Goodbye Summer, Hello Senior Year!

Summer is just about over and it's finally hitting me that I'm about to return to UNH for my senior year. It seems like I was just moving into my freshman year dorm feeling like I had all the time in the world. A word of advice: enjoy your time at college...it goes by way too quickly.

I've had an amazing summer. Most of my days were spent at good ol' Dunkin Donuts making coffee after coffee after coffee. I've grown to love working at Dunks aside from the whole alarm-going-off-at-3:15am-thing. My co-workers and I have bonded over the many sunrises we've witnessed together. We're all in the early alarm game together.

I had the opportunity to visit my sister and my mom in Florida. Running across the cast parking lot at Magic Kingdom into Laura's arms sobbing is something I'll never forget. I'm so proud of all that she has accomplished. It was the first time in over 6 months that my family was together in the same state and we had an amazing time together.

Senior year is going to be the busiest year of my life. I'll be balancing classes, a 20 hour/week internship, and 2 jobs to pay for well, life. As I'm writing this, I am equal parts excited, stressed, and motivated.

Post graduation, I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen or where I'll be in one year from today. Where will I live? What will I be doing? At this point, everything is up in the air which, surprisingly, isn't scaring me. I have a handful of options bouncing around my mind and I'm excited to see what happens. For the first time in my life, I'm not going to plan out every little detail. Instead, I'm going to sit back, enjoy the ride, and see where life takes me.

I've worked so hard these past few years and I know that no matter where I end up, I'll blossom. 2016 is going to be one heck of a year.

The Rollercoaster Known as Moving Away to College

It's almost that time of year again. In a few weeks, thousands of newly graduated high schoolers will be moving away to the colleges of their choosing. I can still vividly remember moving into my freshman year dorm and the weeks leading up to the big move. Whether you're moving to college this year or at some point in the near future, this post is for you.

The weeks before moving you will feel excited to start a new chapter of your life. This time is characterized by packing, buying dorm decorations, and searching for that perfect comforter for your new bed. You will fall asleep imagining all of the cool things you're going to try once you move in. This is a blissful time. Enjoy it.

The week before moving in is one of the weirdest weeks you will ever experience. You will feel every emotion possible and dwell on the "lasts." Your last Saturday home. Your last time sleeping in your own bed. Your last trip to Target.This will make you sad even though all Targets pretty much look the same.

The last full day is so emotional it's important to keep busy. Spend the day packing up everything. Try not to dwell on how weird your old room looks now that it's empty. Say your goodbyes to friends, extended family, and neighbors. Most importantly, don't make eye contact with stuffed animals.

The morning of the move, get up and ready as normal but don't dwell on the fact that it'll be your last time getting out of your old bed (until Thanksgiving break anyway) or brushing your teeth in a private bathroom. Say goodbye to your pets (make it quick because tears) and take a deep breath as you walk out of your front door and get into your parents car.

Once you drive away from your home, the worst is already over. Now, you're probably just going to be jittery and anxious. If you're me, you will be so nervous that you will throw up. Hopefully when you arrive at your new school, you will not open your door and accidentally let the bag o' vomit fall out onto the ground right in front of your fellow peers...#TrueStory

Move-in Day: Post Vomit

No matter how nervous you may be, try to embrace the moment. You only get one freshman move-in day so it's important to take it all in. Maybe you won't be nervous. Maybe you'll be excited beyond belief. Like anything, it'll be different for everyone. No matter what happens on move-in day, it'll surely be a day you'll remember for many years to come.

Welcome to college, class of 2019! :)