Happiness.

30-page paper, done. 4 presentations, down. 10-page image analysis, in the works. Classes, finished.
Whats left? Just a few exams.
I'm so happy right now I could cry, smile, dance, laugh, run a mile...or 10. This has been the most interesting and challenging year yet and I'm finally starting to feel a sense assurance about a whole mess of unknown.

I've experienced of lot of questioning and worrying this year. Up until about a month ago, I struggled with the decision to leave Clemson. I've been re-evaluating my beliefs, trying make sense of my faith in the "real world." I've worried a lot about where life is taking me, whether or not I will find success, and what exactly defines that success. I've always considered myself an independent person, but for the first time I've truly questioned this idea. I've done a lot of re-evaluating of who I am as a person and the person that I'm striving to be. At times, all of this has been hard to deal with. However, I couldn't be happier about it.

In the fall I'll be in Prague. I'm excited, but it will be a big change. I'm so fascinated right now about the inter-workings of other cultures and how they play a part in the grand scheme of our world; and I can't wait to study and learn from a unique culture. I want it to change me. I want it to challenge me and I want to come home with new ideas and thoughts to ponder and live out in my life. I certainly don't expect to come home this totally different person, but of course I want to acquire some new knowledge while abroad...why else would I be going?

Big things are happening, things we may not even realize. Looking back at my blog entries, I've talked a lot about the concept of change, the concept of an emerging, fast-paced society. It all may seem trivial and repetitive, but I find the concept so great. I like the fact that you can't really wrap your mind around it, it certainly gives you a constant discussion topic. It is one of the rare concepts that bind us together with the rest of the world's peoples because we all experience it. It's something that can make a person so upset, yet in the end, make a person so happy and so thankful. It is a constant teacher of lessons. And to be cliche, it never lets you down.

As is typical, I'm not sure what I'm going for here. I guess in my perfect world, no one would be be okay with remaining stagnant. We would all be striving/thriving for/on change. We would converse with others. We would desire to know more. We would never just take things for as they are. We would try to make things better in this world, not afraid of failure. That just as the world itself orbits the sun, we as its inhabitants would be part of the movement. I don't want anarchy. I don't want chaos. I don't not want people to preserve their relationships. But I don't just want a standstill. Because in the end, how much fun is that? In my opinion, not so much.