tap into that strong spirit when I'm feeling so much of the feeble girl inside of me. Something that has helped me in the recent hard times I've faced is writing letters of encouragement to myself. It sounds like a crazy idea, but when I write, that strong spirit creeps to the surface and I find words to remind myself that I am of worth no matter how crummy I feel. The notes I get from myself remind me that I am doing the right thing even if my heart hurts. They remind me to have an eternal perspective and remember that the hard times I face here and now will be but a moment in the eternal scheme of things. How grateful I am for the knowledge that I really do have these two identities. I have that natural man inside of me that can be easily corrupted, but I also have that mighty spirit that has existed since the beginning of time. That spirit which knows God personally and is willing to tap it's owner on the shoulder and say, "Don't worry. Everything will be OK." I've come to the realization that if anyone is to progress in life, they must learn to actively seek the power of their inner spirit and trust in God in order to get through those trying times.

Incandescent Thoughts

I sit here staring at this blank page wondering how I should begin my first blog entry. Why, do you ask, do I start a blog? I guess I'll start with that. It's because teenagers are often thought of as having shallow thoughts, only thinking about the gossip floating around school or the next big party, and I would like to prove to you, whoever you are, that this average adolescent of 16 can have deep thoughts. Although not all my thoughts are always complex and intricate, I'd like to think that I have some individual thoughts that the average schmo does not. I'd like to think that when I sit down to write about my day, it doesn't look like every other teenagers'. I'd like to think that my brain can think up incandescent thoughts. Thoughts that are brilliant and shine, thoughts that could seem odd and questionable to some, thoughts that provoke trying discussions, and maybe even thoughts that one might never expect from this young teen who has to endure the trivial days in high school. Another goal of writing this blog is to improve upon my writing. I guess you could call writing a family trait that I never thought I had. Recently I discovered that even if I don't have the skills of some of my family members, I do have the desire. I think it's safe to say that desire is the first step to learning. Now, I will admit something before I leave you: I'm awful at conclusions. I guess that is something I will also have to improve upon. But for now, the end.

P.S. Feel free to comment