Getting there

Hey y'all. By "y'all" I'm not sure who I mean, since probably 2 people read this. So, hey you two.

It's the end of the year. I still have 3 papers and a final left, but it's pretty much over. My oh MY it was a strange year.

In addition to finally getting the facial hair I've always wished for, I learned a lot. Inside the classroom I learned many things: how to identify over 200 bird species, the unique struggle of African-American women, the difference between a green darter and a rainbow darter, what the inside of a rattlesnake looks like, how many ATPs are generated per turn of the Krebs cycle (just kidding I already forgot that). Outside of the school setting I got schooled as well. I don't care to divulge.

Friends came and went. My residents moved in and out. Food went mostly in (except for once when it came back out of my mouth).

HIGHLIGHTS (for no reason in no order!)

ASB trips to San Juan, Texas and Pittsboro, North Carolina

Bike tune ups for SECS

Getting close with some of my residents

Being a programming fiend

Playing Zelda on the Wii for 2 nights

Watching the board of trustees and the student population struggle around the Chief

Writing for the Green Observer

Being friends with MJ

Going to Iowa with Adam and Casey for a night

Being single

Never wearing my retainer

Living in Champaign again

Chasing birds through the Champaign wilderness

Gaining weight (and rarely working out)


I'm sure something else happened, but overall it was a great year. In many ways I progressed, and in many ways I regressed. Overall there was a net positive gain, I believe. Sometimes I don't feel like it, but at this time last year I was so much more of a dumb ass. I haven't progressed from an advancement of knowledge, but from increased amounts of critical thinking. And that has been the greatest thing about this campus this year. We all have thought freaking hard about our words and actions, and we all have held each other accountable for the ridiculous things that have been happening.

A lovely year, really. But right now I'm remembering that it's not over yet, so I'll leave you with a picture.


LK