As the end of yet another school year—the fifteenth of my life—draws closer, my mind is sent reeling; housing preparations for the upcoming year need to be made, how I'll keep busy this summer has to be decided, etc. Beyond the superficial, the near future, I've also been thinking a lot about what has to be done now in order to progress later. XV is something I hold very near and dear to me, which is surprising to both myself and those who knew me back in high school as I absolutely dreaded having to be here for four years. I'd made all types of plans to get out as soon as humanly possible but now that that chance looms ever nearer, I'll say that I never expected it to get here so soon.

The bonds I've formed in the past two years are tighter than the vast majority I've made in my entire nineteen years of existence; college not working out in my favor (and vice versa) have opened my eyes to a whole new world of post-school possibility; and I've never been so certain of how I want to progress. My choices are not supported by all but I have such confidence in them that I'm willing to sacrifice, well, everything I know right now. When I leave this place I'll know that I can always find home in these beautiful people; when I leave this place I'll know what I'm setting out to do with my life will make me happy, and if not, I have the rest of my life to figure it out.

I've always been a fan of change—staying with something long enough to enjoy it but not quite long enough to pine for it when its time is up—after all (and this may seem a little immature) what's life without good adventure? I'm not a believer of God or any other higher power, but I do believe in the karmic powers of the universe: what goes around comes around; every action has a reaction; everything happens for a reason; and when one door closes another opens. And my doors are open.