something big just happened.

   I completed my senior year of college! Just now! Well, like 38 minutes ago really. It’s over, just like that. Instead of getting all mushy-gushy in a giant essay about “how fast time flew” or “oh the memories we made”, I am presenting:

College: A Year FOUR YEARS In Review

In late August of 2009, my parents and I caravanned to Bozeman on a sunny day. I drove with my mom and my dad hauled all my “necessary items” in his truck behind us. Despite almost locking my keys in my car at a rest stop outside of Deerlodge, we made it to my new home safe and sound.

The day was a hot blur of over-excited 18 year olds, blue and yellow t-shirts, loud music, humid dorm rooms, introductions, organization, and temporary farewells. I will never forget my mom telling me she and my dad were sad as they made the four hour return trip. I was too prideful to tell her I was sad, too.

But I was excited! So excited. I was finally in college – no more curfews, no chores, no sibling who borrowed things without asking, new faces, a new job, responsibilities abound…

   Freshman Year consisted of awkward dorm living, bad cafeteria food, experimenting with the party scene, bad grades, bad study habits, new friends, homesickness, intimidating exams, freedom, finding myself, and homework. To say there were “ups and downs” would be an understatement.

I was lucky to be attending the same University as my significant other and spent 80% of my time on adventures with him. We learned that the year we spent apart was more than worth the angst, emotion, and distance. And I’m so thankful for that.

   Sophomore year brought huge changes. At 19 years old I signed my first lease to a blue triplex with mold and pot-smoking neighbors. It was definitely an awkward dance as three girls tried to cohabitate. One liked parties, one liked fishing, and I wasn’t really sure what I liked yet. I found myself stuck in the middle of a situation only three teenaged girls could ever create for themselves.

I discovered I was better at school than my current transcript said I was. I became interested in bike rides, novels, quiet drives, close friends, and dogs. School was #1, Garrett was #2, and everything else was in a giant cluster in third place. I still got homesick but I made new friends. I no longer had to eat cafeteria food but couldn’t cook a non-bland meal for myself to save my life. I got a job at a coffee shop and found a passion inside, but unfortunately had to quit due to a mean stalker :(

   Junior year brought another big move. Katie and I left the original apartment after basically getting booted and found a cute little place a few blocks from downtown and campus. We studied, gossiped, cooked, drank, cried, danced, exercised, laughed, and grew together. She became my second sister and my rock as I cranked through the hardest year of my college career.

I became tired of school and dreamed of a different life. I bought a bike, experimented with yoga, began eating healthier, and cut out some bad influences. Garrett and I realized we were it. He taught me to relax and to be calm, I taught him to plan and anticipate. I still got homesick and missed my real sister and my dog with my whole heart.

   Senior year went by in a flash. I entered the school year with a beautiful new addition to my ring finger and excitement coursing through my veins. I juggled wedding planning, internship applications, difficult classes, a new job, and club involvement and felt overwhelmed more often than not. I recognized my desire to prove myself wrong. I found that my current priorities were not making me happy.

I nervously accepted an opportunity to move to Alaska for the summer of 2013 and was thankful to have a man by my side to support such scary decisions. I dragged myself through two semesters of endless work and tried my darndest to do other things for my wedding, for work, for clubs, for friends, for family, for me. It came as a shock to realize my four year undergraduate stint at MSU was soon to end.

   And now it has ended. I completed my “final” final exam today at approximately 10:25am and left the building in a weird daze. I’m so happy! And yet, I’m so weirded out.

   Fortunately (or unfortunately), I will be returning to this familiar town and campus in the fall for Graduate School. The only things that will change are fewer familiar faces, a wedding band added to my ring finger, Alaska memories in my mind, and (hopefully) a little furry companion.

I can’t help it...: where did the time go?