The fact that I have not blogged since February is ridiculous. My life has changed so much since then.
First off in March, I met with an advisor at MCC to discuss what was next for me. Little did I expect for her to be printing off information about transferring to another school... I applied to Northern Illinois University on a whim. As my mom said " do it, what's the worst that could happen?" Two weeks after NIU received all my paperwork I got an e-mail informing me I had gotten accepted. It was actually on Easter, while my family & I were packing up our stuff at hotel in Los Angeles, California from out family vacation.
Everything seems like a whirl wind from there. Two of my friends from MCC were also transferring to NIU in the fall & it just fell into place that we would find an apartment together.
In May my parents & I drove the hour trip to NIU for orientation. I was filled with mixed emotions. I still felt like everything was happening too fast. This was far from my normal and change has always been hard for me. By the end of orientation I was signed up for classes
Summer is always a crazy, but enjoyable time for me. My parents surprised me with a big 21st birthday party where all of my friends & family joined us! It was truly one of the best moments of my life and I am so thankful to have those memories.
I headed off to Country Thunder with my best friend, Abby Sue, mid-July. It was an entirely different experience from the previous year. I loved every moment of it and it is something I will forever be reminiscing about!
Somewhere in there I received a note in the mail from Abby, asking me to be her maid of honor in her wedding. That too is moment I will always remember. She had asked me if I had gotten anything in the mail, and another friend of her's that was asked to be in the wedding had put something on facebook, so I had a hunch I was going to be asked to be in the wedding. Never ever ever did I expect to be asked to be the MOH! I remember my jaw literally dropping & I thought I was going to cry. I was so floored and excited! This next year is going to be so much fun helping my "older sister" plan her big day!
End of July I signed a lease for a townhouse in DeKalb. Everything from there till now seems like a blur. I've been on my own for three weeks now. I wished and hoped to be out of my parents house for so long, that its surreal that it's actually happen. The fact is, living on my own and being responsible for household responsibilities isn't as scary as I thought. It's been strangely easy to make sure everything is is clean, in order, presentable, and paid.
This new experience has taught me so much about myself in such a short time. For one, it taught me how much I really do appreciate my parents. Their help financially, emotionally, and physically has blessed me beyond belief. My parents have always been long time thinkers. They made decisions when I was a baby that are now tremendously paying off.
Never in a million years did I think moving out would be so hard emotionally. I've been home twice since I moved and every time I have to say good-bye I choke up and get teary eyed. I know it's not really good-bye, for real, I live 60 minutes away. But it's a change not to be waking up in the room I spent 12 years of my life in. It's hard knowing that when I walk out that front door, I'm not gonna be in a town I literally was born & raised in. It's crazy to think that if something happens, there is still 60minutes between me & the people I love. It's made me appreciate my family so much more then I ever thought could or would happen.
Because of the move and the change to a four year university, I am no longer really working. The plan is to occasionally work on weekends, and I have jobs already lined up, but life seems extremely boring when you go from working 45+ hours a week to working none. Saying good-bye to my babysitting families was hard. I cried with every good-bye that came. Again, I know it's not good-bye, but these people became apart of my daily and weekly life. They were my "normal" for three years! I had the privilege of watching these kids grow up! Life seems dull now with out them.
Classes have been a change as well. My teachers are totally different then the teachers I've ever had! It also is a huge religious change. I went from a private school where we prayed before every class, to a school that NEVER dropped the word "God" or anything related, to a school that openly embraces diversity. Maybe it's the classes that I'm taking or the fact that I'm now in a new area, but each person's differences are openly discussed and welcomed almost in every class. It's been an eye opener to the "real world".
Another huge change that as come my way is the journey of loosing weight. A week after my birthday my family & I joined anytime fitness. Since then I have lost 25lbs & 12inches. I was going strong all summer. Recently, I've struggled with getting to the gym in a new town and I still have not brought myself in to meet the new trainer, but I refuse to let this new routine fall to the waste side. It feels good to work hard, eat healthy, and physically & emotionally feel like a new person. My goal is to drop several dress sizes by the time Abby's wedding rolls around. But not only that, I want to be confident in the way I feel and carry myself. I've never been shy person or allowed my weight to hold me back. But now that I fighting against my weight, I see how it has held me back with out me even knowing. I refuse to allow that to continue. I want to be healthy, fit, and active. I want to live life to the fullest, I want live up to what I am MADE to do & be!
Life has given me some unexpected changes in the last 6 months. I've managed to put my anxiety and worries aside and so far have enjoyed the ride. I'm excited to see what's in store next!
