One of my favorite ways that I measure how far I've come in my life is by asking myself if 10-year-old Kellen would be proud of the person I am today. Here's why I'm pretty sure he would be.

1. I saw KISS in concert and sang "Rock & Roll All Nite" at the top of my lungs.

I used to jam out and sing KISS at the top of my lungs every time I cleaned my room.

2. I can wear superhero t-shirts without being made fun of.

Now everyone does it, it wasn't as cool back then.

3. I've read all the "Harry Potter" books and watched all the movies.

I was in the process at that age, but all the movies hadn't come out yet.

4. I have more than 100 friends on Facebook.

I only got Facebook at the end of fifth grade, so I didn't have many friends. On the other hand, I've gotten like 150-200 Facebook friends in the last year.

5. I have two Ramones T-shirts.

Here's me in my lucky Ramones T-shirt on the last day of fifth grade.

6. I listen to music in the green truck as loud as I can.

Here's a super cool picture of me in the parking lot.

7. I still write stories.

They just feature far less girls from my class and far less adventures in the mall at midnight.

8. I was the MVP of the Centura Football team.

This tiny uncoordinated weirdo never would've believed that I could ever do that.

9. I have a girlfriend who actually likes me and goes on dates with me.

No hate towards my fifth grade girlfriend, but she decided that she didn't like me as much as she liked someone else. But, there was a lot of note passing. Ah, fifth grade romance, it's just wonderful.

10. I'm a lifeguard at the pool.

Fifth grade me wasn't a great swimmer, let alone lifeguard material.

11. I metaled in the 400 in high school.

Fifth grade Kellen's proudest achievement was winning the 400 at the fifth grade track meet. (Also, disregard my face, and I'm pretty sure this is the 800.)

12. I read comic books every week.

I don't have a picture of myself reading comics, so here's Green Lantern, because he's my favorite.

13. I am a little better organized now.

That showed up on far too many of my report cards. It looked a lot like this.

14. Mom and Dad are still my hero.

They're still pretty cool, I guess.

15. I make glasses look cool.

No one calls me four-eyes anymore, at least not to my face.

16. I still play Pokemon.

17. I can twirl a drumstick with my fingers without dropping it.

I didn't have the dexterity to do that in sixth grade.

18. I still remember how to write a check.

We learned how to write checks, balance a checkbook, and make pens in fifth grade. It's weird, but at least I still know how.

19. I still jam out to the Beatles every now and again.

I loved the Beatles in fifth and sixth grade.

20. I'm not an uncoordinated weirdo anymore.

Ehh, for the most part; puberty helped. Still can't take a normal picture though.