Heeeeeere summer, summer.

For the TCU horned frogs there are six weeks until summer. In between that time there are papers, mixers, presentations, formals, exams, interviews, books to be read and shenanigans to be had. This summer I have the privilege of being an orientation leader and spending a summer with 22 amazing individuals as we welcome the new baby horned frogs. I have three goals this summer:  start and finish my book list (The Catcher and the Rye, The Fault in Our Stars, and many others, suggestions are welcome), watch all seasons of “30 Rock” and “Parks & Recreation,” and grow closer to my friends while helping the new horned frogs adjust to college life. As excited as I am for my “summer like none other”, my heart is currently full. I’m ready for summer but I am content to wait and enjoy these last few weeks.

So, whether you are a senior in high school or a senior in college, or even a sophomore like me just waiting to be able to call yourself a junior, hold off on wanting summer so badly. We have about 6 weeks to impulsively drive to Dallas for sprinkles thirty minutes before it closes or lay on our beds and have life chats when we know papers are due soon. Life is short and college is even shorter so be happy, hopeful, and most importantly be a horned frog. 

From Regis to TCU

This weekend, just one year ago, I came home from Denver for Spring Break. Every time I had come home I was simply overjoyed but I thought it was merely because I had such amazing family and friends back home that I couldn’t wait to see. Well, as you all probably know that week I toured TCU and Baylor. (two places I never considered going while looking at colleges senior year.) I remember just having a conversation with a friend as she asked me how school was and I just broke down crying because I was unhappy. After visiting TCU, I knew it was time for me to make a change. I returned to Regis and sent in my application and in April I received my acceptance letter to TCU.

When I decided to leave everyone asked if it was because I was homesick. In all honesty, I got homesick only once. It all really came down to the fact I knew I wanted to work and live in Texas after graduation and Texas will simply always be my home. 

When people now ask me how TCU is I know I don’t have to lie about being in love with my life at my school. There is no greater pride I feel than being a horned frog. (I know, I know who would have ever thought.) I have met such wonderful women of God who I call my best friends. I am in the honors college, a member of Catholic Community and a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and have such caring professors. Everything that I thought college was supposed to be that I didn’t find at Regis is what I have found at TCU.

I know that if I had never gone away for school I would not be as thankful as I am for TCU. I would not be as thankful for my great state and surely not as close to my mom and grandma as I am today. I have no regrets for having to go away to figure out I needed to come back. Every part of our lives hopefully amounts to something in the end, some lesson we all need to learn, and I didn’t have to wait to long to figure that out. There is a greater plan that we are all unaware of so we must trust in Him.

Here I am a year from my decision and I just want to tell others reading this that no matter what, be happy with where you are and if you are not, then make a change. Yes, it is scary to start over and yes in some ways you may feel like you have done something wrong, but life is too short to be unhappy and not getting what you deserve. So here’s to making changes and just simply trying to figure it out, day by day.