close_lipped's Xanga

the speech

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:03:50 GMT

"i'm so tired but i cant sleep, standin on the edge of something much too deep. its funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word. we are screaming inside, but we can't be heard. but i will remember you, will you remember me? don't let your life pass you by, weep not for the memories."

For those of you who missed it or just didn't hear what I was saying because I was so boring, here it is. Thanks again for making me val, I miss you guys so much.

Good evening fellow graduates, faculty, family and friends. Tonight marks a very special occasion, that being the completion of one phase of our lives and the beginning of another. Commencement.

Coming back to Woburn only months after having graduated has caused me to feel such a mix of emotions that I know we, as the class of 2006, are experiencing together. Some of us have left this school completely, hoping never to return. Some have moved far away, for school or just the beginning of a new adventure. Some are still here, not ready to leave this place called home and some of us, although we have physically left, remain here in our thoughts. Regardless of whether or not your time spent at Woburn was happy or sad, completed or ongoing, fulfilling or meaningless, it was, or is still, undoubtedly a journey.

At the beginning of grade nine, we all came to Woburn, unsure of what to expect. Sure, we knew classes would be larger, harder, the vice principals would be meaner and there would be a lot more students, but aside from that…I don’t think any of us could have predicted the experience we would gain from our time here.

When we arrived, we experienced feelings of apprehension, fear and excitement at this new beginning. But as time passed and we settled down into our new home, those feelings faded into the background as we gained a sense of comfort and belonging. Woburn became synonymous with the word comfort and while there were times when we were still afraid, for the most part we felt safe here.

We grew accustomed to the routine, the morning bells and announcements from the office ladies, the sometimes sketchy but mostly delicious cafeteria food, being able to walk to Double Double or Harvey’s for lunch and laughing between third and fourth period at the always entertaining STAR announcements.

We became familiar with the extremely fashionable lanyard for the short while it stayed with us as well as to seeing posters and flyers for a hundred different events and activities. We grew to expect a certain level of excellence from our dance groups, musical acts, dramatic performances, sports teams and clubs from a history filled with triumphs.

We realized that it was not uncommon for us to hear physics Mr. Thompson hollering at someone or something at the other end of the school or to watch House in Rooney’s bio class or to beg Mr. Mo in the middle of calculus to draw a perfect circle. From bad experiences, we learnt to book a projector for power point presentations as well as a backup projector or laptop…as well as a back up for that one, although some of us never learnt that lesson…. *ahem Nathan.

We came to know and understand how things around here worked and by the time we were in grade twelve, we realized that while we were a part of the system, we helped to build the system. We knew which teachers would give us extended deadlines and which ones would never even consider the possibility … and even then, we still managed to turn in assignments late. We figured out that spirit days were a great escape from the everyday norm. That if you told Bill and Jason you REALLY did have a spare this time, PROMISE, they’d most likely leave you alone. We figured out how many times we could afford to skip before a phone call was made or a letter sent home. We knew that studying last minute was never a good option, although sometimes we made it our only option. We knew that as soon as you gave MJ a microphone, Angelina a volleyball, Sinan a math problem, or Carolina a stage, something magical would happen. And all of us possess this magic, I have seen you all grow and learn and change during our time here and find the outlet for that creativity which I have become SO proud of.

And perhaps most importantly, we figured out who our true friends were. Those few who stood by our side throughout the good and bad times and who have been there to hurt and help us along the way, helping us discover the kind of people we want to become. Perhaps we’ve held onto them since grade nine or maybe it’s taken us four or five years to find them, but regardless, they have treated us and become like family.

But one thing we were never able to figure out was this: what IS that statue in the quad?!?!

These comforts, these things, these people have all impacted us in a very large way. See, as I mention these moments, these rituals, these events, I look around and I see you all smiling because you remember that we all shared them together. We all experienced these things as a class and I think that this is what unifies us; these experiences which have been immortalized as memories.

In time, we won’t remember all of the details, all of the small things and none of our memories will be exactly the same. But these memories accumulated, they are the high school experience. They are what was worthwhile and what we endured to get where we are now. While some of these memories are wonderful and endearing and others are less so, these memories help to make us into who we are and who we will become. Although we are leaving Woburn, Woburn will never leave us. It will remain with us in our thoughts and hearts, as will the people we have met here despite the distance that separates us.

I stand here before you, feeling so much pride in the fact that I went to this school and that I got to know all of you. Because aside from the memories, we all share this great unlimited capacity for potential and I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to meeting all of you in the future, knowing that only great things can come from a class filled with so many creative minds, visionaries and revolutionaries.

