No Regrets.

This year has been an interesting and very educational experience. I have grown as a student, but more importantly as a person. Going to college was a very difficult transition for me at first, but the moment that I was used to college, as if in the blink if an eye, the year is over. I have made so many new and amazing friends and have met such cool people. I have learned that I have to be strong and stay true to myself despite the pressures to change and be someone I am not. I would be lying if I told you that I haven’t made mistakes this year. For a while, everything about my life seemed to be in order. I had my family, good grades, and an awesome guy. At least, until life threw me some curve balls that I didn’t know how to handle. I made the wrong choices and messed up my next to perfect life. However, I am ok with that. Nothing is perfect. And more importantly I have learned a lot about myself and have become a much more independent and stronger person from my mistakes.
Everyone makes mistakes. Now this I know to be true. However, if one were to go a lifetime without making mistakes, I would feel sorry for them because that person would have gone a lifetime without ever really experiencing life. I feel as if no one really lives until they do something crazy. And most of the time, doing something crazy could mean doing something that you shouldn’t do. I’m not saying that you should go out and do anything illegal or anything like that, but doing something out of your character will help you to find yourself and know who you really are and will help you to stand true to yourself in the end.
And in conclusion, Live Life without Regrets. Every choice and mistake will shape you into who you are. So, rather than regretting the mistakes you have made learn from them and know that those experiences have made you into who you are today.

Normal, Il.

As a freshman, I don’t have a vehicle here and therefore do not venture off campus all that much. So, I would suggest that my friends to the place in which mean the most to me here. I would want to take them to where I have the most and best memories.
First and foremost, when visiting normal Illinois, I would suggest taking a walk on the quad and a tour of the campus at Illinois State University. I feel as if the quad is really beautiful and is a sight that should be seen. If possible, I would go to the quad at night. At the beginning of this school year, I would go to the quad at 11pm when it was basically deserted. It was so peaceful and relaxing. My friends Daniel and I would go sit on the middle of the quad and work on homework and just talk. I have always wanted to take my guitar out there at night and play; just because it is so pretty because you can see the stars and all the trees remind me of home.
Next, I would definitely suggest that for dinner you go eat at Avantis. The restaurant is famous for its bread and everything there is good to eat. I think that when one goes to normal, they just have to eat there at least once. It’s not a place that you go to all of the time, but you definitely need to experience it if you are visiting. That is always where we take our friends when they visit. Plus, it isn’t a bad walking distance from tri towers.
Finally, I would suggest that for my female friends to go to the mall. (Although this might be Bloomington, I am not sure) I would do this, because there are a ton of my favorite stores there and it isn’t ever really that busy. However, if you aren’t looking to not spend money I would suggest going to the tennis courts. Now, I am not saying the courts are any different than anywhere else, but I have a lot of memories there and always love a good game. So, I would suggest that they go and play a game and I hope that they have as much fun and make some cool memories there as well.

Secondhand Serenade Concert!

Last night, I went to the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and the Secondhand Serenade Concert. As soon as I found out about the concert about two months ago, I talked to my closest friends here and ISU about getting a group together to go. So, when February 13th rolled around and tickets went on sale, one of the people going in our group went to get tickets as soon as they went on sale. Phil got there early to get our groups tickets, and there was still a line of 200 people who beat him there. So, despite the long line, we got our tickets and had planned to go to the show on April 2nd. Well come the week of the show, I planned my schedule out to where I got all of my stuff done before Thursday night so I could go to the much awaited concert. This plan works out until, Wednesday morning, when I find out that we were only getting two days notice on a big calculus II exam. So, from the time I found this out, I studying every waking hour so I could still go to the show. Well, after basically only taking breaks to eat, shower and sleep, I studied and decided that I could still go to the concert. So, I went to the show and sat in the 8th row with four of my friends. Ironically though, the original group did not go and I had to find others to take their tickets. Michelle and Katie unfortunately had too much stuff going on and couldn’t go after all. So, I talked a few other friends into it. The group ended up being me and 4 of my guy friends at a Secondhand Serenade concert. It ended up being awesome though and we had a lot of fun. I am so glad that I was still able to go to the show even though I had a calculus test the next morning. I woke up with a sore voice from screaming at the show, and took my test at 9:20am. And to top it all off, I feel pretty confident about the calc exam and I think that I did a lot better than the last one. =]