In my first two timeline installments, I covered eight years. I’m cutting this one short, to end when I graduated college.

So here you have it, my high school and college years! (High school boyfriends’ identities have been blurred for their protection!)

At my sweet sixteen party, 1991. I promise I didn’t still have big hair. But a month or two later, the hairdresser that did my hair for then-boyfriend’s junior prom thought it was still in style:

I don’t think she knew about the big puffy dress that would accompany my big hair!

Winter formal, 1992. Different boyfriend, and non-puffy green velvet dress.

Really, I only dated four guys in high school. They just coincided with different formal events! (The first two lasted about three months each).

This photo from 1993 was my senior year, but my then-boyfriend’s junior prom. My hair and dress are better here than for my own senior prom!

Freshman year of college, 1994. Most definitely, there is alcohol in that cup.

1995 — Here’s the temporary hair dye that wasn’t so temporary. You can sorta see my light roots. When I came home that summer, my mom paid for me to go to a salon and get it fixed!

I unfortunately don’t have any photographic evidence of the pink or purple hair.

Junior year of college, 1996. There is definitely alcohol in that cup.

Halloween party senior year. Or possibly, our 200 Days party — 200 days until graduation always falls around Halloween.

Senior week, right before graduation in May 1997. I’m wearing a R.E.M concert T-shirt. I cropped out the beer. I wouldn’t want you to think I was a lush in college!

Um, no, of course that’s not me … wearing the same shirt as the 1997 photo …