I had some pretty big changes this year, and as I am a person that generally doesn’t handle change very well, I think I had a really good, and successful year.
For starters, I graduated from high school. I never doubted that I wouldn’t, but knowing that in the coming fall I wouldn’t be going to the same place I had been going for the past twelve years of my life was pretty staggering. Also knowing that I wouldn’t see a fourth of the people that had surrounded me for the past twelve years of my life – both a comforting and a scary thought. I was moving out of this little bubble called high school and moving into the Real World.
I got my first job, my first real job. I’ve had hodge-podge jobs with babysitting or raking the leaves or helping my mom clean houses (she cleans as a part time job), but I got my first real, I-now-have-to-pay-taxes job. Which was pretty scary, too, at first. And while I knew people were jerks, I got to experience first-hand the vast stupidity of humanity working at a hotel, checking in douche-bag businessmen. Ahem. But even when I was being yelled at for not having a smoking room available, I was able to put a smile on my face and suck it up, knowing that this was not my life, and that the person standing in front of me was simply a spoiled brat who obviously never worked with people before.
I got my wisdom teeth pulled, which was pretty big for Miss Wuss. It’s something that I worried about, a lot, and it turned out to not be even that bad. I don’t remember a thing about the surgery, got a bit sick afterwards, and passed the next week in varying states of consciousness with yogurt and smoothies.
I started my first semester as college, and thus, my independence. When I was back at home, every problem that I ever encountered, there were always my parents and my friends and other authority figures that I could just shove the problem off to and have them handle it, or tell me exactly what to do. But I didn’t have that anymore. When I got a bill in my e-mail saying I owed my school $4,000, I had to walk over to the financial aid office and deal with it myself. (Consequently, I probably lost about $1,000 because of it, but we’re working on my aggressive tactics.) When I was enrolled in a class that I already had credit for, I had to deal with it. When UMKC had no records of any of my transcripts, I had to figure it out. And now, I feel a lot better about myself, knowing that I can handle most of the things that life throws my way. I’ve grown up a lot this year.
I moved four hours away from home, which is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I love my family, and I love my friends, and I love the place that I love, and the familiarity of it all. I moved to Kansas City, to a dorm room, with a person that I have never met before in my life. Which at first, was absolutely awful. I was so terribly lonely that I wanted to call it quits and just go home; but after numerous phone calls home, and pushing myself out of my comfort zone millions of times, I made friends. And I’m starting to actually like Kansas City. (And I love my roommate.)
And another really big thing for me: I now like Mac ‘n Cheese. In fact, as I’m typing this, I’m eating a bowl full. I used to not like it when I was little, for whatever reason, so I haven’t tried it in probably a good ten or twelve years. While I was at college this semester, some of my friends had a “dorm cooking show,” where they cooked for us a variety of things that we could make ourselves in the dorm, and then we ate it all. It was really fun, and everything was delicious, including this spin on mac ‘n cheese that they had! I tried it mainly out of courtesy, not thinking I would like it… now I am addicted. I can’t believe I’ve missed out on the cheesy goodness that this is all of my life! So the past couple of weeks I’ve been home, I have been taking full of advantage of being able to cook for myself. I think I’ve had this about four times just this week, haha. This is huge! My meals are now open to so much more variety with noodles and cheese! 
So 2012 has been a really big year for me with lots of change and overall growth as an individual, and I’m really excited to see what 2013 will bring. My mom’s birthday is on the first, so we always have friends and some family over not only for New Year’s but for her birthday as well. I am so looking forward to more junk food and spending some more time with friends and family. Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!
Sometimes I forget that only 8 months ago I was in high school!
It sounds like 2012 treated you well – especially the fact that you now like mac-n-cheese (bonus points for 2012).
I hope you have a wonderful holiday and that your mom has a great birthday!
P.S. I’ve heard Kansas City is a pretty great place to be. This blog (http://cookieandkate.com) is out of Kansas City! You should check it out.
Oooh, thanks for the blog suggestion! I’ll have to check it out!
Happy New Year! It is a great feeling to realized that you have grown up and happy. You can leave all of that HS drama behind you. Mac n Cheese was my favorite dish to make in college as well, only because it was super easy to make. Say Happy Birthday to your mom! Enjoy the rest of your stay home and I hope you continue to enjoy college in 2013!
Sounds like 2012 was a pretty good year for the most part =) That’s awesome you graduated! I remember graduating last year and it feels like it’s been years already. I hope that 2013 will bring you good times and lots of happiness! =)
Sounds like 2012 was a good year for the most part. I’m glad! I remember when I graduated. I loved every moment of it.
Anyhow, Happy New Year!
It’s seems like you’re having a swell time in the university, I mean adjusting and all.
I’ve had my wisdom tooth yanked out too. It needed a deeper surgery due to its case – it really sucked the first few days, but the ice cream really cheered me up.
Cheers!
Happy new year!! You did some brave things in 2012 that I probably never had the guts for it to do also. ‘Cause I’m just a chicken.
Goodluck in 2013! I hope you have a great year this year just like 2012.
Happy new year! ^_^ You really grown up in 2012, and that’s a good thing! That makes 2013 less harder for you
I hope that 2013 will be a wonderful year for you. ^_^ Happy birthday to your mother as well! 
Happy New Year, Becca! I hope you will have an amazing 2013 well spent
A lot happened to you in 2012. As a teenager, a lot always happen in one year. I thought the process of moving on from high school to the real world is better. In my case it is, since I don’t need to deal with immaturity as much.
It’s great to hear that you pulled through your first job despite of all of the crap they gave you. It’s good to suck it up and smile as much as you can. It makes the experience a bit better.
I’m happy that you managed to handle your problems yourself. It’s a part of the real world. People won’t always be there for you. You might as well be on your own!
It sounds like you had a great semester going on for you! When you’re living on your own, you might as well learn how to cook! There is more to the college life than cup noodles ;).
I hope you will enjoy this year even more!
Take care
Oh, what an exciting time! Graduating from high school and starting a whole new chapter :3 But I wouldn’t call it the “real world” just yet.
I don’t even know how to make mac ‘n cheese lol I never had good ones before just like you, but who knows? Maybe one day I’ll find one that I’ll like, too.
Happy New Years!
Happy New Year Becca!
Lol I feel like I lost an experience. After 12 years of being in the same place you’re supposed to head off for college! Leave behind everything, become independent, start living with a stranger. But I didn’t, I go to school nearby so I am still living here and depending on my mom.
Luckyyy you got a real job! I have not had a real job yet!
Ohh I remember the wisdom teeth. I am still nervous about that, but I am reassured that people say its not as bad as it sounds.
Lol Mac n Cheese is good! I’m glad you returned to eating it! There are lots of good food we as kids avoid!
Take care and have a great year!
Meh, I wouldn’t really say you’re missing a ton by not moving away from home, because eventually everyone has to do it, it just will happen a bit later for you. The biggest thing about it is just learning to do everything about myself, which is huge since I used to be/still kind of am pretty dependent on my parents. And I miss home and everything familiar still, so be thankful for it! Plus it’s much cheaper to live at home – I almost wish I would have because I can see my bank accounts slowly dwindling, haha.