Sure, Jan

Mark your calendars for February 16, guys. Because it's about to get real up in here.

Why?

IT'S JANET VARNEY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Wait, what? Who's Janet Varney? Why should you care? Homie, I'm about to answer those questions, and much, much more. 

Remember when we celebrated Grey Griffin's birthday? This is gonna be a little bit like that. So let's get down to business (to defeat... Amon?)!

First things first, look at that baby face. Isn't she adorable? She's not only adorable, but she's a professional nerd. That's right. She gets paid to be a nerd. And an actress, but still. 

Unlike Grey, you really might not have heard her voice or seen her face before. Although, if you're a fan of Avatar, you have definitely heard her voice before. Because she is Korra.

That's right, my friends. This blonde-haired, blue-eyed, light-skinned, 38-going-on-39-year-old woman is in fact the voice of the dark-haired, dark-skinned, deep-voiced (and that's actually her real speaking voice), somewhere-between-17-and-21-at-any-point-in-the-series, Avatar Korra.

Maybe you already knew that about her. But did you know that she runs a podcast on The Nerdist? Did you know that she played Carly on Burning Love? Actually, you might not have heard of that show, but it's SO good! And a little inappropriate, but good. The podcast she runs is called The JV Club, and it's about the awkward teenage years and the times that never changed since then. You might have known she hosted TBS's Dinner and a Movie. Or maybe you didn't. She was also in a relationship with fellow nerd Chris Hardwick, but I feel like I shouldn't mention that since this is a "Happy Birthday" post, and the last time I made one for a voice actress, they actually read it.

Not to mention her teeth are really straight.

But whether you already knew who she was or you really have never seen or heard her, you definitely should pay attention now.

Her voice is beautiful.

She's one of those people that could read the dictionary to me and it would sound interesting. She could talk about quantum physics and I would still listen. In fact, I listened to an hour-long podcast between her and Seychelle Gabriel, with absolutely no video, and zoned out half the time because I was surfing the Internet, but her voice, though. I just love hearing it. And Seychelle's laugh was pretty adorable, too.

She's a legitimate nerd.

There's celebrities who go to Comic-Con simply because they're contractually obligated to, and then there's celebrities like Janet. She is a hardcore Korrasami shipper, guys. I don't really ship them (I thought I shipped Makorra, but I'm not sure I would have been happy if Korra ended up with him, either... maybe I didn't want her to end up with anyone), but still. She's fully invested in her work. She's even cosplayed-ish Korra before, with Naga, bending and all. Like, what's cooler than that. I feel like when I become a voice actress, I will probably have issues separating myself from the character (I even have issues realizing I'm not Eponine... and I only played her for five minutes... at an audition...). She's just all in.

Her characters seem like an extension of herself.

I may or may not be thinking of Carly, but sometimes it's just so hard to realize that she is acting. I tried to find quotes to back this up, but I just couldn't decide which to include. But maybe the video I linked will provide enough evidence.

I could list so many other reasons, but I have a bad habit of writing posts that are way too long for one's enjoyment (I'm still working on my Legend of Korra farewell post). 

But didn't you fall in love with her? Even a little bit? I know I did. Although I've been a fan of her for awhile, anyway.

But seriously. Is she NOT the coolest woman to roam the earth?

Happy birthday, Janet! I hope it's a good one!

Fifty Shades of "Nah, Bruh"

I don't even want to talk about this, but I feel that as a Christian blogger (although I identify as a fandom blogger), I should at least subtly mention this movie. Be prepared for a Rated R post.

You know which one I'm talking about. The one that came out today...

Yeah. The first movie for the Fifty Shades trilogy, or whatever the official name for the book series is.

I've tried to avoid it, but after marking up several copies of Fifty Shades of Grey at my library for discharge (people have been damaging them left and right-- someone stole the first like, 20 pages of one of the copies), I felt like I just couldn't escape the madness. And I'll have you know that I literally had to wash my hands after dealing with any of the E.L. James books. I mean, who knows where they've been?

