Roses

"Where flowers bloom so does hope."
-Lady Bird Johnson (Public Roads: Where Flowers Bloom)

So far living life at seventeen can be described in two words:

self discovery

I find that every day I learn some thing new, some thing inspiring, some thing significant, some thing permanent. A while ago my friend's mom did just that. She gave me new, inspiring, significant, and permanent advice. Her words have stuck onto me ever since they were said. She told me how God gives each person a vase with roses. The vase is your heart, and the roses are your friends. You place these roses in your vase, knowing some will fade. With roses that fade, come brighter ones. Then there are the roses that eternally bloom. These roses won't ever fade, and we have to be thankful for them. I know who these eternally bloomed roses symbolize, and they make me stronger every day. And for the roses that fade, they are a part of my life I can't return. But they are also a part of my life I will never forget.

Speaking of roses, yesterday my dad and I were discussing my 18th birthday. It is, infamous, Filipino tradition for a girl to throw a cotillion; a coming-out party (I can't spell the official term, but it sounds like "dibu"). As we were talking about it, he told me about a traditional dance known as the 18 Roses Dance. This is a dance where I dance with 18 boys, who each give me a rose. I don't know exactly what the rose represents. Yet after the advice I received, I would assume these roses represent one's friendship. I'll have to research the true origin to the dance, so when I find out I'll keep you updated! Or if you happen to know, feel free to tell me, because I would love to hear about it.

On a different note, I attended my first prom last Friday. I came in confident, trying to move past my personal issues, and it surely worked. I had the time of my life, and I'm so glad I got to share the experience with my boyfriend, Patrick. I swear, he makes me fly. He inspires me everyday, and I'm glad he's a rose to my vase. Yikes. I'm pretty sure I just destroyed the rose metaphor, considering how cheesy this is becoming. So I'll stop now before I make you guys puke. But I hope the insight I shared can impact you as much as it has impacted me. That's what this blog is all about. Quoting my banner, and Anne Frank, "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." I hope my posts can relate, and interest others. I hope my posts can inspire some thing new, some thing inspiring, some thing significant, and some thing permanent.

True Friends

"What is a friend? It is a soul dwelling in two bodies."
-Aristotle

Second post of the day? Ha, talk about a record. Hopefully I'm not boring you guys. Since this is my third post, I'll make this one short and sweet. Why I needed to post for a second time? Because I don't have a life? Well, not entirely. Today something huge has occurred to me; what occurred has truly impacted me. Not to be over-dramatic or anything, but I know I'll never forget what happened. Even though this is my third post today, I need to rant. After-all, that's what inspired me start this blog. If your sick of me, I can't say I blame you. But if you are sick of me, stop reading this blog, because I can guarantee my classic rants will never end.

I discussed relationships in an earlier post, and the subject is about to be brought up into perspective once more. I can say now, that this won't be the last time you'll hear about my stances toward relationships, because I, personally, believe relationships build character. Relationships have taught me who I am, and who I want to become. I remember how I'd keep typing "realationship", instead of "relationship", and the significance of the root "real". In order to have a functional relationship, one has to stay true to themselves; one has to be real. If a person isn't real, in a relationship, that's a start to a bumpy friendship. And guess what? That's exactly what happened to me. I won't get into detail, because this is a very typical situation. I am sure it has happened to everyone at one point; though I really hope it hasn't happened to too many people. I'll leave it at this: today I learned who my true friends are; I'm so lucky to have them.

PS- The quote I used, in this post, is a personal favorite; it is a quote that has stuck to me, ever since I first heard it. Not to be Captain Obvious or anything, but Aristotle is seriously one smart guy.

What's Gucci?

"How do you achieve success? Well, for one thing, you don't define it before you achieve it." -Robert Brault

As you can see, that is me pointing to the sign that reads: Department of Music. Yes, I know I'm a dork. I've accepted that a long time ago. Anyways if you're wondering where this sign is located, I can easily answer that question. It's located in my dream school,which is William and Mary. Why was I even there? Two words: Spring Break. And I'm loving every minute of it. I spent the first three days visiting ODU, William and Mary, and VCU. I traveled with my cousins, who are the only people who could explain/answer the title of this post. Personally, I had an amazing time. Yet I can't believe Spring Break is almost over, but I'll try not to look at it with the glass half empty. I can look at it, with the glass half full, by working on William and Mary. I highly, highly doubt I will be accepted. But unlike my AP Lang teacher, I have faith in myself. I'll never know until I try. There are numerous reasons why I'm in love with William and Mary but the main reason: I can actually see myself going there. The idea of going to college has always seemed unreal to me, even scary. What's even more scary is that I'll be going to college soon...as in a little over a year. What? If I don't make it in I know one thing, I have to, have to stay in-state. Though the typical teenager would rebel and transfer as far as possible there's one person stopping me. My sister. I could never leave her. My mom trusts that I can, and will, watch over her. I just hope I can also be someone she can look up to, someone like Mom.

While I was at the college tours I noticed most of the kids there were with at least one of their parents, the majority of the parents were mothers. As I was at the tour with my cousins, I felt strong. Although my mom cannot physically be there to search for colleges with me, she's watching over me. Knowing that, I know everything will be okay. Even if William and Mary doesn't work out, even if it all goes wrong. I trust myself to trust her and trust what ever happens. I'll never be as ready as I am now.