Here we go again. Another year has flown by, and I’m kinda glad that this year is finally over.

Reading over last year’s reflection that I posted, I think it’s pretty safe to say that nothing major has changed. That business I promised will run…

My upcoming business(es) that I’ve dedicated a lot of hours into is going to be up and running in 2012.

… Let’s just say that I did (kind of) fulfil that promise. Kind of, meaning it didn’t last as long as I would have hoped. But it’s all for the experience, right?

Remember that Holden Commodore that I was somehow going to save up for?

2012 will also be the year that I will be saving up for my first car - a Holden Commodore VE Omega or SV6 MY9.5 - and/or my first holiday (by myself or mates) during Christmas - to the US or Europe.

Well, long story short, that ‘goal’ was too unrealistic for my impulsive buying. I mean, I’m $100 down on my bank account for heaven’s sake. Let’s just say that I’ll be leaving that goal for when I’m on my full license. But I’m still sticking by the goal of saving up for my first holiday & am actually in the middle of planning on a trip to Europe mid-2013.

However, what I said here…

2012 will be a huge year. I can feel it. I just know it will be. In fact, I’m looking forward to my reflection post this time, next year.

… turned out to completely true. 2012 was a huge year. And boy, do I have a lot to tell you in this year’s reflection.

In keeping with tradition, I will post a blog post on the 31st of December every year reflecting on what made the year special. Here’s 2010’s, and 2011’s reflection.

Earlier in the blog post, I mentioned that I was glad that this year is finally over. I didn’t mean that with a negative connotation, but perhaps more in a relieving way. Mainly because the most frustrating and agonising part of life (called high school) is finally over.

VCE and high school education finally came to an end - the big news of the year. After twelve years of primary and secondary schooling, everything came down to a month of hardcore studying and pouring it all out in six (two-hour-or-so each) exams. The result was just what I wanted. I scored highly enough to get into my preferred course. I mean, that’s all anybody could ask for, right? And a special shout out to everybody who helped me along the way (especially @dancer_61 and @SnagBreac - you two are gems!)

Still working at the good old Woolworths Safeway. I think I’m approaching the third anniversary since I started working there very soon! Nothing’s changed here, I’m still working in the same departments as last year. Now I’m forced to rely on my employment as much as ever, if I’m gonna reach that goal of going to Europe in mid-2013!

2012 was also the year that I met heaps - and I really do mean heaps - of new Twitter folk since last year’s reflection. I’ve never met a more amazing group of people in my life. These include (in addition to the very short list from last year & in no particular order); @xander85, @Craigsta90_10, @SideBySidePies, @magpie_fever, @dayna_36, @smili72, @artsdesire, @kaatieee27, @Pies4Pana, @lilithia, @christophernl, @Martin_Sanna, @flexgirl2, @ktdenise, @jared2286, @TheOnlyLongy, @mrthill80, @mattys123, @paolotee, @DebinMelbourne, @Kirsttie, @noel_perkins, @Raffco_46, @Dgen717, @Coley_ML, @melleegee, @BONACCI_, @aflcaruso5, @FintyWizard, @oneeyedpie, @TheCONDO, @BecLovesThePies, @sammy14DGS, @rikka_s, @1LoveMusic_, @jnrpara, @ashleesimone_, @madpie90, @lauraisabella93, @coburgirl, @dancer_61, @NiKKi_E13 & @Mdaspromonte. This lot have changed my life for the better, and what do most of them have in common? They all barrack for the Collingwood Football Club, of course! #gopies

2012 was also a year where I had an immense amount of fun. I’ve explained what happened in the first year in detail in the last blog post back in July, but I’ll summarise it again here. January saw the beginning of the countdown until my 18th birthday. February was when the last year of my high school education began. March was the were the fun began with the Australian Grand Prix, and the reveal of the new iPad, which I got my grubby hands on. April was the full of footy, footy, and footy. March also saw the beginning of my small business. May saw more MCG action, and more 18th birthday parties. June was the first (of many) Collingwood players’ dinners, where I met (or caught up) with more tweeps, the Principals’ Dinner, and of course, the Melbourne Earthquake. And July saw more footy, more parties & more late nights - not to mention early mornings as well at Lygon Street for the 2012 Euro Cup. 