Anyway. Enough about my adventures as a volunteer dealing with books that could quite possibly be stained by some old man's semen.

Aside from the fact that the plot seems like it came straight from some person's wet dream and had no editing after (I didn't read the whole book, but I have friends who have, and the writing is not quality), I feel that as a Christian and as a normal citizen of the world, I should be speaking out against it.

I am not saying that sex should be treated as taboo; I'd rather my future children learn about sex than see people getting blown up. And I am not saying that those who enjoy BDSM should be shamed. However, this entire franchise is just... disgusting. Even members of the BDSM community agree.

Christian Grey and Anastasia's relationship is just flat-out abusive, and it's even mentioned that he has a control problem. Like, why would you want to be with a man like that?

Here are some excerpts:

"'No,' I protest, trying to kick him off. He stops. 'If you struggle, I'll tie your feet, too. If you make a noise, Ana, I will gag you.'"

"Alaska is very cold and no place to run. I can track your cell phone-- remember?" (Creep.)

"You need to learn to manage my expectations. I am not a patient man."

Yeah, sure. It's so romantic.

First of all, I believe that whatever one does in bed is a private matter, and I don't support this series for the same reason I don't have any porn sites in my Internet history. What two partners do is their business and no one else's. Okay?

I also do not support porn (and this), because of consent. You're doing BDSM? Not my thing (I mean, sex isn't really my thing at all at the moment, but...), but okay. It's consensual? High five! It's not consensual? No high fives for you. 

Oh, and disclaimer: I am not speaking for all Christians in this post. I'm sure many would speak out against BDSM, but I just don't have a stance on it, so long as it's consensual.

I feel that these books portray what sex is not. Sex is about mutual consent. It's about love. It's not about whatever this is.

It seems that this movie has already done pretty well at the Box Office, unfortunately. But please, for the love of God, do not give it your money.

"...Whatever other commandments may be are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbor..."

-Romans 14: 9-10

Fifteen MORE Songs You Need to Hear in 2015

1. "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy. You've probably heard it on TV at least twenty times (thank God the football season is over... it was the only song ESPN played for like, two months). This song needs to play at my funeral. "Eh eh eh eh eh, remember me for centuries!" You should also check out the song "Tom's Diner," which is the 80s song that inspired the song's infamous "do do do do do do do do" hook.
2. "Promises" by Jhene Aiko. You've probably heard "Bed Peace" by her and Childish Gambino (yes, he's the one who got me hooked on her), but this song is FIRE. Even more than "Bed Peace" is. If I had to pick between them. This song is really beautiful; the beginning is solely about her and her daughter, Namiko (Nami). After the first chorus, it switches focus to her brother, Miyagi, who died of cancer recently. "'I am in the stars, and everywhere you are'... wish that you were here now, I'm missing you right here but, I promise I'll be all right... Everything is alright, everything's in your mind, life is what you make it... anything can happen, but you just gotta flow past it... if you fall down, get back up... everything is alright, promise I'll be, promise you'll be, promise we'll be alright."
3. "Where No One Goes" by Jonsi. If you've seen How to Train Your Dragon 2, you'll recognize this song. I especially love how it mashes with John Powell's score. It's just gorgeous. 
4. "There's A Fine, Fine Line" from Avenue Q. This is the ultimate breakup song. "I guess if someone doesn't love you back, it isn't such a crime. But there's a fine, fine line between love and a waste of your time! And I don't have the time to waste on you anymore. I don't think that you even know what you're looking for!"
5. Magdalena Alberto's version of "I Dreamed A Dream." This is one of my absolute favorite versions of the song. It gets me right at 2:05. I don't know why, but the brass section here is just so beautiful.
6. "Bittersweet Tragedy" by Melanie Martinez. Last time I mentioned her, I was raving about "Dollhouse." Little did I know the entire EP is fire! "Ice cream upon a summer's day, beginning sweetness never stays. Melting through the cracks in my hands, I guess I held on for too long."
7. "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. 2000s nostalgia, anyone?
8. "Dead to Me" by Melanie Martinez. Like I said: the whole EP is fire. 
9. "I'm Alive" from Next to Normal. "I'm alive, I'm alive, I am SO alive!"
10. "Go Do" by Jonsi. I don't know what he's saying 90% of the time, but it's such a cute song!
11. "Munich" by The Fray. Yeah, this song is fire, too. The bassline, the guitar, the drums, Isaac's vocals... takes me back to when I first started listening to them (I was six!). My first Fray song was either "Look After You" or "How to Save a Life."
12. "Red Lotus Theme" by Jeremy Zuckerman. While this is a score from The Legend of Korra, it is still amazing without words. The beginning of the song just has this utter creepiness that lets you know that whoever the bad guys are, they're nothing Korra's faced before. And I love the string section!
13. "Don't Worry Now" by Britt Nicole. I don't like her current music (specifically "Gold"... blegh), but her debut album was FIRE. And that's not a word I use lightly. But this song, it's just full of honest feelings and emotions. I've been fortunate enough to be living with my father, but even though I can't really relate to this song, it still gets me... you know? If only I could find my copy of this album... I might have given it away. Ugh, that album was so good.
14. "When She Cries" by Britt Nicole. Wow, I really miss her first album. WHERE DID I PUT IT?!?!?
15. "Miss Missing You" by Fall Out Boy. "Centuries" got me listening to all their stuff!

