My Journey - Part 10

High School after freshman year, well was not all lights and glamour.

Nearing closer and closer to college and more responsibility and the pressure to maintain nearly a 4.0 GPA, most would think that high school was all bliss and you should be thankful you didn't have bills right?

Honestly, I carried around so much stress that I didn't know I was carrying until I left for college that I look back and think, how did I do all that? And I wish I had enjoyed it more.

I was too too too too afraid of messing up, the internal stress kept me from experiencing and enjoying the process of being a teenager.

You may or may not say it paid off. I did finally get what I wanted including a scholarship to college that I had dreamed of - NC State - Go Pack! There's no doubt I worked really hard for it. Maybe too hard. Please always enjoy the process!

It was quite bizarre - At the senior awards I received so many awards I could not count them. I could not even hold them in my lap or all under my chair.

I say it not to brag but to say, I don't even remember what the awards were for anymore. I was so exhausted by senior year, all I wanted to do was sleep. Awards didn't really matter. It may sound cliche, but fulfilment is so much more important than an award that doesn't mean anything at the bottom of your heart :)