Team is Family Always

When people think they're right.
Thanks to Washington Post.

It's my first day, I'm already late for class. Trying to hide the fact that I was crying a few seconds ago. Eyes wide, fear following and cursing the newness too. Trying to the shake off the fact that I was alone. Then I opened a door... I'm gonna be honest that entire class period is a blur. I just know that a couple months later, I wasn't very alone anymore. A key factor when you move is trying to find out where you belong. A team or class maybe. Mine was debate make fun but, I'm not ashamed. Debate became a class I looked forward to go to. I was eager to prove myself. A few months in, turns out it wasn't that bad. I met a quite girl who ended up shocking everyone at how abusive she can be in a round. Nina Williams is a better debater than me but we complete the things we are missing. She's assertive and strong but I'm aggressive and passionate. My amazing public forum partner Nina and I became an unstoppable (sort of) team. (Only freshmen and placed in semi-nationals.) Soon enough my public forum team became my family.   Lulu and Caliegh always there to help. Kyle and Sariah came up with new ideas and always seemed to make me laugh. Joe and Charlie didn't treat us like we were "just freshmen". Nick Coleman and Will Doyle, my event leads, where do I begin with them. Intimidating, insane, slightly egotistical and the most likely to trick the world leaders that nuclear war is a good idea. But they are also talented, funny and good mentors. They helped us become better debaters, though I will never admit it aloud, I owe most of my wins to them. The other segments of the team helped me with adjustment as well. The impromptu team always provided entertainment, Aidan and Adam H. never seize to amaze me. The policy teams leaves me wide eyed, Devon and Gavin always seemed to try to recruit us to their debate cult. The congress team in general just makes me laugh. Our captains gave me something to aspire to. Abby and Catelin are treasures. Bella Canada is just bad a$$. Bella Canada calms you, she makes you smile and she gives you goals. All in all that team became my backbone. My team is family. I mean who else would I spend bus rides at five am with or spend hours with in some random high school. Who else would push me to move on when I had the flu and could barely even move. They helped me through defeats and wins. That's how you know you found good people when, they accept you in high and low moments. When they seem to understand the most confusing parts of you. The people who make you look back at the past just to give you a push in the future. Thank you my team and thank you my family.

They're in My life For a Reason

:) Thanks to data:image

You're nervous when you're new. Don't know if it's because everything you turn to is new, and you can't turn to anyone because you're so nervous. All you need is that one person to lean on or direct you through the flames. It's crucial when you're new to put your pride on your floor and actually talk to people.  It's not as hard as you would believe. See, I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. People either come into your life because they are a lesson or a chance. So with that the people I've become close with, I've met all for a reason. I'm glad for it, for the late night talks, for the weird conversations, for the shoulders to lean on.  There are a few people in this world that I can trust fully, but each of them give me a reason to. It's funny if you think about it, in your hometown or wherever you came from, the people who you're friends with seem to be the only people you think about spending every weekend with. After moving you realize about the people outside of that small-town of yours. On that note, I never liked the word squad, it always bothered me, until Utah when  I found mine. This sounds this ridiculous I know, its weird just saying it. But hey that's what we call ourselves. Five girls, four boys and all with very interesting thoughts.  My bestie with the pink hair [:0] Sam Petersen always gets us talking about the most deep and intricate stuff. For example; religion, gender, politics (don't get even me started) or anything really important going on at each other's lives. Then good old Bryce Murrin or Annie Sheinburg  (I'm sorry if I spelled that wrong) decides to get us all rabid and laughing about some really interesting, for lack of a better word, topic. Maya Levine then normally says something half of us will be take the wrong way. Which will make us give her crud and laugh even more. Then Olivia Welter will actually make us talk about it, or least explain what goes on in a few of our minds. Then the amazing Sean Lydon will make a sarcastic comment, which will cause Nash Batten to get awkward and Cris Mora to say something that only Cris would say. My favorite part of those moments is to watch how happy each of us is with each other. So there you go a short glimpse of a small amount of squad hangouts. These people might be loud or a little weird to the normal black and white eye but for me, they are so much more. They are the people who I can depend for a shoulder or smile. We might not all understand what each of us go through, but that's the best part is we don't pretend to. We call each other out, say things we don't mean, argue till we're out of breathe but that's us. I wouldn't expect you guys to understand because you aren't there. Some people from school try to, it just doesn't work out. Only because they aren't there for the important parts of our tragically beautiful story. I met them for a reason, each teaching me valuable lessons, each shaping me to be better. So I thank you lucky few I call a squad. Thank You... 

Was it Worth it?

After a day of yelling and screaming, trying to prove them wrong. After a day of sweat and a little tears. After a day of stress and frustration. After a day of  tough results.. Was it really worth it...

I woke up at five thirty, Tightrope by Walk the Moon, blasting through my phone's speakers, waking me up. See it was Saturday and it was cold, the last thing I wanted to do was get up at five thirty in the morning and have people yell at me all day. Yes, it  was my first debate tournament in a long time.  I love my debate I do but if I had to choose I don't think it would be riding a bus with them in the cold morning. In the back of the bus you heard the congress kids talking about the most recent GOP debate. In the front you had the upper class men sleeping or laughing. In the middle were most the kids who were going to their first tournament. Aka like three people plus two others. The ride consisted of screaming, laughing, terrible singing (!!!!!!!), sleeping and debate memories. 

Everyone while waiting
picture thanks to pintrest.com

When the team entered we were the last to get there.  It was a smaller tournament but somehow it looked as if hundreds and hundreds of people were there. I'm not a person who typically gets nervous, in that moments though, I started to shake. Seeing all the policy kids spewing (speaking very fast), others screaming at their teammates, talking about evidence and case writing. My type of debate is public forum, luckily not as crazy as policy or congress. Those are terrifying... Our first round started roughly ten minutes after came it was our first round. My partner and I were hoping to get the affirmation side of the topic. Actually luckily we got negatory, after a full forty five minutes of yelling and fighting, along with a few snippy comments and questions from both sides it was over.. After another three rounds and a bye round. Which means it's an automatic win but we get no speaker points. 

While the judges we calculating the scores it was about hour and half break. My debate team is one dysfunctional family.. I was adopted into it during this time. I can't even try to explain what the whole thing is it would take an entire blogpost to describe what it is. But the best part of that entire time was that I felt welcomed to the stress...  After an hour and half of waiting it was the award ceremony. They announced the I.E. aka speech events first. Then it was time for debate. Novice P.F. was announced third. They announce the top five first. So after fifth was announced, we were nervous. After fourth was announced, we thought ok maybe third. And after third was announced, did we even place? Well that's when second was called. First tournament and we got second!! I don't know who was even more excited for us my team or Nina and I.  I am glad for debate it helped me fit in even more here in Park City. They make us feellike on big family

After a day of yelling and screaming, trying to prove them wrong. After a day of sweat and a little tears. After a day of stress and frustration. After a day of  tough results.. After a day of laughing and welcoming.. After a day of smiling and kidding Was it really worth it... Well yes it was.