With 18 years under my belt, I suppose it’s safe to say that I have collected my fair share of unforgettable memories. I felt that, on such a special day, it would be fun to share some of those moments with you.
1. Playing Ohio All-Star softball
When I was younger, I was able to play with some of the best athletes from all around Ohio. Softball was a huge part of my life and getting to play against such talented teams from all across the country is something I will never forget. Everyone was so sweet and my parents still have the shirts the team made for the players and their families.
2. Playing four sports in Orlando at Disney World
In eighth grade, I was given the opportunity to fly to Orlando, Florida, and represent my school in up to eight different sports. Of course I took the chance! After an exhausting three days, I met so many people, got to play all of my favorite sports, and stood on the Hard Rock Cafe stage to accept medals with my teammates. I think the coolest thing I took away from that experience was the friends I made from our sister schools in Paris and Mexico.
3. Participating in an academic olympiad
Also in eighth grade, I battled it out with everyone in my school for the chance to compete in an academic olympiad. Out of sheer luck, because if anyone knows me, they know I am horrible at spelling, I won first at the school-wide spelling bee and then was the first one eliminated at the olympiad. Figures. But it was still a great experience that I will never forget. Afterward my family and I sat by the pool at the hotel all of the participants stayed at.
4. Traveling to Washington DC
Wow, a lot of things happened in eighth grade. My school took all seven of the eighth graders to Washington DC to learn more about the founding of our great nation and its current happenings. I, embarrassingly, geeked out over the architecture and got the chance to see when the Senate can never get anything done. The subway was scary, the mall was big enough to be its own city, and our chaperone got her credit card stolen at a shady stir-fry restaurant.
5. The first book I ever sold
Being a published author at 15 years old was amazing, but what I felt was even more unforgettable was the first book I ever sold. I remember getting the email and being so excited. Not long after I received my first check, the thrill of people buying my art left me on Cloud 9.
6. The time my parents surprised me with a car
My 16th birthday consisted of work and a huge party at my house, complete with a photo booth and dance room. It was already such a perfect day and admittedly a very expensive one. With my parents being teachers, I honestly didn’t expect much more than simply a party. My parents pulled me into the photo booth to surprise me with my custom license plate and keys to my car.
7. Meeting most of the stars of "Supernatural"
My dad scored tickets to the Supernatural Convention on the Las Vegas Strip and we all got dressed in our appropriate hunter gear and made our way down to the event. As soon as we got there we saw all of the main stars and I snuck a bunch of pictures and then almost had my phone confiscated. The best memory I have of the event, however, is walking up to one of the stars, shaking their hand, and telling them that I can’t wait to work with them in the future. The look on their face was hilarious.
8. Attending my first music festival
In September 2015, I attended my first Life is Beautiful festival on Fremont Street in Las Vegas. I got to see all of my favorite bands and even discovered some new ones. The art was to die for and the atmosphere was just so… refreshing. It is definitely something I will be doing again.
9. Going to Comic Con… Twice
I mean, what’s better than getting to geek out and buy art with your little brother? Who cares if I blew two paychecks on Edgar-Allan-Poe-themed art? It’s become a tradition for my brother and I.
10. My first high school musical
One of my most memorable theater experiences was being cast as Grandma Addams in the all-state production of "Addams Family The Musical." Being considered a dramatic actress, but being cast in a comedic role was such a unique moment. The production went on the road and lasted exactly a year. The funniest thing about the whole production was the fact that after six years of choir, I was reassessed and told to sing soprano one.
11. Attending the Sun Youth Forum
The Sun Youth Forum is this debate-like event that juniors and seniors participate in to evoke change in the community. We debate ideas like LGBTQ+ in the classroom and the probability of free college. Getting to voice my opinions in a group of well-educated peers was inspiring and freeing.
12. Acting as co-editor-in-chief of a first-place news website
Working alongside a very talented writer and editor was the highlight of my senior year. Endless days of late-night editing and all-day writing consumed a lot of my time, but in the end it all paid off. The Roar staff worked so hard to create one of the top news sites and on May 20, our website took home first place at the 40th annual Las Vegas Review Journal Journalism Awards. I was on my way to Disneyland when I got the news.
13. Traveling to Manhattan… Also twice
The first time I went to Manhattan I went with my theater department, but it was one thousand times better with my news team. It was so much fun to travel the familiar streets of New York City with girls I could connect with and be myself around. Going to Broadway shows and taking classes at Columbia University… It was heaven on Earth.
14. Getting rewarded for all of my hard work
While I was in New York, the owner of the business I work for called me. I stopped in the middle of Grand Central Station at 11 p.m. and called him back. He congratulated me on being one of the top two most yelped employees and offered to take me, the other top-yelped employee, and my general manager to California for a day where we would go to Six Flags. It took me by complete surprise, but I will never forget such an amazing day with great people. It’s not every day that an employer rewards their hard-working employees and I value my job and my leaders for going the extra mile to do so.
15. Taking a spontaneous vacation to Harry Potter World
There was a funeral in California, maybe 45 minutes away from my paradise: a theme park dedicated to "Harry Potter." And it just so happened to be opening weekend. So my nana bought tickets and fast passes for my mom and I to explore all of Universal Studios together. We bought matching "Harry Potter" sweatshirts and had lunch at the Three Broomsticks. It was absolutely magical.
16. Girls' day in Malibu
After my day at Hogwarts, my nana, mom, and I all spent the night at a hotel where we had Chick-fil-A and watched "Harry Potter" movies. The next day, we drove an hour and a half to Paradise Cove for lunch on the beach and a day in the sand. Seeing how happy the beach made my nana was amazing. I will never forget the look on her face when we pulled up.
17. Graduating
Four years of tears and sleepless nights finally paid off. I walked down the aisle and took my diploma as an advanced honors diploma with high honors recipient. I was highly decorated and completely bored. I waited three hours for three seconds in the spotlight among almost 600 other graduates. Still, I will never forget it, although for my college graduation I might just have them mail me my diploma.
18. Getting accepted into college
I will be attending a university with a gorgeous campus and so many more opportunities with my name on them as a psychology major. Earning my Bachelor's of Science is just the tip of the iceberg, however, and I can’t wait to make more memories in the new chapter of my life.
I can’t picture a better way to celebrate my 18th birthday than reflecting on the past 18 years and looking forward to what the next 18 will bring. Life is a series of ups and downs and nine times out of 10 we as a society tend to focus on the negative. Being able to look back at all of the great things that have happened in my life inspires me to continue down this path I have chosen and work harder to realize my dreams.
