Thanksgiving, my cases of boy crazy, and a bunch of other schtuff.

Just for your information, I REALLY like being seventeen. SOOOO MUCH. I have all of the perks of being a teenager, but I have respect from people like an adult! And, I can date people who are 18 without it being creepy. Told ya I was boy crazy. I've had so much "drama" with boys in the past few months, it's crazy! I'll elaborate. lol

I think in my last post I said that Chuck was going to ask me to the homecoming dance back in September? haha. I scared him away, poor guy. He wouldn't ask me, so I wouldn't go with him. I think I would of had more fun with him though.....maybe. He's such a sweetheart, has a really deep voice, and he's Thai! So he's a pretty cool kid. :)

Tom: Oh geeze, where do I start? This was a bit of a nightmare. I don't even know why I liked him in the first place! He's such a nerd. Korean nerd, bless him. lol Don't ask me why I like asians so much. It's China's fault! Anyways....I was an idiot and told everyone that I liked him, and in turn they told him. But he could tell, it was so obvious. Which was my master plan. I can be so stupid sometimes. :) I asked him out after study hall one night.....and he rejected me! I think it's really funny now, because now we're really good friends. It just cracks me up when I think about how freakin' bold I am. So yeah, that attempt at a relationship was a mini disaster. And my dorm sisters still tease me when they remind me of it. Oh well. You learn from mistakes, right?

Jahan: And then there's.....Jahan. UGH. I've liked him since the first time I met him. (which was at orientation before school started.....not like I remember or anything. :P) I don't even know where to start. I'm just going to make a long story short. lol For some reason I think God is working in his life through me, so I'm going to put feelings aside and settle for friendship. And just to make it clear, I'm not friends with him because I want to convert him.(just for the record, he's from Kabul, Afghanistan, and he is Muslim.) I've already tried to screw up our friendship twice by my feeble attempts at a relationship, and twice I've backed out. Well, the second time it was fine, but it's way too complicated for me to explain. Now I'm just happy that we're friends. I love our conversations, I love trying to make him smile, and I hope that by the end of the year our friendship is solid enough to last graduation and not seeing each other on a daily basis. He's one of the few people that I feel could stay in my life for a really long time. :)
And this leads up to the present, where I'm definitely taking a break from trying to get a boyfriend. lol The problem is that people don't believe me when I say I'm taking a break from my search! Yeah, I'm really fickle, but when I say something, I mean it. So there ya go. Not that I feel to the need to explain myself on my blog, because nobody is going to read it. Thank you privacy settings! But I will anyway, because this is more fun then writing thesis. I really like Jahan, it will be a long time before I can get over those feelings, but friendship is more important. I'm going to try really.....really hard not to screw up our friendship. Yep.

So why don't I change the subject before my brain explodes? Ooooh Thanksgiving

There area a lot of people at my house right now. Just for record's sake there are nine people, seven when you don't include me and Andrew. There's:
Joyce from Taiwan
Rebecca, HyunSoo, and Grace from South Korea
Jesse from Japan, but he's half Nigerian
aaand Frank and Chad from Thailand
They are my family, I love them so much. :) They helped with the Thanksgiving meal, and putting up the Christmas lights outside! Yesterday we went black friday shopping from 10 pm until 11 am the next day! It was amazing. I also had my friend Brianna over for three nights, and during that time we played pool for bets(I lost.), and I talked to Jahan for 2 1/2 hours at midnight. So yeah, I've had such a good break, I really don't want it to end! but I really need to fall back into the reality of my work for senior year. I have a 25 page thesis due, and an 8 page research paper, both due next month! Please shoot me to get me out of my misery. I'm writing the research paper on Jimmy Stewart, and the thesis on the history of opera and how today's culture has affected opera today. Yeah. I'm a nerd. :) And a procrastinator. Big time!
I better go, Frank wants me to help him with his science project. lol He's twelve, and knows more about Luis Vuitton than I do! Goodness. I think I'm going to write a short list of what I accomplished since I last wrote:
I have a voice teacher now!!!!! Her name is Cecily Nall, and she's one of he main music teachers at UT. :D
I won the talent show. I sang the Taylor the Latte Boy. One of the highlights of my year.
I've done various singing gigs for my headmaster to make up for him retrieving my laundry in Beijing. It's a long story. lol But I also sang at the Tennessee Baptist Convention, in front of thousands of people! So cool. :)
I have visited two colleges: UT and Belmont. Belmont is my #1, but I'm more likely to get a full ride at UT. I'm going wherever the money goes! Going to college. goodness. I've grown up.
That's all I guess. Let me just reitterate how much I simply adore being 17. This is the age I will be when I graduate from high school and start college. God has opened up so many doors for me this year, it blows my mind. I guess I'll just have to keep praying for his guidence, so that I walk through the one that is best for me! AGH He is so good. :)
Until next time!

