The Good Life

"When you're happy like a fool, let it take you over

When everything is out, you gotta take it in

Oh, this has gotta be the good life

This could really be the good life, good life"

Yes, that is a quote from one of my favorite songs. I had never really been a fan of OneRepublic before I heard this song, but now I most definitely am!

In the last year, my boyfriend and I have been blessed over and over. We've both landed new jobs, we found an adorable house, we moved two hundred miles, and we've been in good health. Sure - there have been difficulties along the way, but we have managed to make it through all of those, too.

For all of the struggles and hardships we faced, we have come out on the other side, and it truly is a good life. This song really reflects where I am right now. Life is good. Every thing in my life right now has been a blessing, and this song helps me to keep that in mind.

A Grateful Hello

Education. To many people I know, the word 'education' is a word that brings to mind political allegiances, tense moments between instructor and parent, and an immense shortage of funding. To me, it is everything. Hope, dream, love, the list goes on and on!


I know it might seem silly, I'm 27 and returning to college. Truth of the matter it is, I worked really hard to get here. When I was fresh out of high school, I didn't really care about college. I thought signing up and registering for classes only served the purpose of getting me into the dorms. I thought living in the dorms would be everything.


Turns out, college was my gateway drug. I lived in the dorms, and never attended a class. Instead I opted for partying and associating with people of the criminal variety. I did what I wanted, when I wanted. I ran up massive debts, wasted precious time, and hurt the people who cared about me. Three colleges I signed up for, and failed to attend. I wasted thousands of dollars in student loans, and the opportunity to be there, learning.


This may seem like 'too much information' for some people. I just want it to be known, that I will never take my college education for granted. I quit doing drugs and drinking, I quit hanging out with people that could get me arrested. I made getting back into college my goal from the first day I was clean and sober. There was nothing more I wanted than to have the opportunity to learn and grow. I learned the hard way, that you really don't know what you've got until it's gone.


It took me almost 5 years, but I'm here.


I want to thank you, my fellow classmates, for being a part of this journey with me. I hope to learn from each of you in some way, and hope that you might learn from me, too.