Though My Heart is Torn

"Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

-Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

It has been a while (I won't say how long) since I wrote my last book review. I don't know why I never blogged about this book; I guess I sat it on my bookshelf and forgot all about it. I finished reading it a really long time ago, though. I would like to personally apologize to the publishers about how long it took. It is one of my New Year's resolutions to review more books this year than ever (which may or may not be possible, given I have the ACT and college applications to do this year). I need to work on my deadlines if I want to study journalism at the end of next year.

So, on that note, let's get started on this review! 

The first thing I will say is that this was a very, very good book. I only wish I could have read the first book in the series. So, before I start, I must say that I highly recommend this book.

Though My Heart is Torn by Joanne Bischof is Book Two of the Cadence of Grace book series, and the year is 1901. Settling into a simple life in the majestic Blue Ridge mountains, Lonnie and Gideon O’Riley have finally found happiness after the rocky start to their marriage. The roguish bluegrass musician has fallen in love with his gentle wife and the God she serves, and Lonnie rests secure in his tenderness for her and their young son. A heartless ruse interrupts their peace, bringing them back to Rocky Knob—and forces them to face the claims of Cassie Allan, a woman who says she is Gideon’s rightful wife. As Gideon wades into the depths of his past choices, Lonnie is stunned by the revelations. She has no choice but to navigate this new path, knowing that surviving the devastating blow will take every ounce of strength  she has. While Gideon’s guilt  and his bitterness towards Cassie threatens to burn up his fledgling faith, Lonnie wrestles to find the courage to trust the God who brought them together in the first place. Will their hard-earned love be able to conquer all? 

Lonnie only wanted her husband’s love. Now that he belongs to another, can she surrender Gideon to a God with a bigger plan?

When I read the description above, I was really confused at first. I mean, who marries two women and doesn't know it, right? How is it even possible? It just didn't make sense to me at first. However, after getting through the first five chapters or so, I understood that (this is not a spoiler, I promise) Gideon thought he and Cassie divorced, but someone didn't turn in the paperwork. And so the craziness begins.

This book exceeded my expectations-- it's not your average Christian historical romance, and it's definitely not only for happily-married-housewives. I, being fourteen years old at the time (I told you I read this a long time ago), absolutely fell in love with this book-- I could barely put it down! I recommend it to anyone with at least a seventh-grade reading level. Whether you're a Christian or not, into romance or not, a fan of Appalachian stories or not, you'll love it. Believe me, I usually don't read books like this unless "Cindy Woodsmall" is written in big letters on the front cover. But, Joanne Bischof has proven to be another storyteller I like.

