Big Thanks

My graduation party was today!!! It’s really weird to think that the day has already passed. I’ve been thinking that a lot of these events will never come, and then out of nowhere I’m reflecting on it! Makes me kinda sad. On one hand I want the moment to last forever. On the other, I’m ready for the next big moment.

Thanks to my family (and some friends), my party was all that I could’ve wanted! My Grandma Marcia and Leah handled the decorations, and they were awesome. We stuck to a sunflower/map theme. Sunflowers have always been my favorite flower, and I chose the map theme in honor of my first international trip this summer. My mom and Scott made almost all the food, and my Grandma Powlen made some food too. Talk about good cooks, I had all of my favorite foods. The menu included French “Mack”arons, “Mack” n’ Cheese, buffalo chicken dip, fruit, pulled pork, fruit pizza cookies, and A SMORES BAR!!!

Cake and cupcakes by Dreams to Reality in Peru. Highly suggest the Coconut flavor!

Then, my lovely father devoted his time and skills to making a photo booth for me to take pictures with. It’s really nice to have a dad that can craft anything that comes to my mind, whether it involves welding, woodworking, basically any DIY project that us girls throw at him, he can do it. It seems like my family all has their own way of accomplishing DIY projects. Also want to give a shoutout to the fam bam that helped me set up and clean up! I was happy that I was able to gather all my awards and things pertaining to my life and show them to everyone.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with me. I had the opportunity to catch up with some old teachers, old friends, new friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Everyone made the day so special, and I truly appreciated the time I was able to spend with everybody who attended! I was able to get a picture with many people, but I know I definitely forgot to snag some people before they left. In addition, thank you in advance to everyone who gave me gifts or cards! I loved everything!

To all my friends that came, I wish you the best! Kinda weird that I won’t be seeing you everyday 😦 most of you have been good to me, and I am grateful. Sad that I only have a few days left with some buddies. Hopefully I can make it to everyone’s party!

SMELL YA LATER (but probs not)

MACK

P.S. I know I SUCKED at getting invitations out but I never got around to delivering all of them, sorry in advance! I realized afterwards that I never invited some people that I would’ve liked to include, and I feel really bad 😦

I would also like to point out that my grandma helped me sew this dress last summer! Since I am subpar at sewing, definitely could not have done it without her

My grandparents are some of my favorite people 🙂 (not pictured are Mike and Carol, not sure where our pic is)

yeah that’s right I picked that window frame off of a trash pile 6 years ago, I knew it’d come in handy someday

Last Laps, Fast Laps

This upcoming Tuesday I run my last races around the track at Regionals (unless I miraculously make it to State). Not sure how I feel about it.

Track has always taken the back seat to volleyball. I always had club practices during track season, which led to sore legs and burn out on both sports by the end of the season. Now that I’m not playing volleyball anymore, I find track more enjoyable. It’s less stressful to focus on only one sport at a time. I’ve been able to actually utilize my weekends off for some much needed rest.

I was never a “runner” until my friends convinced me to join the track team in JH. I ran the 400, 200, and the 4×4 relay. I didn’t necessarily enjoy running, but I must have liked it enough to continue it for the next few years.

I thought my coach was crazy when he wanted me to run the 800 during my freshman year. Anything over a 400 seemed ridiculously long to me. Looking back, I would be surprised to find out that I’d advance to Regionals two years in a row. I was average at best my first few years of running, maybe I still am average at best, but I thought the girls that advanced to Regionals on my team were Gods.

Running is special to me because it poses a direct relationship between the time put in training and your results. You don’t run good times without running good times in practice. Sure, other sports can be the same way, but eh not really, not in the same way.

Track also caters to every type of athlete. We’ve got the sprints and jumping events for those explosive athletes with crazy fast-twitch muscle fibers. Longer distance events for athletes that enjoy running but don’t have those crazy fibers. And throwing for the crazy strong peeps.

Track is also an individual sport. You can’t blame your teammates for anything (except relays I guess) Bad race? Your fault. Great race? All the glory to you.

Perhaps what has made track and field most enjoyable for me is the people. Teammates, and especially coaches. Though I’ve had three head coaches in four years, I enjoyed every season with each of them. A great coaching staff truly makes a difference. I remember my coach was so excited for me when I advanced last year, and it really meant a lot because I knew he genuinely cared. I think the biggest thing I will miss about track is running with my distance coach. He makes practices (even speed workouts) so much fun! My coach makes running fun. Who wouldn’t want someone like that alongside you as you cramp up on your last 400 repeat?

We’ll see if I stick with running. I really enjoy it, but it’s so hard to run alone. I have a goal to run a half marathon in the next year. Maybe a full marathon? Eh, we’ll see.

