Real talk: 2016 was a pretty awful year in a lot of ways. Here, read this list of 16 random accomplishments of mine to remind you of some of your own, so that you can make your own list for reminiscing purposes.
1. I broke my 15-year no throw-up streak. On the plus side, I gained a new embarassing story and a new experience-induced fear: puking in public!
Recommended for you
2. I broke my 20-year no cavity streak. Still telling myself that the dentist is just looking for extra cash by drilling an imaginary cavity, because my teeth have always been impeccable. Maybe my recently onset sweet-tooth is to blame?
3. I broke my 20-year no boyfriend streak. Just kidding.
I actually told myself a while back that, since I'm preparing to live abroad for six months, I was not going to date anyone at all beforehand. It has been a little annoying but I know ultimately that it's for the best.
4. I had my first job interview. Well, big-girl job interview, that is. I've actually had a number of them this year. One was with several executives of a small, local company. One was with a classmate who hadn't even started the role he was hired for, but was asked to recruit nonetheless. As you can see, that's a pretty big range, and I've had all types of interviews in between.
5. I had my first big-girl job. Well, internship, but a job nonetheless. It was a fabulous experience!
6. I successfully completed the hardest undergrad class Grace College has to offer. People say that Organic Chemistry is the only undergrad class that's harder than Intermediate Accounting. Well, Org Chem got an open note final and we didn't. If we had had an open note final, I probably wouldn't have had to study 20-30 collective hours for it like I did. So yeah, I'd say we were the hardest undergrad class. And I survived. (Now to see if I survive the CPA exam...)
7. I ate chicken kabobs at a rooftop restaurant in Santorini, Greece. Not only was this the most Greek thing to ever happen, but the views in Santorini? Second to none.
8. I got 2 new piercings (or 4, depending on how you count them). My parents were thrilled with me, of course.
9. I learned that I am not particularly gifted at operating a jet ski. My excuses for my awful driving? A. I hadn't done it since sixth grade, and B. The 65-degree weather made my hands too numb. The real reason? I was terrified that we would fly off into the freezing lake.
10. I got to walk around a theater, hitting on audience members. In a play focused on the Gospel, nonetheless.
11. I walked around one of the most dangerous, drug-violence ridden neighborhoods of inner-city Philadelphia at midnight with a bunch of goofy, loud country kids in search of cheesesteak. I mean, I love these goofy, loud country kids to death, which I honestly expected to befall us that night. I've never shushed more frequently and intensely in my life.
12. I experienced delayed gratification like never before. I had planned on going to Argentina during the fall semester of this year (mid-July to November), but due to technical difficulties, it ended up being pushed back a semester, which means I'll leave at the end of January and get back in June. Kind of crazy to get excited for a big trip like that, only to find out you have to wait a whole extra semester! I understand, though, and am grateful that the timing's worked out this way; God certainly knows what He's doing.
13. I started watching the Bachelorette. Mostly because JoJo had the most beautiful dresses and hairstyles. Oh, and because the Chad/Evan drama rivaled even the Jacob/Edward dichotomy of the middle-school Twilight craze.
I definitely didn't watch the Bachelorette because I was interested in seeing who she picked. My friends and I knew it was going to be Jordan all along. No surprise there!
14. I took my first picture at the Bean in Chicago. I'd been to the Windy City countless times before, but it's always been with my family, who is more interested in shopping (no complaints here) than touristy landmarks. It took me going with my friends and desiring the typical squad-bean picture to finally see the structure, and it was pretty cool!
15. I developed a ferocious latte habit. Actually, it started as a cappuccino habit, but I stopped when I received a "cappuccino" that was 90% air and foam, 10% espresso shot and milk. It made me wonder how many other times I'd paid for ripoffs in a cardboard sleeve. So yeah, I like lattes now.
Drumroll, please!
16. I started writing for the Odyssey. It's been a great experience! Not long before I started my journey here, I asked God to use my writing to glorify Him and touch others through it if it were His plan, and look at the door He opened! It's an honor being part of such a great community.
It's been real, 2016. Thanks for some pretty cool experiences (and thanks for the lessons you provided through the not-so-cool ones).
Hopefully, you're inspired to compile your own list of memorable moments from this year. Next year, maybe you'll have 17 things to write about!
Happy 2017, friends! Have a blessed New Year!
