Diving in.

Hayley and I were video-chatting the other day (which isn't really something we do ever, but it was fun) and we had a little chuckle over how we both seem to check out of the blogging world at the same time.

But then I felt a bit sad about how long it's been since I updated. I am in the process of finishing my senior thesis and graduating from college, and regardless of how busy I am right now, this is a part of my life I am going to want to remember. So here I am.

Since I last updated, I went to Washington DC with Shawn Ahmed of Uncultured Project and Matt Shueller (Booshoe37) to help with Advocacy Day for Save The Children on Capitol Hill. I met so many amazing people (including Senator Durbin and Frist, and Lisa Edelstein of the TV show House!) and got to actually talk to the administrative assistants of the WA state Senators about Save The Children issues. I had a great team I was working with (they split Shawn and Matt and I up, which ended up being okay because we all met awesome people in our separate groups) and I made what I think is a pretty good video about the whole experience.

I got home and then picked up Luke from the airport that same night. He came to visit me one last time before moving back to Wyoming for the summer, which was really nice. We did film our footage for the Mirror Song while he was here, but other than that, we mostly just got to hang out and spend time together in average, normal couple ways. I liked that. Usually we jam pack so much stuff into our trips together; just having some free time was lovely.

Now Luke is officially moved in over in Wyoming, doing his river guiding job, and I'm working hard here on my Senior Thesis and end of the year school things. It's been nice getting little updates from him in a new place. He still feels just as far away (a phone call, or an IM) but it's fun getting to learn about his new home.

I gave my Thesis presentation yesterday but it was kind of a showcase of "what we're working on" - so the final project is actually due in a week. Then I have one last final exam, a journal assignment, and a commencement party left, and then that's IT. I'll be done with school. It's a really, really weird feeling.

On the one hand, I am so thrilled. I've been a little bit emotionally unattached to school for the better part of the last year or so, because sometimes I feel like it gets in the way of the things I feel are actually benefiting my life. I mean, I definitely feel that getting a degree is going to benefit my life (which is why I am still here). But with all the opportunities I've gotten with music and YouTube recently; it's a struggle when I have to turn things down because of school. So having the freedom from that, after graduation, is going to be amazing.

But on the other hand, I have never not been a student. I went from preschool finger painting to kindergarten gluing things to elementary school clubs and playgrounds to middle school friend drama to high school self discovery to college independence with no breaks. To think that will all be over in two short weeks - I have no idea what to expect on the other side!

I'm excited about it though. I love the life I'm living, and every day I have seems brighter than the last. Every December 31st I think to myself "I could never top this year I just had", and every year I do! So I'm interested to see what life has in store for me without school dictating how I spend my time.

So I don't know. I'm feeling a combination of excitement and nervousness. Readiness and of being unprepared. But there are things, I'm finding, in life, that you can never truly be prepared for. Graduating. Making huge changes like moving. Your favorite TV show ending. Falling in love. There is no way to fully prepare for things like this, because there is such a huge element of the unknown. Of being disappointed. Of failing. Of being vulnerable. Things like this, you just have to dive into. With faith that you'll be okay on the other end.

I have faith that I'll be okay on the other end. And if I'm not, well, then I have you guys. :)

You should tell me in the comments if you're graduating from something soon (or if you did recently). And if you're not, then what have you needed to dive into recently? I'd like to know what big events are going on in all of your lives, because it sure makes it a heck of a lot easier knowing I'm not the only one with huge changes on my horizon.

I'm going to try to update more as school continues to wind down. Fingers crossed I wont take another three week break like last time.

Last google search: HTC HD2 (I'm a phone nerd)
Chipotle burritos: 10