One of the major plus sides of this novel was the character development. We see both Cassie and Gideon grow from being pretty immature to acting like very mature adults. Let's take Cassie for instance. Here are a few quotes about her from the beginning of the book:

"Her brown hair was stuffed into a tidy knot at the nape of her neck, hints of unruly curls tugging free. A glance into her eyes confirmed the trait ran deeper than appearances. Yes, unruly was the word. If only his daughter were as cunning."

"The young woman rolled her eyes, the wayward motion tipping Joel's head back. If she were his daughter, he'd smack the look off her face."

"She was not Lonnie. She couldn't begin to guess what was so great about the woman. Lonnie was so... plain. Cassie fiddled with her locket, running it up one side of its chain. She knew a thing or two about getting Gideon's attention. If Lonnie Sawyer could do it, for heaven's sake, she could too."

"There wasn't an innocent bone in Cassie Allan's body. She and Gideon were cut from the same cloth."

So, for the first half of the book, she's hardly likable. But, she changes. I'll spoil the book for you if I say why or how, but she changes. The character development is perfectly paced.

Another thing I liked had absolutely nothing to do with the writing, but with the fact that the paperback form of this book with the rough-edged pages just felt so comfortable in my hands! And it smelled good. My hands are easily pained by books with 300+ pages, but this one felt nice.

I also liked how the book wasn't all-in-your-face about the scriptures. The book helped me learn a lesson about the situation on my own, rather than just shoving some verses at me and expecting me to get something out of it. It used scripture only when it was most relevant.

Now, one thing I didn't like that much was Lonnnie's storyline throughout the book. It wasn't bad, but it felt kind of bland compared to Gideon's situation. I would find myself skimming through her sections sometimes; although they were pretty interesting, it didn't quite match up with the other action going on.

This book includes an Author's Note and Reader's Guide, so it's perfect for book groups!

Hope gives it four and a half stars! No-- 4.7! 4.999!

Paperback.

340 pages. 

WaterBrook Press.

P.S. Special thanks to the publisher, WaterBrook Press, for giving this book to me for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Random Compilation of Music!

Here is a Tumblr challenge I found on music. I decided to use it as a way of introducing you to more music you need to listen to in the upcoming year, or reiterate my love for a few songs.

1: A song you like with a color in the title

"Blue Sky" - Francesca Battistelli

2: A song you like with a number in the title

"9,000 Days" - Overtone

3: A song that reminds you of summertime

"Shiawase" - Puffy Amiyumi

4: A song that reminds you of someone you would rather forget about

"Over My Head (Cable Car)" - The Fray

5: A song that needs to be played LOUD

"Anything Goes" - Sutton Foster

6: A song that makes you want to dance

"September" - Earth Wind And Fire

7: A song to drive to

"3005" - Childish Gambino

8: A song about drugs or alcohol

"Swimming Pools (Drank)" - Kendrick Lamar

9: A song that makes you happy

"I Want to Know You" - Measure

10: A song that makes you sad

"Echo" - Jason Walker

11: A song that you never get tired of

"Hanabi" - Ikimono Gakari

12: A song from your preteen years

"Excuses" - Deas Vail

13: One of your favorite 80’s songs

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" - Tears for Fears

14: A song that you would love played at your wedding

"A Whole New World" - Lea Salonga & Brad Kane

15: A song that is a cover by another artist

"Now On Air" - covered by Goose House

16: One of your favorite classical songs

"Piano Sonata no. 14" - Beethoven

17: A song that would sing a duet with on karaoke

"Fancy" - Iggy Azalea & Charli XCX (honestly, I hate this song, but...)

18: A song from the year that you were born

"Reflection" - Lea Salonga

19: A song that makes you think about life

"Seasons of Love" - from Rent

20: A song that has many meanings to you

"When it Rains" - Paramore

21: A favorite song with a person’s name in the title

"Beifong's Sacrifice" - Jeremy Zuckerman

22: A song that moves you forward

"When You Believe" - Sally Dworsky & Michelle Pfeiffer

23: A song that you think everybody should listen to

"Daisy" - Stereo Dive Foundation

24: A song by a band you wish were still together

All of the bands I like are still together, I think...

