And Finally...

“Almost there!” I keep telling myself. It’s hard to believe that with just mere hours to go before departure, I’m still frantically trying to pack and triple check everything before I leave. Although I’ve been looking forward to this trip for a long time, everything has felt surreal up to now as the hours are ticking down.

It was a huge relief to finally be done with school. I remember just a week ago I was struggling to handle three finals. I’m just glad that I made it in one piece.  Summer started with much anticipation, marking the end of my long wait. Surprisingly, the last few days have flown by, making everything else seem insignificant.

Right now I am full of mixed feelings as I check my packing list one last time and go over the trip itinerary. As a part of the first group leaving for the ILC, I am honored and completely overwhelmed with excitement. I know that I will miss my life in El Cerrito, and all of the people, friends and family who have stuck with me this far, but at the same time I’m more than eager to start anew on the East Coast. It seems like my summer is being cut short, but I know that it’s only the beginning. The ILC experience will allow me to explore different colleges, get a feel for college life, and meet and make new friends.

I hope that I’ll be able to get some, if any, sleep tonight before getting on the airport shuttle at 3 AM tomorrow morning. The next time I post, it will be from Providence, Rhode Island. See you on the other side!