Y2K10

It seems odd to think that all that fuss about Y2K happened 10 years ago. Has it really been that long? Has a whole decade really gone by? I remember NYE '99 like it was yesterday, which is shocking considering I was practically an infant. I was 15, a sophomore in high school. At that point I hadn't even been behind the driver's seat of a car yet. That night I had a PJ party with a couple of my good high school friends (both of whom I haven't really talked to since high school graduation in '02). We did our nails, gossiped about boys, complained about school, and watched New Year's Rockin Eve on TV (I still remember the performance by No Doubt before Gwen Stefani was a solo artist). We talked about how far off graduation was and how we couldn't wait to finally be able to be college kids. We talked about what we wanted to be when we grew up and the places we wanted to see. We blasted the Spice Girls and Britney Spears to make our own little dance party in my parent's basement.

I started the 00s decade wanting to be a scientist. Genetics was fascinating and I wanted to do work that would hopefully lead to finding cures for incurable ailments. I went to college as a science major. I graduated college as a liberal arts student insanely interested in international relations and heading to law school to "save the world." I did manage to finish my science degree, but I found after just 1 semester of college that I didn't really love it enough to stick with it beyond undergrad. I started law school determined that I would never be a criminal lawyer. I graduated law school wanting nothing more than to be a criminal prosecutor. I started the decade as a naive high school kid and somehow I finished the decade as a lawyer with my dream job. Insane.

The last 10 years were full of plenty of times that I would rather forget, but there were many many more times that are moments that I hope I never forget, and for that I am truly lucky. The last year alone was a huge year full of lots of big moments and change. It occurred to me today that at this time of year I'm usually checking up on Fall semester grades. I haven't been out of school all that long and yet being in school seems like it happened a lifetime ago. When I think about it all I can't believe that graduating law school, passing the bar, and getting my first real job all happened within the span of just a year.

I have no idea what the next decade, or even just this next year will bring. That kind of unknown used to bother me, but now it actually excites me. If this next decade (what are we going to call it anyways?) is as jam packed as this last one then it sure is going to be an interesting journey.

"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning." ~T.S. Eliot

*Hat tip to Lag Liv for reminding me that I too was soooo young 10 years ago :)