And this scares me. It feels like just yesterday, I was walking into my kindergarten class for the first time. And the funny thing is, my three best friends to this day sat at the same table as me, surrounding me, getting to know me. We're all so much older now. I know we all wish to go back to when we were five and role-played Barbie in the recess yard.
It sounds rather dramatic, more dramatic than it really is, but 12 is a big thing for me. I've been told that when I turn 12, I can ride shotgun by my parents' side (which has been moved to 13 by now). I've been told that when I turn 12, we'll have flying cars and robotic pets that can talk to us. I've been told that when I turn 12, I'll be all grown up, near entering high school, be almost as tall as my mother and gain even more potential than I previously had.
Only one of those statements turned out, surprisingly, to be true.
Of course, we haven't developed the technology to have flying cars and robotic pets that talk to us, and I'm still not allowed to ride shotgun (and frankly, I'm okay with it). But my joyride from 11 to where I am now was a roller coaster, I can tell you that.
In these 364 days that I've been 11 years old, I've done and learnt so much. My life has turned upside down then right back up. One of my best friends moved to the other side of the globe (Thea, I know you're reading this, so hi), and the other went to another school. I participated in my first-ever middle school play and met some pretty amazing friends (Adam and Andrew, if you're reading this, I'm talking to you!) and some pretty obnoxious people as well.
I've gotten closer to one of my friends since birth (Tyler) through a miracle of a program called Skype. We Skype nearly every day now, and he's introduced me to some truly amazing people that I couldn't live without (Jordan, Christian, Garrett, Taylor, David, Matthew, Justin). I have video parties every week with one of them (Taylor), called (whether video or audio only) almost every day with another (Garrett), fan-girled over Doctor Who for months with Christian, talked about the excitement of Bronycon with David, found out about some pretty weird expressions with Matthew and Justin, and discussed the adorableness of kittens with Jordan.
I don't know what I would be now without them.
I introduced Tyler to Doctor Who and Bronyfied at least eight people I know. I obsessed over Legend of Korra for a period of time before forgetting to watch the rest of the series (which I regret, Thea, thank you very much). I finally made a FanFiction account (they let you make one if you have a Twitter account!) and wrote a MLP:FiM fanfiction that made strangers cry.
I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time, as well as Camp NaNoWriMo (June) 2012. I finished writing one book and got it published on the Kindle for fun. The other one I hope to do the same, but it will be (most likely) finished when I'm 12. I participated in Script Frenzy 2012 (the very last official year of Screnzy) and hope to continue next April, even if the official challenge online is taken down.
I made a gaming channel on YouTube with my friends and we've gotten to 5,000+ total video views, and 30+ subscribers. I started uploading to my own YouTube channel around a month ago and already have 11 subscribers and 4,000+ views. I've found recording and editing videos to be a fun hobby of mine.
I got into the computer club and video crew at my school, and assisted the faculty and staff for a short time. I was able to earn my way into the honor roll once more and my average grade hit 97% (and 98% is the highest you can get!). I had an amazing ELA teacher, who loved Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings, and Jane Austen. I had a hilarious and super-nice math teacher for homeroom, and there was never a boring moment.
And I may or may not have new interests, too.
Favorite Song: A Little Irony by Tom Milsom
Favorite Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Favorite Animated Movie: Brave from Pixar
Favorite Real-Life Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Pt 1)
Favorite Female Celebrities: Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange)
Favorite Male Celebrities: Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)
Favorite Candy: Sour Patch Bunnies
Favorite Food: Macaroni and cheese
I feel I've changed, and I will be changing even more. But it's better to think in the present sometimes than plan the future.
-Dom
