The Views that Changed with Me
In the mornings, as I sit at my desk, the sun shines directly in my face, making it almost impossible to see with the curtains open. As the day progresses, the light settles, and the neighborhood buildings and vast hills in the distance- often covered by puffy, white clouds become visible.
By late afternoon, if I press my face to the cool glass and turn my head to the right, I can see a sliver of the sun slipping down, but once again, when I sit at my desk, cotton candy colored clouds and vibrant blues fade into shades of purple, encompassing the sky and the moon becomes more apparent.
Once the sun is gone, my curtains are drawn, and the recessed lights that give a warm orange tone to my room turn on. This is my creative space- one where I’m left to my routines, messes and ideas, and as time passes it becomes a reflection of myself, a map of my journey, as it evolves and changes as I do.
Spring
Everything comes back to life during the transitional months between winter and summer. The cold and gloomy months of January and February are left in the past; it’s a time that feels almost impossible to get through because of the minimal breaks from school and the chilly mornings are often followed by intensely warm afternoons. Every morning is a struggle between my closet and I, especially in the panic that always arises before school. Flowers bloom and birds chirp outside my room, but there’s no real rest yet. It’s like a spiral of stairs, but you feel like you’re finally reaching the end. Those last couple of steps are always the hardest and can be our weakest moments, losing that last bit of motivation that’s gotten us this far. AP exams and studying for finals roll around quickly, feeling like every minute cannot be wasted. Spring break passes in a blink, and all I can think about next is summer.
Summer
Each day gets longer and warmer, as the hills outside my room turn a golden color and sunsets become more lively. My wardrobe shifts to colorful tank tops and denim shorts, always my favorite, and school becomes bearable, as I feel uplifted everyday. Everyone around me is full of energy and I finally feel alive. Hearing that last bell ring in June was a weight lifted off my shoulders, and I’m free, for the next two months at least. The sun got even brighter and I began to pack for Cabo, my view changing from buildings and hills to the beautifully blue ocean and pools. My sunglasses are on as I sip my Shirley Temples, excited to turn 16 in a couple of days! I love having a summer birthday, especially being able to make spontaneous plans and not having to worry about school. Late nights, sleepovers, and going out is what I always look forward to, especially watching the sun set at around 8 PM, but as the weather gets unbearably hot, my mind shifts to the cooler months of fall.
Fall
Sweaters and Uggs make an everyday appearance and my tank tops get buried to the back of my closet. School starts again, but only this time, I’m excited because I get to see my friends, go to football games, and feel that energy I always do during those last warm weeks when school starts. Soon, the air becomes crisp and leaves change, and it’s all about pumpkins and of course, my favorite holiday, Halloween. I spend hours at my desk on Pinterest, amidst endless baking recipes. I’m hoping for one with the ideal amount of spices and warmth, a pumpkin loaf fresh out of the oven topped with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting is absolute perfection. I lay down on my bed to plan pumpkin patch outings with friends and find a unique Halloween costume. Halloween day arrives quicker than I had anticipated, but my excitement doesn’t diminish. My costume was part of a duo with one of my friends, she was Little Red Riding Hood and I was the Big Bad Wolf! Around my room, makeup was scattered and my closet was a mess as I searched for the pieces of my costume, but in the end, it turned out as everything I had hoped for!
Winter
December rolls around and the year is soon to come to an end. The hills outside my window turn a deep green, clouds settle every morning in the distance and rainfall becomes a routine. Thick fog creeps up after sunset- even the buildings in front of me fade. Christmas is near, but unfortunately so are finals. Our Christmas tree comes out of storage at the beginning of December, a reminder that I should put every last ounce of motivation into staying organized for school and ending the semester strong. The bell rings and my dread quickly turns into a joyful spirit as winter break is finally here. The initial days of break are typically the slowest. I find myself once again on Pinterest, scrolling through Christmas themed baking recipes to make for family and friends. I spend time organizing my room and cleaning out old clothes and belongings. One of the things I stumbled upon was a beautifully decorated summer bucket list that my friend and I made- a reminder of an eventful summer- but it was time to look forward to the new year.