I hope that no matter where your journey takes you in life, you will always take a part of Woburn with you. Consider yourselves commenced. Best of luck and congratulations class of 2006, we did it!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 02:33:57 GMT

"so hold on the ones who really care, in the end they'll be the only ones there. when you get old and start losing your hair, can you tell me who will still care? can you tell me who will still care? MMMMPBOP! DU BA DAP BA DOOOO BOP! BA DUBA DA BA DOOO BOP! DOO BU DA BA DOOOOOOOO!"

Um.... hell yes? THANK-YOU MRS.B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a MED SCHOOL MOM!!!!! says:
I'm off to do some reading before bedtime. Goodnight valedictorian.

You have NO freaking idea HOW happy I am. =)

.......guys? Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you soooo much.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 01:22:48 GMT

New layout, click it ----> close-lipped .

<3giftie love.

Today rocked my socks, we need to do things like that more often.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 01:50:57 GMT

Mrs. Billinghurst = win.

kavstar -- much love, class of 06'. said:

hello mrs. b!

*i get signed out*

' kavstar -- much love, class of 06'. says:

hello! sorry, my msn messenger messes up a lot and signs me out

Woburn Team Wins Reach for the Top Nationals says:

That's okay.

Woburn Team Wins Reach for the Top Nationals says:

That happens to me too.

' kavstar -- much love, class of 06'. says:

how are youuuuu this evening?

*i get signed out*

' kavstar -- much love, class of 06'. says:

sorry, again.

Woburn Team Wins Reach for the Top Nationals says:

This is like having you in class. You are there...

' kavstar -- much love, class of 06'. says:

ahahahaha

Woburn Team Wins Reach for the Top Nationals says:
*wink face*

I got owned. lol

Saturday, June 03, 2006

Sat, 03 Jun 2006 03:53:24 GMT

"as we go on, we remember all the times we had together. and as our lives change, come whatever....we will still be friends forever."

We will still be friends forever.

Formal was the best night of my life. It was simply incomparable to anything else I've ever experience and it was so indescribable that trying to write it all out would be an injustice. It can only be remembered through the memories, photographs and stories we all will share.

Thank you to everyone for everything. I am so happy everything worked out the way it did. I am so happy I celebrated with everyone who was there, everyone. I am still in awe at how beautiful and handsome everyone looked.

I'm sorry I made so many people cry. But it's simply because I love you all so much. And because that stupid song gets to me everytime. The feeling that went around that circle was just pure love, and afterward as the tears were still streaming down my face and as we were all trying to find every single friend and give them a big hug, when we all in unision cried out, "woburn, WOBURN! woburn, WOBURN!" my heart swelled with pride.

I love my school and I am going to miss it like hell.

No matter what, far and wide, spread apart or stuck together, we conquered highschool together and shall continue dominating all of our undertakings together in some way or another.

"Woburn is not a building. The building only contains what Woburn is." -- Chris Langan

Cheers, here's to the class of 06'. Love you guys. <3

p.s. Edmund, "Yo guy! I'M STILL HERE!".

edit.//picture time =)

ladies by the pool

gents by the pool

kav&kev

pretty girls

RAWR! best friends.

sexy, sexy. we look like models hahaha

defining moment

oh so sexy. dinushi, not tony.

ladies at the mic

*wave

we're the biggest losers in the world, but he makes me smile

me & the mo

asian backstreet boys, you know it.

adrian insisted on taking this even though i was crying my eyes out the minute before

I'll post more pictures another day. must return to the grueling work that is law. *shudders. ciao =)

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 03:32:58 GMT

edit. //Reposting, so more bitches will read this and hopefully learn something =)//

I xanga'ed this so I would be sure people would read it as I don't know who reads my diary.

Heed my warning, once and for all:

WORRY AND YOU SHALL WASTE.

Waste the time left with your friends, in your trashy ghetto school, the moments being afraid of going to the brown bakery, the spares, the lunchtimes, the routine, the teacher's life lessons (because their curricular based ones ultimately mean nothing compared to the social/philosophical knowledge and life experience they share with us, ADMIT IT GRADE-LOVERS!), the talks with Mrs. Plachta, Mr. Wright, Ms. Mo and the other extremely influential adults left in that place, the sunshine in the PARK, the football throwing goodness we shan't experience for a while, the sometimes deccent cafeteria food (which you WILL miss, I am sure), the slight feeling of rebeliousness while skipping class (yeah, that won't exist in university if it still even does for some of us), the trips to the gas station for slushies and just everything that going to Woburn has offered us.

