11. No Lost Year Here

 Looking back at this past year, I wouldn’t consider it a lost year as Times Magazine had put it. I would admit that the beginning of the year was hectic and often at times I did feel lost and isolated. When the pandemic first hit, I was living in my sorority house, constantly surrounded by love and support, and often chaos. When were asked to return home in March, I was devastated. I went back home, in the middle of southwest Kansas, far from all my friends. My family had taken Covid very seriously, as I believe everyone should have, and very much participated in social distancing all summer. At first it was difficult, but then I started to see this time as an opportunity for self-growth. I decided to take several online classes through Kansas State and focused on those religiously. This also gave me the time to really reflect on my career path and what my goals were for myself and my future. Pursuing a career in the dental field, I looked into many graduate schools and formulated a plan on how I was going to get there. I started studying for my dental admissions test and it makes me excited about the future. I don’t think I really would have been this motivated it I didn’t have the time to sit myself down and really focus on myself and my goals. I also participated in every possible hobby imaginable. I read a lot of books, art projects, learned how to make sushi, bought some roller blades, took up weightlifting, as well as got a dog. I don’t think I would have ever had the time to take up these hobbies, especially with the heavy workload of a pre-dental student. Looking back at this past year, I don’t consider it a ‘lost year,’ but rather a year for self-growth and focusing on your goals.