I can honestly say that it was the most horrifying experience of my life. He was my first real boyfriend, the first boy I loved and the first boy to break my heart. For nine months he was my best friend and my [ ...continue reading ]]]>
For nine months I had been seeing this boy. And for seven of the nine months he was my boyfriend. Then he suddenly became my ex. It was the most out-of-left-field experience I’ve ever had. I spent my entire weekend in the same clothes, surrounded by tissue and wishing it was all a dream.

I can honestly say that it was the most horrifying experience of my life. He was my first real boyfriend, the first boy I loved and the first boy to break my heart. For nine months he was my best friend and my confidant. And all of a sudden he was not. I’m sure some of you have been in my shoes and, unfortunately, all of you will be there.

But there are two things you can always count on: your friends and yourself. Going through this made me realize how much my friends love me and how much I love them. More than anyone else, my friends were there to listen, even though most of the time they couldn’t understand me through the sobs. When I wanted to rant and be angry, they slammed my ex. When I wanted to just be sad, they brought me fro yo. And when I didn’t want to talk at all, they were there to watch Grey’s Anatomy reruns and marvel at McSteamy’s abs. Ben and Jerry helped too!

In the few days I’d had to reflect on the situation, I realized that in the end, he didn’t care enough to make us work as a couple. I didn’t want to be in a relationship in which I gave my all and didn’t get that in return. Yes, I was devastated, but being pushed aside so he could hang out with his friends would have been worse. I know that I deserve to be treated better than that, and while I was still in utter shock and despair, I came out okay.

So ladies, be sad. Cry. Yell. Punch a pillow. Eat some ice cream. Stare at McSteamy’s abs. You deserve it. But don’t forget that someone will find you and love you and treat you like the princess you are. Don’t let one person ruin you. I know that it hurts, and I know that it feels like your whole world has fallen apart, because I felt the same way. But then I remembered that my friends are still there, and that in the end I was going to be okay. I know you will be too.

Often in class I find myself counting down the minutes until the bell rings. On Mondays, I tell myself Friday will be here again soon. The other day my friend and I counted up the days of school left in our senior year. We were shocked to find that there are less than 65. This got me thinking…why am I so anxious for time to pass quickly?

This is my senior year of high school. I should be soaking up every second, not wishing them away. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way unsatisfied with the [ ...continue reading ]]]>

Often in class I find myself counting down the minutes until the bell rings. On Mondays, I tell myself Friday will be here again soon. The other day my friend and I counted up the days of school left in our senior year. We were shocked to find that there are less than 65. This got me thinking…why am I so anxious for time to pass quickly?

This is my senior year of high school. I should be soaking up every second, not wishing them away. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way unsatisfied with the course my life is taking at the moment, and I’m a generally happy-go-lucky girl. So what in the world is up with this obsession I’ve formed with countdowns? Why am I pressuring the proclaimed “best time of my life” to go by any faster than it absolutely has to?

Honestly, I have no idea. Life is crazy enough already. On Friday, February 12, our boys’ basketball team had a game. The next day I had a college interview in the morning, followed by winter formal at night, and it was my best friend’s 18^th birthday, which put me in bed around 4:30 a.m. Sunday was Valentine’s Day, which I got to spend with my boyfriend. Monday we had a “day off” that didn’t involve much relaxing. After that came four days of school (filled with countdowns to lunch or the end of the day). But when school ended Friday, the week was far from over as I ran to another college interview and then a basketball playoff game.

I guess what I’m trying to get across is that my life is hectic right now, and this is making my senior year fly by. There is really no need for my silly little countdowns.

Hence, I have come up with a resolution: to truly live life to the fullest, as cliché as that may sound. Life is short and tomorrow is never a guarantee, so it’s crucial to view the time we do get as a gift/blessing and make the most of every moment. Those classes that I count down the minutes to get through could really teach me some important things if I just let them. From now on, I’m going to live in the present and appreciate it. After all, you only live a moment once, and once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

Posted by Tori S., age 18, California