STOP FRIGGING WORRYING!

Especially about needless things derived from materialism (EVIL!). By this I mean STOP IT with the crying over make-up and clothing and shoes and movies and parties and... *gigantic outburst of fustration*. Indeed, I won't continue with that paragraph, I will insult too many people and have too much to say. That will be saved for a separate blog.

Stop worrying over one or two marks, SERIOUSLY, PLEASE. Regardless of whether or not you've already been accepted, it just irks me that people can be so consumed by marks. This is dervived on my belief that the entire education system is flawed (thank-you Mrs. Plachta), but that shall be saved for another blog. Learning is not about marks. It is about your desire for knowledge, don't forget that. Marks do not mean a damn thing. They are not a reflection of our intelligence, personality, morals, ethics, self and most importantly self-worth. Of course it feels good to see that we have "done well" because we all enjoy reassurance that we are indeed not a part of the mindless bags of flesh the media portrays teenagers to be. But really, ........ it's nothing. And this paragraph will go on forever so I'll end it and go onto the next thing.

Stop worrying about parents. Overprotective, undercaring, stupid, too intelligent, etc. ? Unless they're abusive, physically/mentally sick, deceased or intrusive to the point of insanity, you really should leave them be. Obviously we all fight with our parents (as they are all crazy! AAH!) and are allowed to bitch and moan (we are teenagers) about them, but really.......... appreciate before you hate, as lame as it sounds, please do. Think it through before you tear their head off over something because ordinarily, it's not worht fighting over. It really isn't. They have given us so much and yet we are so ungrateful. I constantly tell myself that I will be a better daughter as I grow older and I have faith in that, otherwise I'm just beating myself up all the time over being a shitty, whiny, ungrateful brat because I don't treat them right. We are going to miss them like hell for one reason or another, be it physical or emotional distance, so spend time with them now. Or avoid them. Your choice.

&Stop worrying about worrying. Just enjoy the time left. Ride with the waves and take everything life throws at you, we already know it isn't fair, so why complain about it?

Worry and you shall waste. Do not worry and you shall enjoy.

Enjoy the freedom, the relaxation, the good times, the school & the friends.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 01:19:55 GMT

Today I discovered that a family friend's daughter passed away in December.

In December.

And I had not known.

My family had not known. We were left in the dark.

The isolation felt as a result of living away from the ones you love becomes even more present when faced with the abnormalities of death. Especially with the death of one so young. So young and so sick.

I feel rather lost.

Do not feel sorry, I did not know her well at all.

Again, I feel rather lost.

I shall be leaving now. Goodbye.

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 02:07:50 GMT

For once, I can't find a song to describe my mood or what I'm thinking or how I feel.

Thank you Michelle, way more than you could imagine.

Tonight was a very interesting night that evoked much self-relfection and inner questions. No answers, but many questions. So thanks for inspiring that, it really was a night to remember.

I'm glad everyone who was there was there. Thanks for being there and for teaching me a lot. Christabelle, Louis, Krista, Alex, Matthew Lee, Jason, Dali & best of all, Ceilidh. Really, I felt like Ceilidh understood what I was feeling although we were feeling in different ways. Thanks for being there.

<3 Thanks again Michelle.

edit.//Stolen from Barb. She seems to have lots of good surveys =)

Bold everything that is true
1) smoked
2) consumed alcohol
3) slept in the same bed with someone of the opposite sex
4) slept in the same bed with someone of the same sex
5) made out with someone of the opposite sex
6) made out with someone of the same sex
7) had someone in your room of the opposite sex
8) watched porn
9) bought porn
10) done drugs
Total: 9

11) taken pain killers
12) taken someone else's prescription medicine
13) lied to your parents
14) lied to a friend
15) snuck out of the house
16) done something illegal
17) cut yourself
18) hurt someone
19) wished someone would die
20) seen someone die
Total: 9

21) missed curfew
22) stayed out all night
23) eaten a carton of ice cream by yourself
24) been to a therapist
25) been to rehab
26) dyed your hair
27) recieved a ticket
28) been in a wreck
29) been to a club
30) been to a bar
Total: 8

31) been to a wild party
32) seen the Mardi Gras
34) had a spring break in Florida
35) sniffed anything
36) wore black nail polish
37) wore arm bands
38) wore t-shirts with band names
39) listened to rap
40) own a 50 cent cd
Total: 6

