DecadEnds: A Decade Worth Celebrating

It's almost surreal when a post like this pops up on my news feed. It's hard to imagine that this is exactly where I was in life NINE YEARS AGO. Is it shocking how long ago it was or how recent? I can't decide. But it certainly leads me to reflect on what has been an INSANELY eventful decade in my life.

 

I never would've imagined that nine years later we'd be in a worldwide pandemic.  

What has happened in the decade of 2010-2020? SO MUCH Life.

1. I transferred to a new high school where, for the first time in years, I began to feel like a person with self-esteem and worth.

2. I picked up a new sport, discovering tennis was a new passion in my life. 

3. I played on the women's tennis team for two seasons, almost making varsity, and I managed the men's tennis team for two seasons. Post-high school I taught tennis to little kids for four summers.

4. For the first time I learned about psychology and all of its amazing facets. I took regular level psychology classes and assisted with an AP psychology class before taking the class myself.

5. I also took an amazing CIS English class that will always live on.

6. I played some intramural sports including volleyball.

7. I became part of a close-knit friend group with our tagline "You People." We went on tons of adventures together including tubing outings and celebrating New Years and the 4th of July together.

8. I participated in a braid-train sleepover with a group of fellow senior women to commemorate our senior year.

9. I joined International Club and had even more crazy adventures with friends as a result of it.

10. I participated in two years of yearbook and got to be Yearbook Editor my senior year. 

11. I joined the robotics teams my senior year after being familiarized with it (through my sister) my junior year. We goofed off 24/7 and had plenty of crazy shenanigans including "The Duluth Trip" and so-to-speak "starting a band."

12. I attended proms and homecoming dances filled with there fair share or good moments and definitely their fair share of drama.

13. I became inseparable with my bestie spending summers together 24/7. I also became a fan of the shows Dr. Who and Sherlock.

14. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL!

15. I started college and enjoyed my first two years living in the dorms. I grew in my faith through a very special community and through adoration and retreats.

16. I sang in our college choir for three years. 

17. I took the most amazing English classes: British Lit. being at the top of the list. I also took incredible Latin, Catholic Studies, and Psychology classes and an incredible Philosophy class.

18. I studied abroad in Rome for four months!!! Side trips included a week in Poland and visiting Pompeii.

19. I spent just over two years in roles as a student worker: food delivery, craft room organization, etc.

20. I worked as a nanny at a summer camp.

21. I went on lots of fun adventures with our "Summer Hiking Club."

23. I passed my Summa Cum Laude exam and graduated college.

24. I spent three years working with preschoolers on the autism spectrum and had so many amazing, rewarding moments and experiences with the kids.

25. I decided my life could use more eventfulness, so I moved to Nashville where I stayed in the hospital and met a group of friends that changed my life!!!

26. I grew in appreciation of my home state and blessings like never before.

27. I hit a dear of 65 MPH on the freeway in the middle-of-nowhere Illinois. 

28. I attended lots of wonderful Special Olympics events.

29. I gave in and decided to start using dating apps, gaining valuable experiences from them.

30. I took a break from normal life for some amazing (again, life-changing) mental health treatment that I cannot speak highly enough of.

31. I decided to start actually pursuing a social life and then COVID-19 happened. Thankfully, my social life continued only blossomed all-the-more due to its virtual means. I met an AMAZING group of friends.

32. I got to co-mother so many AMAZING gerbils! 

33. I explored my faith and worked on self-care taking a much-needed, rejuvenating break from ordinary life.

34. I picked up tennis yet again thanks to various wonderful new friends.

35. I had my most near-death experience to date and realized that tragedies can hit anyone at any moment. They don't just happen "out there." I grew in appreciation for the crazy amazing people in my life.