25: A song by an artist no longer living

"Endless Night" - Jason Raize

26: A song that makes you want to fall in love

"Life is Like a Boat" - Rie Fu

27: A song that breaks your heart

"Tears in Heaven" - Eric Clapton

28: A song by an artist with a voice that you love

"In My Own Little Corner" - Laura Osnes

29: A song that you remember from your childhood

"Don't Worry Now" - Britt Nicole

30: A song that reminds you of yourself

"The Wizard And I" - Idina Menzel

15 Songs You Should Listen to in 2015

Merry Christmas, guys! Mine's been pretty awesome; we're preparing for dinner right now. I was given several baking supplies, so I'll be busy for these next few weeks!

Anyway, here are some songs you need in your life this year.

1. "3005" by Childish Gambino. This is definitely the song I'll be ringing in the new year with... partially because I have no social life and will be ringing it in at home. Again.
2. "Dollhouse" by Melanie Martinez. "Throw on your dress and put on your doll faces. Everyone thinks that we're perfect; please don't let them look through the curtains."
3. "Jealous" by Nick Jonas. I will admit that I never really stopped liking the Jonas Brothers, nor Nick himself.
4. "Shadows" by Childish Gambino. I could just listen to Donald Glover's voice all day. Even just him talking-- I never get tired of it.
5. "That Power" by Childish Gambino. If you ever just want to listen to Donald Glover's voice while he tells you a story, this is the song you need to hear. "This isn't a story about how girls are evil or how love is bad; this is a story about how I learned something... I wish I could say this is a story about how I got on the bus a boy and got off a man... but that's not true. The truth is I got on the bus a boy, and I never got off the bus."
6. "3005 - Beach Picnic Version" by Childish Gambino. I just really like Childish Gambino, okay?
7. "Sky" by Goose House. "Constellations above nowhere to be seen at dawn, while I blink just once. They're so like you, I smile. Strong as the will we swore, straight like the road we once used to walk. I'm missing those days, times I spent with you, and your melodies..."
8. "The End of Everything" by Measure. This is my go-to song for bad days. Whenever I'm rejected by a casting director or I get a bad grade, this song reminds me that life goes on after the fact. My life will continue even after everything I care about ends. I'll figure something out. The end of everything isn't really the end of everything.
9. "Bang Bang" by Jessie J. I absolutely hated this song when it first came out, but now I just can't help attempting to hit Jessie's notes and rapping Nicki's part.
10. "Alchemy" by Kyler England. This one is a lot like #8, in the sense that it is my go-to song when bad things happen. It reminds me that even if I don't get into a school or musical or ace my chemistry test (I got a 56% on my last one and barely swept by with a 90% for the quarter), I can't change what happened, so I need to stop wishing. That's why I love the way the chorus of this song is written-- she spends half of it talking about what could have been done differently, what she wishes would have happened, how simple it could have been, and then she shuts it down saying, "it's all said and done."
11. "Hurricane" by Athlete. "I don't wanna run; I've been here since I was young. What we see today could be gone within the hour. Oh, Hurricane, what you gonna do to us this time?"
12. "We Are One" by Angelique Kidjo. I really love how she combines English with... Zulu, I think. I'm pretty sure it isn't Swahili, but I don't know. 
13. "Personal" by Stars. This song kind of addresses online dating, and I'll leave it to you to decide what this song means.
14. "Ride" by Cary Brothers. This song almost has a creepy feel to it, which is why I like it. Not because I'm creepy, but because of how soothing the song is.
15. "Eyes Wide (Fool's Gold Remix)" by Aristotle Pop A Bottle ft. Local Natives. I don't what's up with the rapper's name, but I promise it's actually a good song.

Well, here are fifteen songs I like! Enjoy the last week of 2014!

Merry Christmas (and a happy new year)!

Before I start, here is a little Goose House song to get you in the spirit!

