A few weeks ago, the thoughts of spring began to wrap my mind with ideas of renewal.

I’m a fairly simple person, but I find it hard to share certain things about myself. The family that I come from would have to be the strangest thing about me. I’m not like them at all. I grew up loving musicals and Julie Andrews, hoping for hilltops and musical numbers. That wasn’t something that my mother supported. So, I went on my way, quieted to myself. An interesting childhood stemmed from this sense of solitude, but I couldn’t shake my feeling of loneliness.

Several years later, I’m sitting here. Living on my own, with the exception of a couple roommates, constantly wondering who I’ll be. I’m only 18, but I feel so much older. I have had to take a year off between high school and university. This year has been absolutely torturous. I have had so many ups and downs, but I’m finally depression free.

I finally feel like I can handle my own thoughts, and I’m quite glad that they have been geared toward renewal and change. I have been doing a lot of thinking about my creative work over the last month; I had neglected myself and my creativity. I decided to take some time off from everything and focus on myself. With the abundance of family drama I’ve had recently, I am quite confident that said time off will allow me to heal fully.

My boyfriend and his family have been so kind, helpful, and understanding. It’s surreal to me for some reason. Anyway, my acceptance letter for the fall term is due any day now, and I have my fingers crossed.