Set Fire to the Third Bar

This is 9th grade Karen. 9th grade Karen wore ghetto fabulous clown outfits to school and still managed to make friends. She rocked the zebra accessories, forever 21 tutus, anthropology-inspired aprons, and pearl headbands. She was an aspiring Princeton student, whose room was decorated with a literal roadmap to college and a handmade acceptance chart (if her Princeton dreams failed, she knew she could always count on UPenn). She strove to be the ideal student, joining four clubs, class council, and band! She stayed up late, into the wee hours of the night, stressing over Dr. Garg's HONORS physics and Ms. Beardslee's HONORS english? Was the word "honors" emphasized enough for your liking? 9th Grade Karen would have to vote no. In her leisure, she decided to become well versed in great American literature. Her favorite novel, you might ask? None other than Dear John. She carried it everywhere, stained it with her tears. She was unreal... still is unreal. 

Letters to Juliet

I was surprised at how long it took me to write this letter. With so much that could be said, it was constantly being rewritten and revised: 

Here's the letter I was referring to. Its still pretty ratchet, so you'll have to look past that. I just wanted to thank you for a memorable year. You were my first kiss, my first reckless (within reason?) nighttime adventure, my first trip around 3/4 of the baseball field, and my first part-time male modeling friend with benefits. It was all an experience and I remember it so vividly... Everything from my heart racing to my heart breaking. But like I've said before, despite everything that's happened, I still care about you. I know that underneath your "I don't like commitment" exterior, you want to fall in love. And I really do mean it when I say I hope you find that in college. You just need to let yourself let go and open up (not literally, pervert). You're fun, outgoing, smart, and potentially the funniest guy I have ever met. There was a time when I wanted to give you so much, and maybe I was a fool for wanting to do so. I remember you would talk about us, telling me how you "wanted to make me feel". And since then, I've probably felt more than I ever thought I would. Perhaps that's why everything was so memorable. It was all so incredibly exciting, nothing short of the "senior-esque" experience I had wanted. You were a story, and with my based/rare writing abilities, maybe even a best seller. 

Hopefully college isn't an ending, but a sequel. Keep in touch... I mean it. 

Karen