End of the World?

Saturday, the huge buzz was that at 6:00, the rapture was going to occur, and the end of the world was going to begin. Clearly, as I am writing this, that did not happen.
I won't lie, a few minutes before 6, I got extremely nervous. What if it really did end? I haven't done near everything I want to in my lifetime. I wasn't particularly happy at the moment. I figured, if the world has to end, I'd like to die happy.
It served as a reminder to me. I have to live like I'm going to die tomorrow. Because who knows? Maybe we will, not to be overly dark.
To different people, this means different things. Some people would like to spend their last day relaxing and reading a book with their families. Others, like me, would want to go out with a bang.
I'd want to be in the middle of a block party. There would be huge inflatable slides everywhere. Everyone I know and ever have known would be there. And everyone would be running around, apologizing for past transgressions, hugging and kissing one another. Just saying "Goodbye, I'll see you when all this is over in a place where we'll be even happier than we are now, which seems kinda impossible."
I don't know if there will ever be such a block party. I don't know if the end of the world is even going to occur in my lifetime. I don't know if I'll even know the same people when it occurs.
But I know I have to live. I can't weigh my life down with regrets. And I don't; I don't regret anything I've done. I can't. Even the bad experiences have taught me something.
But, when I look at it, there have been many more good experiences than bad.
I mean, look around.
This blog.
This school.
My relationships.
Endless laughter.
4.0, too many times to remember.
Teasing.
People who wiped my tears away.
No, I have no regrets. I like my life. Even more than that, I love the people in it. I love the people who remind me that yes, I am important, and yes, I am loved.
And that's why I'm here. I don't know if it would have been so possible to make it through the struggles life throws at me without every single person I have to lean on. I wouldn't be so independant, wouldn't be so open-hearted and minded.
Okay, so the Apocolypse didn't come on Saturday. I'm so glad it didn't. It takes a bit more time than that if I wanna attend the End of the World Block Party. I'm so glad for the reminder, though, and this time to think about it as I write it down, that I have to live. And I mean really live. So, I have some words of advice, collected from various places...
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back."
"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way"
"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching."

Okay guys. I'm done quoting things at you. If you read all this, good for you. You're really awesome, you know that? Even if I don't know you. Someone out there would kill to see you smile, and would cross the world to make you happy. I love you.
And live like you're gonna die tomorrow.

The Last Stretch

I'm in my last month at a school I've spent 8 years at.
Eight years.
Eight years that have taught me more than I ever thought I would learn. Eight years of friendship and catfights. Eight years of love and broken hearts. Eight years of meeting new people, and cherishing old friends. Eight years of laughing with (and only sometimes at) teachers that are subconciously funnier than anyone else I know. Eight years of getting to know my parents, and brother. Eight years.
My heart breaks thinking about it. This, above all else, makes me ill to consider. I can't leave. It's not natural for me to leave a place that gave so much to me, and that I poured my heart out to.
And do you realize the people I have to say goodbye to? These people have seen me sob. These people have seen me cry laughing. These people have held my hand when I'm angry, and reassured me when I needed it. I've given every person at this school a little piece of my soul.
I don't want to leave. I wish I could be held back, even if nobody else was. I don't want to go to a school where nobody knows me at all.
This is it. Two weeks. I'm spending every second I can here. Dreading my last day. I feel emotions I can't put into words.
The last stretch.
Have you ever felt like that?
Have you ever lived most your life in one place, only to be torn unceremoniously from it?
The realization hit me the other day like a load of bricks. I will never forget this place.
I'll even miss the bad experiences. Kinda.
If you're fortunate enough to not be in 8th grade, please enjoy your school. Cherish next year. Love your classmates. Don't be negative about them. You won't want to think badly of everyone at a time like this. Enjoy your fun years, because right now, it hurts enough for all eight years.
I love my school. I'll dearly miss my 8th grade class.
And goodness, will I miss my seventh graders.
Thanks for reading.
Have an epic week.

(Quite Possibly) The Best Week of my Life

You know who's cool? Dale Kildee. I do not work to make this blog apolitical. However, I am a naive child and do not know where he stands in relation to the Republicans vs. Democrats. I had the pleasure to chill with him in Washington DC. He chose to hang out with us instead of Mr. President. Which, I must say, made me feel pretty special.
There's something about spending about 24 hours on a bus with people. Try it sometime. You might be surprised what you learn about some people. It's even easier to learn things when the people are high in quantity, like we were, and all armed with cell phones and iPods.
Needless to say, I learned a lot. Not only about people, either. I learned about history. I learned about how easy it really is to make people happy. I learned to trust more easily. I learned to keep my guard down, and see who will take the effort to let themselves inside.
I made friends in DC. I made friends, or at least friendly, with people I've never spoken to before. My relationships were tested and strengthened. I grew in love. I gave endless compliments, and reminded those who needed to be about how awesome they are.
Because everyone there was amazing. I got to know everyone just a little bit better. Or a lot better, depending on who they were.
I think it would be smart for the judges to go to Washington DC together. All of them. Not the court officials, but those who "call it as they see it." Because maybe, just maybe, they'd learn that people aren't always as they seem.
Perhaps that would be the way to shake Flint's bad reputation. Maybe then, they'd learn to stop labelling people "bad" or "good." Life isn't black and white. Losers aren't only losers, backstabbers aren't only backstabbers. Intelligent people have more to bring to the picture than their smarts.
So get to know someone. I did. And that's one thing that I can never repay DC for giving me.

America's London

Friday was the royal wedding. It was sweet, I woke up at 6 and saw that it was on, and then saw that they were still processing in. Apparently, it started at 4. I can understand why they had so many people, not only is Kate Middleton the second most lovely person ever*, but her husband is so awkward and sweet that they make a perfect couple. His respect and love for her is no less than heroic. Beautiful, beautiful couple. England is fortunate to have them.

*Lucy Hale is the most beautiful person ever. As you can see by this picture. She is my favorite. Her name is Aria, on my favorite show ever (Pretty Little Liars) and I would very much like to be her. Not only is she stunning, but she is eclectic and funky, and quite the original. Like myself, only slightly different. I won't bore you on the details of Lucy Hale, even though I have the most intense girlcrush ever on her. She's so cool. She also dated David Henry, and that was before she was my Epic Aria.
 Kate and her prince went to Buckingham Palace and celebrated and had their beautiful celebration. It was very sweet. One day, I'm going to have a royalish wedding, and everyone is gonna care, just like they did for the OFFICIAL royal wedding.
This week, I'll be in America's capital, their London, of sorts. Of course, I may just fail at European geography. I guess it's a poor comparison. I'm getting off topic.
Anyway. I'll be in Washington DC, with 60 of my closest friends. We're leaving at 4:00 am tomorrow morning, so I'll be going to sleep on this lovely Sunday around 6. Probably. I don't know why I'm rambling on and on about my sleep schedule, other than that I am quite excited. As is my friend, Jacob, who wanted me to add on that little fact.
Washington DC. I've never been. I've planned excessively, and been super nervous and excited for the past while. I'll definitely let you know how it is. I'm sure it'll be seriously fun.
Two rooms over, four boys Are giving each other "five stars", which are apparently back high-fives. Maybe that's why Flint is so violent? ;)
I have to go finish packing. Have an epic week!
I love you.