Last Christmas at Home

     Just a few short days ago I celebrated my last Christmas living with my parents. It’s such a strange feeling to know that I’ll be moving out so soon, I’m so nervous and scared, yet extremely excited as well. I’m pretty thrilled with the gifts I received and they make me just that much more ready to move into my apartment next fall. For just saying, “All I want for Christmas is stuff for my apartment for college next year” I was certainly surprised with all the big gifts I received from my family.

     I got a Craftsman  Evolv 23-piece homeowner tool set (which includes: 7oz fiberglass claw hammer, 6-in. ergo grip slip joint pliers, 6-in. adjustable wrench, 12ft x 5/8-in. tape measure, 9-in. magnetic torpedo level, magnetic driver level, 16 1-in. driver bits, and a utility knife). I also received a Philippe Richard Everyday Basics 20-piece non-stick aluminum cookware set (which includes: 5-qt covered dutch oven, 15”x10.5”x0.5” cookie sheet, 5” utility knife, 6” carving knife, 7.75” carving knife,  7” frying pan, 9” frying pan, 1-qt covered saucepan, 3-qt covered saucepan, slotted spoon, slotted spatula, solid spatula, and 5 glass prep bowls varying in sizes from 5 ounces-33ounces). In addition I acquired a 16-peiece Room Essentials Dinnerware Set (which includes: 4 dinner plates, 4 salad plates, 4 bowls, and 4 mugs). The two big things I really wasn’t expecting though were the Samsung Wireless Laser Printer and Kindle3 that my dad got for me.

     Last night I started putting a wish list together of other things I’m going to need for college next year and I ended up staying up until 1:30 this morning completing online gift registries. I know it’s still December, but I figure it’s best to start early. My cousin and I are having our high school graduation parties together and we’re having everyone RSVP online, so by having our wish lists and registries done early I can post them up on our website for people to view. Having people RSVP online also helps us have a more definite number of how many people are going to be attending our party and allows us to plan around things (like food allergies and other dietary needs). I would definitely suggest that you have your guests do the same if you’re technology savy.

Just Got Accepted...Now What?

Tuesday evening, I received my acceptance letter from Trinity Lutheran College!!!!! You should have seen me jumping up and down and running around the house screaming like crazy! I am so excited that I got accepted into my first-choice college, but what comes next? When I told my dad, he just laughed and said, “Congrats! Now how are you going to pay for it?” and my thought was like, “gee, I really hope I receive one of those big scholarships I already applied for.” If I don’t then I better start looking for a good-paying job and the nearest soup kitchen.

I figure if Trinity is really where God is calling me to be then he will provide. So with the thought of finances put aside, I began reading through and filling out all the forms that came in the acceptance packet. It felt strange filling out my housing application form, since I’ve lived in the same house my entire life. It’s strange to think that I’ll be graduating and moving-out so soon. Being a senior is so bitter-sweet. I’m so excited to be moving out and starting a new life for myself, but at the same time it’s going to be really tough leaving behind the only way of life I’ve ever known.

I currently attend a high school where my graduating class alone has over 800 students and next year I’ll be at a small private school with an entire student body of only 113 students. Right now I think my smallest class size is 38 students and Trinity has a 7:1 student-teacher ratio. It’s going to be such a huge shock for me to have that dramatic of a difference in my educational environment. I think the hardest thing for me though will be adjusting to living in the heart of downtown Everett when I’ve always grown-up in a rural area surrounded by farm land and forests.

I’m not completely sure what kinds of obstacles I’ll have to overcome this upcoming year, but I hope that I will continue using this blog to inform my readers of what’s changes I encounter as I adjust to college life so that you are all better prepared and know what to expect in your future, as you go through these same adjustments.