thebabyperks

Writing and Reflecting

I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. Even as an elementary schooler I would prop myself up in the "computer room" in the basement and type out a dozen fiction stories. One summer I remember handwriting 30+ pages of a story, and I'm pretty sure I have it in a folder in my desk. Beginning in middle school I journaled random things throughout my life, some were daily updates on life while others were (poorly done) drawings/sketches. Then during my sophomore year of high school I started a new journal. This one began as a quote journal- filled with quotes I loved and then me reflecting on them, however this too became a life updates/daily journal. I completed this just as I was finishing high school.

Going into college I knew I wanted to journal my experiences. First because writing is stress-relieving for me and if you know me you know I get stressed a lot. Second because I love being able to document what I do/how I feel. I think it is extremely important for personal growth. This journal is already halfway full of some of my best and worst days of freshman year. Sometimes I'd write about the future, sometime I'd just go on a two page ramble of what is going on. 

The progression of my journals (Enjoy my middle school journal that has texting abbreviations across the cover)

But before I came to college I wrote myself a simple note: "I hope I can find a group of friends." One of the reasons I picked Drury was because I could start over, I was going to a place where no one knew me. On the other hand I was terrified that I would float around campus without a friend group, not knowing how to reach out to people. When I moved back home for the summer I stumbled upon this note while unpacking my room (not just from school but also because we moved houses in April so EVERYTHING was in boxes). I had to sit back when I saw that note because my life was so incredibly different just 10 months ago.

The first question I get whenever I encounter someone from home is "did you like school?" In which I respond, "yes I loved it. I plan on staying in Springfield next summer," and they're always shocked. Never in a million years would anyone from home think that I would want to stay away from home. I'm the biggest homebody they know. Then I have to go on to explain my plans and what I love about Drury, but it never gets old because Drury is my second home. I know I talk a lot about how much I love Drury, but it just makes me so happy. I've been gone for 26 days but it feels like so much longer.

Anyway-- I guess the main point I want to get across in this rambling post is that I'm thankful that I write as much as I do because neat little moments like what I described above happen. Also, I'm just feeling sentimental today. So there you go.

Until next time,
Taylor xx