Sunday I moved back to Iowa City, and that day marked a day of a lot of things. It marked beginnings and endings alike.
It marked the end of a great summer.
This summer was such a great one. I spent every day with awesome kiddos. It was my third summer nannying for the Nigg family, so at this point, it didn't even really feel like work. It felt like hanging out with friends or even siblings. And we did some fun stuff! We went to movies and Living History Farms, swimming and hiking, and just hung out. This was most likely my last summer with the Niggs, and it was a great last one to have with them.
I also went on an amazing trip to NYC this summer in case you didn't know! It was full of fun sightseeing, an amazing conference, and quality time with new friends. I couldn't have asked for a better trip. Fingers crossed I can attend the conference next summer!
It marked the beginning of my third year of school and my final full year of school.
My third year of school? That is so crazy. I can't believe it. Each year of school seems to get better than the last, so I'm really excited for this year, more excited than I have been for any other year in the past.
I'm excited to take more classes in my major, although it will be hard for any class to beat my favorite class ever, Harry Potter and the Quest for Enlightenment, that I took last year. I'm excited for football games. And I'm excited for other opportunities I have and other events I already have written in my planner.
And moving into a new place is always exciting! It's fun to decorate my room and make it my own. It's already starting to take shape!
I plan on graduating in December of 2017, which means that this is my final full year of school. It's the last time I'll be here for a spring semester. It's the last time I'll come for a fall semester that isn't my final semester ever. A year from now I'll be starting my last ever semester of college, and that is so, so crazy.
I plan on making the most I can out of this year!
It marked the third time I've left home for school.
That probably sounds similar to my last point, but the two are completely different to me. Yes, leaving for school is exciting and something to look forward to. But leaving home has always been hard for me, and this year was no different. Sure, it's gotten a little easier to leave every year, but it's still sad.
As I wrote in a blog post a couple of months ago, I still get homesick. There are still nights when all I wanna be doing is sitting at home with my parents. It's sad leaving home at the end of the summer knowing that might be the last time I live there for a substantial amount of time.
While it's fun and exciting to be back at school, I still miss home, and I don't think there will ever be a time when I don't miss home. I just know to enjoy it the most that I can while I'm there and to make the most of being at school that I can.
It marked the beginning of my second year as Editor-in-Chief for Her Campus Iowa.
Her Campus is one of my favorite things about school, and I am so stoked to jump back into everything HC now that I'm back. We did some planning over the summer, so I'm excited to implement new ideas and strategies to make this the best year HC Iowa has ever seen.
I get so inspired being involved with Her Campus. The women I'm surrounded by, the ideas we come up with, the things we do and put on: all of it is so creative and fun and inspiring and just one of my favorite things in the world. I am so excited to get started!
Moving back to school always fills me with a bundle of emotions, some good and some not so good. But I've got the whole year ahead of me, and I'm ecstatic to see what's in store. Here's to the best year yet!
Lots of love,
Sarah
John Irving, "The World According to Garp"