why hello there.

So I just took my last final as an undergrad...

And now, even though I've been itching to start cleaning and packing for the past week but resisted the temptation in the midst of my impending finals, at the moment I feel the need to write something instead. Not sure why, though. I definitely don't have any profound introspective insights to share right now about my undergraduate experience.

The last time I blogged was eight months ago, at the beginning of the school year. It's been... quite a year, to say the least. It hasn't really hit me that I'm graduating in a week, but I do know that I have grown to love St. Louis in a way I never would have expected, and I'm thankful I'll be here for at least another year. I would miss it too much otherwise.

I think that's mostly what I'm feeling now. Gratitude. My job is just one of many things I'm thankful for. My coworkers are the sweetest people. Yesterday, my PI called me at work just to say bye to me (since she had forgotten as she left for a meeting) and to wish me good luck on my exams. I mean seriously. Who does that? She is adorable. :) I'm looking forward to ice cream socials, picking up our lab phone to the strangest requests (since for some reason Charter gives out our number to anyone trying to reach the WashU main office), talking to old people at the ED, and getting to know my coworkers better.

I am thankful that I will have another year in the same city as my parents and a good number of my friends. I am thankful that I will have a place to live next year. I'm excited to visit family in China this summer, to plug into a church community, find a new place to volunteer, apply to grad schools, learn to cook (for real this time), read books for fun, and a million other things.

So here's to graduating, being an adult, and always learning. I don't know what exactly the future holds, but I am ready to see what's in store and I have faith that it will be wonderful. :)