Senioritis

Here's a poem I wrote describing my feelings about school this past year. :)

Senioritis

I'm a senior in high school,
In class I feel like a fool.
The dilemma in my head that's bein fought,
Is weather to show up to class or not.
I don't have good grades, but I just don't care,
I get what I deserve, isn't that fair?
I gotta push through if I wanna graduate,
But that doesn't mean I can't show up to class late.
For all the fans that waited,
And haters that hated,
Look Nelson,
We make it.
(drops mic)

I Miss You

Dear Heart

Dear Heart,
Thanks for always being there.  Thanks for helping me take chances.  Thanks for supporting me in the tough times.  Thanks for never missing a beat.  We've been through it all and you've always had my back, I'll try harder to keep you happy.
Love,
Austin

I remember

My trials make me.

You see you wouldn’t ask why the rose that grew from the concrete 

Had damaged petals.

On the contrary, we would all celebrate its tenacity.

We would all love it’s will to reach the sun

Well, I am the rose, and these are my damaged petals.

Don’t ask me why, ask me how.

Shoes

Where have my shoes been? My shoes are generic plain old black and white Nikes.  I guess you could say that your shoes are a visual description of yourself.  My shoes (like myself) have holes.  A lot of people would say they are worn out, but I think that just adds character.  My shoes have lived their life to the fullest.  They have felt to fresh dirt of countless job sites, being stained with paint and stucco as they construct a house that will become a home for a new family.  They've seen the happiest of times, inside Bank of America Stadium and Cameron Indoor Stadium, creating memories with my dad that will last long past their lives.  They've seen the saddest of times, feeling the cool tile of my grandma's hospital room, to the soft carpet of the chapel, where they hear my Aunt's soft sobs as we reminisce the passing of my 3 year old cousin.  My shoes have been to hell and back, with holes and marks, but that's what make them special.

#Blessed

For Spring Break I went on a cruise to Ensenada Mexico.  I had the time of my life, made memories with the people I love the most, ate more than I thought was humanly possible; but that’s not what stuck with me from my trip.  As we walked the streets of Mexico, I saw more poverty than I had in my whole life.   I saw people as old as 90, sitting of the side of the dirt road, begging because they are to old to work.  I saw men out in the fields picking crops; doing anything they can to support their families.  I could see little boy’s ribs, as I knew they would probably go hungry that night.  Our cab driver had to leave his family in Cambodia to come to America to find work, and send everything he had back to his family, only being able to visit once a year.  All this while I was letting someone else clean my room, make my food, and entertain me.

The day before we left, my sister was upset because she wasn’t getting the iPhone 6.  She’s 10.  I don’t blame her for feeling upset, I blame the society we live in for thinking it’s a bad thing to not have the latest and greatest thing out there.  While we were having dinner, my dad was planning another cruise for when I got off my mission.  We were spending more time thinking about having fun in the future we forgot to enjoy ourselves in the present.

I think we all need to remember every single day how blessed we truly are.  I know that we all may not have it as easy as others, but we all have something to be grateful of that.  Hold on to it, and never let it go.  Live in the now, be kind to everyone, I don’t know if anyone is still reading this at this point but I think we all need to do a little better at being grateful.

If you really knew me...

Very few people really knew me.  What I like, what I don’t like, what bugs me.  I feel like this class helped me let a lot of people know the real me.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I had a hard time with ‘hipster day’.  I’m the type of guy that wears basketball shorts and a t-shirt to school every day.  Isn’t that hipster?  It’s unique and no one else does it.  But I guess I’m more creative when I button my top button and wear glasses that just give me a headache.

If you really knew me, you’d know that I love writing.  I want to be a sports journalist when I’m older and work for ESPN.  I love putting my feelings in words.  I love this class. 

If you really knew me, you’d know that I am very strong in my faith.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I LOVE it.  I am called to serve in the Louisville, Kentucky mission and I couldn’t be more exited! 

If you really knew me, you’d know that a lot of people look sympathetic towards me when I tell them I’m going to Kentucky.  If you really knew me you’d know this is the perfect place for me.  I was born in Atlanta Georgia and I absolutely love the south.  I would be the worst missionary out there if I had to learn a language. 

If you really knew me you’d know that I love sports.  I can’t name a sport I don’t find interesting.  In my life I’ve played, baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, lacrosse, soccer, swim, and I am currently on the Lone Peak Men’s Volleyball team (yes, we DO have a men's volleyball team here, kinda wish people knew more about it).  I play setter and I absolutely love it.  Playing or watching, sports is kind of my life.

If you really knew me you’d know my name isn’t Chuck Watts.  My best friend Mason Stenquist’s sister is having a baby, and they are thinking about the name Charles.  They said if I would make Chuck Watts my name, they’d name their boy that.  So I’m hoping he grows up to be famous so I can be responsible for his name. 

If you really knew me, you’d know that I am the one and only….

Austin Hammond  

Something Different

I'm not creative, I don't know how to add music or a 'gif' (whatever that is).  I write between the lines and I can't draw.  My something different is to tell a joke,
Knock knock
Who's there?
Canoe
Canoe who?
Canoe help me think of something to write on this post?
lol sorry not very funny oh well have fun guys don't do drugs.

Anything Goes- Florida Georgia Line

Everyone needs to hear this song.  Cause it’s good.

