Coffee & Honeycomb: College Life

Showing posts with label College Life. Show all posts

GOING TO MADISON, WISCONSIN

Monday, July 28, 2014

It's been hard to blog consistently these days, because I've been so caught up with apartment hunting. I'm moving to Minneapolis in exactly one month, and I'm trying to confirm plans quickly! This is my first time moving out of state and on my own, so there's just more factors needed to be considered, making the process a bit longer. But once I do settle on a place, I can't wait to share about it. here.

I wanted to take a break from japan talk, and show of glimpse of what else my life has looked like this summer. The other day I was organizing photos on my iPhone and I resurfaced some shots from a trip E and I took in June I never shared. We visited MN to check out the city for the first time, and on the way, we made a pitstop to Madison and enjoyed lunch there. It was our very first time in Madison and we found it to be absolutely lovely. There were so many unique food trucks, people walking around the streets, and just a nice bustle to the city.

^ E packed me food for the 6hr. drive! Grilled chicken, green beans, rice, and siracha. He knows me.

^ We ate lunch at Graze, a restaurant known for cooking and serving only local foods, so everything was fresh and delicious. Plus, a majority of the lighting was all natural with floor to ceiling windows. Definitely recommend this one.

E & I haven't been on too many road trips, but long car rides are our favorite. Always filled with good conversation, odd games that we make up on the spot, coffee, and massive amounts of food. (: Definitely want to add more road trips on our bucket list.

ALUMNA STATUS

Monday, May 19, 2014

This past weekend, I became an official college graduate and an UIUC alumna!
I DIIIIIID IT, I DIIIID IT, I DIIIIIIID IT.

People keep asking me how I feel and honestly, it really hasn't hit me yet. It kind of just feels like another school year ended and that I am returning in the fall. I think the three moments when it did feel the most real was a) when I took cap/gown photos with my friends b) when I saw my dad waving at me from the audience during the ceremony c) when the college dean called us "U of I alumni."

U of I alumni, huh. So surreal.

I just can't believe how quickly these four years went by... I did have my emotional moments over the weekend and I was so grateful that family, friends, and the boyfriend drove down to celebrate this special moment with me — because they have just as much of a reason to be celebrated. I know many of my friends are so sad that they're leaving campus, and it is, but to me, it just feels so, so, so right. It feels right to graduate. It feels appropriate.

And I think that's because I tried my best to take advantage of the endless opportunities on campus and I had my fair share of what college had to offer. There were a lot of things on my "college bucket list" and for the most part, I'm lucky to check off some. In the last four years, I wrote for my school newspaper, played for the school lacrosse team, worked at a local coffee shop, competed in two case competitions, interned at two agencies, lived in dorms, lived in an apartment, studied abroad in Italy, chartered an RSO, won a free trip to NYC, co-led a small group, (finalllyyy) won a BIFF trophy, made the most wonderful group of friends and colleagues, and... landed a job to end it all. :) It was, indeed, a good four years.

College was more than just receiving an education; and I know we hear this a lot, but it really was a space to grow, to live, to laugh... To take risks and walk out of your comfort zone, to eat junk food really late at night, to build a network and seek mentors, to find God and purpose and love...

So what happens next? What does real world and post-grad life look like? How do you navigate young adulthood? How do you navigate working life and a new city? How do you even look for an apartment? How do you search for a church? ... These are some of the questions floating in my new alumna brain because clearly there isn't a syllabus on how to do this anymore.

My blog is no longer a "college girl blog." I don't know what it is. But thank you for reading, thank you for following me since sophomore year. I don't know what life is going to look like anymore and I don't know what this blog is going to look like anymore, but I hope you will continue to follow along for the ride! :) Maybe I should make a new "20-something bucket list".... Is that what's next? #POSTGRADPROBLEMS.

CHEERS TO GRADUATING! HOOORAAAH CLASS OF 2014!

SPONTANEOUS ROAD TRIP

Monday, May 12, 2014

My roommates and I went on a spontaneous road trip last week to St. Louis to sightsee and visit Wash U campus for a day, and it was so fun. :) We wanted to go one last trip together as roommates and as seniors, but timing was never right. Originally, we were going to go on a Spring Break trip, but with my upcoming Japan missions trip, we didn't think it would be wise to spend that much money.

Last week, classes ended and my roommates and I decided to take advantage of that before finals got too crazy. St. Louis was only a 3-hour drive away so we thought that would be a fun destination. (: The weather was beautiful so we walked around to see the arch, downtown, Wash U campus, and stopped by a few good eateries. Oh, and coffee shop. Always a coffee shop.

LIFE LATELY: EASTER WEEKEND

Monday, April 21, 2014

Easter time is always a bit craaazy over here. :) Each year, there is a sunrise service at 5 AM, a baptism service at noon, and an extravagant Easter dinner in the evening where all church members are welcome to celebrate and break bread together. This day was a bit more special than usual because one of my small group members got baptized and I was part of the planning team for this year's dinner!

The missions team is responsible for the planning and cooking — which is a lot of work because the event hosts 600+ people. On Saturday from noon to midnight, we cooked food, set up the gymnasium and decorations, and prayed over the next day. It was one crazy weekend with little sleep and nonstop madness. I went to bed Sunday night exhausted with aching feet and sore arms, but with a big grin on my face because it really was such fun to bond with my team members and an honor to serve the church in this capacity!

- These devotionals carried me through the week: #shereadstruth
- My pastor did a great series on Ephesians regarding Easter: sermon series
- How I spent Easter last year: in greece

The weekend in photos:

#POSTGRADPROBLEMS

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Big news. Really, really, big news. News that all still excites me to my bones.
You ready?

First of all, I am going to Japan this summer for a one-month long missions trip. (!!!) It took weeks of wrestling and long conversations with friends to make the leap, but now that I have, I haven't regretted it yet. (Full story to come.)

Second of all, I am launching my etsy shop, COFFEE & HONEYCOMB DESIGN SHOP. This shop will be full of digital prints, custom invitations, and custom logos! (Link to come.)

Last but not least, I am employed. Did you read that right? I AM EMPLOYED. (: Starting this September, I will be a Marketing Communications Planning Associate at General Mills. A bit long, but doesn't that name just sound GOOD? General Mills was my top prospect because it had such a wide portfolio of brands (including some of my personal favorites) and outstanding work culture — I feel so fortunate and excited to launch my career there!

:) That's it! That's my big news.
So many reasons to be thankful this season. What a wild and rewarding semester it has been. I still can't believe I'm going to be graduating in two months and entering real world...
Can you say #postgradproblems or what?