So I haven’t posted anything on here in ages, but I have been writing nonstop. Only it’s been me writing essays on essays on essays for scholarships. Scholarships for college, because in four months I’ll be in college. That’s crazy. It’s crazy to think how tied up I still am in my life that is only high school when in a week, it’ll be over. Time seems to go by so quickly, I can hardly keep track anymore.

A lot has happened since I’ve last posted, so I’m going to use this as kind of a “catch up” rather than anything else, because I know a lot of people that read this are family and friends interested in what I’m doing.  So I will go on a timeline from my last write up, to where I’m at now, or maybe I’ll organize it into categories, or I’ll decide as I go along. I’ll probably change my mind a few times during the process. My last post was in August, also a “catch up” post about the trip I took to Ireland. SO MUCH has happened since then. I’m going to try to keep this as orderly as possible, so I’m going to type in three categories- sports, school/art, and my future plans.

Sports

By the time I got back into the states last August, volleyball practice had already started. I’d missed two days and had to do some conditioning for it, but I figured it was all worth it ;). This year was a much different dynamic. The team was once again dominated by underclassmen, outnumbering the upperclassmen 10 to 5. We also had only one setter going into the season.. and it was me. You can imagine my thoughts behind running a 5-1 setup and having to be an all-time setter. So you can also imagine my relief when we had a couple girls evolve into great setters.

            We ended the season with a winning record, and I was left with many great memories. Even though volleyball is not considered my favorite sport, I enjoy being around and growing closer to all the girls on my team greatly. Through playing zumie zumie before games, pigging out in between the games, and complaining how hot and tired we were during games, you seem to become awfully attached to each one of your team mates. I was also blessed with having the same coach through my whole high school year, who just so happens to double as my aunt. I am extremely thankful for everything I got out of my high school volleyball experience, and as much as I hate to admit it, I will probably miss it next year (but we’ll have to wait and see about that one, so Aunt Laurie if you’re reading this, don’t quote me on that ;)!)

            Ever since last year’s basketball season, I had been not so patiently waiting for November to roll around so we could start again. I was not surprised when it took what felt like years to finally get there. I remember having a countdown to the first day of practice, I was that excited. I’m very grateful, because the season ended up exceeding my expectations.

            We start every season off with a tournament, the two years before this season we had won first. We went in this year expecting the same results and walk out with another 1^st place title. We did exactly that, completing a “3peat”. We were undefeated going into Christmas break, which is a great feeling to have. Our winning streak was ended a lot earlier than we had hoped for, though. We went into our mid-season league tournament with only one loss, expecting to make a reappearance in the championship game, but this year winning it. We fell short though, and walked away without achieving that goal. That was proven to be only a minor setback, though. We went on to beat both teams we had lost to in that tournament later on during the regular season, as well as beating a couple teams we had lost to during the regular season last year, which put us with only three losses going into sub-state. With that record, we got the first seed position. I think our whole entire Southern Cloud community was set on us making it to state this year. We had to travel two hours to get to this tournament, so I didn’t imagine there would be much of a turn out, but I was completely wrong. I was shocked to see just how many people came to support us, but at the same time I wasn’t. These were the people who had shown up to all of our home games, and sometimes away games to cheer us on, no matter what. So when we won our first round, which gave us a spot in the championship game, I wasn’t surprised at all, because of the endless support from the best fans in the state. I think our team could’ve won a game against anyone with the level of the noise in the gym that night.

            I played in the first basketball sub-state championship game of my life this year, and I will definitely never forget it. We were paired up against the team that had beat us out my sophomore year. This time we were prepared and ready to win, though. We went into the game with so much fire and hunger to make it to state, because that is what we had been playing for this whole year. It was a crazy feeling during the game and at half time looking at the score board and seeing we were ahead. Somewhere during the second half, we fell behind, and ended the game losing by three. I can’t explain how much it hurt to watch the other team run, and scream, and jump after the final buzzer went off, filled with all the joy I had expected to have, and I can’t explain how that two-hour drive home felt. I don’t think I will ever be able to think back to that game and not have some anger sparked inside me, but I am thankful I’ll be able to look back on the whole season with happiness. I can’t believe all the emotions I went through, how close of a bond our team grew, and how much we accomplished this season. We set another new record and reached new heights I never would have imagined possible, and I am so, so grateful for it all. Just like volleyball, I was blessed to have the same coach all four years, and I credit him with a lot of how my basketball career went.

