2016 was quite the year. Lots of things happened to me on a personal level, and whether they seemed "good" at first or not, they ended up teaching me a lesson or helping me to grow. Other things happened on a much larger scale that I am still reflecting on and trying to make peace with. Pride, fear, joy, relief, confusion, etc. I feel like I truly felt it all this year. Things happened, I processed them, I made peace with (most of) them, and I grew.

I graduated high school. It's a good feeling to not have the limitations of being a high school student on me anymore, but I have to admit that it was a little weird to no longer be tied to WHS. It's gotten less and less weird over time, and although my high school drama club will always have a huge chunk of my heart and life, I do feel like I'm letting go and finding a new place. Which is a good thing.

I directed two shows. Can I humble brag for a second? A year and a half ago, directing was a distant dream, something that I thought might happen someday. I never thought I would have the opportunity to try it in high school, and I never though that directing a children's production of Alice In Wonderland would set off a sort of Domino effect. Over the summer, I directed a play called Almost, Maine. Still can't believe that happened. After it stopped being the most anxiety ridden day of my life, opening night was a success and I was on top of the world. Remember before when I mentioned pride? This is where that comes in.

Trump is president. Still figuring that one out.

Something that hit close to home this year was finding out that two of my cousins are having babies next year. I found out in July, which was actually not the best month for me, but it was some of the happiest news I could have gotten in the midst of some not so happy changes. Having two little Joyces running around in 2017 is going to be an adventure, to say the least, and this year has been full of joyful anticipation, awaiting their arrival.

I moved out of my childhood home and went to college. This was definitely the biggest change of the year. This change, along with what I mentioned about no longer being tied to my high school, along with some of my relationships with people ending/being altered forced me to really face myself and trust myself. I know I always have people I can rely on, but I can't rely on them for everything. Over the past few months especially, I have really become my own person. Going to school this fall, all I had was myself. I had to figure things out on my own, and create some of my own opportunities. I no longer had everyone I did at the beginning of the year, some of the spaces I had called home for a very long time underwent changes that ultimately changed my relationship with that space. I was on my own. And now, at the end of 2016, I feel more myself than I ever have. I've made friends and had experiences that have impacted me, but I chose to let them do so. Nothing that I don't fully believe in or like has any place influencing me.

This year wasn't all peaches and cream. I cried a lot. But at least I felt. That's a good way to put it; I really felt this year. I felt it changing my world, and that change was good. Here's hoping I will change, grow, and learn just as much in 2017.