What a year it has been. I lived, laughed, loved, and cried several times, but I'm here! Entering 2024, I did not expect myself to be in a completely different master's program but here I am, studying marriage, family, and child counseling instead of student affairs and college counseling. Just a couple of months ago, I was writing about the process it took me to realize what I wanted to do in college, only for me to change my mind again. Through this experience, I learned how to adapt and accept change in order to stay true to who I am. As time passes, we experience more of life and become wiser. Here at the Reading & Writing Center, the tutors share a few stories from this year that have helped them learn new lessons to bring with them to the new year and leave behind all that may hold us back from growing.
Jann Rodriguez
Finally, the end has come. I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by. Talking about flying by fast, it was my first time on a commercial airplane. It was quite the experience, the destination, not the airplane ride. I got the worst motion sickness. I 100% will not recommend it. I was fortunate enough to go to New York with my sister. We stayed for about five days. We went to an Incubus concert, a sister’s treat. Traveling, just the two of us is something I want to take into 2025. Getting around was something I was not used to. We went on the subway a couple of times, and I was kind of scared of getting lost. You hear about NY being big, but you don’t really think about it until you are there, trying to find your way back to the hotel. I want to expand beyond my comfort zone and travel more into the next year.
Patty Santiago
This year has been…quite a year. I have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, from laughing with my friends and crying over classes (not really, but I was REALLY close to). But the peak of this ride was meeting a new furry friend, Mimi. She has been the cutest, most chaotic, supportive friend I have gained this year. I have seen her grow tremendously as she has gone from being bottle-fed to eating kitten kibble. Next year, I cannot wait to see how much more she grows, and we continue through life together. I love you, Mimi!
Gabby Santiago
As the year ends, I find it hard to know where to begin reflecting. It’s been an eventful year full of lessons and new experiences. Each year feels more significant than the last, and thinking about how quickly time flies makes my head spin. Looking back, the year passed in a blink, yet living through it often felt endless. I’ve realized how precious and irreplaceable time is, and my biggest lesson this year has been to stay grounded in the moment. I tend to focus too much on the future, but I’m learning to appreciate the present as it shapes what’s to come. It may sound cliché, but every moment —no matter how mundane—deserves to be cherished. Patience is key because no matter how slow the moment feels, time ultimately passes faster than we realize.
Daniella Guiterrez
Phew, the end is arriving, and as far as I know, Earth hasn’t been demolished to bits. I hope I didn’t speak too soon. I have grown tremendously on an emotional level, and even if it was difficult, I am grateful for it. I made new friends and met many people who showed me that after every ending, a new beginning awaits you. However, I know I am only just starting, and excited to take many more steps towards my personal growth. For this coming year, I am taking more action towards the things I am passionate about. I feel that I am like a caterpillar in a cocoon; I am nurturing and cultivating my inner thoughts, emotions, and physical world to create something beautiful in my life. After years of feeling stuck, I have found the inner strength necessary to live. Alongside my friends and family who support me, I am stepping into the new year with a newfound strength and renewed spirit.
Alan Pujol
2024 has been an exciting year of personal growth and new experiences. I started my first semester of college in January after 14 years of not being in school. I was so nervous and full of self-doubt about pursuing higher education. I remember walking into my first English 1A class with Professor Lyons. Our first assignment was to read and annotate the class syllabus. Looking through the syllabus, I became very anxious and told Prof. Lyons that I felt underprepared. But all my worrying was unnecessary; I quickly learned that I could succeed in my classes and even really enjoyed them. My confidence in my abilities has dramatically increased here at the end of the year; I feel less inclined to give into thoughts of self-doubt and feel excited about the challenges I will face in my academic journey.
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