41) dressed gothic
42) dressed prep
43) dressed punk
44) dressed grunge
45) stolen something
46) been too drunk to remember anything
47) blacked out
48) fainted
49) had a crush on your neighbour
50) had someone sneak into your room
Total: 7

51) snuck into some else's room
52) had a crush on someone of the same sex
53) been to a concert
54) dry humped someone
55) been called a slut
56) called someone a slut
57) installed speakers in your car
58) broke a mirror [SORRY DALI!]
59) showered at someone of the opposites sex's house
60) brushed your teeth with someone else’s toothbrush
Total: 7

61) consider ludacris your favorite rapper
62) seen an R rated movie in theatres
63) cruised the mall
64) skipped school
65) had an eating disorder
66) had an injury
67) gone to court
68) walked out of a restaurant without paying
69) set something on fire
70) lied about your age
Total: 7

71) owned an apartment
72) cheated on your boyfriend/girlfriend
73) cheated with someone [on tests]
74) got in trouble with the police
75) talked to a stranger
76) hugged a stranger
77) kissed a stranger
78) rode in the car with a stranger
79) been sexually harassed
80) been verbally harrassed
Total: 5

81) met face to face with someone you met online
82) stayed online for 12 hours straight
83) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours straight
84) watched tv for 12 hours straight [brraps TBS!]
85) been to a fair
86) been called a bad influence
87) cursed
88) prank called someone
89) laid in the bed with someone of the opposite sex
90) cheated on a test
Total: 10

91) cheated on homework
92) held hands with someone of the opposite sex
93) been pushed into a pool
94) played pool
95) watched 5 hours of mtv straight
96) had a crush on someone 10 years older than you
97) had a crush on someone younger than you
98) wear eyeliner
99) skinny dipped
100) laughed at somebody that was seriously hurt
Total: 8

Grand Total: 77 I think, I can't add very well.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 21:34:21 GMT

"yours is the first face that i saw, i think i was blind before i met you."

instead of x's, write numbers so in the end you have X/155. stolen from Sophie, i like this one =).

[1] I have read a lot of books.
[2] I have been on some sort of varsity team.
[ whats 2 miles? more than 2 km yes hahah...] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.
[3 ] I have been to Canada.

[] I have been to Europe.
[4] I have watched cartoons for hours.
[5] I have tripped UP the stairs.
[6] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.
[7] I have been snowboarding/skiing.

[8] I have played ping pong.
[9] I swam in the ocean.
[ ] I have been on a whale watch.
[10] I have seen fireworks.

[] I have seen a shooting star.
[ ] I have seen a meteor shower.
[11 ] I have almost drowned.
[12] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

[13] I have listened to one CD over & over & over again.
[14] I have had stitches.
[ ] I have had frostbite.
[ ] I have licked a frozen pole and got stuck there.
[15] I have stayed up til 2 doing homework/projects.
[16 ] I currently have a job.
[17] I have been ice skating.
[18] I have been rollerblading.
[19] I have fallen flat on my face.
[20] I have tripped over my own two feet.
[21] I have been in a fist fight.
[21] I have played videogames for more than 3 hours straight.
[22] I have watched the power rangers.

[23] I have attended Church regularly.
[24] I have played truth or dare.
[25]I've called someone stupid. And meant it.
[26] I've been in a verbal argument.
[27] I've cried in school.
[ ] I've played basketball on a team.
[ ] I've played baseball on a team.
[28] I've played football on a team.
[29] I've played soccer on a team.
[ ] I've done cheerleading on a team.
[30] I've played softball on a team.
[31] I've played volleyball on a team.
[] I've played tennis on a team.
[32] I've been on a track or cross country team.
[33] I've been swimming more than 20 times in my life.
[ ] I've bungee jumped.

[34] I've climbed a rock wall.
[35] I've lost more than $20.
[36] I've called myself an idiot.
[37] I've called someone else an idiot.
[38] I've cried myself to sleep.
[39] I've had (or have) pets.

[40] I've owned a spice girls CD.
[41]I've owned a britney spears CD.
[42] I've owned an N*Sync CD.
[43] I've owned a backstreet boys CD
[ ] I've mooned someone.
[44] I've sworn at someone in authority.
[ ] I've been in the newspaper.
[45] I've been on TV.

[46] I've been to Hawaii.
[47] I've eaten sushi.
[] I've been on the other side of a waterfall.
[48] I've watched all of the Lord of the Rings movies.
[49] I've watched all the Harry Potter movies.

