I don't know if anyone I previously talked to here will see or read this, or if you're even still visiting the site.. But let's cut to the chase. I haven't visited GS in a looooong time. At least, that's how it feels to me. I look back on these past few months and think it has been a long time, when in reality, a few months isn't a long length of time at all.
I've finally graduated High School, have been accepted college, I've got a job for the summer, and I'm ready to go to school in the fall. I'm really, really looking forward to it.
For the past year or so, I have been looking forward to this moment with such anticipation, and it's almost here. However, one thing that I didn't expect to happen, did in fact, happen. Soon after graduation, I realized how much I'm going to miss the people in my life. Family, friends, acquaintances, my pets.. I will not see any of them, for a time. My school is by no means far away from home, but even still.. Any distance away from home can still feel far.
I guess it was a sort-of revelation to me. I wasn't expecting the idea of leaving home to hit me hard, but it did. Only time will tell how I deal with the situation come late August, when I leave. One thing is for sure, though.. I need to stay away from Toy Story 3. 
It's so sad but an amazing movie.
There's so much I could write here, but compiling all of my thoughts into words has never been a specialty of mine, and I feel like I've said too much already. I hope you all are well. To be honest, I doubt I'll be visiting here much at all after this. I'd like to thank everyone here who has been here to talk to me, ask how I'm feeling, and just simply be there for me to vent to. Having a blog to let your thoughts and feelings flow is a great thing, but for now I just don't have the encouragement to keep writing.
I'll check up on you guys now and then, but like I said, it won't be nearly as often. I wish you all the best and thank you, again. It means a whole lot to me that you guys have been there for me these past four years.
I still go on Facebook now and then, so if you'd like to add me online there, I'd happily accept the request. Just PM me and I'll send a link to my profile your way. I'll be checking on here for a few days to see what you guys have to say, and then I'll be on my way.
Thanks again everyone, I'm really fortunate to have met all of you fine Gamespotters.
- Matt 
@nate1222 Even though I will miss my family, I'm looking forward to making the leap away from home. I cannot remember exactly where I read it, but I believe you wrote a blog a while ago about how you handled life away from home. I may be wrong, but it was written probably a couple years ago, at least. Good luck with your internship, and soon after your BA!
@BravoOneActual I appreciate all the advice and comments you have given me during my time spent here. Thank you very much, my friend. Bye for now. :) Good luck to you as well.
@GeekyDad I've often only visited this site for friends and their blogs, never caring much for the news aspect of it. After being offline for so long and seeing the new changes, I agree that it can be tough following some people. Does everybody's blog say 0 comments on your page? Whenever I click on a person's blog, it says 0 comments, but when I go to the comments section there are people who have posted their thoughts. Kind of weird.
@gamecubepad Ten years later, and I still remember many of the important values the first Spiderman film taught me. Even though many people say Raimi's Spiderman trilogy was a complete disaster, I learned a lot from it, and they remain some of my favorite movies. It amazes me how much of an impact some films can have. Have you seen Toy Story 3? I've got to stay away from that movie this Summer, but I'll most likely watch it yet again. The movie just rings so true to my feelings right about now. Tears resulting from it are inevitable!
@syler4815162342 Thank you! Good luck with your work, by the way. I enjoyed looking at the art you posted on your blog.
@XereoWarrior That's awesome! I have to get myself to the beach more often to get a better tan. That shouldn't be a problem in September, when I'm about a mile away from the beach.
I haven't been on here too much lately either or playing games much. It's mostly because I've been working a lot and enjoying the great summer weather we've been having. I've actually have a pretty good tan right now lol.
I'm glad to hear that you have been accepted for college :), well buddy I'm sure you will have lots of fun there, you will find some pretty cool guys and the real life starts there! i mean you will learn how to stand on your own knees....oh if you like add me on face book makan ansari :D and good luck.
Glad to have known you, sir. Your honesty and passion was always evident in your writing.
Corny sidenote...was watching Spiderman with my kids today(Tobey Maguire spidey), and I was shocked how powerful it speaks about being that age. His talks with his uncle Ben, but especially with MJ in the hospital describes a lot the feelings that can flow through you in the transition away from the old into the new you. Fear of the unknown is a guarantee, but also wonder and amazement of something new and beautiful. Determination to face life with honesty and passion is the key.
You're certain to navigate these coming years successfully and eventually find yourself a strong man at the center of a good family and trustworthy circle of friends. Good luck, Matt!
Nice, college is hard so don't slack off dude! And I should probably stop wasting my time here as well.
Congratulations. Sounds like your life is about to enter a completely new and quite possibly exciting phase. Best of luck in college. And yeah, if weren't for the fact I feel compelled to do some moderating here & there each day, I honestly doubt I'd be around much myself. The site just doesn't currently offer much I'm interested in aside from you guys, which they've made it now quite difficult to keep up with. Anyway, best wishes, man.
Those 3 months would have felt a lot longer if you were here. :P Congratulations on graduating, and good luck with the move. :)
2 Like Unless you're old(er) like me, it seems the years roll by, graduation happens and it's time to leave the nest. Both literally and in GS terms.
It's only natural; you'll be having way too much fun and be way too busy freshman year to be at a keyboard for anything other than study (if being at a keyboard is ever really the point of college ;)).
I've noticed you haven't been around, but it doesn't strike me as odd. It's just... time. You're bright, thoughtful and resilient. I expect you'll do well in your studies and make many friends. As weird as it sounds, the timing of parent's split probably gave you a chance to gain some balance and actually welcome some autonomy as you prepare for the biggest "what's next" in your personal life.
Congratulations and best wishes. Enjoy the next four years (and beyond).
And don't be a stranger.
Bye for now.
Glad to hear you're alive and kicking. And good luck with College. You'll be able to deal with the distance from your folks. Everybody has to make that first big leap. It's part of adulthood. I did it at 20 years old back in 1996.
Me? I still visit GS just to read friends' blogs and check out the unions. I occassionally drop a blog about something if I think it'll interest others. I still find GS tolerable. Certainty is overrated.
I'm attending Summer Quarter at Seattle Central, and will be interning this Fall. I'm gonna wrack up extra credits, since my GI Bill lasts a full 3 years, and stretch my GI Bill until it screams. By the time my GI Bill is exhausted, I'll have my AA and a s___ load of extra credits. Then I can use a grant to pursue my BA.
