How Have I Changed in the Last 5 Years?

I was recently asked this question and it caught me off-guard. I had no idea what to say. In all honesty, I hadn't noticed any changes up until that point. But the more that I thought about it, the more that I realized that I had changed. As someone that is afraid of change, this mind-boggled me. How could I change without noticing it? I don't know. But it happened and I honestly believe that I changed for the better.

Five years ago, I was 16. Sixteen is definitely a very important age for a girl. It's when we have our Sweet 16 parties and people start to recognize us as young women. I look back at my 16-year-old self and for the most part, I'm very proud of her. I got good grades. I had a close group of friends. I never got in trouble. I never did anything to hurt anybody. But I also never lived.

     I'm so proud of Kris and I for venturing out and making the most of this experience.

That is definitely the biggest change in me. I used to sit back on the sidelines of life and watch everybody else live their lives while I only "existed". I was too afraid to put myself out there, meet new people or try new things. My memories from high school consist of me going to football practice, studying for A.P. exams and catching an occasional movie with my friends. I didn't go to parties. I didn't pull any pranks. I didn't venture out and try to make friends with people outside of my circle of friends. And I really wish that I did. Because all that I taught myself was how to do was stay inside my comfort zone, my own little bubble.

Nowadays, I certainly don't "walk on the wild side" but I definitely do what I can so that I don't make those same mistakes again. I'm in my early 20s and 30 years from now, I want to remember my 20s as the best time of my life. I want to look back and remember laughter, friends and new experiences. So I've done what I can to make new friends and find new things to do. In fact, Kris and I are crossing two things off of my "wish list" this weekend. I want to make sure that while I'm an army wife, I take advantage of every place that I get to live and all that those areas have to offer. The old Chelsea would never have done that.

If it wasn't for trying to meet new people, I never would've found this beautiful place. Thanks, Kelsey!

I can proudly say that I have changed for the better. I'm definitely not perfect by any means but I can say that when I reflect back on this part of my life, I'll remember it with fondness and happiness. I'm glad that I've changed. It's allowed me to grow as a person and enjoy my life more than I ever thought possible.

-Chelsea

I Miss High School

This is a picture of my friends and I that my friend Beverly took for a school project. JJ (Jennifer) is on the left, I'm in the middle (I had donated my hair not long before) and Jelly (Angelica) is on the right. 

                                             Punk day with Beverly! Spirit Week of senior year! 

If you had asked me a year ago what I thought my life would be like now, I would never have guessed that I'd be an army wife at 20 years old. I also would never have guessed that I'd be going to the school that I'm going to right now either. A lot of things are changing in my life and time is going by so fast. I find myself looking back at my high school days and feeling so nostalgic. I miss those days so much and if I could go back, even if it was just for a day, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

Last day of senior year with JJ!

I love my life now but with everything changing, I'd love to just press pause for a second and feel like I could breathe. High school really did have some of the best days of my life, with prom, my sweet 16 and just normal days of carefree life. I also miss my friends a lot. I go to school with one of my best friends, Beverly, (she was the one taking the picture) but other than that, my other friends went away to different schools. I miss the consistency of seeing my best and closest friends on a daily basis and I miss making them laugh. (I was the jokester of the group.)

                                         Prom 2011. (From left to right: Jelly, JJ, Beverly and me)

My life is going to continue to have major changes throughout the next few months and I'm going to welcome them with smiles. But that doesn't mean that sometimes I don't yearn for a simpler time, when my biggest worry was my A.P. World History Exam, not car payments, cell phone bills and being separated from my husband.

                                                             Competing at NSPA 2010.

So basically the moral of the story, is appreciate what you have while you have it. Life can change in an instant, so stop and enjoy it while you can. Once it's gone, you can't get it back and you only have one shot at life. So love the life you live and love the life that you lived. 

80's Day with JJ! Spirit Week of senior year!

-Chelsea