Rivers and Windchill

The Potomac River around 7:30 PM on October 10, 2015

It's extraordinary and strange and scary to think about how different my life is right now, and even more so to realize that right now is only the beginning of all that change. My parents met soon after college, and their lives completely changed together. Everything changes, and to be in a time of drastic and constant change is as terrifying as it is exhilarating. Today I met a recent Georgetown alumna who was a linguistics major and who is getting married on June 18. She met her fiancé at Georgetown—one of the many Hoyas who marry other Hoyas. Chances are high that I will meet my future spouse here at Georgetown.

So far, though, I'm just trying to get my feet solidly under me. I'm starting to feel less uprooted and more natural in this drastically different environment. I live in a city, next to a river, with colder Octobers, in a shared room, where nearly everyone is fabulously wealthy, in Ward 2 of the District. I live only a few miles from the White House. I cannot wrap my head around that.

Everything is going well, as I'm sure you were wondering. (I can hear you all now: "Hannah, stop babbling and tell us what we actually want to know!") Academics are a bit challenging in terms of time management—I've never had so much assigned reading in my life—but I'm getting decent grades. On my very first college test I earned a 95%! I have one test and one midterm this week, and then my midterm season is thankfully over.

Over the past two weeks, I've learned the importance of drinking water, getting eight hours of sleep, eating balanced meals, and exercising. I recently found a workout partner, Elizabeth, and we're set to work out in about seven hours. (Yes, I should probably be sleeping.) 

I've also learned the importance of just sucking it up, of communicating emotions, and of finding people you trust. I have found people I trust. It's still strange to open up to these new friends, but I'm making significant progress! Funnily enough, one of my closest friends here is named Ellen, and even though she's almost nothing like Helen, the similarity in names makes me smile.

I do have to admit, things haven't been entirely sunshine and daisies. The stress really got to me for a little while there, and the fact that I frequently forgot to take my medication didn't help matters. My main goal now is to prioritize properly. God, health, academics, and then everything else—that should keep me sane and healthy, but it can also be harder than it sounds. I'm trying my hardest to find the right balance in college since unfortunately my high school balance doesn't seem to apply here.

Even though it's strange to be here and I have no idea what my future looks like, I know deep in my bones that this is where I'm meant to be. I can't imagine myself anywhere else. I am so blessed.

Much love to you all,

Hannah Q.