Today marked both the end and the beginning. Today I graduated from high school. It's... just a rather difficult event to fathom that I don't really feel anything now. But it will hit me later-- after I remember just how much I've gone through, how much I've grown, and how much I've learned in these past years. I can't say it was either an utterly hellish experience or a totally awesome time I've had at school; it was simply a block of life I had to go through, and I can proudly say that I made it through.

Well, I do feel kind of shocked now that I recall the weirdass shrimp I was when I entered into kindergarten, the angry, anxiety-ridden idiot that I was from 3rd grade to 9th, and then how I managed to transform into an increasingly confident aspiring artist. Not only that, but it's also shocking to know that I used to be nearly agoraphobic for much of my life and now I'm preparing to move to another city to live with two near-strangers while attending college. I mean, the idea of living on my own doesn't scare me now--heck, it's exciting!--but the little freak only a few years ago would have been choking and writhing on the floor at the notion. It's not just my anxiety that I've had to fight these past years, though. I've also become simply more mature and adept as a result of schooling. I think everyone in my class has (or at least I hope!). This does not mean that the battles will come to an end, however. We've only won over one front of the war; it's time to move our troops to the next one.

Now that school's over, it's now time to begin the training required for the career I've desired practically my entire life. By the end of this month, I'll be living in Lancaster to attend the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in September, with an intended major in illustration. The approaching transition is exhilarating for me, at least at this point in time. Once I find myself starving to death because I'm broke and overwhelmed with all the coursework I'll be given though, I probably won't be as enthusiastic, LOL! So let me savor the excitement for as much as I can before all the hardships hit me in the face.

Besides living on my own, another exciting event to look forward to is Otakon. After the awesome experience at last year's con, I swore then that I would attend it again the following year. And as of this afternoon when I pre-registered, I will! I was hoping to be a part of the Artist's Alley this time around, but since I simply don't have enough art to possibly make a profit from and I didn't register for a table on time anyway, I'll have to wait for the opportunity to come next year. BUT I will be cosplaying! Now I won't feel as left out among the crowd there, even though my costume won't be nearly as extravagant as many others will likely be. Above all, I just hope I can amass enough money by then... There had better be a decent job available by time I'm settled in Lancaster!

So yes, after six months of dead silence, I had this to say. TL;DR: I graduated and I'm moving to go to art school. Hooray! Congratulations to everyone else who graduated this year and work hard for the next forty years of your life. I know I'll have to... Hell, probably for the next EIGHTY years, since I'll probably never retire from my particular line of work.