Here is my decade in review, which was borrowed from Hope Dies Last and also repeated by A Little Coffee. It is the past ten years from my perspective.

In 2000, I was in grade 8. I got my first boyfriend, who was a really nice guy. It didn’t matter to me, because the only things I cared about were if I had the cool new jeans or not. I drank my first beer with my friends and decided that, while my friends liked it, smoking was not something I wanted to try.

In 2001, I entered high school. My friends changed, but I still only cared about whether or not I was wearing the right jeans. I grew to be 5’10″ seemingly overnight, and even though my braces came off I was still awkward. I had my second boyfriend for a few weeks, who was also a really nice guy. Erica, and Kate’s boyfriend taught me how to  snowboard, and I fell in love with it. I won an award for my track and field achievements.

In 2002, I was in gr. 10. I traveled to Europe with Erica and Kate and my choir and the rest of my family joined after. My fondest memories of the trip were in the rented van my Mom drove all across France, Germany, Italy, Holland and more, playing a Boggle game that had been found in the attic of a Dutch convent with my sisters.

In 2003, I was less awkward, and my clothes were tight and short. Boys loved me and I loved boys. I wore pinky-gold Annabelle eyeshadow every day. My favourite class was French, and I did an exchange where I lived in Quebec for a summer and worked at a day camp. By the end of the summer, I was fluent in a beautiful language. I wanted to get my nose pierced, but didn’t because I thought my Mom would get mad at me. I got my first real boyfriend, who told me he loved me. I didn’t say it back.

In 2004, I dumped my boyfriend a few weeks before prom. A week later he made fun of me on national television. I worked at my parent’s golf course and went to the same University as Kate. Out of the four schools I have attended, it was the only one I chose to attend for myself and was the best decision I have ever made. I made a new best friend with the same name as me, who would consistently challenge me and help me to develop a concrete world view. I drank too much, didn’t study enough, and was actually happy to have gained a ‘Freshman 25′. I found out my best friend from my hometown was moving to Ottawa and I thought my life might end. It didn’t.

In 2005, I still worked at my parent’s golf course. I loved to party, a little too much. Somehow, I managed to stay out of trouble. I moved in with some girlfriends, and went on a date with a boy who I would quickly fall madly in love with.  Enter the scary situation of helping a friend in an abusive relationship. My roommate hid her drug dealer in her room for a week, and I thought it was funny. I spent every waking moment with my boyfriend, and  shocked him by deciding to move to a remote fishing lodge for the summer. I realized I had all the right people in my life when the letters were delivered to me in bundles every week.

In 2006, I got a part-time job at a pub to pay for a six week trip to volunteer in and travel around Costa Rica. This job became my life, and I saved every penny I earned. I still drank too much beer and stayed out way too late with my best friend. In the midst of the madness, I gained some essential life skills and my marks went up. I started to realize that I really liked the person I was becoming.

In 2007, I was the president of my academic class. I still worked at the pub with my best friend and stayed out too late. Every other waking moment was spent with my boyfriend, who I was still madly in love with. I started becoming friends with people I genuinely liked. I volunteered at a sexual assault centre, and met some truly amazing people.

In 2008, I survived and graduated from University and got my name on a trophy … in a beer drinking competition. My boyfriend’s job moved in to Calgary and I couldn’t imagine not seeing him everyday so I followed. We found a beautiful condo which we made our home and I became a social worker, working with adults with severe and persistent mental illness. I reconnected with a old friend, who became my rock. I had visitors upon visitors and cherished every moment with them.

In 2009, I bought my first car. My and my boyfriend got in our first big fight and I cried because I thought I was alone. I lost somebody to suicide and I became even closer to my best friends (three of them now). I had even more visitors, and went home for the wedding’s of two sisters. I found out I was going to become an Aunt for the first time, and cried again. I met my first bloggy friend in real life. I took some of my own advice and started seeing a therapist and we laughed together a lot. I became the maid of honour in my best friend’s wedding – I wondered when I would be next, if ever.