In less than two weeks, I will be saying goodbye to my 18th year and hello to my 19th. I’m not going to lie and say 18 was a pretty chill year, because it wasn’t. It was hands down one of the most exciting years of my life. Let’s take a look at my year and all the things that happened.

I started my eighteenth year off at the casino with my best friend and my family. What better way to celebrate turning 18 than gambling, right?! My first time at the casino turned out to be amazing. I ended up winning $320 on a slot machine and called it good for the day. Turning 18 must also mean that you become smarter and know when to stop yourself from blowing your money. That night I went to bed and woke up the next day with all my friends in my house for a surprise-birthday-breakfast-party. Two of my favorite things-- my friends and breakfast food. What a dream.

Moving on to a couple months into year 18, my sister moved away to California. This one was a struggle for me. Having your big sister live over 2,300 miles away from you is a hard thing. However, you learn to appreciate your bond more and most importantly appreciate the time you spent together. To make matters more interesting, less than 24 hours after she left, it was time for me to peace out and move into my dorm at Michigan State. This was the start of the most amazing part of my eighteenth year. I lived in a room with three other girls who truly made the year memorable. I got a job on campus, had a huge epiphany and changed my major halfway through the year, passed all my classes (thank God!), and made some amazing friends along the way. Looking back at it, I couldn’t imagine my life without Michigan State and all the joy it brought me.

In addition to college, I got to spend some time traveling outside of Michigan. I took a couple trips to California, quite a few trips to New Jersey, and a super fun trip to Illinois to hang out with two of my best friends from school.

It’s now reaching the end of year 18, and I’m spending a lot of it working and a lot of it enjoying my summer. In a couple weeks I will be ending this awesome year on the beach in New Jersey-- my favorite place.

Year 18 was a good one, but I’m so ready for year 19 and whatever comes with it. I’ve learned a lot about myself and the world, but there’s so much more to look forward to-- more moments and memories that I cannot wait to come. Bring it on.