 |
| Clockwise from top left: a leafy walk to town; a rainy day spent in bed reading for class; the beginning of autumn on campus; my study view for most of the year; the beautiful mountain view from our 5th-floor flat. |
So it's been a while...
The chaos of senior year has caught me in a tangle, and I'm currently in the middle of fall break, half-asleep and trying not to think about all the work I still need to do this semester. (Spoiler: it's a lot).
I'm sorry for my absence from this space, having hardly had time to wash my hair most days it's no surprise to me that my creative hobbies have largely fallen to the wayside. So I thought perhaps I could list a few of the things that have happened since I last posted.
Senior year
I started my senior year of college in late August, and whew what a whirlwind it has all been. I'm taking five classes -- which is one more than is standard, -- working three jobs, writing my history thesis, looking at grad school applications, and trying to maintain some sort of social life, as well as taking care of my wellbeing. It's a lot, but I thrive when I'm busy, so I've been feeling really good given the circumstances.
Autoimmune diagnosis
In June, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, an autoimmune disorder where my immune system fights against my thyroid, messing up the balance of thyroid-stimulating hormones. It's complicated and honestly I'm not sure my mind fully understands it yet, but the diagnosis was very quick and I was put on daily medication within a couple of weeks. I was initially skeptical of taking pills every day for a new condition, but within a week of starting the right dose, I instantly felt more myself. The six months or so before the diagnosis left me feeling exhausted, listless, depressed, and far more anxious than usual. So I'm extremely grateful for my incredible doctors who put me back on the path to semi-normality. I hope to write more about Hashimoto's and how I've been managing it, so keep an eye out for that.
History research thesis
The last requirement for my history major is a big research project (a thesis). I'm in the research phase and need to start writing soon, but I'm really enjoying it. My topic is 20th-century Australian children's literature and its portrayal of Australian Aboriginal cultures. It's been really fascinating so far, and every day I feel like there's a new layer of complexity that is added. Still lots of work to do, but working on an independent research project makes me feel like such a professional historian!
Post-grad plans
The number one question any college senior is asked: what are you going to do after graduation? Some of my peers recoil at the prospect of life after college, but nothing excites me more! I've been looking at MA/MLitt programs in the UK, at schools like St. Andrews, York, Durham, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. I'm planning to apply to study Victorian literature or Medieval literature (totally different, I know, but I love them both!) On the other hand, I am also looking at creative jobs both in the UK and Australia, and even a few in the US. In short, I have no idea where I'll end up and I find that prospect rather thrilling. I will let you know when any concrete decisions have been made!
I hope to be back here and writing/sharing photos soon. First, I need to sleep for about 20 hours.
Back soon,
x B
