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Accomplishments. They put you in the limelight, they make you feel embarrassed as hell and yet they make you glow with pride, too.
Accomplishing something by doing what you love is wonderful.

As some of you may know, I like photography. I just love the feelings that come with it...the happiness that comes with knowing you got a good shot, the sadness of knowing that a photograph could never replace actual experience, the complete shock when you get that phone call telling you that you've won something with your photos...

When I came home today, my mom told me that a lady from the photo contest I had entered for the Zoo here had called. She explained that the judging was anonymous, and that there were professionals doing the judging. She told me I had gotten an honorable mention (which is essentially 4th place)....and third place....and second place...and first place, too.
Of course, I could only keep one place, so they took away my second, third, and honorable mention. But I won first place. There is just no other feeling.
So my mom told me that the woman who was running the contest had asked how old I was. When she heard I was fourteen, the woman said, "Well, she'll have to turn seventeen first, but we can offer her an internship."
AN INTERNSHIP!?!? What? Yes, ladies and gentleman, an internship at the Zoo. Where I get free access into all of the habitats, no questions asked. I can take pictures, develop my technique, and get up-close and personal to exotic animals. I almost cried.
So next, the lady has asked when I was getting out of college. My mom told her about 8 or 9 years, and the woman said these words exactly.
"That's good, 'cuz that's around the time that I will be retiring."
I think I died.
She said that she could pretty much give me her job if she wanted. Do you know what this means?? This means that not only do I have an internship that I could put onto my resume, but I practically have a job too. I am fourteen years old, people. I swear to god I died and came back to life.
My course in life is set and my god, I am so ready for it. I can't wait to be done with my education. I am so done with conforming. That would be the perfect life, don't you see?? I would be working with the two things I enjoy most in the world! Animals, Art. This is just BRILLIANT!

The hole. The hole, it's gone. There is nothing that can bring it back. It has officially been obliterated.

I could have never done it without my friends and family for support. Thank you all, because I know that everybody in the world has directly or indirectly been associated with helping me accomplish this. I am so happy. Thank you all.

~Miss