As I reflect on my college experience, I find myself incredibly grateful. I am particularly grateful for this past year. I'm grateful for the wonderful people who have entered my life, I'm grateful for the experiences I've encountered, and most importantly I'm even appreciative for the lows I've had. This year has been beautiful, but I would be lying if I didn't say that there were a lot of ugly parts too. These not so pleasant parts of my year are the ones that I'm the most grateful for since they are the moments that have challenged me as a person and have evolved me into the person I am today.
I'm still not perfect, since none of us are, but I am strangely proud of myself for who I am, imperfections and all. As I start on this next chapter of my life, I have a burning excitement for all the changes that are to come as well as eager to meet the new people that will enter my life, for as I have learned with every new beginning there are new people waiting to become a part of your chapter.
As I talked to my mom a few weeks ago about college in general, Ireland, and this past semester specifically, I know I have an excitement about the future, but also a sadness because within this change there is an acknowledgement that things will never be the same. My mom always with an answer for everything stated, "This was a point of your life that happened. That's right it happened. It was a moment in time, but you cannot cling to it since it is now part of your past. You just have to be grateful it happened". I kind of chuckled since her words are ironically similar to a statement made at the finale of the office--another show I have yet to completely watch. Andy stated, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them". I know I do not suffer from the same issue, because I knew this was going to be the best of times throughout the entire experience.