Big stars breaking out through the indigo 

Chevy wind comin in and stereo
Tail lights dissapear in bout a mile or so 
Down a county road
Phone blowing up where you is
Baby sayin baby, let's do this
Rocket in a bottle with a fuse lit
Bout to lift it off, I'm bout to twist it off 

Lime on the rim of that dixie silver
Smokin up a faded out 4x4
Girls headin off to the river, yeah
Victoria's Secret aint a secret no more 
I brought the songs and you brought the party
Only one way to do it up right
Everybody goes where eveybody knows 
That anything goes on a Friday night
Get your party right, it's a Friday night 
Get your party right, it's a Friday night

Well baby you aint nothin but a masterpiece 
Swayin and sippin that Dos Equis 
Losin yourself in the big loud beat, nothin but heat
Somebody's rockin that bang box 
Everybody hittin that sweet spot
Nobody mindin that tic toc 
Gettin all locked in with all my friends

Lime on the rim of that dixie silver
Smokin up a faded out 4x4
Girls headin off to the river, yeah
Victoria's Secret aint a secret no more 
I brought the songs and you brought the party
Only one way to do it up right
Everybody goes where eveybody knows 
That anything goes on a Friday night
Get your party right, it's a Friday night 

Post High School

May 28th, 2015

I'm walking across the floor of the UCCU Center.  I look Rhonda Bromley in the eye, seeing her smiling face, handing me that little piece of paper that says, "Congrats Chuck, childhood is over.  Welcome to the real world."  This day is bitter sweet, I don't want it to come, yet I can't wait.  I'm afraid.

July 15th, 2015

I'm sitting in the backseat next to my sister.  My parents are in the front.  We're all crying, talking about how I'm gunna do so great.  How I'm gunna be so missed.  I can't wait to get out of the car and start my new adventure.  I want to turn around and stay at home with my family.  We pull into the MTC and I give my mom one last long hug.  That's the last time I'll see her for two years.  I'm afraid.

July 15th, 2017

I'm staring out the plane window, wondering what is lying ahead of me.  I haven't been with my family in two years.  I've changed, they've changed.  What if they're not at the airport?  What if we have differing beliefs?  I can't wait to see my family.  I don't want them to be different.  My sister is 17 years old now.  What if I don't recognize her?  I'm afraid.

August 26th, 2019

I'm enjoying my last night out with my best friends as an unmarried man.  We're all having a good ol' mormon time.  This is the last time I'll be responsible for only myself.  I love her to death, but what if I can't provide?  What if we grow apart as time slips away?  What if the fire goes out?  I'm afraid.

February 2nd, 2022

I look through the glass wall at that little crib with my baby girl in it.  She's smiling.  I am the happiest man in the world.  She is my angel.  What if she grows up to fast?  I want her to stay that little crib forever.  I can't bear to bring her out into the 'real' world.  I'm afraid.

April 16th, 2043

My little girl is all grown up.  I'm walking her down the aisle, and I can't help but cry.  She turned out more beautiful than I could imagine.  How can I give her to a man that is no older than I was?  Can he provide for her?  Will he love her forever?  I'm afraid.

November 22nd, 2088

I'm sitting in the front row, as my daughter reads the eulogy beautifully.  She scripts the life of my wife perfectly.  I sit quietly as I hear the words, the last memories of my beautiful wife.  I go home to an empty house.  I am afraid.

But then I think.  All the other things I was scared about turned out okay.  So I'm not afraid anymore.  Because I know that everything will turn out okay,

life

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gunna get.  Just like this blog post. You thought it was gunna be long but this is all I got sorry.

World Class?

Lone Peak High School.  The greatest school in Utah.  4 straight state championships in basketball.  One national championship.  World Class.  World Class.  World Class.  Nationally ranked in soccer.  Nationally ranked in ultimate Frisbee.  World Class.  World Class.  World Class.  Number one in the state in academics.  The school that everyone loves to hate for being so dang good.  World Class.  World Class.  World Class.  One of the highest drug rates in Utah.  World Class.  World Class.  World Class.  5 attempted suicides in one week.  One Successful.

World Class.

World Class.

World Class.

When is Lone Peak High School going to realize this isn’t an oddball thing that happened?  PEOPLE STRUGGLE EVERY DAY.  People have things that they are going through.  

Lone Peak.  We are in no place to call ourselves “World Class”.  If I were a parent, I’d get my kid out here as soon as I could.  Lone Peak is not a safe place.  It is a place of comparing.  It is a place of “I have a state championship ring, so I must be a better person than you.”
 News flash: HIGH SCHOOL DOESN’T LAST FOREVER. 

I don’t care.  If you have a 4.0

I don’t care.  If you’re a star athlete.

All of that lasts for 3 years of your life, and then in a blink, it doesn’t matter. 

I don’t care.

I don’t care.

I care that you are here.

I care that you can experience this roller coaster of a life like me.

I care about you. 

I may not know you.  I may not know what you’re going through, but I care. 

I care.

I care.

I care.

When are we going to start caring?  Does it take a young man taking his life for us to start reaching out?  Because I guarantee next week nothing will be different.  People will still compare, because that’s what World Class is all about.  Comparing.

It doesn’t start with an “I see you” video.  It doesn’t start with “Be the Change”.

It starts with you. 

It starts with reaching out to EVERYONE.  Weather they’re in your group of friends or not.  Would Tarik be here today if we could have reached out to someone hurting?  I don’t know.  But isn’t it worth the effort?  Does it really take much effort to smile?  To say hi?  No.  Reach out.  Be a friend.  That’s how we can be a “World Class” school.