Home.

I'm home. Yay.

First of all, I want to give a big old birthday shout-out to my favorite sister. Happy birthday. I love you.

I had a really good school year! I got so much closer with Kayleigh, which I really didn't think was possible because we were already so close. I made a TON of new friends while still managing to keep the old (minus one, but I almost think things are better this way). I also had a blast. Between four trips to NYC, seeing Bruce live finally, and just all the random fun times on campus and Shaz's lake house, this was definitely a year to remember. I loved my room and my floor, I loved most of my classes, and I've come out of this year with a clearer sense of direction for my life, and I think I'm more confident and I know who I am now, and that's good. I just wish I could be that person all the time. I think I've definitely found my niche on campus, and I'm starting to stand out (in a good way) more.

I also realized that I've accomplished every goal I came to college with. Let's take a look.
1. Graduate with a 3.6. Guess what? I finished the year with a 3.601, and as long as I don't get a GPA below a 3.67 next year (which I haven't done since 2006), I should be able to maintain that and bring it up even more.
2. Get into an honor society. I got into to Phi Alpha Theta, for History, which was awesome. Then I got elected V.P. Then I helped with getting Pi Sigma Alpha going again, got accepted, and I'm also an officer in that one.
3. Hold an officer position in College Republicans. Well, I was secretary this year, which was good, but I've wanted to be president since freshman year. I never thought that would happen, because I always assumed it would naturally go to Joe Galli, but then he decided he didn't want to run because he would be too busy with Student Association Exec, so he was instrumental in getting me nominated and even approached me about becoming president in February or so. I never thought I would actually get elected with him in that club. I love the kid, this is in no way a complaint about Joe, he's just always seemed like the likely person in my class year to become CR President.
4. Form good relationships with my professors. Hell, Twombly and I are like BFF's now. And by BFF's, I mean practically married. I've taken 11 classes with the man, and he absolutely loves me, and that will be good when I need recommendations. He even told me that he would have asked me to be his teaching fellow again, but I'm only allowed to do it once. Lauren will do well though (but she has big shoes to fill :-)) I also think I'll be on pretty good terms with Mitchell by the end of Term I of next year. He already loves me because I get all his Springsteen references when no one else does.
5. Obviously, form close relationships with my peers. Done. I have a solid core group of friends, then I have friends in my majors, friends in my clubs, my posse of freshmen (sophomores now I guess), and the random people I just happen to know through other friends or random things like that.

I've done well, and I'm very proud of myself. I hope that doesn't sound too cocky or anything, but everything has been such a struggle for me since I was little, and I really think I've overcome that and turned things around. I began high school with like a 3.1, and graduated with high honors, and college is turning out to be on an upward scale for me as well, and I think that's something to be proud of, as most people tend to decline over time.

I can't believe I'm a senior in college. Holy crap. That frankly terrifies me, but I think it also calls for song lyrics...

Look at that old photograph
Is it really you?
Smiling like a baby full of dreams
Smiling ain't so easy now
Some are coming true
Nothing's simple as it seems
But I guess you count your blessings with the problems
That you're dealing with today
Like the changing of the seasons
Ain't you come a long way down
This old road
-Kris Kristofferson