What have you done since highschool eng-eng

desolation great sadness and emptiness

acquainted here knowing, being familiar (with another person)

chip away at gradually make something weaker

indigestion stomach pain after eating food that is hard to digest

inferiority state of not being (or not thinking you are) as good as others

complex here anxiety, hang-up

aggravated severe, serious

aptitude natural skill/ability

outstanding exceptionally good

principal main

dread be afraid of something that might/will happen

excel (in) do something extremely well

get under way start, begin

starry(-eyed) dreamy, optimistic

eclipse overpower, overshadow

peal sound (of loud laughter or ringing bells)

partial here preferring one thing to another

scenery (natural) environment, surroundings

execute formal perform, carry out

abashed embarrassed

novelty newness, excitement caused by something new

tumultuous literary noisy and excited

gingerly carefully, cautiously

decorous formal polite and controlled

perturbation formal worry, uneasiness

make a clean breast of it tell the truth about something

have no call have no right/reason

enrapt literary caught up, enthralled

abate formal become less strong

Klicka