Hey guys!
The end of the semester is finally here! If I close my eyes, it feels like yesterday that I was just moving back into the dorms as a sophomore in college. The muggy August air, the excited buzz in the hallways, and the overflow of new people, new classes, and new experiences feel like a breath away and I can’t believe we’re nearing the end.
Since that day I moved all my stuff into my new bedroom, so much has happened, and I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on some of my favorite and most meaningful moments that have come out of this semester.
Meeting My Boyfriend on the Very First Day
I know it’s a bit cheesy, but I wanted to pay homage to one of the best people I’ve met this year! I could go on and on about how much of an impact Riley has been on my life and how grateful I am to have met him. He’s my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the coolest person I know. I’ll definitely miss him over winter break, but you know what they say! Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
Finding This Stray Cat Outside of Stanley Hall
Speaking of Riley, there was one night that I got a call from him (It was at 3 a.m., and let me tell you, I was soooo nice and cozy in my bed by that point) but he called to tell me how he and his friend were outside of the residence hall and found a cat he wanted me to see. Of course, when I heard a cat was involved, I sprang out of bed, threw on a sweater, and bolted outdoors. And, let me tell you… this was the sweetest outdoor cat I have ever met! 
She let us pet her, carry her, and play in the parking lot before she ultimately ended up running away. I haven’t seen the cat since, but this picture is my favorite picture of me taken this semester.
Signing the Lease for an Apartment Next Year
This was definitely a highlight of my year. Not sure if any of you are aware of the term, “adulting” but this was a moment in my life where I really felt like I was growing out of childhood and into adulthood. Researching places, scheduling tours, and then completing the signing was such a whirlwind (and very stressful) but I’m so glad I found the perfect place for me, and I’ll be living with one of my best friends here in Iowa City!
Listening to Taylor Swift’s Midnights Release
For those of you who don’t know, Taylor Swift released her newest album, “Midnights” in October of this year. If you haven’t listened to the album yet, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. Drop everything and turn it on now!
On the night the album was released, I and my freshman year roommate sat in my room with glasses of apple cider and listened to the release together. We gushed over every song and spent an hour and a half just dissecting every line, every beat, and every hidden metaphor. Even though we were up until 2am, it was definitely a night to remember.
My “Vogue” Photoshoot
Earlier in the year, I was able to get in touch with a friend of mine, Samm Yu, who has a photography business here in Iowa City (I’ll link their Instagram here). We were able to set up a photo shoot, and then the next thing I know, we were doing an official photoshoot on the rooftop of Stanley IN THE FREEZING COLD!!! Even though I was shivering the whole time, it was so fun being able to pose for Samm and eventually getting some of my favorite photos of myself.
If you’re interested in getting your photo taken for any sort of occasion, I would definitely reach out to Samm!
Performing at Mirage
I actually did a whole blog post about this performance purely because of how much fun it was!
I had such a great job performing with the organization “Walk It Out” and being part of a show that advocates for sexual health! Even though we didn’t perform until midnight and those nerves felt like they were never-ending, it was just a reminder of how much I like to perform, and yes, how cool I am when I have a sword in my hand!
Throwing a Surprise Party for My Friend’s Birthday
Only a few weekends ago, I and my closest friends threw a surprise party for our friend, Eva! She’s one of the sweetest and most hardworking individuals on campus, yet I haven’t been able to see her much because of how intense classes have been and because she lives off-campus this year. It was great that we got to spend her big day with her and spend that much-needed friend time before finals. 
After we surprised her in her apartment, we ate some homemade cupcakes, caught up, and then got dinner at Unimpaired, a dry bar here in Iowa City, where we got some delicious pizza. I loved being able to get together with everyone and it really felt like the perfect weekend to wrap up the semester.
Those are my top seven moments this semester! Thank you guys so much for spending time with me these past couple of months and I can’t wait to start strong in January with a whole new set of blog posts for the spring semester.
See you then and be safe and happy holidays!
