Gettin' All Reflective in this B

I am 23 years old. Definitely in full-adult age category. Family Christmas really drove that point home. I swear my now-teenage cousins were kids last Christmas. They weren't, but damn it I swear they were! In fact, family Christmas drove home a few points. I felt more relaxed, more comfortable in my own skin. Even though I have little in common with my mom's side of the family, I had a great time and was impressively social. I'd say that this represents my happiness with my present situation. All-in-all this has been the most successful year of my life. Here's the details:

- I am back in school. I had an awesome first semester. My grades aren't the absolute best, but they are still pretty damn good. And honestly, in a field like journalism, the proof is in the pudding. Passion, personality, creativity, and good-quality stories are what will make me successful in the business, not my grade in "The Art of the Interview."

- I have a confession to make. I went to visit my family before my first day of classes(that is, my first day back at school in 2 1/2 years). On the drive back to the city I had a PANIC ATTACK. It wasn't as physical as it was emotional. I didn't hyperventilate, but I did cry for two hours straight. I was petrified of meeting new people, of trying to fit in, of having to re-start this "friend-making" thing all over again. My greatest insecurities came to the surface that day. However, I am proud to say that in the past 3 months I have made some of the best friends I will ever make. I overcame that hurdle. There are some teeny cliques within my class but overall I feel like I have transcended them and be-friended through party lines(with the help of some occasional heavy drinking). I only dislike one person. Despite that I have successfully made it through a massive group project with that individual with only slightly heightened blood pressure.

- My mind was positive that I want to be a writer when I went into J-school. However, I have been very successful in my Broadcast class and feel an indescribable sense of accomplishment every time I finish a news story. I'm not sure if I will do print or broadcast, or god-knows-what, but I do know that my horizons have broadened from my original ideas.

- I am still dating Chris. We have a very healthy relationship and I see us being together for quite some time. Being in a long-distance relationship is difficult at times, but the benefit of how great we are together is always worth more than physical proximity. He has been my biggest support this semester. When I succeeded, he was the first to be proud of me. When I failed, he was the first to comfort me. And when I couldn't take all the pressure and broke down, he had all the right things to say.

- I have made it by financially. Working while in school is difficult. I would love to have spent my Christmas break not working at all, just spending time with Chris, family and friends. But to have a job serving in a restaurant, that simply isn't possible without quitting, and I need the money. Balancing all of these things isn't for everyone, and I certainly feel like those in my program who don't work have a certain advantage over me. However I am proud and as busy as things get, I always get by.

Well, I think that's all I have to report on. I read through my New Year's resolutions from last year(which were written in my journal, not my blog). I achieved all of them except for two! But those two were kind of silly anyways, and I half-did one of them(quit at Tumblers. I am no longer on their schedule, am just "on call" for when they're in a pinch).

My only real resolutions for next year that I can think of is to try to be more healthy in general, to pack my lunches instead of buying them at school, and to kick some fucking ass at my radio internship in the fall. I'd also like to "create my own internship" and do some journo-type work this summer, but that's no resolution, it's just a goal.

Anyways, happy new years to all of you, I can tell it will be yet another stellar one.