Times

     I've had some pretty eventful summers in my time. I've gone on great vacations and have played music with the best of musicians and have seen the most beautiful of sights and read the most knowledgable of books and have spent time with the nicest of people. No summer, however, has been quite like this one.

     Rather than seeing, saying, touching, experiencing, and playing things, I've been feeling things. I've been taught numerous things. I've gone through situations this summer that changed me and opened my eyes. I've learned not things that are good for the brain, but good for the heart. I learned about myself and who I am, not who I want to be like. 

     Among these things I've learned, the biggest is who a friend is. I've lost many, many friends. I've been betrayed many, many times. I never expected my last summer in Phoenix to be like this one. I was hoping for parties, hangouts, quality times, and adventures. Not alone times, sit arounds, hurtful times, and naps. As much as these situations and these experiences sucked, they molded me and shaped me. If it was for all of the bad that happened this summer, none of the good would have came and taught me.

     I always thought that my previous summers taught me amazing things. I always thought that the best of times always taught me the best of things. And as much as those statements are correct, they limited the truth. What I've learned this summer was that good times can teach me good things, but bad times can teach me unforgettable things, whether good or bad.

I learned who I was this summer.