I’ve avoided writing a sappy end-of-the-year blog for as long as possible, (if at all) but after looking on the board and being reminded that this would be the LAST blog of my junior year, I couldn’t help but get a tad bit emotional.
Even though my blogs really haven’t ever held much substance, I still feel a sense of pride looking at all I’ve written on here. From my blogs giving advice on social anxiety, talking about a minor character in a Disney movie, and gushing about my favorite things—they all hold a little special place in my heart.
I may not have written giant pieces of social commentary or provided advice for our upcoming juniors, (I feel a bit bad, but I definitely wouldn’t have been able to provide much in that regard anyway </3) but I had fun!
I never thought I would have become the person I was here at MSA. I don’t even resemble myself from the beginning of the year, and that goes for both the inside and out. If you were to tell me two years ago I’d cut off my hair, dye it pink, pierce my ears with a safety pin, discover my sexuality, start dressing like a Lalaloospie doll, AND begin to question my gender identity in the span of 5 months, I would have laughed in your face. Once I realized you were being serious, though, I most likely would have just fainted.
Art school changes you, man. I never thought I would feel as accepted as I have here. The students here are the best you will ever meet and be the most accepting bunch you’ll see in the entire state. They gave me faith in the south again and made me feel at home in a state where I never had before. Is that too much? I don’t know; it’s really late.
So, basically, I don’t want to leave. There’s never been a year where I have dreaded the arrival of summer vacation, and, again, if I were to tell my past self this, they would have lost their mind.
I’m already sounding delirious, so I’m going to go ahead and end this for the sanity of you all reading. I’m just really sad to leave but, at the same time, absolutely excited to see what’s in store for me in the year ahead.
Lauren, I have one thing to say. I’m so glad you are who you are. You have no idea what a positive influence you were on that dreaded first day. Riddled with anxiety, I walk up to a table to find this pink haired human sun who is radiating welcome. When I realized you were the writer of the piece that was showcased on New Student Day, I was even more enthused at the idea of you becoming my friend. This piece, the way you think about this place and these people, does nothing but reaffirm the idea that you are absolutely one of the reasons this campus will be left better than you found it, artistically, academically, and socially. And, I hope you’re proud of yourself and who you’ve become, because you deserve it! <3