Midterms

midterms

It’s that time of the school year again. Midterms. This week, I had two papers due already and three midterms await me. We got back from our school field trip to France on Friday night and when I woke up Saturday morning, I began the daunting studying process. My studying process for midterms or finals always begins with a meltdown. Some people break down in the midst of it all and some people break down at the end of it all and some people just power through without any sort of meltdown (if that’s you…please show me your ways!). But, my breakdown always comes at the beginning..when I’m looking at everything I have to do and have no idea where to even begin and can’t even imagine what it looks like to be on the other side of this week because it seems almost impossible to do everything I have to do. But, then after words of encouragement from my mom (what would I do with her!) I shake it off and realize they are only tests and that I just need to start somewhere. It doesn’t really matter where, just as long as I start. Then once I start, I have to take it day by day. And somehow I manage to pull myself together enough to survive midterms/finals week every time. This week is no different…I know I’ll survive. It just really sucks in the meantime. So, here’s to pulling myself together. Bring it on, midterms!

Switzerland: Day One

Well it’s official…I have moved to Switzerland! For an entire year! Can you believe it??? I barely can either.

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Hannah, Natalie, and I, along with about 60 other Pepperdine students, arrived at LAX at 3 am yesterday (Tuesday) morning to begin our adventure. We landed in Switzerland at 9 am this (Wednesday) morning. And we have been advised to try to stay up until bedtime so that we can best adjust to the time change. However, after hardly sleeping at all during the past 24 hours…we are all struggling a bit, yet, we are determined to power through! It’s just a little bit tough to be as hyped up as I thought I would be when you’re jetlagged and you run into a few surprises (like how 10 girls are sharing 1 shower). Not quite sure how it is all going to work out. But, I know it will and I know it will be all be so worth it in the end. And hey, it is an adventure after all!

I really am so excited for this opportunity to see the world and immerse myself into an entirely new culture and language too! And I know I’ll feel more hyped up about it once I am all unpacked and settled in. I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for me. I have a feeling it’s going to be one I won’t ever forget.

IMG_2724^^Right now, I’m currently staring at this view off of my bedroom balcony. I think I died and went to heaven and I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of staring at this.

I hope each and every one of you are having a happy day!

Freshman Year of College – Check!

553074_10151227362389135_1264075186_nI just finished my last final of the semester…and that means I am officially done with my freshman year of college! (WHAT?!) I can’t even believe I am writing these words right now. It seems like only yesterday I was moving everything into my dorm room, raising my bed, unpacking my suitcases, and meeting Hannah and Natalie for the first time. And here I am, today, packing up my suitcases, moving out of my dorm room, and saying goodbye to Hannah, Natalie, and my other friends I have made over the year.

My first year of college went better than I could have ever expected. I had some of the best professors (I’m convinced) in the world and I really have learned so much. I thought I wouldn’t like having to live with someone in such a small room, and now at the end of the year I am a bit sad I won’t have Hannah with me in my room for the next four months! And I changed in some ways a bit and in some ways quite big. I used to hate having cereal at home (just wasn’t my favorite), but now it’s surprisingly a meal of choice. I admit I didn’t used to make my bed every morning when I lived at home (sorry Mom!), but I have made my bed every morning in college. I used to be a maniac about studying and grades, and now while grades are still very important to me, I understand that there are more important things in life to cherish. And that is my family and friends and making memories. Because that is what I will look back on ten years down the road when I think of my freshman year of college – not the grade I got on a particular final exam. And I know without enrolling in Tom Shadyac’s class during this Freshman Year, I would still be acting as if my academics were more of a priority than my family and friends were, even though I believed the opposite. That one shift in how I live my life has totally changed me into a much happier and less-stressed-out person. I am so happy and grateful for that and everything else that I have experienced in my first year of college.

Even though leaving this gorgeous view and my sweet friends is tough, I am so ready for a few months without studying, without tests, and without papers. I am so ready to see my family. I am so ready to see Colin. I am so ready to see my friends from Georgia. I am so ready to get to work at Milly & Grace! I am so ready for non-caf food. I am so ready for my own shower. I am so ready for my bed. I am so ready to read books on my “to read” list. I am just so ready for summer! And it is here!!