I've just completed my latest college semester. It seems like only yesterday I was just graduating high school and becoming a writer for the Odyssey. I recall the end of high school is a crazy time because I was drowning in Precalculus and AP English work.

I always wonder why I waited to do all my most complex classes in my senior year. Thinking back, it was insane, but nowadays, I realize that it's proof that I can take any workload that comes my way.

It was truly the craziest time because I barely had the energy to do art or anything I wanted. I only had work on my mind because I had come so far and it was pointless to just drop out if I was so close to the finish line.

I had some of the most difficult nights just attempting to find a balance between school and leisure, but I found a way through. It was all part of the process.

So, the end of school comes. I graduate, high honors and with a SHH cord for taking Spanish for four years. The requirement is only two, but I stuck with it for the duration of high school since I always did really well with it.

The summer arrives. I start getting back into my art and spinning vinyl. I have time to finally get back to me. I have the proper time to slow down and recharge and make up for lost time.

Eventually, August is here. The first day of college. My vivid recollection of my first day was that I got right into doing the first assignments for class very easily since I did online school from 5th grade to 12th grade.

The first days were interesting because I was still finding a balance of how to complete all my work in a timely manner without ever missing a deadline. I managed to maneuver my schedule so I could work from Monday to Friday, and I could have my weekends free, so I could have time for art and spinning vinyl.

My basic theory there is that I work all week and I earn my weekends. I'm on the computer all week, so I get a little bit of free time and time away from technology since I'm on it all the time anyway.

I've had all different classes, and a lot of music has been the soundtrack to surviving the workload. I've rediscovered a lot of music and I've found a lot of new stuff as well.

The most insane college class that I'll never forget is Financial Accounting I because, I've never had to do so much work in one course. This course had so many steps to completing lessons that I still can't process how I made it through. That class was intense to the point of me working from 8 AM to 5 PM and then from 7 PM to midnight, every night.

I felt that was the time when I was spiraling out of control, because it was just insane. Then, March 2018 happened. The Nor'Easter storms which kept us out of our house for about a month and we had to relocate to a motel due to the electric being out since the power grid was down for days on end.

Things got better. We got back home eventually, and I've been doing good.

I've been staying up on my work, and getting things in order.

I started college, a few months after high school, a little uncertain of where it would take me. College was an interesting concept, but there's always a fear of if it can really be applied.

So, I'm a writer for the Odyssey Online and a college student, at the time.

Today, I'm an artist, writer, photographer, vinyl enthusiast, and I run my own music blog.

At the start of college, I didn't know what was gonna happen. Surely, I was gonna study and get a degree, but so much more happened. I found more awesome bands on vinyl. I took another gazillion photos. I took a massive amount of portraits and I was my own model. Somehow, all of this tied together, and I'll be and I have all this awesome stuff under my belt.

My next chapter continues with another two year degree, continuing by studying Human Resources. I plan to continue writing for the Odyssey. I plan to keep taking photos and updating my photography blog. I plan to keep writing for Generation Clash, because I'm beyond proud of the fact that it's no longer an idea and officially a reality.

College is a crazy time. It's a time of growth and opportunities and I'm glad I've taken the hint.

So, here's a piece of my journey. Anything worth going for in life is never easy. You have to find your strength in the hardest moments. When it gets crazy, remember all your progress, and keep moving forward. You'll never know what comes next unless you keep going. Stay motivated and everything will be okay. Everything that has happened has led to this moment.