Hello to my loyal fans. Or, those who happen to stumble upon here.

Been a while. I'll always start by getting my thoughts out of the way.

As of the time of writing this, I have graduated high school. I'm very happy to be freed from school and to be focused on my primary interests. Of course, I'm not quite done. I am attending college in the fall.

The inevitable acceptance of responsibility dawns upon me. I don't exactly shy away from it; I'll properly come to terms with adulthood. Life is accelerating and soon I'll have to abandon some of my older habits. Ones that hinder me, not the ones that keep me happy.

I have begun to value myself now more than ever. And I'm grateful to everyone that has helped me realize this. You may or may not know who you are. But it's probably you.

Anyway, my recent interests have been playing the shamisen and getting into some video games that I've had for a while that I hadn't exactly had the time to play. Namely, Dark Souls II and the older Persona games. It's a slow process but I'm developing my passion for these games with the more time I invest into them. I plan to enjoy myself this summer as much as I can, with my friends and with getting to accomplish what I'm desperate to achieve in the next month.

I have been trying to enjoy life as much as I can. Going outside is a breath of fresh air. I truly love taking in the scenary at times. Taking pictures of the sky and putting myself out there is exhilarating. I recommend appreciating how truly grand the world is every now and then. Sometimes it can be hard to see a reason to live, but not when you get to bask in being with those you care about. Especially if it's a quick trip to somewhere, like the park or perhaps a new place to go.

Now, here is my wisdom to leave off thus far.

They say life is too short to feel hatred in your heart. Or to hold grudges, or to repress yourself for others. The more I live, the more applicable this feels to me. The world never puts us in the clutches of hatred to make us suffer. We're always challenged and tested when we are met with disapproval for being who we are.

There will always exist people who detest you for who you are or what you stand for. But it is imperative to realize that there is the willpower in your heart to live through their words or actions. To live is to fight, and to fight is to resist the temptations of succumbing to the desires of someone who isn't you. Think of their words as nothing short of a dictation of how they wish to distort your life into their own twisted, idealized version of you. Nobody deserves to live a false life willingly, and I wish for people to emerge strong throughout their perilous times. Never settle to be complacent with your life. Aim for the most insane ambitions, for they will offer a sense of direction. Sometimes we are motivated by incentive. Give yourself a meaningful reward when you truly pursue something that you wish to get into, even if you don't give yourself that reward at the end of everything.

One of the scariest things with coming to terms with accepting oneself is the fear of losing loved ones. While painful, it is a necessary evil that is counteracted by the not-so obvious realization that there can exist people who will care about you in this "truest form" of yourself. People have a sense of the world, others, and a sense of self. It is these senses (or lack of them) that dictate how they perceive change. Some people are willing to entirely accept someone who goes through the greatest or even slightest alteration of themselves. There are people who are the direct antithesis; some may not be accustomed to change. Change can simply be misunderstood by their judgement or senses, but it is also plausible that people prefer things to remain constant within someone. When you pick who you choose to remain close with, it is crucial to analyze whether they look past or truly internalize change.

Some people don't change immediately. As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day. But of course, there are people who resist change. Not necessarily because they refuse to acknowledge it, but possibly because they are unsure of the steps they need to actively make change. In such times, a lending ear or hand can be the key to changing anyone's idea of change. This leads me to my final point.

Our own ignorance can bring fear. We tend to fear things that we do not understand. Such fear, in due time, will induce hatred. We hate what we are afraid of. Such hatred will eventually breed destruction. We destroy what we hate because it frightens us in thought and existence.

Ignorance may be bliss, they say. I find it worthwhile to understand what I don't quite know, not only in the pursuit of knowledge, but in my wishes to improve as a human being. To minimize what I am afraid of, to minimize what I fear, and to minimize my own destruction-- such is the beauty of seeking to understand what I may rest peacefully not knowing.

Remember that there are people who live freely with ignorance. It is a personal choice and a high duty to keep ignorance in check of being subjected to change, or to remain persistent and kept to your ways. Ignorance is a two way street. Indeed, opening your horizons allows you to come to terms with a notion you never thought you would have the pleasure of knowing more about, but also remaining obstinate is the beauty of conviction and how we have the willpower to not conform.

Both sides require an honest sense of where one truly stands.

Always reflect on who you are today. And who you strive to be.

Much like those who are on that very path, I am treading on it too.

Thank you for taking the time to read my entry. Hope you have a great day. Love you all.

-Squawk