Here's my year full of firsts in review:
I flew alone for the first time ever to California to visit an amazing family. I spent a week getting to know new people and observed life lived on the outskirts of L.A. I explored the west coast, and visited places like Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, Laguna Beach and the Fullerton/Whitier areas. I was ecstatic when we spent a day at Disney Land (by far one of my FAVORITE experiences from this year) meeting all sorts of Disney characters and riding all of the legendary rides. On New Years day, we woke up before the sun rose and watched the Rose Parade from excellent seats.
As the semester began, I moved into my first house with two great friends. The year continued, and I became single for the first time in a while. This was a huge change for me as I began to live life as a single person who only needed to worry about herself. I learned quite a bit about what I really wanted out of life without the pressure of including someone else in my decisions. Spring break came and I visited Disney World and Universal Studios with my family! (Again, probably one of my most favorite memories...it's the child inside me :) ) My parents indulged my every whim which made for a very pleasant Brenda!
Bro graduated from Texas A&M making us all super proud. I look up to this kid for a lot of things. He certainly worked harder than anyone I know to finish on time with an amazing degree from a top notch university, and I still can't believe that out of him, Sammy and I, he was the one to finish first. WAY TO GO BRO! We celebrated his big day for a while and then summer approached which brought along with it my first ever big girl job. I accepted a position as an extern at Houston Methodist, and worked 12 hour shifts like a regular nurse all summer. The opportunity left me anxious and excited for my future career in nursing. More importantly, I met some pretty incredible people from all over the nation through this program.
I started my last semester of college, after that, and had to adjust to life as a collegiate hasbeen. Sitting on the sidelines isn't quite as enjoyable as playing would be, but SFA managed to excel yet again this year. Watching them play was always a pleasure. I went to my first EDM concert and spent a night out in the DFW area with two awesome people. I experienced Austin City Limits for the first time, and let me tell you: ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The numerous bands that preformed really outdid themselves and left me wanting to make that an every year type of thing. November and December finally arrived, and I traveled to New Jersey to visit two good friends. We took on the city like the tourists we really were! I returned from my trip and the following week I finished finals and graduated with my BSN in nursing from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Even though 2014 surely did have its ups and downs, I don't think I have ever experienced a more influential year in all my 22 years of existence. This has been one for the books no doubt, but I’m optimistic that 2015 has even more to offer. So I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe NYE. I know that I will be spending it with people I care most about while we toast to the past, the present, and to the future: a beautiful combination of unknown opportunities and endless possibilities.