Awe

A Reflection from: L.A. 

May 16, 2014 was my last day of finals. My last official day of sophomore year. After all the things that have happened - all the time rushing by so quickly, all the time moving by so slowly - I can't believe that all those events and life changes made up my sophomore year. It felt like two different lifetimes, but in reality, it was just my sophomore year. If I would describe it in one word, it would be "change." Nothing describes change as well as this school year.

From getting my mind to transfer, to entering my sophomore year in Elon knowing that it would be my last semester there and that I'd have to leave all my friends and family that I've met, to trying to live life to its fullest with the people I love, to moving to the other side of the country and to the unknown, to being ultimately unhappy about my new life in LA, to accepting the misery and dwelling in it, to picking myself up and getting over it and not being afraid of failure, to actually achieving goals, to experience new things I never thought I would experience so soon, and to finally being absolutely happy and thankful for the new life I've managed to get a hold of.

It definitely wasn't easy and there were many tears and sleepless nights on the way. But in the end, it was all necessary. Up to this day I cannot believe that I actually did it, and that I still need to keep trying and pursuing what I love and exploring new horizons because that's what life is all about. And I love it that way.

Today, I moved out of my dorm and into a house with a room of my own that I am absolutely in love with. Back from watching The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with my FASA fam, I lay here in bed for the first time and write. In so many ways I've grown and discovered new things about myself - things that I never thought I could conquer and get over. I've got so much growing left to do and I can't wait! Because all this hard work, all the emotional roller coasters and pools of self doubt make me feel that I can lose and win in life - and at the end of it all, I can proudly lay down and say, "I did it. I don't know how, and dang it I feel that I got lucky, but I did it!"

So did I like my sophomore year better than my freshman year of college? I honestly don't know. They were too different. But it was definitely a year of growth and independence. I'm so thankful for all the people that I met this semester - especially the ones that stayed until after spring break, and especially the ones I got closer to after spring break. They made L.A. feel like home, and I will be forever grateful for that.

Two years of college down. I can't even process if it was quick or not because in all honesty, it took a while for me to get to where I am right now. I don't know where life will take me or if some people will stay, but I hope that from now on, it'll be a great adventure down the road where the finish line is a goal I want to achieve.

I hope junior year treats me well, but until then, here's a toast to a summer where I hope I learn a lot of things and experience new adventures!!

Thanks, sophomore year. I appreciate you more than I can express.