Yes, rejoice, it is that time of the year once again. The end! The sun is shining, finals are peeking their eyes around the corner, and summer seems more and more inevitable as the days go on. However, amidst my immense joy at the closing of this year, I've also been reflecting back on these past nine months. This officially marks the end of my freshman year of college, a huge milestone for anyone. Thinking back, there are a few things that happened over this year that I can safely say changed me as a person for better or for worse (but hopefully just for better).

First, and most importantly are the friends that I've made. For such a violently anti-social person as myself, it surprises me that I've made such good friends over the past few months. Sure, there have been ups and there have been downs, I've made friends and I've lost many; but in the long run I've made some friends who have changed my entire outlook on life. These people have seen me laugh, cry, laugh until I cry, they have seen me in my worst moods and they've made my best better. They understand the medicinal value of 2am cheesecake and sitting under a bridge late at night just to watch a train roll by. They understand when I need time alone, they've always been there for me when I need them to be. They've supported me in every decision I've made and gave me advice where advice was wanted. These are the best people I've ever met in my life and I can safely say I am so blessed to have met them. They really made this place a home for me, they are my family. I love you guys!

Secondly, moving out of state was a big decision for me. I'm originally from Colorado and moving six hours away to Hastings, Nebraska took some guts. I'm a homebody, but moving out taught me how to function as an adult. Suddenly, mom wasn't the one buying groceries anymore. I was really homesick at first (and, I'll be honest, I still get homesick here and again), but it really taught be to be independent. I was also forced to make friends other than the ones I had made in high school. I knew nobody coming into school. It was a nice, fresh start, and I learned a lot about responsibility. Although I still sometimes stay up until 3am eating cheese sticks and watching Netflix.

The actual academics of school made me realize how much I'm over going to school. I've been going to school for 13 years now, it's time for a break. Because of this, I had to find a reason to stay. To be honest, I really had no long term plan for what I was going to do with my life after college. Although I still don't have what most would call a proper plan, I do have a sense of what I want to do with my life after college. I know that I want to leave. It was a combination of the thrill of leaving home and the knowing that I want to be done with school that has prompted me to make the decision just to leave and go where the wind takes me. It's a plan...

I'm grateful for the opportunity to go to college and even more thankful to have a chance to attend Hastings College. I'm excited for next year, many doors have been opened to me especially in these last few weeks. I'm excited to be done with school too (I know I still have three more years, I know) so I can actually begin the real world. Nonetheless, this experience has been great, and I'm so glad I got to experience it.