Me.

This Year is almost gone. For the Majority of the year I was riding on a high, and was determined not to become like those people that were distasteful. It's funny really, how faith works.  My year started with a bang. On the the last week of 2006 I went to Church with my Sister. I rarely went to Church with her , but something told me to drag my ass there. As I sat throught the 2 hour sermon, my bottom had begun to numb and I was ready to GO. The Pastor was closing up his message by asking people what they were Hopeful for in 2007. When he asked the entire audience that question, I immediatly thought 4 things.

1.) I'm Hopeful I will go to a My Chemical Romance Concert in 2007.

2.) I'm Hopeful that I WILL get a Job in 2007.

3.) I'm Hopeful that I will find a way to get through school quicker .

4.) I'm Hopeful that I WILL lose weight (lol, so cliche eh?)

The Pastor then began asking Individual people in the audiance. No One could come up with an answer. Not one person.

The Pastor looked to the ground with disappointment. He looked back up and looked right at me and said, "If you can't come up with at least 3 answers, then you are not Hopeful, your Faith is your Hope!" I tore my eyes away from him and continued to listen to the message.

Now within the first two weeks of 2007 I got everything that I was Hopeful for. I'm not joking.

I had heard in Nov '06 that My Chemical Romance were going to Tour in my area in March of '07 and I did just about anything I could think of to try and get those tix.  Sadly by Jan 1st I still had no tix's and as I watched them on MTV and Jimmy Kimmel that night I fuckin cried. I mean that's how bad I wanted to go! But I still had Hope. On Jan 8th 2007 after another failed attempt to try and win tix to see MCR in Anaheim, I sat on the couch disappointed. My Mom (who I wasn't even getting along with!) took one look at me and asked if I had failed again. I answered yes, I had failed....again. "Why do you like them so much Mija?" my Mom asked. "Because Mom, the music they make is soo fucking cool, and I can't even begin to describe the feeling of what it would be like to see them live!" I answered. "You are." she told me. "What are you talking about Mom?" I asked in complete confusion. "I'll buy you the tix, you gonna see them Xochi." my Mom told me. My heart dropped. My eye's began to water, and needless to say I jumped on my Mom and gave her the biggest, tightest hug I could offer. It was a trip, because I had been trying so hard to get those tix ever since I had heard that they were coming. It was a huge Accomplishment, and it was something I was Hoping for! I had a blast on March 11th when I saw the Black Parade live! I got my ass handed to me in the pit and made a few friends. I then went off to see MCR in Seattle in May of '07 and again in San Bernadino in July of '07 at Projekt Revolution.

Crazy as it sounds the very next day I started a Job! My Sister had been working at a Dental Office who needed a Receptionist. So after a discussion with the Dr.'s and the Office Manager they offered me the Job. I started on Jan 9th and I continue to work there now. Now this helped me out alot! I was a Real Hermit Crab and VERY anti-social. But being a Receptionist means you are in contact with the Patients and their Families ALL THE TIME. So I improved my social skills, got over my Phobia of answering phones (SERIOUSLY!) and learned REAL responsobility. I now support myself without the help of my Mom.

I have been doing Independent Study for 2yrs now and it's basically the same work you do in regular school just no teachers and you work at YOUR own pace. I was pretty fustrated at the time because I was feeling alot of pressure to get everything done more quicker. I wasn't doing to good with JUST Independent Study. So my Teacher enrolled me in a Program that allowed me to take 2 classes at my local Community College that would count as High School credits AND College credits. I enrolled in the Spring and completed Spanish 1 and Chemistry1. Passing both with a B. I will be shooting for my GED in Jan 2008 after thinking over where I wanted to be in the Future. If that doesn't work then I will continue to do independent study. I'm holding on to my Education with a tight Grip and I refuse to let go of my Grip.

On Jan 10th my Sister and I joined Bally Total Fitness and began waking up at 4:00am and working out for two hours EVERYDAY. In the first Month I lost 12lbs. I've managed to lower my Cholestrol and Blood Pressure with regular excerise and also let go of ALOT of frustration at the GYM. It reduses my stress and helps me sleep at night too.

My Year had HIGH's and Low's. I learned ALOT this year, and I lost alot too. The one true Damper on the year was the passing of my Grandma Carmen Banegas Andrade. That women was the Mero Mero (Boss) in our Family. Everyone followed what she said and went to her for advice. My Family was completly blindsighted and it was unexpected. The Death of my Grandma was intense and I'm still feeling her loss, for it was a grand loss. But what makes me look into the Clouds and smile, is the Fact that I made my Grandma proud. She told me that she had never known that i was the person that I am. She flat out told me that she thought I was a spoiled, bratty, ignorant child and that she did not like me when I was young cause I was "Babied." In the past when I was younger my Grandma and I did not like eachother. I rarely went around her let alone speak to her. I was scared of her and did not like how Bossy that woman was! Nontheless in July of 2003 my Grandma and I finally had a reallllly loooong conversation and discovered that we were actually alot alike and we appreciated eachother's views. We continued to keep in touch and discover things about eachother that we never would have believed we went through. I had respect for her and she respected me. The last time I had spoken with her was on my Birthday on my way to The Queen Mary. She told me that she hadn't called because she was feeling ill and depressed. After wishing me a Happy Birthday and ending our chit chat, the last words I sadi to her was "I love You Nana, and I hope You feel better"

So my Year was nuts. I was on my last brink in the beginning of the year and if you have had a shitty year just try to stay Optimistic. After all, your situation is NOT forever. Only you have the power to change it. If you get an Oppertunity-Take it. If you want things, go for them, give it your all and REMEMBER to be grateful for whatever blessings you get. Stay grounded, enjoy life, and keep your head up, THINGS WILL GET BETTER.

2007 you gave me kicks in the ass, countless tears, millions of smiles, and God himself only knows how many times I bursted out in uncontrollable laughter, so I say Farewell

Wishing everyone the Absolute Best in 2008,

-Xochitl-