In some ways, this website and blog of mine have become a time capsule. I’ve been preoccupied with the comings and goings of this past year and a half, basically, since COVID-19 became a true pandemic around a year and a half ago, and properly neglected it. The world has changed so much in these months and weeks. My life has changed. I was living in Spain when the world shut down and spent the remainder of my second semester of my master’s degree stuck in my apartment in Spain, around 100 days where I didn’t/couldn’t really leave. Then I flew back home to the midwest, trying to make the best of a sticky situation. I’ve learned so much. I began volunteering with the American Red Cross and have developed a true appreciation for the organization. I started working on the thesis that never ends and worked as a substitute teacher. I lost my aunt to COVID-19. I was able to spend lots of quality time with my family. Oh, and I got fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Looking forward, lots of changes are coming full steam ahead. I’m moving across the US in just a few weeks, with only 5 weeks until I move into my new apartment. I got a full-time job with the American Red Cross as a Disaster Program Specialist in Hickory, North Carolina, and get to start that virtually in just 2 weeks. I’m coordinating getting my personal life in order, finding all of my belongings I’ve scattered throughout my mom’s house over the last 4 years since I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree, and making long lists of the things I still need to get. Thankfully, I will be able to see some of my friends in person before I pack up my (new to me) minivan and drive to my next step and life stage.

Excitement is the word I’d use to best describe the majority of my emotions, but as always when making big, bold decisions and moves, there’s still that small voice that questions “am I doing the right thing?”. Thankfully this small voice is much smaller than usual, but I know down deep that this is the right next step.

As this chapter of my life, getting my master’s degree and strategizing for my future career, begins to close, I’m excited for what is next. My major life goals are shifting and still being straightened out. I’m so thankful for making it through so many challenges of my past and feel like I’m finally going to be able to blossom into the person I’ve always been meant to become with this next step and stage. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, beyond moving across the country and into a new job, and I’m excited to see where the journey takes me.