Junior Year Top 10

As this school year is coming to close, I thought it would be a good time to take a step back and reflect on some of the highlights of my year! So here's my junior year top ten (in a somewhat chronological order):

1. Moving into the KD house

By far the highlight of my year has been living in the KD house! Living with 40 girls all under one roof is one of the craziest and most fun things that I think I have ever and will ever do. It’s just as loud and silly as you’d expect it to be. While the moments of quiet and solitude are few and far between, it's my favorite place that I’ve lived in all of college. There’s always a friend nearby to convince you that you should go get ice cream or to sit and debrief a long day on the porch with. From all of us girls piling on the couch to watch UNC basketball games to sitting in the hallways late at night chatting to all smushing into one room to hangout, the memories I made this year are some of my favorite yet. I'm not ready for this year-long sleepover to be done! Needless to say, someone is going to have to drag me out of this house when move out day rolls around.?

2. Football, Football, Football

Working for the football team is one of my core memories, not of junior year but of college. While it consists of lots of early mornings and late nights, I take a huge amount of pride in my job. I love being on the sidelines and getting to be a part of the team becoming better and better each week. Not to mention that we have a ton of fun on the job. From cracking jokes at 7 am to funny fantasy football punishments, we sure know how to entertain ourselves. Rarely a day goes by at work where I’m not laughing for at least half of the practice!?

3. Becoming a B school student!

Applying to the business school and becoming a B school student was such an unexpected but awesome blessing this year! I decided in early August to apply because I figured I had nothing to lose. A couple months later, I was accepted! I had no idea what to make of the business curriculum and school- let alone if I would like it or not. Turns out, I love it. Everything I’m learning in my B school courses is truly interesting and engaging to me. The B school was the missing piece to my education puzzle and I am so glad that I found it!

4. Spontaneous trips!

This year contained its fair share of spontaneous trips. If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I love to travel- even if it is to a destination just an hour down the road. From celebrating SC’s birthday at Badin lake to a less than 24 hour road trip to the Virginia mountainside to watch JT get baptized to a New Year’s trip to Charleston to a wellness weekend spent at Carolina Beach, I made my rounds to many of my favorite places and had a ton of fun while doing it!

5. Bonfires!

I love a good bonfire and this year was filled with them. It's hard to beat hanging out by a fire with good friends and a little guitar playing in the background. Not too much to say on this one because I think it speaks for itself!

6. Beating Duke (twice)

In my book, my measure of a year is always somewhat affected by UNC sports, specifically our basketball team, and more specifically whether or not we beat Dook. Thankfully, we checked that box twice this year which means it must be a pretty good year! I’ve blogged about it before but nothing beats the feeling of rushing Franklin St. Because of this sweeping the Dookies had to be included in my Top 10!

7. European Spring Break Adventure

For spring break this year, I jetted off to Italy to visit some of my besties who were studying abroad for the semester. This trip was riddled with travel chaos and interruptions but nothing was going to stop me from getting to Tuscany to reunite with friends and eat my weight in pasta! In my seven jam packed days in Italy, I made a 24 hour trip to Venice, went on a wine tour of the Tuscan countryside, climbed all 400+ steps of the Florence Duomo, had the best pizza ever from Gustapizza, and relived my own Florence study abroad days. I could gush about how fun this trip was for a long time but I’ll stop myself here. But don’t worry, I’m already scheming for my next European adventure.

8. Baptism!

A few weeks ago, I took the step in my faith to get baptized! It’s something that has been on my heart to do for years but I hadn’t actually done it. With my friends and family by my side, I GOT DUNKED. It was seriously such a sweet and amazing celebration of my faith.?So thankful for the grace I've found in Jesus!

9. Turning 21

I turned 21 last week!! Obviously, I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while. From getting serenaded by one of my professors to getting my first blue cup at He's Not with my parents, it was such a fun day! The day ended with a sweet surprise party with all of my friends! Overall, 10/10 birthday and one of the highlights of my year.

10. Playing Dress Up

This year was full of fun occasions and events that we got to get all dressed up for! I always joke that we’re “playing dress up.” Formals, concerts, cocktails, birthday celebrations and more. This semester kept me busy for sure but it was so much fun!

Overall, this year was so awesome! I cannot believe I'm 3/4 of the way done with college and when I return to Chapel Hill in the Fall, I will be a senior. That blows my mind!! For now, I'm savoring every minute here??