So.....

Woah. I just realized that I haven't written in months. I didn't write at all during the month of summer, which is really pathetic. But, with good reason. I've had such a full, busy life lately. I guess I didn't really mention it, but I kinda went to China this summer! My life is changed because of China. I'm taking Chinese, I am keeping in touch with a few really good friends from there(and an "almost" boyfriend, but the relationship wasn't meant to be. Of course), and.....I think I want to go back and be a missionary one day. Who knows? Anyways, those were two of the best weeks of my live.

So now it's September, and I'm seven weeks into school. Almost a quarter way through my senior year, it's crazy! I feel so old. I'm going to be seventeen tomorrow you know. And i haven't even had a boyfriend. What the heck! I tried to though, with embarassing results. Koreans can be a little difficult, especially when they refuse to act interested AT ALL. It's like flirting wth a brick wall! And then there's this other guy......we both like each other(I THINK), and I would love to date him in a heartbeat. But, he's not a christian. It kills me! And just for the record, that's personal standard, not something banged into head since I was three. Maybe something will happen this year, but if it doesn't he's a good friend anyways. :) And then...there's a guy who might ask me out tonight!!!! He's Thai, and he's so sweet. A little socially awkward, but really sweet. He almost asked me out to the homecoming dance today, but I think I intimidate him. :P Only because I talk way to much. I just hope he gets the courage to ask me after dinner! It would be so much fun. We'll seee...

I'm pretty sure I was talking about something else before I got on this tangent. Oh year, tomorrow's my birthday! Man. This year has gone by so fast! I can't believe that a year ago today, I was sitting at my desk, blogging about how crazy it was to be sixteen, and I was saying goodbye to my 15 yr old self! Now I'm kind of doing the same thing again...but this time I'm bidding goodbye to my 16 yr old self. How will I change? I know I've changed a lot over the past year.....it blows my mind to think that not only was a junior last year, but I was at my old school, and miserable. The people that I know now are people who I had no idea existed a year ago. If I remember correctly, we toured the school on my birthday weekend, before going off for my Super September Saturday. And to be honest, I just feel like a happier person, a stronger christian, and I feel like I am living my life to the fullest. It's a great feeling. :)

I wonder what I'm going to do tomorrow? Tonight's the game and the dance, I have a violin/piano lesson at 1 pm, then family dinner at the dorm! But past that I have no idea. I guess we will see!

Sixteen, these past 365 days have been fantastic. I'm so grateful to God that this year has been so good. I'm sad that we have to say goodbye, because being sixteen is such a defining year for a person. And that was definitely the case for me! I will always cherise the memories we had, and will look back on them with a smile. So....goodbye 16, and in about 7 hours, hello 17!

Goooodneeess.

The bad thing about not blogging in over two months is that so many huge things happen, and I don't have the time or energy to talk about all of them! So I'm just going to make a list because....I like writing lists.

• Roane State




• Meeting Rachele Gilmore




• I Puritini Rehearsal




• Finding out that Ms. Thomas is leaving...




• Going to see I Puritini with Dad twice.




• Worship retreat with Dennis Jernigan




• Biltmore Trip with art class


• Cyrille coming to live with us


• Spring break!


• Spring concert

I know this isn't much, I might elaborate some other time. Graduation is next Friday, and then summer break! This truly has been a life changing semester for me. I can't wait to see what life and God brings me next!

