My freshman year of college had been the best part of my life thus far. The first time I felt safe, comfortable, self-sufficient, and at home. I belonged somewhere, with people who understood me. I truly fit in for the first time in my life. As a result, I had been more emotionally stable during the second half of my spring semester than I had been since early childhood. I cried during the drive home. I was leaving behind the greatest place on Earth to return to a place of uncertainty.

When it came time to pack for summer vacation, I was terrified. I feared high school friends considered me as someone they wished to leave behind. I went far away from college, most of my them stayed close to home, so communication was hard. I also was known for being a drama queen, but I was working on changing that, and progressing for that matter. They couldn’t have known that, though. They were a state away.

This theory was confirmed when I invited a few of these friends over for my birthday. Some had prior commitments, a few made up excuses, and some never responded to my invite. One even went shopping instead. My best friend was the only one who showed up. Without him, my nineteenth birthday would have been my worst. I felt like I lost every friend at home except for him and one that lived 50 minutes away.

To make matters worse I was diagnosed with mononucleosis (mono) two weeks into my summer vacation. I spent the first half of summer lying in bed, sick, scared, and alone. That same best friend was the only friend who visited me during my 7 weeks of sickness. I went on an Alaskan cruise in this time, but most of it was spent lying in bed, sick as a dog.

Upon returning to health I went through another round of challenges, including family arguments, a breakup, a decrease in my ADHD medication, learning that a few “friends” from high school secretly hated me, and a hard recovery from mono. I desperately wanted to go back to school, where everything was right and happy.

July 3^rd was the day my summer began gaining traction. I saw Panic! At the Disco and Weezer in concert with my best friend, and had a blast. After the concert, I felt joyful and full of energy. I then decided I was going to make the rest of my summer legendary.

I reached out to a few of my high school friends. Turns out they missed me just as much as I missed them. Between Cards Against Humanity, riding inner tubes down lazy rivers, hiking, mini golfing, binge watching Netflix, going to the movies, and swimming, there was never a dull moment. Of course, I was still sad about my former friends leaving me behind. However, what was lost was gained in respect and gratitude for the friends I still have.

I began personal training with my local gym to get back into shape after mono. I regained the weight I lost, surpassed my fitness level prior to my diagnosis, and always left the gym with a smile on my face.

I had many wonderful adventures. I spent a weekend at my college friends’ apartments in New York having bonfires, visiting state parks, and jet skiing. I went to the beach with my family, where my sister and I kayaked, tanned, and swam. I went to a Pirates game with a friend and a Steelers game with my dad. I went to Pittsburgh with three friends where we got a taste of the excitement of the city. These memories I made are sure to last a lifetime.

I had so much fun in these last two months of summer, that I am a little sad to watch it go. I was so ready to go back to school since the very beginning, that this sadness is taking me by surprise. Although I am beyond ready to return to the greatest place on Earth, I know that I will always smile at the memories made in the summer of 2016.