This year, 2016-2017, was my sophomore year of college. I never knew that I could endure as much change as I did, but I couldn't do it without the love and grace of God and the support I received from many of my friends, family, and even my coworkers.

I started off my sophomore year with a great deal of change: I officially started classes at a community college in my hometown. Even though I was back home where things seemed familiar, I felt incredibly displaced. I spent my first year of college on a campus I adored. It was beautiful, and it almost felt like home. However, even when I was there, I didn't feel that even though that felt like where I should be that it was really where I belonged. When I moved back home, I felt isolated from the few friends I made on campus, and it showed when we hardly communicated. I still care a lot about those friends I made, but this was a change I had to get used to.

So, I started classes both online and on-campus. I started out with no advisor and no sense of belonging. I was there simply to get a two-year education in business and then go on my merry way doing whatever I would decide to do when the two years were finished.

I also started my first job as a laundry aide at a facility I would eventually grow to hate. I hated a lot of the staff, I hated the hours I worked, and I hated the environment that I was working in. On December 31, 2016, I officially walked away from that work environment. I was lucky in that when the semester started I would have a part-time job to go to (a work study with one of my professors), but it was even still a major adjustment.

Then, I changed majors. I switched from business or administrative office technology then finally landed on medical information technology. I love this major. I love the classes I have taken with this major and I can't wait to continue in this program. Can I say it's easy? NO. Heck no, working toward a medical administrative degree is tough and you have to be tough as nails to complete it. Community college is not easy by any means. I struggle hard getting through my classes.

On top of everything above, I was diagnosed with a low-functioning thyroid, which explained why I was tired and depressed. While the medicine I take for it now doesn't necessarily help the depression, and sometimes I spiral into major lows, it does help me stay awake longer in the day.

And, above everything else, the reality of my inevitable marriage has sat hard with me. Some days, I have it all figured out. Other days, all of my plans crumble and I have to start over.

The summer is coming up, and I thank God every day that I only have one class to take for eight weeks during the summer so that I can have some sort of break. I think my brain, body, and soul needs a break.

I can't say that my sophomore year was a fantastic year and that I'm going to miss it all that much. However, it wasn't bad. Great things happened with me, despite all of the changes I went through this year. I can only hope that my final year of college will be even better and more rewarding than this one was.