I've been thinking a lot lately about who I am. I know that sounds hokey and stupid. But I keep wondering about where the different quirks and personality traits come from, other than genetics. I'm a firm believer that everyone you meet changes you, even if it is minutely. So I've decided to kind of try to map it out. I'm gonna write my different friend groups and the changes and impacts they made on who I am. Starting probably around freshman year. Also, there's a few random people that don't really fit into any specific category, so I'll just mention them separately.

(Shaylie, Micah, Mystie, Kenzy, Cass, Cami, Marissa, Shelby, Jessey, Me, Sissy, Scott, Wes)

After that is when I really started broadening my friendship horizons. I really became good friends with my colorguard friends. Enter Kenzy, Shelby, Cassidi, Cami, Jessey, Sissy, Noelle, and Shaylie. All these girls were a big part of my support system. They cared for me and wanted me to be happy and safe. We got along well for the most part. :) I learned quite a bit from them, and I think my hard-working trait definitely got honed while I was in their presence.

(Me, Colton)

Shaylie, Jessey, and Sissy also had a big impact, as they introduced me to some of my other very good friends: Colton and James being the biggest two. From that group of friends I started realizing that it was okay to be yourself completely, even if sometimes yourself looked like a total idiot.

(Alexa, Me, Ashley)

And from Colton I met Alexa and Ashley, who I've written about on numerous occasions, and have also had a shaping hand in my life.

(Me, Justin, Dixon, Ben, Brendan)

Another extremely influential group was my debate friends. Brendan, Josh, Sam, Megan, Ben, Dixon, Justin, and most of the rest of the debate team. I learned A LOT from this group. It's okay to be smart, and to be knowledgeable about things. And also there's a limit about how much people want to know about how much you know. They were a big, welcoming group that I had so much fun with.

(Me, Cass, Charlie, Trissa)

(Cherisse, Moriah, Me)

(Jay and Laura)

Next is work friends. I truthfully think they've shaped me more than any other group. This includes Moriah, Cherisse, Jay, Laura, Paige, Bree, Trissa, etc. We're a weird bunch. A hella weird bunch. They helped me see that it's okay to live for myself. I think that's one of the most important lessons that I've learned. Some might take it another way and say that they "got me off the path of righteousness." But I can't think of a group of people I'm more indebted to. A lot of hard times have come from some of those choices, but they're times I wouldn't change for the world. They were so important and built my character. It was with them I realized I could still be a good person without being religious, and that it's okay to do things not according to tradition. This quote sums them up: "Life is short, when you're done, you're done. We're on this earth to have some fun." :) They're also a HUGE part in my sarcasm and sense of humor. Both of those were developed at good old Mickey D's.

(Me, Kadie, Aubrey, Katherine)

Next comes college roomies. My first year roommates didn't have a huge affect on me. Katherine, Aubrey, Kadie, Mandy, and Alli. They were kind and supportive and modeled the type of person I'd like to become, with some minor adjustments. I did get closer with Mandy and Alli, who I both can go to for advice at any time. They definitely changed me for the better :)

(Me, Karlee, Morgan, Dani, Brittany)

(Dani, Me, Celeste, Robyn)

My second year roommates, however, had AN ENORMOUS impact. I realized the type of person I DID NOT want to become, and the type of friend who will stick with you through everything. Dani and Robyn were excellent examples of the type of friend I want to be. Supportive, trustworthy, helpful. They taught me a lot, especially Dani. Dani and I developed our whole "positive thinking" mantra together, so that's also been very influential. I love those girls so much.

(Me and David)

And last but not least, David and Texas. They both loosely fit into a couple groups, but they're more on their own. I met David through church, strangely enough. I knew he didn't like going, and I knew I didn't like going. He had no idea that I was any different than the other people in our ward. Basically I approached him one day after school and offered him a ride home. We've been tight ever since. That car ride home is ingrained in my memory as the time David pretended to shoot seminary teachers out the window of my green van with my rifle. Good times :) He's wonderful. He can talk me down from anything, and our thought processes are extremely similar. We're so comfortable with each other. He is, hands down, my best friend.

(Texas and Me)

Texas is...a character :) I met her during softball, and the first words she ever said to me were: " I wish I was a little kid so I could play in the mud without anyone looking at me weird." Texas has taught me how to be carefree. She can also calm me down, and make me realize that things will work out in the end. She's extremely optimistic, and kind of childlike. She is responsible, but still knows how to have a good time, which I really admire. She fits so well into the dynamic that David and I have, and I know that the three of us are the kind of friends that will still be talking to each other regularly thirty years from now :)

(Me, David, Texas Cinco de Mayo)

(Me, David, Texas Senior Ball)

I think each group had a part in shaping me, whether it was minor or huge. It's definitely interesting for me to go back and look at things like that, and it's funny that I can pick different characteristics from different groups. I wouldn't change anything :)