On not being a student anymore

Lola, looking how I felt this summer

This is the first September since I was 5 years old that I did not start a new school year. For the past four years the start of August signaled the start of my last few weeks at home. I start packing right around the second week of August, going room by room and wrangling everything that I'll be taking to school with me into one corner of the house. By the third week of August I've started having nightmares about missing the first day of class (yes, I really did have nightmares about strange circumstances that would keep me away from class on the first day. I really am that big of a nerd). Then it's time to cram everything into my car and start a new semester.

This year is different. Instead of starting something new, I'm pleasantly settled into a routine already, and while it's nice it's also completely unchartered territory for me.

I was so exhausted at the end of last semester I remember thinking, "I just want to be out of school for a while. I just want to have a job, and not have to constantly worry about papers and homework and finals."

In reality the transition from student to regular person was a bit more tumultuous than that. But thankfully friends, this terrible summer is nearly over and I find myself really enjoying things like: being able to read for fun, having days off in the middle of the week, having a job I adore, just having time.

I lost sight of things at the beginning of the summer but now I fully appreciate that this year I'll be able to make all those time consuming recipes I've collected on Pinterest, I'll be able to let my inner Martha Stewart shine, take up new hobbies and do all the things I couldn't do when (almost) every moment of my spare time was spent working on school.

So while I greatly regret the loss of my student discount, I'm going to do my best to savor this new season.

How did you deal with the transition out of being a student?

<3

disposable

Sometime around the end of October I was in line to check out at Target and a two-pack of disposable cameras caught my eye. After that, I spent the rest of the school year carrying a camera in my bag capturing little moments. I got a lot of weird looks and questions, and once they were both filled it took me around 2 months to actually get them developed, but it was a totally worthwhile experiment and an affordable way to play around with lo-fi photography.



Leona Creek

The tree-lined path to the music building

Behind the music building

Thanksgiving with Estrella

Shopping cart Christmas tree statement at the Bay Street Mall

At JT's opening

The first time Ali played at TNS!

Lovely ladies

The three of us on my birthday

This last one is my favorite! I remember when I was in elementary school, we'd all buy disposable cameras for the days when we would have field trips or for Spirit Day, and when I was in London I bought a disposable camera because I wanted pictures to decorate my room with. I really enjoyed the process of taking pictures with film and actually getting them developed. Maybe I'll make a habit of it. When was the last time you had a disposable camera?

<3

I graduated!

Did I forget to mention that I graduated?? 

Well I did. 

My last few weeks at Mills were a blur of finals-induced craziness and moving-induced stress. Though compared to other semesters I had probably the easiest finals I'd ever had, when combined with moving out of an apartment as well as knowing I'd be leaving Mills forever and Oakland for awhile, it ended up being very stressful and I am a little surprised that I made it out in once piece. 

My mom had to force convince me to participate in Commencement but in the end I'm really glad she did. Even though graduations are long and boring and the speeches all sound the same, it's much more exciting when you're the one graduating. When I picked up my walking card I saw that I was graduating with honors, which made me feel great. Also, Lena was able to come up to see the ceremony! So all in all it was a lovely day and I was one happy graduate. 

Then the next morning we all got up at the crack of dawn to drive back to LA. Now I'm readjusting to life in So-Cal, unpacking, and frantically applying for jobs. I promise to (try) to post more regularly now! I have a room tour on the way as soon as I get the last box out of here. 

<3