My Wrapped’24

This year was just too fast forwarded. And I refrain from believing that it is December already and just a few more days to go for another start . Hence I decided to leave this year behind on a personal note . So this is how my 2024 was …

January started off with promises and resolutions that I ought to have kept . During mid January,I was swayed by the amazing Air show that had taken place in the city . It was an amazing experience for which I had sacrificed my time to study for the next days Hindi exam . It was quite a gamble with my tuition teacher ready to throw her slipper at me if she ever knew I went there and missed her class. But as soon as the prelims were over I was lined up with another events like handing over my badges and the farewell party . I had to deliver a farewell speech to my house for which I had been preparing for years , that was the only big reason I even wanted to become one . 

I even straightened my hair for the first time for my last day at school how ironic!

After the farewell during mid February I was busy with my regular studies , I remember submitting one of my revision papers to my science teacher knowing that I would score full yet getting less . I think this was when I started panicking and started rethinking all my decisions from enjoying outings with my friends, spending 2 months preparing for intermediate exam, going out for new year, taking up captain ship ,bunking lectures in school, sleeping ,skipping my French classes to not going for science and maths tuitions . This went on for a few days until I had finally calmed myself down. 

The night before my first board exam-was another nightmare with me just not satisfied with what I had studied and ended up crying . The shock on my parents face led me to go visit my favourite mentors my Marathi tution teacher,Aruna Maam and my Grandfather that too at 9 pm in the night . They were really the ones who made me confident as I finished the exams . 

After my boards me and my gang had a celebration and new ideas out of which was cycling the next morning . It was a very good time until I realised that they were going cycling again the next morning and this was to continue. Well I love spending time with them but it was just that at that time I had a whole bucket list of series that I wanted to complete for which I had to sacrifice my sleep and didn’t have the energy to wake up the next morning . My friends were ,well 2 steps ahead of me , they knew I wasn’t going to pick up the 100s of phone calls  so they started calling my mom , if that didn’t suffice they even rang the bell once and before I knew it they were in the hall waiting for me to get ready . It was actually fun though , I have the best company in those terms . 

Towards the end of April I went to Comiccon India with my friends. It was a fruitful visit more like thrift shopping but without a penny . Simultaneously I even started going for rifle shooting classes . 

After this was the highlight of the year , MY TRIP TO JAPAN ! I think there is just so much to talk about my trip that I have drafted one dedicated to it . It was my dream destination and for years I troubled my parents showing them how Japan is just too good . I think the troubling made its way back and I was handed over the responsibility to plan the whole trip and manage the budget . It was a great opportunity for me to learn which I did and my parents assisted me with it . As the organiser of the trip it was pretty troublesome but my main character energy couldn’t abstain . With few Japanese sentences I survived the whole trip and made memories that I think will be carried on for the next seven lives that I will live . After the amazing journey I also went to Singapore to visit my family and friends there and also enjoy the place . I even got to meet my close friend who I used to meet every time she used to come to India over there . Again Smash! 

As soon as I returned , the results were out and it didn’t disappoint. I scored a fair 96.8% . I ended up scoring a full 100 in my science paper (yes the same for which I literally wasted 3 days overthinking)Obviously that meant celebration! I went with my hum dost they too ate with their results!! 

But I think good days are numbered, from June things took a turn . In the first week of June my grandfather who was my biggest supporter and the most loving and righteous person I know of left on a journey to attain salvation. It was painful but it was the hope that he was free and in a better place that consoled me . My biggest regret was that I hadn’t spent enough time with him after the exams and that before he left he had asked for me . That’s when I learnt yet another big life lesson .

 

The next phase was just as sombre . I had to adapt to my integrated classes for which I was already lagging behind . The next 2 months were just too quick with me still being all hollow inside and just demotivated and uninspired and trying to get back to normal. This year to be honest was just my fate testing me and my mind getting worked up . But before I knew it there was a spark of motivation within me as I was going to play my first rifle shooting match . I was excited more than being nervous and that’s when I realised that this sport has become my passion. Shooting is something that still keeps me going! 

Then came my birthday,’Sweet 16’. I think I love hurting myself with my own thoughts and actions. Just as it was about to be midnight I switched off my phone , went to bed and … slept . The birthday ain’t birthday’ing feeling was at its peak . But well obviously I was woken up to cut the cake , along with my phone switching on to respond to the messages and phone calls. I am still sorry for doing that ! I took an off that day and ended up spending it on myself that’s what I call a Me Day . I had good friends over to wish me that day , it was a pleasant surprise for me that day. I tried my best not to keep expectations from my friends just to get disappointed later but as I mentioned before they are 2 steps ahead of me ,just as they planned a surprise party at my house just as I was returning from my rifle class two days after my birthday. I was taken aback . It was really sweet of them ! 

Shortly after which I even went for an excursion with my integrated class mates . It was another awesome stay with my roommates being the most versatile people I can think of . I think during this period I was really inspired from my surroundings. I interviewed people , created random vlogs , wrote some articles , journaled a bit .Me and my best friend were so enthusiastic that we nearly entered some haunted place just to find out where the reiki centre was (it’s on yt).November was again a peaceful period and also marks my first time travelling by train without my parents . I never really had to use trains for commuting and hence has zero knowledge, I could have ended up being lost trying to find the correct route but thanks to my best friend I wasn’t , rather had to hear the whole functioning of trains in Mumbai the whole trip (which I won’t forget).To better engage my Sundays and stop getting taunted from my parents for a rather lazy one , I joined a book club . Me and my best friend would go there every Sunday morning and then wander off to some gem places I have never been to . It was Adventurous and really a reward after waking up that early .Ended up finishing 2 books and even bought a big 800 pages book on Indian democracy and development for future read . 

 

December was the month I just kept meeting my old acquaintances ,  I met my school friends during a wedding and one at my best friends birthday party too . thanks to my best friend I think I pretty much had a good exposure to the online world too , I made some impressive online friends who share the same interests as me and keep on spamming messages to each other . 

I think 2024 was a year of bonding for me . I lost some which can’t be made again but at the same time made some everlasting ones too. With this another year has come to an end , leaving pretty much all the load off and carrying the gems ahead , what an incredibly graphical year this was for me and I think my biggest win would be that I managed to do everything and did not miss out on anything . I wrote so much because I think we need to have a rewind for ourselves and grateful for all that we have achieved and how far we have come. That’s enough for this year 

Hope to see you again next year with a new start if you reached this far ! Thank you for being with me all through this year hope to see you again ! 

                                                        -AnniX13