Happy New Year!

Needless to say, this year's been pretty crazy (and amazing!), full of ups and downs. You know, much like any other. I guess a recap is in order.

*****

~ Club competitions - DECA, Robotics, Mock Trial, MUN - so many new experiences and we did surprisingly (or not surprisingly ;P) well. Got individual awards, which was gratifying, but it was my teammates' and friends' that made those experiences unforgettable. Getting lost on the way to the breakfast tent, taking the wrong test but owning it regardless. Countless repairs on our robot but being epic on balancing the platforms. "You are quite astute in your observations" and "The only thing the fibers being blue tells us, is that they were not red." Tony standing up to Osama bin Laden in the crisis. So many memories and so much fun.

~ The end of college applications and the beginning of admissions. Not as much a rollercoaster ride as my friends, as my rejections/waitlistings were somehow all clustered at the very end, but nerve-wracking as well. And in the end, who cares? Princeton, what more can I say?

~ Princeton Preview... One of the best experiences of my life, and I met so many of my future classmates and current friends there. Shu and Matt, Michael, Max, Brian. It was truly amazing and being there on campus with wonderful people just made me fall in love with the school.

~ Equating my eight 5s to Michael Phelps's eight gold medals. Just for fun. And, I suppose, to make myself feel better about spending so much money to take so many tests, most of which didn't count for credit. xD

~ Graduation marked an end to an amazing high school experience. So full of activities and friends and laughter, and now that I'm in college, I sincerely appreciate that much more how well I was able to do in high school.

~ Summer was an adventure in Asia, to Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Taiwan was awesome as always - hung out with family, played pool, shopped at night markets and department stores, and ate amazing Taiwanese food. Japan was surprisingly... sharp. Everyone was well-dressed, everything was exceptionally well-prepared. Korea was just beautiful. Went with a tour group, and though I don't keep in touch with them much, they were an amazing group of people and insanely fun to be around. Had to work my Chinese skills a bit, and they were so sweet and posted in English online so that I could read what they were saying.

~ And then came college. Started off with a bang with OA, most out-of-my-comfort-zone but enlightening week full of LNT, peanut butter/Nutella torillas, and bonding around a campfire or under a tarp in the middle of the wilderness.

~ Orientation was... a bit hectic. Moving in - thankfully I and some others more or less moved in before OA, because 8 people moving into the same suite at one time would have been a disaster - a plethora of "mandatory" events, but being able to meet so many people at the same time. All of my roommates, with whom, as might surprise some of you, I still haven't found a point to argue. The "Dirty Eight of '38," our guy suite counterpart, all of who are sweet and funny and fun to be around. Trap, our absolutely amazing and super accomplished RCA - a better one I could not have asked for if I tried. And remeeting all of my friends from Preview.

~ As for the semester (which isn't over!), how do I even begin. If I even tried to say everything that has happened, it would take way too long, so I suppose I'll "summarize" an experience which can't be put into words. Midnight walks around campus. Absolutely hilarious, tangential conversations in writing seminar. Two runs to Frist for late meal every day (just one on Friday and not on the weekends!). Maegan laying on the floor. Rory's witchcraft and our shared love of modular origami. Lawnparties. Hurricane Sandy (and riding around outside in a golf cart during Hurricane Sandy). Holder. Late night runs to Forbes. Trying not to break flasks and kill someone in orgo lab with Melissa and Amber. Hearts. Gingerbread Catan (or any type of Catan, really). Orange and Black Ball. THE BONFIRE. My first snow. Watching an absolutely stunning meteor shower while lying on Poe Field with Matterpie. Thanksgiving break spent at Rory's. TASA fun with shaved ice, boba, and mochi. Secret Santas and birthday celebrations. Restaurant week. The establishment of Tiger Compliments and Tiger *everything-else*. That's not even the half of it - it's just been an absolutely amazing experience so far. Difficult and challenging for sure, but I wouldn't give it up.

~ And now we come to winter break. Catching up with friends, sleeping in, doing minimum work whatsoever (though I should really do more...). Bowling and movies. And ringing in 2013 with Uno, junk food, Ironsky, and s'mores. I think this is going to be a good year.