2016...oh 2016. I wanted you to be over so badly. You were filled with jagged edges, low points, lots of disappointments and constant struggles. You were almost a depiction of me caught in a riptide. I was struggling to get through.

You see, at the beginning of 2016, I was faced with two horrible disasters. Well, my kind of disasters. At the end of 2015, I got out of a relationship that took all of me with it. I was left trying to pick up all of my lost pieces in 2016. And, my dream of becoming a nurse took a sudden stop. I made the choice to change my major and go away to school. Far far away from my hometown.

Pennsylvania College of Technology. That is where I spent approximately one spring semester. I met a lot of great people with wonderful souls. School went great and riding on the paramedic trucks was thrilling. But I found that there was a hole within me. This is not where I truly wanted to be. I wanted more than anything to be a nurse. So I moved back to good ole Jersey and was faced with plenty up hill battles.

However, being in Willpo showed me my strength. It showed me that I could get through anything and let me find all of my missing pieces. I realized my worth more than anything. I became the person I used to be that I could have sworn I would never be again. And for that, I am thankful.

When I got home, I was face with quite a few rejection letters. I was told to go west because I would not get into a nursing school in New Jersey due to me retaking a course. In their eyes I was incompetent.

I felt like nothing would ever work out for me. The whole year was just a constant up hill battle. I wished and hoped that sometime soon something would finally go right.

At the end of September I met a beautiful soul. I met someone who made everything effortless. With her, everything was wonderful. It was out of nowhere and that in itself made everything brighter. And about a week ago I found out that I got accepted into one of the top nursing schools in New Jersey.

Oh 2016 I really hated you. I really did. But I can honestly say that you saved me. I realized more than anything that I am strong and nothing can stop me, I found someone who makes me a better version of myself, and I got accepted into the program of my dreams. You started off a little shaky, but ultimately you were one I could never forget. You showed me that hard workers get what is coming to them eventually.

So, 2016, thank you for everything that you held. I learned to see the beauty in all of the broken pieces and the light at the end of the tunnel. I made it. And here is to a beautiful 2017.