Karina+S

Not to be Cliche or anything, but time flies. You honestly don't realize how much work you've put in, how much you've lost, or how much you've gained until it's all done.

I started out as a pretty awkward 9th grader at Green Hope High School. I had moved to North Carolina in the middle of 8th grade going to West Cary. I made some friends, but most of them ended up going to Cary High, so I felt pretty alone. I made some really good friends who I am still friends with to this day, but a few of them ended up going down paths I did not want to follow. I met my best friend Cece, who goes to Cary, through mutual friends.. Even though we are no longer friends with that mutual friends, me and Cece are inseparable.

During the summer of ninth grade, without my consent, my mother signed me up to volunteer at UNC-Hospitals. I didn't want to lose my summer and hated the idea of doing it. But before i knew it, I was in love with it and still do it to this day. I had racked up so many hours, that I was able to even get a scholarship.

10th grade was just okay. I don't remember anything really that special about it. I just remember that I had a bunch of good times. I met one of my good friends this year. I thought she was crazy, but I think that is why I liked her so much. I had also met a very tall lanky guy who introduced me to so many good bands and took me to amazing live shows. He is a little awkward, but I love him like a brother. I had started my job at the Fresh Market, where I was and still am a Cashier. I absolutely hated the job, the nasty old ladies and the too-rich customers..but I think because of that all of us up front were able to bond together.

11th Grade was definitely my favorite year. The classes I took were challenging and were more interesting. My French 5 class led me to meet this group of kids who changed my perspective on life and what I was going to do with myself. I joined One Club, a club for aids awareness, and Model United Nations. I had ended up getting a little crazy and barley ever came home..

The summer before senior year....I just don't know what to say. At the beginning, I was living life. Going out with my friends, working a lot, going to concerts...Just regular stuff. But then, my life changed. My family was different. My father died. We had no idea what to do with ourselves. My mother was the worst one off though. She met him in the 80's when they were both fresh off the boat --- her from Philippines and him from India, and they have been together ever since. When my father died, we were on very bad terms.. He was an alcoholic and I resented him greatly for it because it had me grow up too quickly to help the rest of my family. But now, I realize I should have been there more for him during this time, and not just trying to forget the whole problem existed.

My senior year, after all the things I had to deal with over summer, just flew by. A lot of my friends who went to green hope went off to college, so I definitely became more independent. I took a pretty rigorous course load -- 5 AP, and worked 25-30hrs on top, but it kept me busy. I had gotten into my first-choice school, UNC- Chapel Hill, which really did make the rest of my year. As of now, I've honestly just put my life on Cruise Control -- just going through the motion of school and work, which is perfectly fine by me.

http://animoto.com/play/BPxyzncvEtymyUHTLnMbew?autostart=true

http://animoto.com/play/xl2geg0lUxX5yC8h3jqsFQ?autostart=true