New York in a nutshell. (and Washington D.C)

For some reason, this particular trip I can't seem to put into words, so I'll just show you some pictures and put up a few highlights:At the White House

At the National Museum of Natural History-I named the Elephant george. ;)

Ilove these girls, they were so much fun to be with!

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial!This is my "I'm in New York City and I never want to leave" happy face.

Times Square!

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Phantom fist pump!A great end to a fantastic trip. :)

So as you can see, I had the most amazing time in the city. :) I think on thing I got out of the trip is the discovery that I really, really want to live there one there. This longing to make it back to the place where I felt at home has inspired me to work harder to become successful in my singing so that one day I could maybe live and sing there!

A Week from now...

How exciting! I can't believe all the opportunities that have arisen at school recently. Before I start overly blabbering as usual, I must apologize for not updating in almost a month. I've gotten into a rhythm and routine at school, and usually the only time I think about maybe blogging is when I'm half asleep and going through lists in my head. But I finally have the chance, and since it's the last day in Febuary, I felt the need to at least have something for this month. Especially since a year ago I began this blog. I can't believe it, a whole year! I don't think I've ever stuck to any type of journal of blog for more than a week, let alone a year! It's a good feeling. :) It's also an amazing to look back and compare my Febuary of 2010 to my Febuary or 2011. Here's an example:

Last year I was working as assistant director for Into the Woods, and being contantly reminded that I was not a senior, and I was not allowed to have any solos, let alone a non-ensemble role in the play.

This year I have been invited to sing for prospective students and all faculty at the spring orientation. I have the solo for the finale song in the spring concert, and I will be auditioning as a soloist at the main annual competition.

Last year I "performed" at DisneyWorld, and spent the majority of the time with my family, and staying away from everyone in the choir.

This year I'm spending a week with the entire junior class in Washinton D.C and New York, and rooming with two of my dorm sisters! One is from Korea, and one is from China. :D

Last February I just found out that I was accepted into Governor's School for the arts, and that my best friend Elizabeth and I would both get to go!
This February I'm looking foward to my third GSFTA reunion, I've made lifelong friends and grown as a singer, and my life has been changed.

And the biggest one:

Last February I was attending public school and was miserable, and this year I am attending private school and am thriving, and having the time of my life!

It blows my mind how so many things have changed in the span of a year, and I it makes me feel SO blessed to realize that God does have a plan in store for my life, I just need to be patient and do what he wants! It's really comforting to know that you don't have to worry about what's going to happen to you, because God has already planned out your life, and if you follow him, you get to follow that plan! How exciting!

Well, I guess that's all. I'm pretty pumped because this weekend I'm taking my roommate, her sister, and Ana to D-Now at my church this weekend! It's going to be so much fun. :) And next week? NEW YORK!!!!

Ahhh I can barely contain my excitement!!! I've been many times before, but I feel like this trip is going to be really important in confirming whether I want to live there someday or not. And I'm really excited that I'm going alone without family, and with my new school friends! And plus, it's NEW YORK!!! Ahhh!!!

I'll let you know how it goes. :) Goodnight!

Long time no see!

