25 before turning 25

My 24th birthday was Sunday. 24 isn't really a "monumental" age in any special ways, it just marks a fresh start, and chance to rethink priorities and goals, and start the "year" on a good note.

But it also marks the year leading up to 25. 

25 means I'm no longer a young 20-something. I'm mid-20's, 3 years out of college, supposedly living in the real world. It doesn't really scare me that I'm turning older, even though I always tell my students that I am "so old" (side note…a first grader asked me  if I was turning 50 when I told her it was my birthday….oh children, they have no concept of age in adults). I don't have any finite age goals to be married/have children/have a house by a certain age, mostly because I know I can't really control that arena. While sometimes I wish I was still that young 20 something, still in college, with free time, no need to wear dress pants everyday, there are also perks and freedoms that come with growing older and having more opportunities. I relish having another new year with BIG opportunities coming my way, from graduating the service program I am in, becoming a fully licensed teacher with a Master's, to getting an "actual" (real paying) job, and moving on to new opportunities. So I made a 25 before 25 years old list, a set of goals that I would like to work towards before the 25th birthday roles around. Now, some of them are sort of vague, like 'manage my money better', and as I figure out more specific strategies, I will refine my list. But for now, here is my 25 in 25 list.

1. Obtain my PA teaching license (Complete summer 2014)

2. Graduate from my Master's program with Honors (May 2014)

3. Accept a real person job! (Wahoo! Accepted April 2014)

4. Become more responsible with my finances (sorta?)

5. Invest my money (with banker Dad's help)

6. Travel to at least 2 new cities (Soon to come this summer!)

7. Take a new dance class (does a new zumba class count?)

8. Read 12 new books, no repeats (Book one is The Book Theif)

9. Apply (and possible get into) a Ph.D. program (this is postponed to next year)

10. See a new Broadway show

11. Visit the Jersey shore at least once this summer

12. Take a SCUBA trip

13. Finally get contacts

14. Decorate my first real apartment! probably with IKEA furniture…. (or furniture from my aunt, check!)

15. Invest in a classic handbag (Kate Spade...check done)

16. Make an ACE photo book

17. Send 4 letters to friends a week

18. Take a road trip to visit a friend

19. send a card to all my friends and family on their birthday (getting better at this)

20. Complete a 50 day Novena

21. Go to confession at least twice (something I am not very good at)

22. Take the baby sister on a trip for her 18th  birthday

23. Plan a reunion event for UNC homecoming (not homecoming, but reunion complete!)

24. Have a White House Reunion Weekend (see above)

25. Write on my blog once a week! (we are getting there!!!)