A Year in Review

I know what you're thinking
you - "A year in review? But Kate, it's August, we are 75% done with the year.  Isn't that a little late?"
me - "Don't worry, I've got this."

Luckily for me, I get to measure my life in semesters. August is like my January, only with less snow and more bugs.  This past year has been filled with lots of changes, and I thought it would be a good idea to review.

July of 2010 I had three jobs, more or less.  13 months later I have none of those same jobs.  Resident Director, Theatre House Manager, Freelance Public Relations/Advertising all worked together to keep me busy, often times stressed and the ends to meet.  Now I am only Director of Res Life, for the first time since high school I only have one job - but more on that later. 

At the end of last summer my boss/friend (she was and is both) moved on to the greener pastures of Georgia Tech.  Before she left, she informed me she was recommending me for her job (my current role).  I laughed at her, she didn't join me - she was serious.  So two days before my staff of 22 Resident Assistants arrived on campus I became the interim director.  Somehow, by the grace of God, a terrific staff, and possibly magic we all survived training and move-in. 

As I settled into the year I realized I liked this job.  Sure it had it's stressful times, but these were my kids and my staff - I didn't want anyone else to take them (I get a little protective).  I threw my name in the hat for the position, knowing there was a stack of resumes of people with post-graduate degrees and fancy things of that nature.  The next day I was offered the job.  Through a series of doors opening and closing I decided to stay in Tennessee's fair eastern mountains for the near future.  Signing on to the job meant signing on to grad school .  I said yes, knowing I was agreeing to another five years or so at Milligan.  This was not the plan.  Staying at Milligan after graduation was even plan B, I was now on to plan C or even further down the alphabet.  My goals for the school year were to survive and make sure everyone had a room.  I came a little close on the second one, but in the end accomplished both.

On top of the new job and the adventures it brought, this year included a new roommate, moving, a funeral, a wedding, old friends leaving and new friends coming.  It's been a year.  But I made it.  The plan (I don't know why I make those, they keep changing) was to start grad school this fall and start my Master's in Counseling.  That has been put on a hold for a semester, and probably a year and will hopefully be starting the next fall in a different and better program.

So here I am.  Tomorrow my staff returns and we hit the ground running into two weeks of crazy, busy, stressful, awesome fun.  August is exhausting, but wonderful.  I love move in and the start of school.  So if you hear me complain, remind me of that and tell me to shut up. 

When September comes, supposedly I will have this thing called "free time."  I've started coming up with things to do.  I don't want to go to crazy, because let's be honest my intentions are always better than my follow through.  Case in point, the guest room at our house.  It's really a storage room for a bunch of stuff that I have been meaning to clean out and set up since May.  So that should probably be first on the list of things to do.  Maybe I will read more books, run some race, audition for a show, blog on a regular basis - the possibilities are endless. 

So here is to the past year (raise your proverbial glass with me) you were filled with highs and lows, a few breakdowns, and a lot of changes.  But I survived, and just maybe am better for it.  To the next year, here's to doing better than surviving, making intentions and follow through match up a little more and continuing to grow, even if it hurts.

Cheers, friends.  And happy new year.