This year has been a fun, adventurous, and exceptional year. 2016 was really great to me. Since it's the season for blessings, I wanted to take a step back from the all the holiday madness to refocus on the wonderful opportunities, friendships, and new memories I've made this past year.

During my senior year of high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to be a page in the Maryland General Assembly. For a week in March, I got to first hand watch Maryland Delegates debate in the House on bills that would affect not only me but others in my state. That first Monday night I got to go in the State House all I could think about was, how in the world did I end up here? I was a bundle of nerves but then I took a breath and remembered that in this exact moment this is where I was supposed to be. I thought back to October when I sat in my Government class talking to my teacher about it. He encouraged me to apply for my district and even took time out of our class to help me figure out what the Page Program was all about. Looking back on that week I spent in Annapolis, I learned so much and all I can do is laugh with joy over that week because it meant so much to me.

Then just a few weeks later came my graduation which was the the craziest moment of my life. I remember walking down the aisle to the stage in a full sprint (completely accidental) and then taking my place on stage surrounded by my classmates. I looked out into the audience to see my family sitting together and in that moment all I wanted to do was cry. Cry because not only was I ending a chapter but also starting a new one. I wanted to cry because I would have to leave everything I knew back home and go off to a new place all on my own. Little did I know this would be one of the greatest moments of my life.

August came and went way faster than I would've liked however moving into my dorm at Washington College became one of the best moments of my life. Once settling down and getting a feel for my campus and classes, I got to become close with some of the most amazing people. Anna, Tom, Elizabeth, and Allie have been the most amazing friends that they've come to be my family. There wasn't a time in my first semester that I wasn't with one of them (and Elizabeth lives in the same dorm as I do). Whenever I needed something they were always the first ones to respond whether I was sick as a dog in bed, crying over the amount of stress my classes put on me, or if I needed someone to go to the dining hall with, they were the ones there at any hour. Anna, Tom, and I literally drove to McDonald's at midnight to get fries because why not?

Of course how could I forget my supportive, loving family? They stuck through my side through everything. They've been my cheerleaders, my taxi drivers (sorry I didn't get my license for a while, we all know I really hated driving), my rock, and of course everything a girl could ask for in regards to being a great family. Anything I needed they were there, always without question. I don't think they'll ever know how much that meant to me.

And so with the holidays coming and going (along with 2016), I look around and smile. I've had such an amazing year and to me, that's the best Christmas gift of all.