What I Learned Junior Year of College.

As is tradition, I write a post acknowledging the things I learned over the course of the school year, so please enjoy installment numero tres!

Also, feel free to refresh on installments 1 and 2 below:
Freshman year
Sophomore year

Junior Year:

1. How to Grow Up.

There are certain things that you can't learn from going to class or reading a book; instead, you have to be thrown into them, kind of like how your childhood swim lessons instructor, who was probably some poor college student and just needed a summer job, ignored your screaming and crying and pleading and threw your mercilessly off the diving board into the deep water, and it was up to you to keep yourself afloat lest you drown.

Okay, usually there was another lifeguard waiting, or you were wearing a life vest or something.  But what I'm trying to convey is that sometimes you have to figure things out on your own in order to grow up.  This year, I grew up a lot.  There's something about living in your own place that forces you to figure things out on your own and to mature.  You're responsible for paying your bills on time, for buying and preparing your own meals, keeping track of your finances, etc.  This year, I learned how to shut the water off on the toilet and how to still flush it when the chain breaks (lol), how to cook on an electric stove (okay, still trying to figure that one out), how to clean a filter on a vacuum, how to save money (read: we didn't turn our heat on all winter and froze our butts off), and all sorts of other things.  But trust me when I say I still have a lot to learn.

2. Do What Makes You Happy.

It seems obvious, but sometimes you're stuck doing something that makes you incredibly unhappy and you don't realize it until much later when it's over and you look back and think, wow, I was miserable.  This was me during the first half of the school year.  I worked as a hostess at a restaurant and it just wasn't for me.  I dreaded going to work for each shift and didn't look forward to the weekends because I knew I would be working long hours and would miss out on the fun things my friends were doing.  However, it wasn't until I got my current job at the daycare (which I love, despite how exhausting it can be) that I could look back and realize just how unhappy I was.  Sometimes you need to take a second and evaluate how your life is going.  If you're unhappy, you need to make some changes, even if it's scary.  Trust me, those couple weeks between jobs without an income was frightening, but it all worked out, and I'm in a much better mood now :)

3. Take Steps to Make Your Goals/Dreams a Reality.

Ever since my study abroad trip to Honduras 2 years ago (wow, has it already been 2 years?!), I've known that I want to teach abroad.  This year, I've learned that it's important to actively take steps that will help me reach my goals, and that's why I've started the process to apply for a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in Mexico after I graduate.  It's been tough at times and annoying at others, but even if I don't get the scholarship, this experience has taught me how important it is to work toward what you want.  I'm so excited to continue working toward this goal :)

4. Change Happens.

Change is inevitable, so naturally there were a few things that happened this year that threw me for a loop at first, but you learn how to cope.  One thing that happened was that my bestie Jess moved out of the apartment halfway through the school year. At first I was distraught--we had essentially lived together since we've known each other!  How would our relationship change as a result?  However, my fears were for naught.  Jess and my friendship is just as strong as when we lived together, and we still see each other quite often.  This change really helped me learn to value her friendship even more since we don't see each other every day, and I really love her more than ever!

Another change that happened this year was that I broke my foot, and considering I had never broken a bone before or had a serious injury, it was quite a change indeed.  I had to learn crutches and a walking boot, and I couldn't run anymore, right as the weather was starting to get nice.  However, this change again helped me to learn to value my health, and it also helped me realize...

5. My Support System is Dope.

(No, my support system is not drugs.) I seriously have the BEST people in the entire world behind my back.  My parents, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends, boyfriend, teachers...all of them have been there for me this year, whether when I call them to cry my eyes out to them or having them support me in my life decisions or helping me get ice at the bar when I injure myself.  A HUGE thank you to everyone who has been there for me this year; I couldn't have made it without you!

6. My Boyfriend is Da Best.

**Sappy Alert**

This year, I met one of the most incredible people in the whole wide world, and I am so fortunate and blessed to have him in my life.  He supports me, challenges me, helps me see the world differently, puts up with my weirdness, and ultimately loves me for who I am.  He has helped me get through some of the tough parts of the year and has celebrated with me during the happy times, and even though we don't get to see each other as often as we like, we make the best of it.  I am so thankful for him :)

7. 21 Lyfe is Fab.

Wow.  Who knew that when I turned 21, the song from Aladdin, "A Whole New World" would become my anthem.  That's right people, a whole new world opened up to me when I turned 21, and let me tell you...I LOVE IT.  These once foreign places are no longer off limits to me and it's awesome! ...Except they probably should be off limits to me, considering all the injuries I've sustained thus far.

Oh well.  #worthit.

8. Time Slows for no Woman.

Ack!!  I officially only have one more year at Purdue and am cryin'.  These past 3 years have been so amazing, and it depresses me to think that I only get one more year as a Boilermaker!  Time keeps speeding on by without a care in the world and here I am, sitting in a corner with my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth, trying to figure out what I'm gonna do with my life after I graduate.