I will admit, I'm not that in the spirit this year, or any year since like... 2007. But, after completing my Christmas shopping yesterday (spent less than $68 on four people-- is that NOT a win? AND every person got at least two gifts from me, so yeah, it's a win), I got a little happier. Aside from the fact that I think I'm starting to get sick after having a migraine for two days in a row.

I thought I would reflect on what 2014 has been like for me. This has been a year of major ups and downs. I started driving... BUT I didn't get an A in geometry. I did good in this one thing... BUT I didn't get this other thing. I have always been one to focus on the negative, even if wasn't a big deal. So, I'm going to share the good AND bad that happened to me this year, instead of focusing on one or the other.

WHATEVER THE HECK HAPPENED TO ME IN 2014

1. I turned sixteen, and started learning how to drive. I haven't practiced much in the few months I've had my permit, but I learned that I am actually pretty good at parking. 
2. I got into my school's chapter of the National Honor Society, which has been my dream since middle school. I was inducted last week!
3. I started hoarding mail from Northwestern. I guess they got my contact information by using a cookie to see how many times I've been on their website? It's a mystery. ONE YEAR MORE!
4. I performed in my first concert, Les Miserables, in front of more than 2,000 people. I was only a chorus member, but this brought me a step closer to getting the roles I've always wanted.
5. I got rejected at an audition. I mean, this has happened in the past in one way or another, but this really hurt me. I auditioned to play one of my absolute dream roles, Natalie, in Next to Normal, a character I have always felt a strong connection with for all of the things that make us similar-- our personalities, our similar family issues, etc. It all made sense why I had to play her. And someday, I hope I will. But, I auditioned for the role, and in my opinion, it went pretty well. As cliche as it is, I auditioned with "On My Own" from Les Miserables ("...and I know it's only in my mind" through to the end of the song). Because it was a community theater, I don't think they cared how popular the song was. The mistakes I made all had to do with pitch and volume. I noticed I tended to "back off" of the higher notes ("That I'm talking to myself," "he is blind," "when the night is over," "every day I'm learning all my life, I've only been pretending," "happiness that I have never known"). That might have hurt me a little, especially since I'm a belter and didn't belt the whole time. Also, Natalie plays piano. I have it on my resume that I know chords, but... that probably wasn't a very big deal, because playing wasn't necessary. The point is, I auditioned for a role that I spent six months preparing for, and wasn't even called back. When a girl who didn't even have sheet music with her was called back. When a boy who stopped the pianist in the middle of his audition was called back. Like, what the heck? The point is, I learned that you will not always get the part. You might not even be called back. But you have to keep trying anyway. At least I can say I tried to get in.
6. I got third place in my first Junior Council on World Affairs quiz bowl. My team of girls who didn't study at all until the week before. My team of girls who, even then, barely studied. My team of girls who were only guided by common sense. Third place out of more than sixty teams.
7. I started my own business! Come on, if Northwestern doesn't want me after the work I've been putting into getting in, then somethin' weird's going on (actually, it's probably just my freshman grades coming back to haunt me). But yeah, I started a cake business. I've gotten really good reviews on the free work I've been doing so far. I might even get to be a decorator for a wedding! Now, to be employed...
8. I read Fullmetal Alchemist. And yes, that needed to be mentioned. All twenty-seven volumes of it. And I have absolutely no regrets-- best manga I've ever read.
9. I cut my hair into a pixie cut. Which I kind of hated. And still do, but it won't grow out. And yeah. It still fits into a ponytail, though, which confuses me. Like, is it a bob? Is it a pixie? Is my hair just magical?
10. I got back into gymnastics! By gymnastics I mean an acrobatics class I took at my local dance studio for a month. But, nevertheless, it was gymnastics. And I plan on doing it again next summer.
11. I ran for my school's student government. And didn't get in. Their loss, not mine. Actually, it is my loss because that would make me look good for Northwestern, but... oh well. I'm running again to be the senior class rep next year, and guess what my slogan is? I'm not even kidding. My slogan is, "First things first, I'm the realest." Because I am.
12. I made peace with my inevitable fate of being forever single. I have embraced it. In fact, I don't even really want a husband until my late twenties. Which isn't the smartest decision, being someone who wants to have a lot of kids. But, like Kate Monster from Avenue Q says,"You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime." 
13. I went crazy with community service. Nearly 300 hours, I believe. I am an usher for national tour performances at my local regional theater, I volunteer for my local library, I babysit in my church nursery, I help with elementary school kids at my church, I volunteered for a Kiwanis club Christmas tree lot, I am in Key Club at my school, and I'm doing other things as well. I might start tutoring middle school kids. Take note, Northwestern. Although, I will admit that I honestly just enjoy volunteering. I don't just do it to get into college.
14. I read 200 books! And stay tuned for a MASSIVE book review over them soon.

