Hello all! I’m stoked to hop back on here and share ANOTHER life update! This season of life has been a whirlwind, but it has also come with a lot of clarity. There’s so much for me to share! Let’s begin.
College Commitment 🐊
First up… I committed to university! Can you guess where? I mentioned it in this post a year ago: 🎶 6 Months Into 2025: Andrea Bocelli Concert, St. Augustine, Strawberry Farms, Painting Palms, UF Tour and New Recipes 🌴
I AM A UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GATOR!!! 🥳
I’ve been admitted to all the Florida schools I’ve applied to, and I’m incredibly excited! God is good! It finally feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
I am going to keep my housing plans and major private, but there is a lot to come, and I cannot believe I will be writing from Gainesville soon! Time flies quickly.
Volunteering
I am the president of two clubs at my school that have been super successful this year. The Christian faith club I created has been hosting fundraisers and volunteering, which has been so special and a great reminder of how to lead with grace and gratitude.
We volunteered at a local food drive, packaging lunches, filtering through produce, and bagging food. Afterward, we headed to brunch together, which was delightful!
The lemon-ricotta pancakes we ordered were heavenly. I also had a scrumptious Italian sandwich. Peaceful moments like these, surrounded by great company, have really helped me push through my senior year! At the same time, I can’t believe I will be moving my closest in-person friendships to FaceTime calls. I have known some of my friends for over three years, and while I’m excited to meet new people, there are moments I’d love to hold onto forever. Things as small as meeting up before class, studying together for exams, driving around and grabbing food together, etc. I never really realized how priceless these memories were until now. I always thought I’d know what it’s like, but truthfully, one doesn’t truly know until it suddenly slaps them in the face. I’ve been discussing college since high school started, and now I’m wondering how it all fell into my lap. There’s nothing else I need to suffer for right now. The time has arrived for me to move on!
UF Housing Tour!
As I stated previously, I’m not going to reveal too much about my housing situation, but I went to tour my future home 😉 and walked around campus as well. Here are a few spots I visited:
The campus has some scenic, quiet spots I will definitely be hiding out in. The campus wasn’t crowded in the common areas though, which surprised me. Nonetheless, there’s so much to explore, from the lakes to the libraries, and I’m ready to tackle it all!
Scenic Hikes 🌱
This year, I’ve made it a priority to reconnect with nature. I have always been the knees-in-the-dirt child, but as time passed, I became focused more on my physique rather than my peace. My workouts became self-serving rather than regenerative.
I recently enjoyed a hike with my friends through a nature trail. We walked past rivers, gators, turtles, palms, and so much beauty.
It was an important reminder to reconnect with God’s green Earth. Everything is connected through the energy of life, and it’s imperative to define your relationship with your surroundings often.
Just look at how tall this tree is!
Additionally, I picked up gardening! I bought a bunch of new flowers to fill up my backyard with, and not only are they beautiful, but they smell divine! My favorites are the Sweet Alyssum and Lavender.
This has been a great activity to keep me in nature! It’s so easy to get lost in screens when life is busy, but simple grounding activities always help with this!
Running 🏃♀️
I’ve recently gotten back into the groove of running, as I promised myself I would keep a routine this year! I’ve increased my distance and explored different paces that make me feel energized during and after my runs. Overall, I’ve been feeling strong, confident, and proud of my discipline!
I used to run with music, but I’ve found it comfortable to run in silence as it lets me focus on my pace and body. This switch has made it easier and more enjoyable!
Bible Study 📖
I hosted my first Bible Study for my Christian faith club! We went to an açaí bowl shop and studied scripture. Afterwards, we discussed it and its applications to our lives! It was really refreshing to hear new perspectives on the Word, and a great time meeting with like-minded individuals.
Closing Sentiment…
I hope you enjoyed this little update, and stay tuned for more! From travel posts to college move-in day, there are tons to come!
Thank you to everyone who has been patient with me throughout this chapter of my life! Your support means a lot to me! 💗
Wishing you peace, Nicole.
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