Goodness gracious. Has is really been almost a month since I've written on my blog? I mean, last time I wrote, I didn't know my roommate, I hadn't auditioned for Dollywood, so much had NOT yet take place! I guess I'll give a short rundown of what I've been up to:
I now have a roommate!! Her name is Arianne, she's from Rwanda, and she has a twin sister, Lily! And we get along! yay! One thing that crack me up is the fact that they speak fluent english, meaning that sometimes I'm stuck in the middle of a conversation that I don't understand! It's quite amusing. Oh, and another thing! The first day after I met them, it snowed. Big time. Like, over five inches. And it was BEAUTIFUL. When we walked out to brunch that morning, you couldn't tell where the paths and roads were, so it looked like a big, beatiful bed of white! And it made it even more exciting, because Lily and Arienne had NEVER seen snow before! SO COOL. Let me just say, I've never had more fun in a snowball fight. :D
Dixie Stampede: That weekend, we had our first dorm outing to Dixie Stampede. Boy was that fun!!! Since it was over the weekend, my Mom went with me so that she could drive me to and from the show. I'm so glad my Mom went, it was a lot of fun with her there! It definitely was neat to expierence the show from the perspective of the foreign students, who did not grow up learning about the American civil war, and the divide between the north and the south, or even the big deal about the slaves! So that was neat. And watching them expierence true southern cooking with only their hands was so funny! My Mom told the kid sitting next to her(bless his heart, I think she drove him crazy because she talked to him so much, and he's generally quite reserved), "no chopsticks here!". It was a good weekend. :)
Fast foward a weekend to my DOLLYWOOD AUDITION.
I'm still slightly in shock that I actually auditioned for Dollywood. I've wanted to do this for years! I feel like I didn't do too bad, even though I screwed up my first song(which will probably haunt me for the next few months), but I kind of made up for it in the next song. I say that I didn't do too bad is also because I was one of the few that actually got through two songs without being stopped, and they actually asked me questions and talked to me! In comparison to the people that went before me, that's a big deal in my mind. It also helped that Mrs. Andrea Duncan was kind enough to come with me to be my accompianist. To put my opinion about Andrea in a nutshell, I would say what my Dad and I always say when we mention her, "When I grow up I want to be just like her!!". She is the kindest person I know, and I truly admire her as a christian. I mean, she's almost too nice! You know what I mean? She's one of those people that I always want to be around so that maybe some of her kindness and godliness would rub off on me. Anyways, her being there for encouragement, support, and of course, to play my songs for me, made a HUGE difference. Even though I have not been told whether I've made it or not, I know I didn't make it. I mean, I lied about my age for crying out loud! But I know now that I definitely will try out next year, and this year was a great expierence that I will never forget.
This past weekend was very much eventful. I went snowtubing with the dorm kids, had family dinner at the dorm, and started working on stuff for economics week! Family dinner was SO GREAT. I got picked to be on the cooking team, and I got to cook noodles! I've never cooked like THAT ever. How crazy is that, when my Mom is a professional cook?! Anyways, I survived making the noodles without getting burnt, and everyone ate them without getting sick. Success! The set up crew decorated the cafeteria with snowmen, and we all ate together as one big happy "family". I loved it. :) Afterwards, we went out to the football field and played THREE hours of night capture the flag. Let me tell you, it was intense. My brother, his friend, and my Dad also came, and had fun as well. Even though it was freezing, and I was tired, and we lost, it was such a great night. I can't wait for next month's Family Dinner!
Aha! I'm caught up now! So here's this week. This week has been HECTIC. With economics week, my World Religion presentation, my childrens book and singing in choir, it's been crazy. Economics week I think has killed me. That is, it's killed my voice. I can barely talk, let alone sing. Being the over-enthusiastic ray of sunshine I am, I can't help myself but to talk to everyone about how badly they need my homemade brownies, necklaces, and love bugs!(made of really cute pom-poms and googly eyes). Literally, I will scream across the room if it means gaining a customer. It was great the first two days, but it's past day four, and I'm hurting. So, tomorrow I'm going on vocal rest and not speaking AT ALL. Good luck to my business partner! Though I guess she can do it, seeing as she was not here at all last week, because of mono/getting ehr wisdom teeth taken out. I did feel sorry of course, but by Tuesday I was seriously questioning my sanity! Anyways, amid all of the stress, we haven't done too terribly. Our table looks great, we have great products, and everything is selling! So even though the thing is so unorganized, it's a good expierence. :)
Well, I guess that's all for now! Saturday Dad and I are going to a Valentine's day concert with the dorm kids, which will be fun. :) I'll hopefully post sooner than later!

Home, home on the range...more like the Alps!

It's snowing buckets! I'm pretty sure there's over three inches of the wet stuff on the ground outside my house. Oh BTW I'm at home now! I just put on my favorite fuzzy socks, and I think I'm going to get to bed really early! Yay! And I can stretch out extra far because my bed is a queen, whereas my dorm bed is a twin. Joy. But I do kind of miss my dorm a little. But it is nice to be home. :) Ok, I think I'm going to go now, since I don't have any homework tonight! Goodnight!