How did four years go by so fast?
I feel like my freshman year was only yesterday, and now here I am watching all of my peers graduate (well, virtually anyway). Though I have an extra year, I know I’m not the 
only one; it makes me excited to know that I’ll get to hang around CMU for two more semesters and get a little extra time to mentally and financially prepare for the real world. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that I have become hyper-aware of the last firsts to come: the last first football game of the season, the last first day of class, the last first trip to the Bird… Seeing all of my peers talk about it ending for them has really made me realize how much I need to appreciate it all when my super senior year arrives next fall.
I look back, and see how much I’ve accomplished; how much I’ve changed and grown. I 
used to be quieter, more anxious, and pretty uneducated about a lot of things outside of my small hometown. But now, I’m more confident, outgoing, aware, and experienced. I’ve become a great photographer, and have gotten the privilege of being the 
Leadership Institute photographer; I’ve changed my major too many times, only to land on areas of study that I truly love; I’ve learned who I am and who I’m becoming. I’ve outgrown old ways of thinking that didn’t serve me anymore and let go of people who didn’t reciprocate. I’ve been through the weird clown thing of 2016, March 2nd of 2018, a polar vortex, and now a global pandemic. It’s been a ride full of wild, unexpected things, and I am so 
grateful for how this college experience has unfolded, even if it wasn’t always ideal.
The people I’ve met, though many of them are now graduated, have taught me so much and given me so much, whether they know it or not. All of the roommates I’ve had from freshman year to now, my wonderful mentee and LAS family tree, my LAS cohort, the Leadership Institute staff that I’ve worked with and been guided by, the friends I’ve met either in class, at the bars,
at conferences and events, or on alternative breaks, they’ve all played such a big part in my time here and I hope that they know that I am forever thankful for them and the role that they’ve played in my life. I want them to know that they will not be forgotten in my book, and that they always have a special place in my heart.
Of course, the year came to an abrupt end with COVID-19. No one expected this to 
happen and I wish, as I’m sure everyone else does, that it didn’t have to be this way. I am a firm believer in the statement that everything happens for a reason, and believe me, this was a difficult one to come to terms with and understand. However, I’m fortunate enough to have that extra year here to get the closure that some of my peers didn’t get the chance to have this year. I wish that we could all have a do-over for this year, because I would have loved to celebrate their accomplishments 
with them; college is hard. They deserve to have a proper send-off, and I hope that they get that when this is all over.
Everyone asks what you’re going to do next as you’re finishing up college, so I thought I should share. As I gear up for my extra senior year, I am also gearing up for my post-graduation plan. Though God could send me in a totally different direction than what I plan, I want to move down to the Detroit area and become a barista. In this position, I want to learn about coffee and the coffee business, while also saving up money to purchase a small bus to renovate. With this renovated house/bus, I’ll travel the country and lead workshops on how to have a healthy relationship with yourself, and with your food, your relationships, 
your surroundings, and more. The You + Food workshop that I put together this semester will serve a larger purpose beyond college, and this is what I intend to do with it. Now, remember when I said I wanted to learn about the coffee business too while I’m a barista? That’s because after I’ve traveled the country holding workshops, I want to start my own coffee shop. However, this won’t be just any coffee 
shop; this place will have therapists working alongside the baristas, so that people can come in and have a session with their therapists in a free or affordable way, while also providing a casual space to do so. I feel like two of the things that keep people from getting help the most are the cost of therapy, and the intimidation factor. I want this coffee shop to eliminate both, as well as provide additional help such as morning meditation sessions, painting classes, and other small things that people can do to productively take care of their mental health. It’s 
going to be a big project, but with what I’ve learned in the last four years about art, psychology, leadership, and myself, I feel that I am equipped to tackle it.
I have grown into the person that I’ve always wanted to be, thanks to Central Michigan University and all the things I’ve been able to be a part of here. I’m so thankful to have an extra year to further refine myself, meet more people, and nurture the relationships I’ve already made. There will never be enough words or the right words to express how thankful I am for my time here, and how much I appreciate everything the people of CMU are and what they’ve given and taught me, but I hope that my actions now and in the future can help exemplify what this place has done for me. I plan to carry everything I’ve learned into the future, and make the world a better place with the tools, people, and lessons that CMU has given me.
Fire up, forever.
