The End of an Era

I want to start of by just saying, wow! I can't believe the time has come to end a chapter of my life and begin a new one. This chapter of my life began four years ago when I was merely a high school graduate. What was coming next? Would I go to college for academics or baseball? Would I stay pre-med or change my mind? Graduating from Baylor never crossed my mind as a kid; as a matter of fact, Baylor was not even on my college radar. However, I'm incredibly thankful that I decided on going to Baylor. Well here I am four years later, not following a dream, but chasing my passion. In the Fall I will begin my studies at Southern Methodist University, studying Modern Europe.

Everything that I have learned over the past four years has changed me and shaped the man I am today. I've found out who true friends are, what love is, what real hardship is, and how to overcome the toughest of times. A little story exemplifies how much I have changed in such a short time, as well as how much growing is still ahead of me. I recently reconnected with an old high school friend. I remember her as being nice, but she was of the religious, goody-goody, type that a high school boy would never really consider dating. Well, time changes these things and I learned how special her qualities are. Of course, being the "jump the gun" kind of guy I am, I asked her on a date. We had a wonderful time at my favorite restaurant and hanging out on a rooftop terrance in Fort Worth. I never would have imagined feeling that kind of connection with someone four years ago. Once again, this story taught me something about myself. One, that's the kind (not THE girl, but the kind of) girl that's what I want and need. Two, I have grown so much as a person and being with her helped me to realize who I have become; a respectful, kind, gentleman. While that sounds pretty arrogant, I'm proud that I can claim this about myself. So, here we are. The end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. Here's to the next years of this life I have come to love!