Sorry, but this is gonna be a long one.

I just finished finals week last Friday. I studied my butt off for all of them, and I did pretty awesome, if I say so myself. (Funny how last year this time, I would've been content with anything better than an F on Finals, and this year I made sure I got anything higher than a C. A lot can happen in a year.) My high school has a killer reputation for excellence in academics!

It's still hard for me to believe that I'm done with my Sophomore year, just like that. I had some highs and lows, mostly in first semester, but for the most part, it went by pretty fast. Probably because I didn't have to deal with the daily drama and boy drama constantly. Not to say I didn't miss that sometimes, though. But hey, at least I lived it vicariously through my friend's drama. That way's easier to deal with, anyway.

I'm so relieved it's summertime. There had been so many things on my mind lately, and it was starting to distract me from school. Plus, waking up in the morning was beginning to get old. Heck, it had already been old by the time Spring Break came. But, when I think about it, it feels like just yesterday, summer was coming to an end and all of my friends were talking about their first day of school.

I don't feel proud admitting this, but it feels like I've been watching the entire world from my bedroom window these past 9 months. Looking back over these past few months, all I can remember is watching the sun rise in the morning and fall in the evening, watching the leaves fall off the trees and watching the first snow, then watching the snow melt and the leaves return. I briefly remember blips of things that were different, like Trick or Treating with my baby cousin on Halloween, or making my hair curly for Christmas, or walking to the park near my house with my dog Ruby.

You learn a lot about yourself when you're alone all the time, and sometimes you'll learn redeeming qualities, and other times you'll learn annoying ones. I'm grateful for that part. But at the same time, I feel like while I was learning enriching things, I was missing out on others.

This summer, my parents have promised to sign me up for driving school (along with another Geometry semester I might have to take over the summer, long story) and take me driving, so I can eventually get my license. Let's hope that they'll keep this promise, Internet.

Also, when Best Friend Rose get out of school at the end of this week, I'm sure my first few weeks of summer will be swamped. This weekend, I'm already going to Rose's sisters graduation and graduation party, who's a senior.

And me and Rose already planned to have a sleepover as soon as we're both out, and we're both going to dye our hair in celebration of summer (Rose blue, me purple!). And I plan on walking more places this summer, too. I've been working on being healthier lately, like eating less junk and actually exercising. Just because I can't drive yet doesn't mean I can't leave the house. Walking places won't kill me.

So, here's to a fantastic, amazing summer. And here's to you, Internet, for listening to my anonymous problems and tolerating me.

Here's to the summer ahead!