This New Year I am looking forward to new adventures, but with new adventures comes a new world of adulting. This new year has already sprung some new challenges on me and I am writing to share those new challenges and adventures with you and let you reflect on those challenges and adventures coming up on your life as well.

Not very long ago I was told my dad and mom would be moving out of the country. This was exciting but also frightening to an 18-year-old who was just about to approach her second semester of college and moving into an apartment. I guess the feeling of "being on my own" was finally starting to hit me.

What I mean by this is having to start buying groceries and not rely on the dining hall to have food ready at my convenience. Having to take care of bills and payments and although it doesn't seem like much, it is. Do not get me wrong however because it will be an exciting time to learn and grow and face whatever comes to me full force.

You may be asking yourself what good thing could come out of someone's parents moving across the world? The answer, spring break! My first year of actually getting spring break hence the fact that my high school never gave us spring break my first one will be spent in Belgium, also touring in Spain and London. I mean how many people get to say that they get to go to three amazing places in the span of one week? I couldn't be more excited about that.

If there is one thing that I am taking into 2018 it is the words, courage, strength and to have the heart of a lion as my boyfriend always said. For those of you who have read my articles, I am sure that you have probably seen his name pop up a few times.

For those who don't know, my boyfriend is active duty in the Army and cannot always be around. No that isn't always the easiest, but suddenly becomes easier because you love that man with all your heart and you both only want to see each other succeed and be happy.

Generally, moving into a new apartment and having my loved ones far away will always be hard but I have learned to be stronger than I ever thought I could be, be courageous and channel everything into my writing, and have the heart of a lion to those near and far.

Therefore, as this year starts to unfold itself I challenge you all to be stronger than you were last year, be courageous in all that you do, and have the heart of a lion for your heart will never fail you. Whatever comes at you this new year, I encourage you to face it and make something great out of the times that will be hard mentally, physically, or emotionally. Stay patient and trust your journey, never take for granted this one life you have to live.