On To The Next Chapter

This is my last post on this blog. I started it when I was a sophomore in high school, and guess what? High school is OVER. So that brings this blog to an end as well. I'm moving over to a new page, URL to be announced in the end.

Yes. I'm done. High school is over. It's almost a bittersweet feeling to know that you're done with something so big in your life. The last 13 years of school were fun, hard, an adventure! Now it's over and life is becoming real. I have to think about my mission, my future family, a career, college. All of that. The ending of one thing brings the beginning to the best years to come. I can't wait to go and find out what I'm going to be in my life.

Here are some super cute pictures of my friends, family, and myself from graduation this last week.

Two of my Fab Four sisters came to support me at graduation. I love them so freaking much. They called right as we were about to walk in, so I had to run out of the tunnel to meet them. Best sisters ever.

 

Outlaw girls. No matter what, we have all been there for each other since day 1

 My cute friend Jaron Carmen. We met this year and were instant friends. I'm going to miss him so much this summer, and while he is out on his mission.

J. Twin is no new character to this blog. Best friends since 9th grade. So grateful that she has stuck by me through everything. Love her and can't wait to see her become a cardiovascular surgeon.

Cam! I love Cameron Dower. We've become close in the last year. He's my favorite tickle partner. Chile is lucky to get such an incredible guy.

My cute group of friends from this year. They definitely made Senior year a blast.

Austin Flynn, Jaycee Brown, Cameron Dower, Emily George, Zach Lamb, Myself, Scott Wilcox, Sarah Davis, and Weston Flynn.

Cutest freaking boys ever. I'm in love with them.

Wait...we're done?!

Literally jumping for joy.. 

My two very very very best friends. I wouldn't be here without them.

SUCH A CUTE PICTURE. Ignore the Class of 2012 sign... we are from 2013..

Em and I love our friend Zach

 I can't even tell you the last time I had this many family members around.. This was the perfect weekend with all of my extended family.

 Pretty sure this is the most normal you'll ever see us

 So grateful my bff second cousin Dustin could come out. We are the same person, it seems. He's no joke one of my closest, best, most amazing friends. We went on cousin dates a lot while he was here.
I LOVE HIM

 Whoop.. let's get this show on the road

 My best friend of 2 years, Jeffrey Herbert. He came to dinner with us, and to graduation and sat with my crazy family... how amazing is he?

 Wait.. us? Smiling? At the same time??

 Okay that's better..

 Baby brother and sister. We fight, but I really do love them more than anything in the world

 This guy has been there for me through a lot this year. I love my Landon Greenhalgh!

 From seminary buds to graduates.. LOVE THEM

 Aren't they adorable?

 I never give this kid enough credit. He is around when I need him, he knows when I need to talk, and he loves me for who I am. Logan Child, you will always be one of the most sincere and gracious people I will ever meet.

 This is really happening...

 Look! That's me!

 Graduating class of 2013 from Syracuse High School.. That Cuse Cray ;)

 Gracie and Dustin... I love them.

 Hahahahahaha oh my gosh. I love Jaycee Brown like nobodies business.

My tag reads "Hi, my name is Courtney Hamilton and I'm a high school graduate."

Courtesy of my cousin Jessica

Well ladies and gents... that's all I have for ya. It's been a roller coaster for three years. Way too many ups, way too many downs. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. So glad to be done with high school and that part of my life. I love my friends, my family, my church. I'm excited to go and serve a mission this fall. I can't wait to see what else is in store for me. If you want to follow and stay connected, I'm moving over to www.c-shortney.blogspot.com for the next chapter in my life. Thanks for all the comments, views, everything! Until next time, Good luck out there!

That's All She Wrote

And it's over. The hell I have had to go through for 3 years is officially OVER.

I'm in tears because I'm so happy.

No one ever tells you how bad high school really is. Catty girls, hard tests, failing grades, feeling inadequate. You are never prepared for it. But once you get to the end... you realize just how awesome you are and how strong you are.

I've been through my fair share of trials. Not saying they are greater or worse than anyone else's. I've lost my best friend of 10 years. I made some not great decisions with boys which led to rumors being spread about me. I didn't make the soccer team my senior year, which led to losing all of my soccer friends. I struggled my way through school, never measuring up to my parent's expectations. I went through depression. I had a time where I didn't want to be here anymore. I wanted to just quit and give up.

I used to be a brick. Not emotional at all. I used to be happy all the time. Boy, did high school change that! It was a whirlwind of emotions, not one like the other.

But you know what? I wouldn't trade any of it. Ever. The experiences that I had over the last three years are what have shaped me into the person I am today. I am stronger. I am independent. I'm not ashamed to stand up for what I believe in. I'm not embarrassed to share my opinions and thoughts with people. I stand up for myself and my friends. I have been able to open up to so many people and create some life-long friendships. I've found myself and who I want to be. I'm not trying to fit in with the crowd anymore.

I can thank high school for that.

Would I go back? No.
Would I give up anything I've gone through? No.
Would I change the results of some of my problems? Not really.

As much as some of these things sucked, I know that it is exactly what needed to happen to me. I had to go through hard things to prepare me for my later life.

If I didn't have my few best friends beside me these past few years, I would have never made it out alive. My best friends have stood beside me through everything. Even when I was a wreck, they picked me back up and told me to keep going. I love them and all that they have ever done for me.

I won't see about 90 percent of these kids that I went to school with ever again. And I'm so grateful. I didn't like Syracuse. I hated it so much, I almost transferred to Clearfield. I'm so glad I stayed. It was hard, but so worth it. The class of 2013 is the funnest class I have ever had the privilege of knowing. We had school spirit, stuck by each other, supported each other, and didn't care about social barriers. Our football boys loved the special ed. students. Our whole school supported the productions kids. We make the best student section in the state during football season. We had the best senior prank to ever happen to our school.

Syracuse High School might not have been my ideal place to be for the last three years, but it's where I grew up. It's the kids that I've known since I was 6. It's home, now. I'm grateful for the teachers, students, and the school. I'm grateful for the lessons and experiences I've had while attending SHS.

So, world. I'm asking right now...

Are you ready for the Class of 2013 to graduate? I know we are.

10 Truths Tuesday

1. My family from Iowa is coming out this weekend... I'm so excited. I haven't seen most of them since I was 7 or 8. My BFF second cousin Dusty will be here. I just can't wait. No one understands how big of a deal this is for me to see people that I'm related to. That doesn't happen a lot around here.

2. Austin has been out for a week as of tomorrow morning. I miss him. But I'm proud of him, so I'll suck it up.

3. I am beyond excited for graduation Friday.

4. My two best friends are the greatest. Not a day goes by where we don't talk. I'm sure I wouldn't be as happy as I am right now without them.

5. Single life is the life for me! JK. It sucks. But whatevs. Gotta focus on the mission before anything else.

6. I started crying when President Spackman told me I could turn my papers in 3 days earlier than planned. I'm just ready to go and serve. Every little bit matters to me.

7. There are actually a lot of people I will miss after graduation. It'll be a sad thing to see everyone go.

8. I refuse to wear pants more than twice a week. Dresses EVERYDAY. Seriously. Ask my friends. It's every day.

9. I'm sick. Just a cold and a cough. But still. Sick. Boo.

10. I'm a lot happier now than I've been in a long while.