December. Month 12/12. Day 349 out 365. 13 days of 2018 left until we start the countdown and make our New Year's Resolutions, full of hope and love for the future of the upcoming year.

Semester 2, week 16/16 and here I am, writing this on my last flight home from Ohio in 2018. Watching the sunset at an elevation of a breathtaking 33,000 feet, as the clouds and sky turn colors of cotton candy pink and orange, taking the time to reflect on what a whirlwind the past half a year has been. Move in weekend that started with a best friend reunion and Chipotle date, late nights uptown, finding my own little, spending a solid 60 hours in the library during finals week with my best friends and closing out the semester at my big's graduation, saying heartbreaking goodbyes to all my favorite people this past weekend, wishing the semester could last longer so I didn't have to leave them so soon for an entire month.

So when I go home to my best friends and they ask, "How was your semester?" I want to show that I've become a completely different person than who I was when I packed up my life and moved back to Ohio for round 2 in August, of how much I've grown. Things are completely different in a way that everything is so much better. When I leave the airport, I'm going to talk about making such real friendships with people I just know are going to be in my life for the long run. This year I went through the toughest times, but the one thing I took away from it was everything I've been through, no matter how bad, only made me stronger in the end.

I thank God every day for what I have in Ohio and the best friends who have truly gone above and beyond for me without me ever asking, who were there whenever I had a bad day, even if it was something minor. And I am beyond excited to go running and screaming into their arms at Conference in a few short days and exchange stories about life in college when they were the ones who saw my journey throughout the years. To this day, they're still my biggest fans and I wouldn't be here without them.

If there's one takeaway from this, it's that I've learned to live right now. We worry constantly about the future, careers, ending the semester until the point comes when the planning in advance consumes you with worry. The only thing that can change is the present, and you can't lose yourself in the process. Take life one day at a time. Don't waste your time thinking of what you could've done, the past is the past. Make memories for the type of nights you'll remember, look back and laugh about. Do what makes your heart sing with joy, surround yourself with those who push you to be better than you were yesterday. Give it 110% effort or not at all. At that point, it hits you: tomorrow isn't guaranteed as we tend to forget.

Laugh more, smile more, and take time out to remember what's important. Take care of yourself and give back to whatever it is that got you to where you are now. People don't realize how much of an impact they've made in others' lives, but it shows on the outside. Nothing in this life will ever come easy, but oh is the product so beautiful. Nothing is ever just a coincidence. And that's the point, the best things in life come at the most unexpected times.

Have a little faith.

From Russia with love,

Anya.