Another year has come and gone, and a new year is here to bring new experiences and adventures.

2015 was an amazing, stressful, fun, challenging, adventures, tiring and exciting year. This was the year I really started to explore who I am and what I want from life. It was a year full of experiences that helped me to grow personally and professionally.

I started the year off by attending Campus Step Up, a three day social justice retreat. This was an incredible experience for me. I was able to learn a lot about myself and my identify, as well as learn more about other identifies as well. I was able to contribute to meaningful conversations, as well as take some great insight away from them.

I then started the second semester of my junior year of college off by throwing my career plan out the window. I was originally double majoring in English Education and Journalism with plans to become a high school English/Journalism teacher. However, after a lot of thinking and reflecting I decided I wanted to put that on the back burner for now.

I realized that there was something else I wanted to do instead. I realized that I wanted to work with disabled students at the college level. I realized I wanted to help them embrace their disabilities as part of their identity, and show them that they are part of a large community and culture.

After this realization I decided to drop my double major and finish up my Journalism degree, which would allow me to graduate on time.

After making this change I instantly felt satisfied with my decision, I knew I was making the right choice.

From there I continued on with my semester. I was now able to take a break from heavy work load of literature classes, and was able to take some more fun classes.

As the year continued I kept my heavy involvement on campus. I began to serve as the president of the CSU Ability Club. I also continued continued to represent the disabled student population on the President’s Multicultural Student Advisory Committee (PMSAC). These alongside other activities I was a part of kept me very busy throughout the semester.

The semester ended, and I did something that I had not done before. I spent my first summer working a full time job and living on my own. This was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I dis all year. I learned what it is like to live on your own, cook for yourself, pay bills, and shop for groceries. These were all things I had some experience with before hand, but never had I done anything like this before.

Because I lived on campus all through college, living off campus was a new and incredible experience. It was by not means easy, but I learned so much, and really grew as a person over the summer.

As the summer ended, the start of my senior year of college started. I moved into the residence halls for the last time, and I started my senior year.

This semester really challenged me both academically and personally. I was taking harder classes, and I was also doing more with my on campus involvement.

This semester I did two thing that I was extremely proud of.

First: I co-created and launched the REFRAME DISABILITY campaign on campus. This campaign is geared towards changing the way society sees disability by normalizing it. The campaign launched in October and was met with a very positive response from the campus community. We are planning on continuing and expanding the campaign in the spring.

The second thing is that I started creating policy change on campus. After I ran into some accessibility issues with the large amount of construction on campus, I started to notice that I was not the only one being affected. The construction was having a negative impact on many disabled students on campus. I used my position on PMSAC and brought this to the attention of campus administrators. Since that conversation the issues I was encountering have been resolved, and the administration is working on changing the policy so that when construction companies are presenting their building plans they will have to talk about how they will make the construction site and the area around it accessible.

I am extremely proud of these two things. These are just small steps towards my goal of working as and advocate for the disabled community on campus.

Also throughout the semester I started the long process of applying for grad school. I know to really be able to do what  want to do I need a Masters degree in Student Affairs. So I began working on the applications. I spent lot of time researching different programs. I spent hours writing and re-writing my statement of purpose and resume.

Finally I submitted my application for my first choice program (CSU’s Student Affairs in Higher Education grad program). I then began the waiting game to hear back on whether or not I was invited to interview for the program.

Finally during finals week as I was taking a final, I received a call. I was thrilled when I heard the voicemail. I was asked to interview for the program. I am now one step closer to my goal.

I have to say this year would not have been possible if it weren’t for all the wonderful people I have in my life. My family, friends, colleagues, and mentors. Because of al of you I was able to have an incredible year. I know if not for you all, my life would be drastically different. Thank you for all you do for me.

2015 has been a long year filled with memories. Memories of friends, fun, and adventures. It is a year filled with personal growth. It is a year that I will never forget. 2015 was one of the best years of my life. I know that 2016 and every year after will only get better.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!