            That night ended my sports career. After seven years of school sports, it has come to a close. I want to thank every girl I ever played with, every coach I ever had, all my family for making it to almost every game in that seven-year time span, and for every fan that sat in those bleachers to watch us on Tuesday and Friday nights for both volleyball and basketball. I have benefited so much through the whole experience, and will miss it all so much. I cannot wait to come home next year as a part of the fan section, instead of a player, and cheer my Warriors on.

School/Art

After four years, I am finally on my last week of high school. What a ride it has been. I have learned and changed so much in this time. I’m trying to take in everything I can in these final days. I’m looking at the desks more closely, walking the halls more than usual, and enjoying Jolynn’s amazing food while I still can. I know I will miss all and who I have come to love in my time here, but I am so excited for the next part of my life, too. Instead of being sad in knowing that I will miss it, I am thankful. I’m thankful that I’ll have a class to miss being around every day and teachers I will miss talking to. I’m very blessed for the experience I received going to school here and for all the memories this school will hold for me.

This year I have gotten down to business in art. Realizing I want to pursue it as a career, I have put in so many hours and all my focus into improving and producing. I can’t believe how many pieces I’ve been able to create and the diversity of mediums I’ve experimented with this year. I was able to compete in multiple art competitions this year, and am very happy and content with how I placed in them. Last night I participated in my last high school art show, which wraps up my high school art career. It’s hard to imagine that none of this would’ve happened if my school wouldn’t haven’t been given a grant my freshman year to start up an art program. I can’t believe my luck on timing with that. I also can’t believe my luck on the teacher we got to be in charge of that art program. I can’t explain how truly blessed this community and school is to have gotten such an amazing person to be here. I know every student could attest to this, and you can see it in the artwork K-12 has made. It is evident how wonderful this teacher is through the quality of work her students have achieved. I know without her I would not have this burning passion for art that I do, and I would not be where I am, nor would I be where I’m going. Yes, that means I have finally come to a decision where I’ll be next year for my next step of schooling.

Future Plans

The University of Wyoming. I will be a cowboy starting this August of 2017.  It took many, many prayers and talks to myself to come to this decision. In the end it came down between KSU and UW. The whole time I knew my heart was in going to Wyoming, but I put it off thinking maybe something would change. Nothing changed. Every trip I’ve taken to Wyoming I have fallen more and more in love with the beautiful landscape and the beautiful souls of people that populate the state. I think no matter what, I would’ve somehow ended up in Wyoming at some point.

I’m going to major in fine arts. The art department in Wyoming is outstanding. It was built only three years ago and is filled with unbelievable students, professors, and equipment. The whole university is unbelievable, honestly. I think I’m in love with the whole idea, and I feel like it’ll only grow in these years to come. I’m in love with Laramie and its local shops and restaurants. I love that mountains surround the town and that it still gives me a feeling of home because of how rural it is. I love how everyone talks to me like they’ve known me for years. I love the feeling of being there in general. I know I’ll be able to thrive in there, and that is what I was looking for.

I will only be focusing on art during college, which means no, I will not be playing any sports. I have had many people tell me that I’ll regret not taking any of the offers or that I’ll miss it too much to not play. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and support on wanting me to continue on with basketball, but I truly believe that this decision is what’s best for me. I have reasoning for this, I didn’t just spin and choose whatever it landed on. I ended basketball on a good note, and want to end with those good memories. I don’t want to give any other school the chance to put a bad taste in my mouth. I also will be practicing art for so many hours a day that there will be no time for basketball practice or traveling. I’m satisfied with the basketball experience I have had, and I will be okay ending it here. So thank you everyone for the encouragement to keep playing and the belief I could, but I will not be.

So that’s it! All three categories. To everyone who made it this far, I congratulate you on being able to make it through one of my long, long rambles in typing form. I hope this answered some questions and also was at least a little bit entertaining. Once again, THANK YOU to everyone mentioned above for any role you played. You are so appreciated more than you will ever know.