Phew! This year has gone by super fast!!!! 2009 has been full of both good and bad memories. I remember about one year ago in 2008, I had to get my wisdom teeth out and I didn’t do anything for the New Year, but this year I’m going to Indy to celebrate New Year’s!!
Okay, where to begin… there were so many school things I was involved with this past year. In the month of January, there was a winter homecoming in which I went with my friends and it was a blast! I was also involved with BPA (Business Professionals of America). I placed 3rd in district and went on to state. I could’ve received my drivers license on the 3rd of January, but I held it off until the 27th! I went to a Youth-4-Youth conference where I learned many leadership skills. I was a part of a coffee house band that tried to play at a church once a month.
In February, I participated in a solo/ensemble competition, where I placed 1st in my solo, 1st in our ensemble, and 1st in our quartet. Later in this month, I went to state for solo/ensemble, placing a 1st in my solo and our quartet. In this competition you go against yourself and judges critique your singing. I don’t know why, but I always get super nervous in front of the judges.
March was probably the most stressful month for me. I went to BPA state, where we stayed in a hotel in Indy for a couple nights and I shook the hand of Miss America, who was Miss Indiana! The next day after I got back from state, our show choir left for a cruise!! We traveled all night and day on a charter bus to New Orleans. The cruise docked from there and traveled to Cozumel, Mexico. It was my first cruise and I enjoyed it very very much! There were so many memories made on that trip. It was a 5 day cruise. The following week, I attended the academic banquet at the Beef House. This is where I got my letter jacket for having all A’s. We got out of school on the 20th for spring break. That day I went to Florida with some of my friends. This trip was a blast also!!!! There were many memories made on this trip too!! The following week was tech week for the musical. I was so stressed since I didn’t really have all of my lines down and it was time for me to have them down pat!!! I also had to kiss in this musical! I wasn’t too happy about that since I hadn’t kissed anyone yet. It turned out that during tech week, I came into character very well and got it together.
The musical we did was called “All Shook Up.” It took place the first weekend in April. Our spring concert for choir and show choir was in the middle of April. Later in April, I went to Academic Bowl, where we competed against schools in math, history, language, and art. I was on the math team and received 1st. In this month, a boy asked me out, but I wasn’t ready to date him yet. I did like him, but I just wasn’t ready for a relationship. ‘Noteable Evening’ was an event for show choir, where we did dances and songs from the fall and spring and people could also do their own song as a solo or duet or even group. I also helped out with the track team, helping with stats and such. On the 27th, I was able to drive with people!
I went to a music banquet early May. I also got a spray tan and a pedicure for my first prom ever!!! I was invited by the same guy who asked me out (his name is Quentin by the way). It was so much fun!! The day after prom, I did a car wash for CIY (Christ in Youth). I went to a Broadway production of Mary Poppins in Chicago!! It was amazing! The following week was graduation and our choir sang “Unwritten,” and I had the solo. May 26th was the start of summer break!!!
The summer was very eventful for me and was very fun!! The 29th-31st was our 30 hour famine. I was in charge of this event at our church. I advertised this at our school, getting many people to sign up. We didn’t eat food for 30 hours! The weekend was full of activities and games that kept our minds off of eating. We also were reminded of the starving children in Africa and Haiti. We packed food for Haitian children. It was a major impact on my life to be thankful for what I have. On June 6th, I started dating Quentin. Our coffee house band led worship the next day at Hanging Rock Camp. The following week, our family went to Wisconsin and Michigan for our family vacation. On the 19th, my mom and I went to Chicago, where I auditioned for American Idol. The day I actually auditioned was on the 22nd. It was a joke I thought because they only picked about 100 people out of 10 thousand!! That day, I was very sad and felt defeated. On the 23rd, my world had been turned around. When my mom and I got back home from Chicago, there was an Inspirational Country musician, by the name of Tommy Brandt, who was in Cayuga to help out with an area revival. My dad asked Tommy if he’d just listen to me sing a few songs to see if he thought I had any chance for a singing career. I met with Tommy (my producer) the next day and I sang for him. He said that I had a great voice and he wanted to help me in any way. In the same week, I went to CIY. It was very changing, both spiritually and emotionally. I grew closer to God on this trip.
In July, we went to St. Louis for the Fourth of July. We had our show choir camp in Missouri this year. Usually we go in local areas, but we drove 8 hours on a school bus this year. I went on a pontoon boat for the first time this past summer!! I went tubing also, but I hurt my leg from flipping in the air and smacking off the tube a couple of times. It hurt pretty badly! That following week was VBS. It was pretty fun with all the teens that were there. I helped with a wilderness camp and talked to 5th and 6th grade girls about God. It was a really good experience. We had another vacation to French Lick, where we had a day at the spa. It was very relaxing in our mineral baths.
The month of August started two-a-days for volleyball, which lasted for two weeks! Quentin took me to a Jeremy Camp, Mercy Me, and a Kelly Clarkson concert!! They all were amazing!! Before school started again, I helped my sister with the Miss Teen of Indiana. I sang at the final competition show of this pageant. My junior year started late August, which felt weird since I felt on top of the school. Almost everyone is younger than me. Sometimes it’s hard to take in that I’m almost done with my high school career.
In the last couple months, I have been singing at many different churches in the area and at family churches in different states. The 28th of August, my family and I traveled to Nashville, TN to record half of my CD. It was an awesome opportunity for me and a great experience. I had to go back to Nashville in the first weekend of September to record the other half of my CD. I had my first photo shoot in this month and it was really fun. I also attended a purity ball with my dad and my friend and her dad. That night I promised God and my dad that I would stay pure until I get married. That was a spiritual changing night of my life.
In October, I attended the ICM conference and awards night in Nashville. It was full of experiences and events that I won’t forget. I got inducted to National Honor Society. I felt honored to be apart of that.
Our fall play, Afraid of the Dark, was the first weekend in November. I was a crazy spy, which was a different character for me to play. My first official concert was held in my church. It went over well, but I know I can do way better. I went to another Christian convention called ICYC. Our family went to St. Louis for our Thanksgiving Break.
Now, this month, December! Finally! I turned 17 on December 2nd. I auditioned in Nashville in front of record labeling companies. I also auditioned the next week for “The Sound of Music.” I received the part of Maria (the part I wanted). These next few months will be time for preparation for the musical and solo/ensemble. We also had our winter concert for choir and show choir. For Christmas Eve, I sang at a church at 11 p.m.! For Christmas Break, our family went to Michigan, where we spent time with family and had a great time!!
Throughout the year I’ve been a part of a bible study and would love to start a bible study with my friends. I believe that God has many plans for me for this coming year with all of my music. I’m excited for the New Year to begin and see what God has in store for me!! I hope this New Year is full of many changing events for me and others!
I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!!!