August
Fairly casual month. Just more footy and F1 & early mornings at school and work. August also marked the end of my small business. The reason being, both school and social life got to me, so I decided to pack up and leave with the substantial amount of revenue earned from the business.

September
Things really started to pick up at school with exams only around the corner. Reached my 60,000th tweet (ugh). Also September saw the AFL finals kicking off. September was where myself and a few friends flew to Sydney to witness the Collingwood vs. Sydney preliminary final at ANZ Stadium. I’ll let you find out who won that match. But at least Cloke signed on with Collingwood! We’ll be back, better than ever, next year! Also, we mourned the death of ex-Collingwood player, John McCarthy. RIP.

October
Fairly jam-packed month. Sydney won the AFL Grand Final, but Melbourne Storm won the NRL Grand Final so it wasn’t all bad! October held the Street Commodores Cruise for Charity & Team Bella’s Car and Bike Show, which saw a shit load of cars (mostly Holden’s and Ford’s - old and new) raising money for charity at Calder Park Raceway and Bundoora Park respectively. October also saw the Year 12 Parade & Graduation (which is a memory in itself), the Europe trip in mid-2013 starting to take shape, V8 Supercars Bathurst 1000, and a fuck load of studying for the November VCE exams.

November
November was busy, busy, busy! The two-weeks of hell that every high school student dreads, and the only month that the saying, “You only get out what you put in” actually is true. After the hair pulling and the immense pressure from parents, then began the non-stop parties. November also saw the epic Twitter party that got people talking, my new found sport - soccer (still getting used to it!), the Year 12 formal and the beginning of the ever-so-controversial schoolies. Let’s just say whatever happened at schoolies, stays at schoolies.

December
A very laid back and casual month this year. All I did was sleep through the whole month, hoping that my 18th birthday in January would come quicker. December was also where I sorted out and finalised my friendship groups, and I think I’ve made the right decision in some cases. And who could forget the 2012 apocalypse that was meant to happen?

Alright! Now that I’ve (finally) reflected on what happened in 2012, It’s time to look ahead into the future - the big 2013!

I know that I’ve told you this in last year’s reflection (and again at the beginning of this one), but you’re just gonna hear the same shit again. 2013 will be a massive year. 2013 might top the awesome memories that I’ve just experienced in 2012, but will definitely be one of the best years of my entire life.

Why? Well, I’ll experience stuff that I have never experienced before in the first 18 years of my life. Yep, my 18th birthday is just around the corner and I’m itching to finally crack open a can of Smirnoff without worrying about being underage.

Plans and wishes in the new year? Well, I’ll try my best to be realistic this time 'round and say that I’m sure I’ll meet a load of new tweeps and people in the new year.

I’ll be straight into university in 2013. I’m hoping to get into my preferred course, which is International Business, which I’ve been interested for a long time. Some of the things that interested me included, travel and business (of course). The only constraint is that I have to learn a new language. I’m awesome at learning new languages, not.

I’m also wishing to get my probationary license this year… I’ve held it off for the past two years, and I’m sick of bugging my parents to drive my everywhere, so I’ll definitely need a drivers’ license in 2013.

Carrying on from last year’s reflection, the Europe trip planned for mid-2013 is high up on my to-do list. So far, I’ve got Italy (for friends), Belgium (for Tomorrowland Music Festival), Germany (for F1 & Moto Grand Prix), Austria (for a possible F1 Grand Prix), but I’m sure more will be planned. I’m super excited, but I just need to find the motivation to work my ass off for six months!

Also, something that may surprise many (but may not even happen), I’m also aiming to start a new business in the app-making industry. Mainly iOS based stuff. Plans are a little sketchy now, and I have hinted this idea during the year, but other stuff have been on my mind since then, so I’ll keep you updated on this idea.

2012 was great. Lots of memories were made, and I’m very sad to wave 2012 goodbye. But as they say, we all must move on, and look to the future. 2013 will be just as good as 2012, if not, better. I’m sure of it. Nothing will get in the way to make my dreams come true.