Another Year Down - Reflecting on my Junior Year at UNI

Another year has come to a close in my academic career at the University of Northern Iowa. I have learned so much this year, and have had some new big changes in my life. The fall semester was the first time I was exposed to some classes that were previously really outside my comfort zone.

I took a class called Interactive Digital Communication and found out the final project would be to create a website from scratch using HTML and CSS coding. I thought for sure that I'd fail, but I actually did really well and found that I really like the design aspects that come with my major. I dove deeper into that feeling when I branched out and took a Photojournalism class as well as an Editing & Design class this semester which I loved and learned a lot from.

I made this!!

School-wise, I also made another big move this semester when I decided to change from a double major in English and Digital Journalism, to a Major in Digital Journalism with a minor in English. This move was scary to think about at first, because I started college playing it safe and doing something i knew for sure I was good at: English. While I loved it at first, I loved even more the opportunities and new skills I was learning from Digital Journalism classes. I felt that these new skills would be more helpful to me in the long-run and are what I want to pursue as a career. Making these changes also allows me to graduate early in December, completing my 4-year degree in three and a half years.

Aside from school, big things changed for me as well. I met Alex, the person i see myself spending the rest of my life with. He's truly become my best friend and a person I could go to for anything. He's also helped me grow a lot, which I think any good relationship should do. He's become a part of my faith journey as well, which I love.

In October, I was baptized at Prairie Lakes, which was a huge moment for me. Since then, I've grown more and more in my faith, to the point where I felt comfortable enough to even start this blog! While of course this blog began as a school assignment for me, I am so glad it gave me the chance to really dive deeper and explore something that has become so important to me.

As I look forward to summer and my next and last semester at UNI, I am filled with excitement and wonder. I'll need and internship in the fall to complete my degree, and I hope I find one that suits me and helps me to continue to learn and grow. This summer will be full of relaxing, saving up money for school, and having fun with my boyfriend, my friends, and my family. And once I graduate this winter, I'll be on to real adult life! I know a ton of change is coming my way, but it will be very good change that will take me far.