Okay, so I'm not actually doing that, but still.  As sad as I am that junior year is over, I'm more excited to see how my final year will play out.  I'll be student teaching this spring in a 3rd grade classroom in Frankfort, IN and can't wait to do it (even though I'm also freaked out, lol). 

Anyways, until next time!

XOXO

And Just Like That, Junior Year was Over.

At this point, these are the thoughts that should be going through my head:
Wow, junior year is already over?
Where has the time gone?
I can't believe I'm a senior!
This is so exciting! Almost time for the real world!

Here's what is actually going through my head:
Is it bedtime?
I want ice cream.
My arms are gonna be Jello tomorrow from the lifting Syd and I did tonight.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, it honestly hasn't sunk in, but it's true: junior year is officially over.  My one and only final was yesterday, I managed to turn all my projects in on time, and now I'm free, free at last (thanks for the words of inspiration, MLK).

So, here's how I ended junior year with a bang in the form of an acrostic poem commemorating my new status:

Studying with Yashas
Education bar crawl
No more class
Intimidating Fulbright consultation
One free biscuit taco from Taco Bell
Retirement party for Janet, my academic adviser

Studying with Yashas
So this past Friday, I was sitting at work during the kids' nap time when I texted Lush and said that I wanted to see him because I missed him.  So he said I should.  So then I did.  I was like, I only have one project left and I can work on it while I hang out with the boy, so I might as well!  And let me tell you, it was the best weekend ever.  I got there on Friday night after work and we hung out and he made me chicken jalfrezi (after I accidentally dropped the jalfrezi jar on the ground as soon as I got out of my car, resulting in a shattered jar and a mess that looked like vomit...needless to say, we had to go buy a new one).  Saturday was spent studying/working on projects in this beautiful courtyard, watching Game of Thrones (because he loves the show and wants me to watch it, and I begrudgingly agreed, but actually kinda like it, shh, don't tell him I said that), and eating a picnic dinner of Mexican food at the location of our first date.  Oh, and ice cream.  Then Sunday was more GoT and a delicious omelet made by my chef of a boyfriend, but I had to come back and face reality soon enough, so back to West LaFiesta it was.

My study buddy!

Education bar crawl
That's right, teachers know how to have fun.  Last night, a bunch of education majors got together for a little bar crawl to celebrate the end of our EAPS final earlier that day and the end of a successful year.  Club going up, on a Tuesday.  I had a great time with these wonderful ladies (and the sole male who showed up) and have loved getting to know them the past few years.  It makes me sad that my Purdue careers is almost over :(

Brothers

Harry's

Baes

Rosa Parks autobiography group from Block III (Spring 2014)

No more class
Here are some pictures from some of the last classes I had as a junior:

Last day of EAPS...forever!!

Last day with Dr. Staver

Intimidating Fulbright consultation
So I decided back during freshman year that I wanted to apply for an English Teaching Assistant Fulbright scholarship, and what do you know, time flies so quickly that I'm already in the depths of the application process.  Essentially, if I am lucky enough to be granted with this scholarship, I will teach English in Mexico for around 9 months after I graduate.  I am so excited thinking about the prospect of this happening, but in the meantime, I have to write a personal statement essay, a statement of grant purpose essay, revise them, revise them again, meet with a writing consultant, revise them again, do a language evaluation, fill out my application, and so on and so forth.  The latest step in this process was to meet with Purdue faculty who have had Fulbright experience so they could go over my essays and offer suggestions for improvement.  And wow, was that an intimidating experience.  My two professors knew so much about the process and what to look for that I felt like I knew absolutely nothing!  However, their commentary was extremely helpful, so I know my essays will improve immensely after I get around to revising them yet another time...

One free biscuit taco from Taco Bell
Lol, the O was difficult to come up with, but yesterday for Cinco de Mayo, Taco Bell was giving away free biscuit tacos for breakfast.  That's like, two of my favorite things: Taco Bell and free.

Retirement party for Janet, my academic adviser
We got the dreaded email last Thursday that Janet, my trusty academic adviser, master of all things Elementary Education, savior in many-a-scheduling crisis, was retiring at the end of the semester.

Cue sobs.

I'm going to miss her so much!  Not only is she extremely organized, but she also truly cares about each of her students, sending us congratulatory emails on good grades or checking in on our injuries.  It's going to be so different without her, but because she has had such a big impact in my life and her other students' lives, we wanted to celebrate her.  So, we got a bunch of people to sign a picture frame, got flowers and cookies for her, got a bunch of her students to make her cards, and we  had a little surprise party for her today under the pretense of my needing an advising appointment.  I think she really enjoyed it and she even started tearing up.  We wish her the best with everything though!

We'll miss you, Janet!

Welp, bring on summer! ...and full time hours at the daycare.

Oh, and don't forget to spend time with yo momma on Mother's Day! (Shoutout to mine, because she da bestttt!)