WHATEVER THE HECK MIGHT HAPPEN IN 2015

1. I will start my senior year of high school. This is scary, especially since my recent Principles of Macroeconomics grade isn't exactly going to raise my GPA (I got a B... one that I am actually pleased with, as it was a poorly planned online college course). I hope my transcript is pretty enough. I'm mostly just afraid that my freshman grades are going to make colleges say no to me. It's frustrating, really, because I feel like my cumulative GPA says nothing about me as a student. I'm usually a 3.8-4.0 student, not a 3.5. I feel like my freshman mistakes are going to end up determining where I can go, even though I have grown so much since then.
2. I will turn seventeen. I'm still sad about not being fifteen. I really don't want to turn seventeen. Luckily, I have eleven months until that happens.
3. I will apply for BFA programs. I feel like I just started my freshman year, and now it's time to audition for programs to get a freaking Bachelor of Fine Arts. Like, where did the time go?
4. Northwestern will make a decision about me. This really, really scares me. The one school I've had my eyes on since ninth grade will tell me a yes, no, or maybe this time next year. The only school I really can see myself at will only see me as just another applicant. One that probably isn't as impressive as those with higher GPAs and ACT scores.
5. I will get my actual driver's license. In my grade, about 50% already have one. But, considering I'm a lot younger than most of them, getting it this summer isn't that late.
6. I will perform in another concert, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. I'm already in this one, and rehearsals will start in March. I'm so excited-- I might even get a solo (?).
7. I will audition for more productions. I will audition to play the wicked witch in Shrek, Rizzo in Grease, Christmas Eve or Kate Monster in Avenue Q, and some character in Mary Poppins. It'll be a busy year!
8. I will compete in another JCOWA quiz bowl. This time, me and my girls are aiming for first place. And we've already started studying.
9. I'm growing my hair out. How long? Who knows. I wanna see how long it can grow. Generally, I maintain it at chin length or slightly longer. But, I wonder how long it can go. When I was about eight, my hair was pretty long, but it didn't look good on me, so I finally caved and cut it when my mom asked me to. I wasn't even aware that my hair was even long until someone said, "short hair looks so much better on you than long hair." And so I have kept it short all these years. Aside from the fact that my hair began moving past shoulder-length in ninth grade, I have always had it cropped short. In the long run, I think it'll probably be short. But in the short run (ugh... I sound like I'm talking right out of my econ textbook), I think I'll let it grow long.
10. I'll go back to gymnastics again. Or, I might even take some ballet or jazz classes, because why not?
11. I want to attend my first casting or go-see. I should be an official signed model after taking a long hiatus this upcoming year. I'd love to book a bridal show!
12. I'm running for Student Government again. First things first, I'm the realest. 
13. I might get asked out to prom, or force a guy to go with me. Probably the latter.
14. I will complete an internship. It will probably be a journalism internship, but I don't know yet. All I know is my school is forcing me to do one whether I like it or not.
15. I will pick up a new musical talent. I own too many instruments to only be playing two of them (and they're both guitars). I think I'm going to work on autoharp and keys, while learning the basics of violin and string bass. 

Those are my goals for 2015! Thank you for being apart of my 2014, and have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!