Things have sure started to get surreal around here. There is only a week and a half left of classes and we are staring down graduation! I can’t believe how quickly the four years here have gone, I feel like I just got here! My friends and I are signing up for Senior Week activities soon, so that we can have one last hurrah before we all start going our separate ways.

Yesterday was Honors Day, so my parents and sister came down for the chapel service and the Political Science Research Symposium. It was really fun to see all of them and to let them see what I do here at school. Soon they will be back on campus for graduation. Now I have got to keep plugging away at homework, so I don’t get behind during my final days of class.

Now we are all staring down the last full week of classes, and finals will be coming around all too soon. I have a paper due this week that I really need to get done so that I can spend the weekend finishing my thesis. Where did all the time go?!

The rough draft of my senior political science thesis is due next Wednesday, and I feel pretty good about what I have done so far. It is really kind of fun to talk about writing my senior thesis, although sometimes I can hardly believe that I am graduating this year.

We have started to get serious about Christmas in Christ Chapel now in choir rehearsals. It seems like there is more music to learn this year than in the past, and some of the pieces are going to be really fun. As an added bonus, I also get to see my other friends in choir more, since we will soon start having mass rehearsals. Hooray.

This week I went to a lecture given by a man who was formerly a government official in Colombia. He was kidnapped and eventually had to flee the country with his family, and now works for Lutheran World Relief here in the United States. His story was really interesting, and it was good to learn more about what is really going on in other parts of the world. It is easy to forget, living here in this community, that there are people suffering and working for the rights that we often seem to take for granted. I am really glad I went to the lecture.

Next week is going to be really full for me, as I have 4 papers due in different classes. I am really going to have to work hard this weekend to keep up. I think Fall Break will come just in time.

I spent a long time talking to one of my Political Science professors yesterday, as I am still trying to decide where I want to go after Gustavus. I am so grateful that my professors have been so willing and interested in talking to me about these things, and giving me so much good advice. I am really leaning toward making the Teach for America program my first option after graduation. Now I just have to get going on the application!

I am excited for this weekend, as not only are my parents coming on Sunday, but a friend of mine from home is visiting as well! On Saturday I am going to be in the Homecoming parade with a bunch of staff from the newspaper, and then I’ll definitely have to stop by and check out the football game. My parent’s are coming on Sunday to see the concert that I am singing in…and hopefully they’ll take me out for supper too!

Fall is definitely turning out to be a really busy time!