A Look Back at 22
As my 23rd birthday quickly approaches, I've been spending a few days reflecting back on the last year of my life. 22 has dealt me a few blows, but it has also blessed me with some amazing experiences surrounded by some amazing people. I learned a lot about myself in my 22nd year and I thought, to celebrate entering a new year in my life, I would reflect back on some of my favorite and most memorable moments from 22.
The night of my 22nd birthday party. I'm not going to lie, certain parts of that night are still a little fuzzy. And yes, that is a Chippendales calendar in the background. Best White Elephant present I've ever received.
I was extremely lucky to have been blessed with some amazing friends during my 22nd year. In the spring, a group of us drove down to Seattle for College Night at the Mariners game. Being stuck in traffic made me a bit cranky, but once we got to the stadium, I was able to enjoy my time. And a huge part of that mood shift was thanks to this group.
You bet your bottom dollar this picture is real. One of the perks of working for Western's Alumni Association was the events I had the opportunity to help plan, execute, and attend. One event was for outstanding alumni and two people being recognized that night were Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight, better known as their EDM duo name ODESZA. I got placed at their table during the event where I got to talk to their families, girlfriends, and tour manager. Before I lost my nerve, I asked the two of them for a picture and they could not have been nicer. After receiving their award, they had to head out to catch a private jet to play a show that same night in San Francisco. Livin' that rockstar life.
A giant highlight from 22 was that I graduated college! I completed my Bachelor's in English Creative Writing from Western Washington University in the spring of 2016 and I honestly could not be more proud of myself. I worked so hard academically in college while also pursuing multiple jobs and internships. Four years flew by and I was so happy I had my family there in the audience to see me accept my diploma (Well, the diploma cover. My diploma came in the mail 6-10 weeks later.)
I would not have made it through my four years at Western if it wasn't for these two people. My parents have been my rock and biggest support system, not only throughout college, but throughout my entire life. Couldn't highlight 22 without highlighting them.
For my 22nd birthday, my parents surprised me with tickets to my first San Francisco Giants game. I cried, really hard. So in the summer of 2016, Selinna and I were able to utilize those tickets and fly down to San Francisco for 36 hours. I'm not even joking, I don't remember falling asleep that night because the whole 36 hours was a whirlwind. When I walked into AT&T Park and down to the field, I started to cry, again, because I was so overwhelmed by it all. This was a dream of mine and I can't wait to return to the Giants' home.
I knew I had a lot to look forward to in 2016 and one of those was going to be my family's trip to Australia. Our first stop was Alice Springs, in central Australia. Very outback. Our first travel day was a bit hellish because sleeping on a plane is hard and my mom lost her cellphone. But, we tried to pick up the pieces on our first full day down under with a trip to Uluru. The day-long adventure was amazing and watching the rock turn red at sunset was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
Our second stop in Australia was in Perth. My mom's friend lives there, on the west side of the country, so we were able to stay with her. She took us all around and one of my favorite places she took us was a kangaroo santuary right in the heart of the city. Known as Heirisson Island, this little plot of land allows kangaroos to roam freely. I am a huge lover of kangaroos and when we spotted some, I almost lost my shit. To make matters better, a park ranger showed up and asked if we wanted to watch them be fed. I was all on board and when he asked if I wanted to feed the kangaroos myself, I almost cried. This is me barely holding it together.
The final stop on our journey in Australia was Sydney, on the east coast. I was very excited for Sydney because there was so much to do and so much to see. We packed each day with new sights and adventures. One of our adventures included a zoo in the middle of Sydney were we got to get up close and personal with some koala bears. These furry creatures were so peaceful, cradling their babies as my parents and I looked on.
The only thing I wasn't 100% looking forward to in Australia was our BridgeClimb adventure. I'm not a fan of bridges and one could say I have a fear of them. After making my dad promise not to mess with me while we were climbing, I agreed to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm not going to lie, I was scared for a good chunk of my climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but I can't say I didn't enjoy it. The views were spectacular, our guide was great, and I faced one of my biggest fears head on. Funny enough, this turned out to be one of my favorite moments from our entire trip.
As a Creative Writing major, I have always had a not-so-secret dream of being a published author one day. Well, my cousin is actually a published author, so hey, that's pretty cool. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to work for her, transcribing interviews for a book she was working on. At the end of 2016, the book came out and I was able to see my name in print for the first time. This opportunity fueled my fire and has inspired me to work even harder on my own work. Maybe one day my name will be on the cover.
Coming home from college, I was nervous about stepping into the "real world" and getting a "big girl job". Luckily for me, I found an internship in Seattle in the fall. After completing that internship, I started a new job in the spring and can call the Smith Tower my work home. I love being able to go to work excited for what is on my plate and I feel so lucky to be able to contribute to a company that I believe in.
My 23rd birthday is only a few days away. I can't even wrap my head around that and I know my family can't either. I still vividly remember running around the playground catching caterpillars when I was 5-years-old and getting horrible softball sunburns when I was 13. I remember how weird my teeth felt when I got my braces off at 16-years-old and getting ready for prom when I was 18. It all feels like yesterday, but I know it's not. I'm no longer that 5-year-old catching butterflies; instead I'm 22 - a college graduate, a world traveler, a marketing intern, trying to figure out her place in the world. While I'm about to close the chapter on 22, I'm excited for what 23 has to offer.