Where I've been for the past 7 months

[SIZE=14.6667px]After being absent from Lake Valor's community for a while despite being a previous developer, moderator, league member, and mentor, I feel like I should fill everyone in on what has happened in the past 7 months of my life. Yes, this includes the months I was all those things. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=14.6667px]However, bear in mind that I am becoming a new person as we speak. This will be explained in the points below.[/SIZE]

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  [SIZE=14.6667px]On May 24th, my girlfriend whom I had spent 21 months with broke up with me. I will not hide that she was my everything for a very long time, so I was obviously heartbroken and sorrowful. We still spent time together afterward exactly as we did when we were together, so it often felt as though we had never broken up. On the other hand, I did not realize that being with her in such a way was negatively impacting my confidence and attitude--I was returning to my reclusive past, shutting others out, and slowly delving back into depression as I had done when my father left my family. It took 6 months for me to realize that I am better than that.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]My father was finally jailed for lack of payment on child support for my sister and I in July. I could not have asked for a better birthday present; I had turned 18 when I found out.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]After being accepted to City University of New York (CUNY): Hunter College (Hunter), CUNY: College of Staten Island (CSI), and CUNY: City College (City), I was hopeful that I could study in New York City for my first year of college. What a dream come true! Both City and Hunter are relatively difficult to get accepted by, and I had worked hard to get accepted for months.[/SIZE]
  
  [SIZE=14.6667px]I had decided to attend Hunter and study Computer Science there. It was looking so bright for me, and I was one of the prized students at my high school graduation; attending a big-name school in New York amongst students attending in-state schools in Michigan was a rarity that they had not yet seen until this year.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]Disappointment filled my mind when I did not end up in New York. Financial aid struggles and trouble with collecting an extra $19,000 were insurmountable. No other college I was accepted to was going to give me any cheaper cost of attendance--the costs were the exact same.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]I had to swallow my pride and apply to Oakland University, where many of my former classmates would attend. [/SIZE]
  

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[SIZE=14.6667px]Also in July, I started to vape. This is similar to smoking, but it is essentially inhaling vapors of vegetable glycerin and flavorings. I find it incredibly de-stressing.[/SIZE]

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[SIZE=14.6667px]This September, I started college at Oakland University (OU). It was a big step forward for me; finally living the dream of a college kid. I shifted classes and schedules as though they were cards in a deck, until I ended up with only three classes, none of which I did my best work in. I could have done far better, no excuses. I slacked off because of my personal struggles, and I should not have let them interfere with my schoolwork. [/SIZE]

• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]In light of the enormous debt I would collect at OU (it is rather expensive), I decided it best to start at a local community college, Macomb Community College (MCC). By attending here, I would have my education for the time being completely paid for by federal grants, and I could possibly graduate with an Associate's of Applied Science degree in Information Technology in a single year, with a Bachelor's of Science in Information Technology from Walsh College in three years. Pretty cool, right? However, financial aid and transfer credits are awfully odd--I am still in the midst of applying for financial aid since the process is different than what I am used to, and I will have no credits from OU transfer to MCC. I will have to start nearly one-hundred percent fresh.[/SIZE]
  

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[SIZE=14.6667px]My father has been jailed yet again for backed up child support and fleeing arrest. It is also suspected that he has begun taking heroin. [/SIZE]

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[SIZE=14.6667px]I visited my father's father for the first time in about a year. I explained to him that despite my father's actions, I hold no negative feelings for him (my grandfather). We were actually enjoying each other's company, and I had a good time visiting him. [/SIZE]

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[SIZE=14.6667px]I took on a second job so I could earn more money. I now work about 25 hours a week, with an increase in that coming relatively soon. Both jobs I have are in aquatics.[/SIZE]

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[SIZE=14.6667px]After some time, I began having real romantic interest in one of my friends, despite still feeling so broken from my previous breakup. Only catch? She was dating one of my acquaintances.[/SIZE]

• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]Soon afterward, she broke up with him for several reasons.[/SIZE]
  
• 
  [SIZE=14.6667px]My confidence began to return to myself as I was with her more and more. Eventually, I kissed her, and she kissed back. We are now in the process of figuring out where we should move forward. I absolutely adore her.[/SIZE]
  

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[SIZE=14.6667px]I decided that I need to change my legal name. For those of you that have not read my post about it, I am changing my name from Bryce to Grey. Yes, Grey like the color. It is not the most orthodox name around, yet I feel like the change needs to happen to release a lot of baggage I feel Bryce has. As my Christmas present from my mother, I am filing for a name change on all my legal documents and such on January 1st. [/SIZE]

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[SIZE=14.6667px]If you have ever heard about the television show Survivor, you will know how interesting the show is: contestants compete against each other in various challenges and councils for a prize of $1 million. Because of my rediscovered confidence, I am strongly considering applying to become a contestant of Survivor. My chances are slim, yet I understand one thing about it; you cannot hope for a chance if you do not take one. [/SIZE]


[SIZE=14.6667px]That's my last 7 months in a short recap. I am still a little outside the core of the community since I left the staff team, but I hope you guys will welcome me back as the better person I believe I am becoming.[/SIZE]