My life threw up all over.

Disclaimer:  This post contains images that may bring anxiety to any that associate themselves as 'neat freaks', 'organized', or 'OCD'. 

I've almost been home an entire week and I've learned college has completely ruined any enjoyment that moving new places could have given me. I used to think that packing up my life every 6-9ish months would be exciting and symbolic and whatever. Obviously, it's only made me cynical and cranky. 

Last week, I packed up my dorm room for the last time, and the stress of bringing everything I owned - actually, that should be 'kept', since I ended of donating some things last minute out of frustration - rained in heavier than ever. The challenge I've arisen to each time? A game of human Tetris; how neatly can I pack boxes, bags, and other useless but meaningful crap in my car while taking up as little space as possible? 

First, you should know a few things about me. I hate clutter, love organization, and the former stresses me out. I always have a plan and accompanying list for everything, so packing for things is usually reasonably enjoyable for me. 

It all started off good with the trunk. I finagled two stuffed suitcases and lots of boxes and crates into the trunk, and was feelin' pretty accomplished. 

...And then I got to the back seat. I started off stacking Rubbermaid totes in June Cleaver fashion, but before I knew it, it escalated into this:

11 hours of anxiety. Who can spot the wedding dress?

Q:  What does one do when blinded from their blind spot?
A:  Strain your neck like an ostrich and say a prayer. 

All to quickly, the mess multiplied itself into my front seat. I was surrounded. 

I'm sure a human would have made for a much less
stressing - and boring - passenger.

When I finally reached my rural SD home, I was relieved to be free of my car. I had spent too much time in there, and feeling sorry for the Cobster (my car, pronounced Kobe-Stir), I immediately started to unload the pounds of belongings weighing my poor vehicle down. After a good 20 minutes of unpacking, I laid my eyes on what I had achieved...or so I thought.

Instead of cleaning up the mess that had been in my car, I moved a majority of it into my room - the one place I retreat to in my family of 6's bustling home. The phrase I had been using to describe my car at this point was "My life has vomited in my car." Seeing the mess I'd made at home, it was time to play janitor like a third-grade class had gotten food poisoning from cafeteria corn dogs. 

Recently named 'suitcase corner'.

I can truthfully say that after 6 full days at home, things are looking cleaner over here on 269th Street. I'll keep you posted - or, just post later - on the final products of my unpacking/sorting/cleaning up life's vomit. Merry Christmas, friends!

Senior sentiment

Well, folks. Tonight it hit.

'It' refers to the thing I've been ignoring for the past few weeks - the realization that my time at Trin (check out why I love this place here) has come to a close.

Aside from the fact that I'm graduating (clarification: graduating, not walking in a ceremony...that's in May) in three days, I was recently internally provoked to think about why I love this place. Context: last Thursday, someone in one of my classes said they would never have anything positive to say about Trinity. I quickly returned my classmates pessimism with "Why do you hate Trinity, and why are you here if you do?" He gave a response that lacked any considerable validation (seriously, people, every school costs money), and what followed was 80 minutes of me not paying attention in my political science class and reflecting on the past three and a half years instead.

Behold, my bloggable (yep, made that up) list of what makes Trinity great:

[1] The people I've met - and come to love. This recipe of relationships consists of 1 part professors, 3 parts friends (the best ones, at that), and 4 parts E (seriously, this kid is voluntarily putting up with me for the rest of his life - God bless him). Trinity's wonderful gift of people became super real to me tonight when I had to say 'goodbye' to one of my best friends (check her out here). I walked up to her after some wonderful P&W, and before I knew it, we were sobbing in each other's embrace, relishing in the wonderful times we've had as friends, and acknowledging that for an unknown amount of time, we'll have to be friends from a distance. By far the most difficult part of my final week on campus thus far, and I know it's only going to get worse. Greeeeat.

[2] The things I've done - and gotten to be a part of. I feel bad for people that don't get themselves involved in something at college. My first, most important suggestion for any person I meet looking to make lasting friends during their college years is to get involved, and get involved quick. Every college affords students different opportunities, and you're a fool if you don't take advantage of that. I don't even feel bad saying that, because...

[3] How strong I've become. I've lived a wonderful life in three and a half years, but let's not be fooled, peeps - crap happens. Some of that crap was doable, like stressful semesters, ridiculous projects, and some of it was not so much, like getting homesick, or being far away during familial pain. But being 22 and saying that, for the past four years, I've learned to provide and stand for myself is certainly an accomplishment in my someday book. College joys and woes will do that to ya, I promise.

[4] The fact that leaving campus for good on Friday makes me cry. Although it really, really sucks, I have to be thankful that I'm sad to leave this place. A paradox, you might say? Not so much. It's the things we love, and I mean truly love, in life that are hardest to let go. I truly love this place, I'm going to miss it, and tears will be shed when I hug my roommates and other friends goodbye, even though I'll see them all in less than four weeks for the big day. Some people fear transformation and change, especially during their collegiate career. Embrace it; you'll only appreciate it for every penny you've spent later on.

I have more and want to keep writing, but obnoxiously-this-is-so-boring-and-long-reading-assignment-esque blog postings annoy me. So for now, I leave you with four that popped into my head.

Have something you love about college and want to share? Comment! I promise I'll comment back.

Today's lesson: love life, where it takes you, and what it brings you, because doing anything else is stupid.