MACK 🙂

Senior Prom!!!

Prom 2019 was the best one yet! I was a little apprehensive at first, but wow wow wow I had SO MUCH FUN!!! (Even though I didn’t win a door prize at prom OR after prom, g dang it)

The ‘fit this year was one of my favorites, too. Actually, it’s my favorite, I am obsessed with it. I found this dress last August in Macy’s while I was looking for an outfit for my Lilly interview. My mom wandered away and found this dress hanging on the sale rack for $20! At first, I was like ‘what the heck, I don’t need a prom dress now.’ I didn’t even like it that much. But she made me try it on and I’m so glad I did! It fit me like a glove, no tailoring by Grandma Marcia needed. It’s also my favorite color, ugh I just love it!! Then, for pictures I just wore some nude heels that I already had.

On Friday, my mom and I went to Lafayette to run some errands. I got my eyebrows threaded (10/10 recommend), nails done, and found the cutest druzy stud earrings that matched my dress perfectly!!! Then, we had a dinner date at Outback Steakhouse. Such a fun girls night!!!

My hair was done by Lynsey at Allure Hair Artistry, and she did such a great job! I have really thick hair and I wanted a French twist. Unfortunately, those two don’t mix. But, she made it work with the help of a TON of pins, and even if it didn’t look like the picture I showed her, it was still super cute! Monika did my makeup at Allure. She is a total rockstar at makeup!! It’s amazing, she did my eyeshadow exactly how I wanted! Highly recommend! She did my makeup last year also, and it was great!

Our corsage and boutonniere were succulents!!! They were so cute!

Our prom was at the Meadow Springs Manor in Francesville. The banquet hall was so pretty. I thought the music was actually pretty good compared to past years. Cal and I danced (and laughed and laughed) almost the whole time 🙂 Sad to see it end

After prom was at the bowling alley. We only played one game, and I didn’t lose for once. I’m really not a big fan of bowling, but I still had fun with friends!

I had the best date!!! (biased? No way, Jose)

In My Feels About Graduating

Finished my senior jeans!! I started them the day before school started I think. It only took me a few months…but I’m happy I waited to finish them. I painted for five hours today yikes!

Second of all, I have twelve school days left of high school. Actually, seniors really only have ten because we have our senior picnic hooplah and our senior trip!!! And I have my AP test next Tuesday (gross) which takes up half a day. Basically, I’m looking at 9 1/2 days of high school. Not sure how I feel about that.

Am I excited about life after high school? For sure. But I’m also extremely sad. As a very sentimental person, I tend to become upset when a moment passes that I know I’ll never get back. In this case, I can never have a normal high school day after May 21. Yeah I can walk back through Door 18 for a basketball game over winter break, but I know it won’t be the same. I’ll have flashbacks of rushing in, trying to beat the 7:55 bell, and remember what life was like. If I come back for football games, my spot won’t be with my friends since elementary school in the fan section, dressed to the nines in that evening’s themed attire-no, Ill be blurred in with the crowd, another has-been.

I know that after I walk across the stage, diploma in hand, my high school achievements don’t really matter anymore. No one cares that I won a writing competition my freshman year or that I was an all-state volleyball player for two years. I’ll always care, and I’ll always have those memories, but I won’t be that person that reminisces on their high school glory days. I think the glory days are whenever you want them to be. I refuse to allow myself to think that I’ve peaked in high school. My glory days are in the future when I’m traveling the world, when I get married, when I find my purpose in life.

It’s always difficult for me to shut the door on a chapter in life (seasons of life, according to Indy Blue). I freak myself out thinking about how I literally will never do some things again. I’ll never eat Mrs.Morris’s candy during seventh period while I’m in the office. I’ll never run with my track friends after my last meet 😦 At some point, I’ll never come home to my mom(s) cooking dinner for me; instead I’ll be eating cafeteria food, probably gaining the freshman 15 yikes. After graduation, I’ll probably never see one of my BFFs since elementary because she’ll be eloping all over the world doing super important, life-changing stuff. (That’s you, Rach)

With all this being said, I know graduating high school is a little thing in the grand scheme of life, but it’s really scary to think that I have to completely adjust my life. I’ve never known anything but Pioneer and cornfields.

I think my blog has taken the form of a journal sometimes. I’ve always tried to be that girl who journals everyday, but I am forgetful, oops. How fun will it be in a few months or even years to look back on all these old posts and see how far I made it. It’s a link to the past, and that’s all I need to give me the courage to look forward (lots of pictures and videos help too-hello, senior year video, stay tuned :))

Probably more to come because reality hasn’t sunk in yet.

MACK