When people talk about “finals week,” you don’t really think much of it. Obviously, you know there will be a lot of studying, but you don’t fully understand what it feels like until you’re actually in it. Once finals week truly arrives in college, it’s absolute chaos. This year, I felt like I had a million tests to study for, and it was way different than anything I experienced in high school. Although I had the luxury of completing all my exams and presentations online, my first semester still proved to be much trickier than expected.

The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and every year it reminds me of how overwhelming this time used to feel. Finals, assignments, and projects always seemed to pile up all at once. I still get that tug of homesickness sometimes, missing my family and seeing them every day, but I’m grateful that the craziness of this semester hasn’t been too crazy here at SHU.

Halloween is by far my favorite season to work through. Even though balancing work, school, and studying (all with barely any sleep) can be a rigorous task, it’s always important to stay focused on what’s next. I love Halloween not just because it kicks off my favorite stretch of holidays, but also because of the timing and the people I’m surrounded by.

Around two years ago, I realized I needed a special way to express my thoughts, a space that was entirely my own. As a junior in high school without a writing club to turn to, I decided to create something from scratch. And today, I'm celebrating the second happiest birthday of my creation: Coffee Talk With Jill.

Over the past few months, living alone for the first time, I’ve realized how fast time is flying. Every day, a new beginning starts to brew, and I can’t help but feel so immersed in studying, homework, and school that I have to remind myself to take things slow and one day at a time. Even though being at Seton Hill has brought so many new friends and fun, I also have to remember what’s waiting for me back at home.

This week marks the fourth since beginning classes at Seton Hill. Although it has been an absolute whirlwind, I feel empowered to be part of something so beautiful. I find peace day to day, whether it’s discovering a new spot on campus or simply passing a friend in the hall.

Last Thursday, the long-awaited Seton Hill move-in day finally arrived. With the help of my mom, my gram, and our family friend Ashley, I moved into my dorm suite, DeChantal Hall, my new home for the school year, at least!

When I was a girl, our family, including my brothers, parents, and grandparents, would often take trips to Myrtle Beach, where we spent our vacations at Ocean Lakes. The experience was surreal. We were all so happy, and it always felt like one final bang before school began. It was a special feeling, a sense of togetherness and belonging.

While sitting in bed recovering from getting my wisdom teeth taken out, I finally have the time, and the patience, to sit and write while trying to get better. No one prepared me for the reality of not being able to consume anything besides literal mush. But I suppose it’s one of those things that’s better not to know until it happens.

My time working at Kohl’s has *almost* come to an end. Today is officially my last day. I put in my two weeks’ notice a week ago, but unfortunately, they stopped scheduling me just a few days in. It’s a little bittersweet, I’m sad to leave behind something that was such a big part of my junior and senior years. I spent so many hours in that store; it almost felt like a second home at times.

As many of you know, I’m a huge Alice in Wonderland lover. Over the weekend, at my graduation party, I opened a special gift that included Dinah, Alice’s beloved kitty,  which inspired me to create a Wonderland themed poetry thread. Inspired by that moment, I put together a collection of five free-verse poems that tell a story about Alice’s adventures, while incorporating elements of love and mystery.

After many difficult years, I finally got to walk the stage with so many of my friends to mark the end of an era-- graduation. This week, while making a memory board for my graduation party, I had the chance to reflect on it all.