Last year I made 13 goals for the year 2013… Let’s take a look at how well I did!
1. Go to D.C. for the Cherry Blossom Festival
Check! … well, kind of…
My roommate and I went up to D.C. over Easter break. I was thrilled to find out that we would be there during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Unfortunately, instead of being greeted with hundreds of blooming trees across the Capitol, we experienced a very wet–and cold–weekend.
Despite the lack of blooming beauties, we got to enjoy Capitol Hill Baptist Church, the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress and, of course, Georgetown Cupcake.
2. Dean’s list/honors list both semesters
Check!
When I made this list, I was supposed to graduate in December. However, I was actually able to graduate in May.
I was able to make all As my last semester of college, though and didn’t have to take any of my final exams. I also received the departmental award for communications studies.
3. Visit friends at ECU
Check!
I did make it down to ECU (in February, I think)! Not only did I get to see Erica and Matt, I also got to see my friend, Briana from high school. My trip was really rushed, but it was nice to catch up with some sweet friends.
4. Visit Liberty
Check!
This could possibly be the best weekend of my last semester of college. The drive to Lynchburg is beautiful, and I could not have been greeted with more gracious hospitality! Ally and I went adventuring through the farmers’ market, a vintage thrift sale, the Farm Basket and many other beauties Lynchburg has to offer.
On my way to Lynchburg, I got to swing by Salem, VA and see my friend Hannah too!
Photo credit: Ally Tarantino
5. Go to California
Check!
I started off my trip in Los Angeles with Keely. I got to see the Hollywood sign from the distance, and we went to the beach! I spent a lazy afternoon by the pool and I enjoyed every minute of it! Let me tell you, dry heat is a BEAUTIFUL thing.
After a whirlwind weekend, I took a Megabus down to San Jose to spend some time with my friends Michael and Abby. We toured the Apple campus and even went to San Francisco for the day. The highlight of my time with them was probably meeting their daughter, Ada. She is so precious!
Photo credit: Michael Sumner
6. See the sun set over the Pacific Ocean
Check–kinda.
This has been on my bucket list for forever, and I can finally (kinda) check it off my list. I didn’t get to actually watch the sun sink below the horizon, but I did get to see the sunset’s beautiful aftermath.
7. Graduate
Check!
I’m so cool, I beat my Dec. 16 graduation goal! Orrrr…. maybe it’s more like Dr. Carey’s so cool, he let me graduate with the rest of my class because I had enough credits, just not the last few required classes.
(Don’t worry… I did eventually get my diploma!)
8. Get a job
Check!
This took a lot longer than I thought it would. I assumed that I’d waltz out of college and everyone would want to hire me. I had actually given up on this goal for the year by the beginning of November. I had found a temporary job where I was happy and I was sure no one would be hiring someone new so close to the holidays.
Boy, was I wrong! I started my job as the education reporter at the Salisbury Post on Dec. 11. It’s been a challenging and exciting few weeks.
9. Hit 50 bylines
Check?
If you include press releases and blog posts for Gardner-Webb and NCDA&CS, then yes, I accomplished my goal. If, however, you want to stick strictly to journalism bylines, I fell just a little short. I currently have 40 bylines between Religion News Service, The Shelby Star and Salisbury Post. That being said, I’ve written 15 stories since I started my job at the Post less than a month ago. I am confident that I’ll reach the 50 byline goal within the next two weeks or so.
10. Read at least halfway through the Bible
Nope.
I’ve never been able to keep up with a one year reading plan, and this year was no different. I’m not quite sure how far I got, but I know I wasn’t 50 percent of the way through. When I switched to my new phone, I got locked out of my login on my Bible app.
11. Learn to shoot a gun
Check!
When my dad read my list of goals last year, he decided that No. 11 was one he could help me out with. So, when I went up to Wisconsin on my spring break, my whole family headed out to shoot.
12. Read at least six non-school books
Ummmmm….. about that.
I used to love reading, but I really struggle to find the time to do it anymore. I did read All the President’s Men this summer, but beyond that, I wasn’t able to finish anything.
13. Create at least six signature cupcakes
Check!
Pictured below are my Chocolate Orange (my personal favorite), Snickers, Banana Pudding, Pumpkin, Lemon Blueberry and, of course, my Nutella Strawberry cupcake.
All in all, I’d say 2013 was a success! I experienced some of my highest highs and lowest lows, but through it all, I learned a lot!
