2011 Recap

So it's pretty rare for me to post the same blog on more than one blog, but I think this recap is pretty important, so I put it on my sparkpeople blog and this one:

Before I can celebrate the start of 2012, let me just give a bullet-point recap of 2011:

*January: Moved out of my parents' house for the first time.
*February: Car accident that was one of the most terrifying crashes I've been in, as I was knocked unconscious. 3rd one I've been in, and I've never been driving.
*June: Sexually assaulted by an aquaintance. This may be TMI for some, but this was a pretty traumatic event for me.
*July: Moved out of first apartment (I was a subletter) and into a new place with my own lease. One of my roommates turns out to be CRAZY... going through my stuff, ruining my brand new kitchen equipment, lying to my friends - it was awful.
*September: Attacker from June comes back and physically assaults me. I tell the hospital staff, they do nothing. My "friends" think I am losing it, and stop talking to me. In this month, my brothers were also kicked out at home and almost moved in with me. When all settled down at home - my parents were upset that I tried to help.
*October: I am living with nightmares from June, and, after telling my friends goodbye & my counselors, professors, and a hotline person I am going to end it - I try to. I end up in the hospital from my overdose, when my remaining friends realize I am not OK and call 911.
*November: I spend most of the month in a psychiatric ward, fighting my demons. I am diagnosed with PTSD and given anti-depressants. I start dating a recovering heroine addict.
*December: My roommates move out, leaving me with the rent to pay alone - my landlord tells me I will be evicted at the end of the month. I break up with the recovering addict, so he burglarizes my house, resulting in $2800 worth of damages and stolen goods.
On the flip side:
*January: I move into my first apartment =)
*April: I go to NYC for the first time on my own, and see Central Park and Times Square.
*June: I land a job at a magazine in town - I ended up leaving in 3 weeks because I got a full-time job as a nanny, but I learned a lot. Plus, as a nanny I got to play with 5-11 little girls Mon-Fri, FUN! I also got my learner's permit, FINALLY.
*July: I landed my first apartment by myself, and learned how to do the simple things like setting up internet and electric. I also managed to furnish the entire apartment by myself, almost entirely for free.
*September: I win a $500 scholarship for an essay I wrote.
*October: I went to a leadership retreat in Harrisburg, PA. It was so much fun! And I got to learn about some really great organizations I want to pursue after college.
*November: I realize that although it was a blow to lose some friends in September, my really great friends have not left me, and being completely honest with both them and my family about my struggles has lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders.
*December: I land an internship at a bridal magazine near my university. Also, I get my first 4.0 in college.
So, it almost evens out? I'll write more tomorrow, I have to update my other blog! Thanks for reading!