We're all at that point in the summer where we're asking ourselves, "Where did my summer go?" It feels like I just started summer classes like 3 days ago. It feels like I was just at my old high school watching my younger friends graduate and now they're leaving for college. Now, everyone is scrambling to see people before they go to school so they don't have to wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas break. A lot has happened this summer, but man, where did the time go?

I took summer classes at Old Dominion because i needed to catch up on some of the classes within my major, so I took two classes, worked and spent a lot of time reading books. I wanted those six weeks to fly by so I could get home to see my friends graduate from high school. Those six weeks felt so dragged out! Everyday felt longer and longer like they were adding hours to my day. Anyway, I wanted to be home around my family, friends and mentorship team. I got home the day before graduation for my friends and kind of surprised them, saw my family (obviously) and have spent a lot of time with my mentorship team.

I've traveled with family, friends and my mentorship team. We've gone to awesome places, seen great bands live and met some of the world's best leaders when it comes to how to improve yourself so you can help others. I also watched my mom struggle to walk. She had both of her hips replaced on August 1st and I had to watch her struggle to learn how to walk and climb stairs again. She's getting better and better everyday. On this note though, since I've been home in New York in late June my mom was saying, "August 1st! I can't wait!". And now August is almost over.

Great things have happened this summer as well. One of my friends, Joe, had a stroke back in January and he had to learn how to walk, talk and do everything again and he's been back home for over a month now. We're so happy he's back and getting healthy again. His two younger brothers and his parents mentor me and through that he and I became very close. Since I go to school in Virginia and he's in New York, I call my mentor, his younger brother and everyday ask, "How's Joey doing?" Now, I know he's doing well because he's where he needs to be. I've attended concerts with my family, seminars and conferences with my mentorship team and associate with the right people to move forward in life.

I'm excited to go back to Old Dominion and spread the word of love, freedom and hope. I will of course miss my family and friends again, but that's why we have technology. Soon enough it'll be the holiday season and we'll be sitting here wondering, "Where did the fall go?" I'm glad the summer has been fun, but I need to get ready for school mentally. Next year, the summer will be even better.