Wrapping up

This morning when I woke up at 8:30, my 8 am class was cancelled (Hallelujah!), I was overcome with anxiety. My "Countdown App" on my iPhone informed me that it is one week until my 21st birthday. You'd think I would have been excited, right?

Instantly so many events started running through my head. My birthday being closer, which means exams are next, then I have to say goodbye to everyone for the summer, then I am home barely for two weeks, then I hop on a plane to New York for 11 weeks. Panic, anxiety and fear completely overtook my morning.

As the afternoon progressed though, I felt silly for not being thankful for those events. I'm lucky enough to have made it to almost 21, to have incredible friends that are hard to leave, and I have the opportunity to go to New York for a summer. Sure, I know I can be sad and scared, but I don't want those feelings to overshadow the complete joy I have in my life.

Somehow I've blinked and here I am wrapping up my junior year of college. It seems unreal to me that my junior year of high school was four years ago. I've had quite the year. Beginning in August 2013 I started all of my journalism classes, ventured to New Orleans and New York for the first time, fell in love with a new city, watched the Rebels become the Music City Bowl champions, spent an unreal amount of time with my two roommates and pledge class, bonded with the freshman pledge class, and basically enjoyed every moment of being in Oxford, Mississippi.

There's a quote that says, "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?" from Winnie-the-Pooh. Recently there has been a new reason every day to make me think of this quote. The seniors are graduating, my bible study leader is moving to Birmingham and I'm saying goodbye for 15 weeks to all of my closest friends who I see every day. PSA: We don't know what personal space is anymore.

This school year has taught me so much and I am incredibly sad for it to end. Each day I am surrounded by my best friend who encourage me in every way. If only my family were here as well, I would have it made! I appreciate the time of my life that I am in right now more than ever, and I appreciate time in general. I'm encouraging myself and would love to encourage you all to appreciate every moment you have and sometimes you just have to look around and see everyone's faces instead of the screen of your phone, and you'll know how incredibly lucky you are to call these people your own.

To those of you who I spend every day with, I cannot thank you enough for being here for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You are the ones that make all the difference. College wouldn't be a second home if it weren't for you. Lets wrap up the year on a great note!