I had a birthday yesterday.

This wasn't just any normal birthday. This was my last time I would ever celebrate being a young, naive, college student with no real world worries that I needed to face. I am not repaying my many student loans quite yet. I don't have a full time job yet or my first dog that I want so badly. I am just enjoying what freedom I have left and thats all I really can do at this point right?

My last birthday here at Slippery Rock University was actually quite bittersweet. It showed me how loved I am. I couldn't tell you how many people stopped to tell me happy birthday or the amount of hugs I got. This year has really started off by showing me how grateful I really am for all the amazing things that I have been given ever since I started here in the Fall 2015 semester.

It also showed me that I am ready for this next chapter in my life to start. I had two separate birthday celebrations; one being dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse with my girlfriends that aren't legal yet, and the other was a small gathering at Ginger Hill with my friends that obviously were able to drink. Dinner was great and I honestly am still so stuffed from the amount of deliciousness I ate. Ginger Hill was pretty fun as well but it really showed me that I am over the party scene era of my life. There was so many people there and I honestly get uncomfortable in big groups like that. I couldn't breathe and that is when it dawned on me.

I want to graduate already.

I feel like I am living senior year of high school again. I feel like I just moved into my first apartment in August and its already Thanksgiving Break. Time is going fast for me and here I am wishing it would go faster. Please let me explain though.

All my life I was struggling to find my identity and I feel like when I got here I finally found who I am. So many good things have happened since I have been here. I fell in love, and managed to have my heart break only a few months later. I gained so many new friends that will stay in touch with after my time here is done. I am involved in so many great organizations here that I have managed to come out of my shell with. I feel like all the lows that got me to this part of my life were well worth the high I seem to be living. That is why I want to graduate already, because I want to see just how long I get to live in my own little realm of happy......

I had my 23rd birthday.

It made me realize how sweet life can really be.