[ ] I've watched all of the Rocky movies.
[50] I've watched the 3 stooges.
[51] I've watched "Newlyweds" Nick & Jessica.
[52 ] I've watched Looney Tunes.
[53] I've been stuffed into a locker/I have stuffed others into lockers.

[54] I've been called a geek.
[55] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.
[56] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.
[57] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.
[ ] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.
[58MICHELLEBRANCH<333] Ive met a celebrity/music artist.
[59] I 've written poetry.
[ ] I've been arrested.

[60] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.
[61] I've been tickled till I've cried.
[62] I've tickled someone else until they cried.
[63] I've had/have siblings.
[64] I've been to a rock concert.

[65] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.
[66] I've been in a play.
[] I've been picked last in gym class.
[67 surprising?] I've been picked first in gym class.
[68] I've been picked in that middle-range in gym class.

[69] I've cried in front of my friends.
[] I've read a book longer than 1,000 pages.
[70] I've played Halo 2.
[71today?] I've freaked out over a sports game.
[ ] I've been to Alaska.

[ ] I've been to China.
[ ] I've been to Spain.
[] I've been to Japan.
[72] I've had a fight with someone on AIM
[73] I've had a fight with someone face-to-face.
[74] I've had serious conversations on any IM.

[75] I've forgiven someone who has done something wrong to me.
[76] I've been forgiven.
[77] I've screamed at a scary movie.
[78] I've cried at a chick flick.
[79] I've watched a lot of action movies
[80] I've screamed at the top of my lungs.
[ ] I've been to a rap concert.

[ ] I've been to a hip hop concert.
[] I've lived in more than 2 houses.
[ ] I've driven on the highway.
[ ] I've driven more than 40 miles in a day
[81] I've been in a car accident
[82] I've been homesick.
[83] I've thrown up
[] I've puked on someone.
[84] I've been horseback riding.

[ ] I've filled out more than 10 myspace surveys.
[85] I've spoken my mind in public.
[86] I've proved someone wrong.
[87] I've been proven wrong by someone.
[ ] I've broken a leg.
[88] I've broken an arm.
[89] I've fallen off a swing.
[90] I've swung on a swing for more than 30 mins straight
[91] I've watched Winnie the Pooh movies.
[92] I've forgotten my backpack when I've gone to school.

[93] I've lost my backpack.
[ ] I've come close to dying.
[ ] I've seen someone die.
[94] I've known someone who has died.
[95] I've wanted to be an actor/actress at some point.

[ ] I've done modeling.
[96 when you pull an allnighter] I've forgotten to brush my teeth some mornings.
[97] I've taken something/someone for granted.
[98] I've realized how good my life is.
[99] I've counted my blessings.
[100] I've made fun of a classmate.
[101] Ive been asked out by someone and I said no.

[102] I've slapped someone in the face.
[i've tried haha] I've been skateboarding.
[103] I've been backstabbed by someone I thought was a friend.
[104] I've lied to someone to their face.
[105] I've told a little white lie.

[106] I've taken a day off from school just so I don't go insane.
[ ] I've fainted
[107] I've had an argument with someone about whether CHEERLEADING IS a SPORT or not.
[108 ahaha tingting, sorry hun. adrian, NOT SORRY BAHAHHAHA] I've pushed someone into a pool.
[109] I've been pushed into a pool.
[110] I've been/are in love or have liked someone with a great passion

I have lived through 110 of these 155 things. "

because i promised jen i would...

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 02:36:23 GMT

...and because I love Yoga, here's some shamless promotion.

Yoga really is all that it's hyped up to be. Aside from superly trendy and the "in thing", it's sooooooooo beneficial. Honestly, at the end of the week you feel so dead from the constant go, stress, work and well,.... life in general. But then, you take it all to the mat and lie down and hear Vanessa telling you to close your eyes and breathe in and out, and everything else just vanishes.

And after an hour of breathing, stretching, challenging yourself and relaxing, your entire body feels as if it's in this state of peace. You're perfectly content lying down at the end of class, imagining a wave of serenity creeping over you slowly. And if you're not, you roll on the floor attempting to squish someone (namely Ceilidh or myself, in which case you either are Ceilidh or myself because no one else seems to partake in this game).

In any case, it really is good for the body, mind and if you believe in it, soul. So please join us, it's only $15 for four lessons, and that's a really good price, so contact Jen for details. And if that's not enough, you get to hang out with ME for an hour, how awesome is that?! .... shut up. Ceilidh is there too, and she is the shit! As is Matthew Lee & Jen. Oh, and Dali, obviously. SO BE THERE. *shakes fist, grrrrr. Ta-ta folks.