“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: to rise above the little things.”
– John Burroughs
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
American bars, bars, bars!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Did pretty well this year. I’m proud. Looking forward to setting some more goals for myself for the coming year, during which so much will change.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Traveled a lot but didn’t leave the country.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
The strength and resolve to turn someone down if I’m uncomfortable about it.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 30, my last day at Dorchester, talking to Allison and Renee for hours at Shake Shack and feeling like everything I’ve ever done was worth it.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Scoring the publishing internship in New York! Scoring the internship in Berkeley. Assistant night editor. NIGHT EDITOR. BFR editor. Event Services website. Making that first move that one night and all the subsequent ones.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to go through with a relationship and having to let Chris down. Not having the guts to be more obvious about things at my Halloween party and continuing to regret it.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Fell a lot and bruised even more than usual, but it’s NBD.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
TICKETS TO BROADWAY SHOWS.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mine!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Broadway, alcohol, food, technology, books, comics, public transportation. Yeah, that pretty much sums up my life, haha.
15. What events did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to New York. My 21st birthday. Halloween. Holiday/end of the semester festivities. New Year’s. Parties in general.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Moment 4 Life – Nicki Minaj
Make Me Proud – Drake
Doing It Wrong – Drake
All of the Lights – Kanye West
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
…Yeah, I think this is why I love Drake.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? I think I’m happier, but I’m also sad more frequently.
ii. thinner or fatter? Pretty sure I’m the same.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, yay!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing. 
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Had ridiculous neurotic anxiety panic attacks.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Not in Vegas! Haha.
21. Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?
Diana.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
No.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, hands down.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Oh yeah. Some of my co-workers drive me up the wall.
25. What was the best book you read?
Tuesdays with Morrie, The Book Thief, and Young Avengers.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery or rediscovery?
The Kooks, Two Door Cinema Club, Ratatat, Florence + the Machine, Mumford & Sons.
27. What did you want and get?
INTERNSHIPS. Also into people’s pants.
28. What did you want and not get?
Time and inspiration to write a lot.
29. What were your favorite films of this year?
Thor, Captain America, X-Men: First Class.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Turned 21 in New York! Worked at my dream internship, had an authentic Italian dinner with Jen and Caroline, had dessert at Max Brenner’s, and then went out to a bar with Jen.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less stressing out over stuff.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Well-dressed tomboy with everything tucked in all day err day. Jeans, V-necks, button ups, plaid, cardigans, belts. And Vans. Lots of Vans.
33. What kept you sane?
The feeling of success. Comics. Cartoons, sitcoms, and Mad Men. Hillary, Katie P. Nightwing. Alcohol. Gaming.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most/least?
Is it weird if I say nobody in particular?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
OCCUPY. SOPA.
36. Whom did you miss?
My mom, interestingly enough.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh my god. So many. Caroline, probably?
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
JUST DO IT. Seriously. Self-doubt is a waste of time. Have faith in yourself and your abilities, and you’ll go far. YOUR EFFORT COUNTS. Dedication and perseverance really will get you places. JUST SAY NO. People will respect your wishes. BE A GOOD PERSON. It shows, and brightening anyone’s day even just for a second is worth it. And DON’T WORRY — BE HAPPY!
39. Do you have any lost feelings of others?
I never get what this question is actually asking…
40. Quote a song that sums up your year:
“In this very moment / I am king.”
– “Moment 4 Life”, Nicki Minaj
“When a good thing goes bad, it’s not the end of the world / It’s just the end of a world that you had with one girl / We live in a generation of not being in love, and not being together / But we sure make it feel like we’re together.”
– “Doing It Wrong”, Drake
Ten Awesome Things About 2011
1. Spending the summer in New York because of a publishing internship!
2. Becoming an assistant editor for the school paper.
3. NIGHT EDITOR.
4. Getting another publishing internship for a house distributed by Random House!
5. BFR editorship.
6. Turning 21.
7. PARTIES. Kickbacks. Pregames. Bar nights.
8. Getting a huge pay raise.
9. Really awesome new music that came out: Coldplay, The Strokes, Florence, Drake, Kanye & Jay-Z, Death Cab, OK Go, among others I’m sure I’m forgetting.
10. Nerd movie midnight premieres!
The Year, in Retrospect
2011 was a year of extremes. There were ups, and there were downs, but most of all, there was fun and victory and success and so many unforgettable memories. When I think back on it, it seems to be composed less of a progression of events and more snapshots of highs and lows. 2011 was the year that I became a different person altogether. I cannot believe such awesomeness was packed into 365 days, but the year definitely had its downsides and its moments when I questioned whether it was all worth it.
It was. It is.
This is the year I got my act together and just fucking achieved. This is the year I said, “Why not?” and just went for things. This is the year I realized my self-worth. I got to head my own department and revamp university websites. I became assistant night editor. I became an editor at a literary magazine. I got an internship in New York — the real deal. I got another internship, for a house that publishes for Random House. Fuck, I attended a conference at Random House. I became Night Editor. That means I’m in charge of a whole newspaper department. That means I’m third in rank. That’s power, mothafucka. For the first time in my life, I believe that I am going to be something big. Not a doctor, not a lawyer, not an engineer — but I am truly going to accomplish my dreams. And it’s going to be fucking sweet.
This is the year I got to bounce back from the breakup with Mark. This is the year I got to really, truly, consider my dating options in a way that has much less to do ideals and much more with raw emotion and carnal desire. I tried my hand at dating and found that I’m just not ready for a serious relationship. I tried my hand at meaningless hookups and realized, bizarrely, that having no strings attached made me way happier. They made me realize that I’m still emotionally scarred from having my heart broken, but I’m not so traumatized that I can’t engage in anything ever again. They taught me so much — what I want from a relationship (physical affection and conversation) and that I need to stand up for myself and just say no because it’s no big deal. I’ve learned that I’m seen as a bold person (still can’t figure this out) and should just act accordingly. Fuck, I so hardcore believed that my glory days were over, but I’ve still got it. And the best part is realizing I don’t need to dress up or paint my face or be girly to be considered attractive. Realizing I don’t need to take shit so seriously — play or be played. Carpe fucking diem. And completely meaningless, no-strings-attached cuddling is just about the greatest shit on the planet.
This year, I was ambitious. Chris told me I was a catch because I was “pretty and ambitious,” and it’s really stuck with me. I’ve never considered myself an ambitious person — probably because I wasn’t, not really. But now I’m doing things and going places, and I’m not letting anything or anybody stop me. And it’s awesome.
Bring it on, 2012.
