Dear 2018,
I feel like there should’ve been some kind of a warning message or terms and conditions manual to prepare me for this past year. Let me tell you, at the start of the year I didn’t sign up for any of this. But I couldn’t be more grateful. Looking at the person I was a year ago, I was a hot mess. I had just gone through my worst semester of college academically, and it felt like there was a constant war waging in my mind because I was living in fear.
So I guess all of the plot twists this year were super necessary.
January
I started off the year committing to a mission trip to Peru in June. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but I had peace about it. Later in January, my synchronized skating team competed at sectionals in Ft. Myers, FL, where we won the silver medal and laid on the sidewalk in tank tops in 70? heat while people passed us by in winter jackets.
February
This month was rough, let’s be real. I went through a long-overdue breakup, but thankfully Sandra (A+ best friend) helped me through it with some Moana and shamrock shakes. I’m sure she also repeatedly told me, “You’ll be fine.” Then I decided to give up social media until Easter, because I just really needed the mental break (and it was so worth it!).
March
Kind of an uneventful month… spent a lot of time working on myself, but overall it was filled with good times with awesome friends, and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. The only downsides were getting a parking ticket and trying to deal with people for my group project lol.
April
Another crazy month I wasn’t ready for. BASICcon wrecked me, and God made me share my testimony that Tuesday even though I was really freaking scared. Later that month I ran the color run for the third year in a row (partially walked this time, but same thing) and got some vaccinations I needed for Peru.
May
New hair, who dis? I chopped my hair off and donated it again. My friends left me. 😮 They left me and graduated, but I was also super happy for them. And I finished off the month by finally eating all 10 Tully’s tenders in one sitting (one of my biggest life goals).
June
Peru!!! #enoughsaid But for real, it was so life changing I can’t summarize this month in a paragraph.
July
I spent a lot of time processing everything that just happened. Then I spent some time hanging out with my friends, and I climbed Mt. Marcy again for fun (this time as a third wheel lol). And the biggest thing that happened this month: I committed to do a crazy 11 month mission trip called the World Race starting June 2019.
August
I became an ADK 46er after 6 long years!!! I also started getting to know some more young adults from my home church, which was a huge blessing (take that social anxiety!). And then I went back to Oswego!!! 🙂
September
I watched an Oswego sunset for the first time since I was a freshman. Plus I got more sunburnt in a single afternoon than I did all summer. And I probably spent a good amount of time listening to Lauren Daigle’s new album this month. Oh and most importantly, I took my friends thrift shopping!
October
This month I got to speak at BASIC, which was such an honor and blessing (God’s got a dream for you!) Our house in the Village got real spooky this month, and I had fun dressing up for Halloween. The Red Sox won the World Series! And I managed to burn my finger when I was working on grill at McDonald’s (and the scar is still there to this day).
November
This month I did 30 days of thankfulness on Facebook, which really helped me to be reminded of all I have to be thankful for. My friends got to see me skate at some hockey games, which was amazing! I also enjoyed Friendsgivings and Thanksgiving dinners (even though I was still at the kids’ table).
December
Competition season started for skating!!! We also had the equivalent of a prom for BASIC and it was so much fun! Then I finally finished the semester and got to see friends and family from home to celebrate the holidays.
What a year! 2018, it’s been real. But I can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store.
-Catherine Choquette
