We've only gotten to see Elena the way she was before the chaos in flashbacks, but she looked really content.

In the pilot, fog signals that something wicked is around.

Vicki's attack is one of the first times Elena starts becoming aware that something was lurking in the town.

Run, Elena, run!

The Mystic Falls woods are generally always a terrifying place.

There's that creepy fog again.

Damon still sneaks up behind Elena, but in the first season, it's far less welcome.

Vampire Vicki gives Elena one of her first bites.

When poor Vicki gets staked, Elena doesn't exactly feel relieved about it, but she starts to accept death.

Sometimes Elena has to save Stefan, and though she's still a human, she's learning to hone her survival skills.

Noah is one of the many vampires who's come after Elena.

This intruder-on-the-ceiling pic is one of the all-time creepiest moments of this show.

How does Damon make being threatening seem so sexy? Elena learns to stand up to him from early on.

Sometimes you get spooked in formal wear.

Elena's biggest problems include supernatural creatures, worrying about her friends and family, and feeling torn between Damon and Stefan.

When you face vampires all the time, a gun just doesn't have the same impact on you.

Occasionally, Damon gets to be the damsel in distress.

Mouse traps = effective against vampires, somehow.

Klaus may be a sexy beast, but this hold looks particularly unkind. Still, dealing with Klaus is good training for Elena.

Klaus showing up at the high school only ever means bad things.

Elena's problems are rarely run-of-the-mill issues — such as finding herself in a ring of fire.

The water isn't the only thing that's deep here — just look at that intense conversation between Elena and Damon.

Look at her, holding her own against Damon.

Watch out for Stefan's Ripper tendencies.

No matter how elegant the event, horrifying news will ruin the night. Elena's become emotionally prepared for this.

She's also relatively prepared to deal with blood everywhere.

Oh look, another intense moment for Elena and Damon.

There's no fun to be had at the batting cages this time.

Her vampire days have begun, people.

Elena's even prepared for havoc to break loose in a church.

When you have to take off your heels, you know it's bad news.

At this point, she'll even take her brother hostage if need be.

She's become pretty pro at taking bad news.

Except when Jeremy dies and she turns off her humanity and burns her house down.

But hey, she gets a cool pink streak in her hair and starts living it up!

Vampire Elena is kind of a jerk, especially when she steals Caroline's prom dress.

Vampire Elena is also very tense.

She knows how to take care of business.

She even throws serious shade.

Yes, she's totally manhandling Damon.

She is not pleased when the boys tie her up to force her humanity switch back on.

Elena can handle virtually any situation at this point, even being strapped to an experimental gurney for vampire research.

Remember when she sports this updo in a dream sequence? Classic.

Don't worry, it doesn't stay up for long. Also, Damon dies and her world collapses.

But after having her memory wiped, vampire Elena really starts coming out of her shell, even going to lake parties with her brother.

She even has beers with Stefan!

As a cool college girl, she also attends parties in cornfields. As you do.

Look at her, with her books. It's adorable how she's trying to be normal.

In a flashback, we get to see Elena in happier, festive times.

But for now, she is who she is.

She shows up for Caroline when her mother passes away.

In a turn of events, Elena gets her hands on the cure, and takes it, even convincing Damon to take it with her.

Unfortunately, Kai intervenes, and puts Elena in a coma [3] that will only end when Bonnie dies. Farewell for now, Elena.

It's clear Damon will always love Elena.