This has been QUITE the year–so many beginnings and endings, new chapters, old chapters. I can’t believe a year a go I still had a thyroid (hah), lived in southern California, was finishing school and beginning cycling training. An incredible amount of change has occurred in the last twelve months, and I have changed because of it.

This new year holds a lot of question in regards to job, school, location, health, etc. I am ready for the next chapter to take shape, whatever it may be. I am ready to make new connections, travel, venture into the unknown, no matter how fearful it may be.

I pray that I learn to listen harder and speak less. I pray that I learn to sacrifice more for the sake of others. I pray that I respond to the needs of the people around me more readily. I pray that I remain patient through the uncertainty and constant change. Above all, though, I pray that I learn to love more purely and that I can share this love with those around me.

Below marks some of the most influential and memorable moments of 2012. Seeing the progression of events throughout the year was pretty humbling for me.

JANUARY

Jan. 3: Began bike training with new bike and gear

Jan. 7-8: Wunderpit Reunion, Las Vegas

Jan. 15: Disneyland with Kim

FEBRUARY

Feb. 4: RCC 2012 Age Outs

Feb. 17-19: Syracuse Law School visit (Syracuse, New York)

MARCH

March 8-11: Visit Chicago
(John Marshall and Chicago-Kent law school visits;
Sean and Warren come up from Indy)

APRIL

April 9: Southern California Percussion Alliance (SCPA) Champions

April 13: RCC Potluck!

April 21: Became World Guard International (WGI)
Independent World Gold Medalists
(Dayton, Ohio)

April 29: La Jolla with Jenna and Nick

MAY

May 4: SMU “Passing the Baton” Dinner

May 5: Wunderchen party

May 10: RCC Banquet
(Gold drum head from Remo; “Outstanding Performer” 🙂 )

May 12: Matt and Jessica Regua’s Wedding

May 15: Senior Dinner

May 16: Presented our book The Dominican Dream,
to Albert Pujols and prayed with him before his game.

May 18: Cycled my first century (100 miles!)

May 19: Last SMU MarCom meeting, Downtown Disney

May 23: Epsilon Kappa Epsilon induction ceremony
(Less than the top 5% of our graduating class)

May 26: Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Biola University
B.A. in Journalism and minor in biblical and theological studies

May 31: Last day working for
University Communications and Marketing at Biola.

JUNE

June 7: Disneyland’s Cars Land staff preview with roommate Kim!

June 8: San Diego Zoo with Jenna

June 9: Goodbye dinner with RCC friends

June 12-14: Drove my car with dad from Fullerton, California to Chicago, Illinois.

June 16: Amy and Luke’s wedding (Greenfield, Indiana)

June 20: Signed the lease to our apartment downtown Chicago!

June 23: Erik and Casey’s wedding (Gurnee, Illinois)

June 30: “Zoolander” on the lawn with Amanda.
Food trucks and free popcorn! (Los Angeles, CA)

JULY

July 1: Pam’s wedding, the older lady I watched Colt’s football with
every Sunday for three years (Fullerton, California)

July 12-23: IJM Freedom Tour
Cycled from Cincinnati, OH to Washington D.C. to raise awareness and support for
International Justice Mission (IJM) and their fight against modern-day slavery.

AUGUST

Aug. 7: Shelbey visits Chicago!

Aug. 11: Holly and Grant’s wedding (Big Bear, California)

Aug. 16: Diagnosed with thyroid cancer

Aug. 20: First day of law school orientation.
I sat down with the Dean and made the difficult decision to defer school for medical reasons.

Aug. 31: Complete thyroidectomy and neck dissection surgery.
Confirmed diagnosis of papillary carcinoma.

SEPTEMBER

Sept. 7: Stitches removed.

Sept: 28: Visited Melissa at school in Grand Rapids, Michigan:
watched the lanterns float over the river as part of Art Prize.

Sept 29: Fall activities, pumpkin carving and low-iodine cooking.

OCTOBER

Oct: 17-25: Radiation therapy.
Quarantined for eight days in Uncle Steve’s room with strict diet.

Oct. 21: Dad visits from California,
even though I am quarantined and not able to leave my room or be near people.
He eats dinner with me on the edge of my quarantine room.