Looking back on the months gone by,
as a chapter starts and an old one ends,
we contemplate what brought us joy,
and we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,
remembering how they enriched our lives,
we reflect upon those who really count,
as the fresh and bright new year arrives.

Each year I resolve with the strongest intent
to be better this new year than the last.
I work very hard; the rules hardly change,
but this discipline just gets old so fast!

Achievement comes to those who persevere.
Although I may have my apprehension and fear,
I’ll plan for my future and study in college
which quickly will arrive in less than one year!

And the time has come to make my amends
for the mistakes I made, to the people I wronged,
I do my best to clear my record,
and liberate the guilt for the relief I longed.

The worst of times had come without joy.
The sand of time was running low,
for my Auntie Mei, diagnosed with cancer.
No one knew that in March she would go.

If tears could build a stairway to heaven,
and memories were a lane of stone,
I would walk right up to my auntie Mei
to bring her back to my uncle at home.

In spite of tears, I had my moments,
when I won an award for my piano talent.
It took a whole year to practice one song
but the work paid off with this great achievement.

Homework time turned from minutes to hours,
from chemistry 1H to English 2 honors.
Sophomore year is an endless chain of battles,
against snoozing in class because sleep is for cowards.

I embrace this challenge of managing my time
for I like to complete my work ASAP,
but at times when there aren’t enough hours in a day
I miss those pre-school years when I could take a nap.

Its amazing how times have changed so much
over the past years, and in 2012 alone.
Although I have much more room to improve,
I’m proud to say I have matured and grown.