I don’t know about you, but for me, 2018 was the absolute worst. All the way to the end – my mom’s car got a flat tire on New Year’s Eve.

When the bells rang to start off 2018, I was excited. I thought that nothing could be as bad as 2017, in the middle of my insane freshmen year and almost losing my mind.

Boy, was I wrong.

There were some good things for me though. I had my all-time favorite class, newspaper, where I could write to my heart’s content. I had my friends, old and new, who helped me make happy memories.

But it didn’t feel like the good balanced the bad. And there was so much bad.

I got in trouble a lot for making the wrong choices, which I guess is part of growing up. But it was like I would never learn, so I just kept making them.

One of those bad choices led me into an awful and horrifying situation. One that had consequences. I held onto the aftermath by myself for so long, while it tore me apart. It was a learning experience though.

And that was just the start of the year.

So now I want, and I mean really want, to have 2019 be my year. There are things I have to step up to now, responsibilities that need to be taken care of.

My accomplishments are a part of my responsibilities. I would love to make editor of The Fuel for the next school year. I want to be one of the people leading this crew rather than following.

For me to get these things, I know I have to work for it. And I’m prepared. My life has given me pressures to grow up a bit more, do what I need to do. I was scared at first, but now I think I’m ready.

Maybe your 2018 was great, maybe it was like mine. The new year is about starting over, creating a better life for yourself. I know that’s what I plan on doing. Next year is my senior year and I want to go out with a bang.