TwoOhOneFour.

In 2014 I fell in love.

Okay, slow down, not that kind of love. Well, maybe. If I had it my way I'd be on the arm of a sweet, handsome, and Jesus loving boy (probably one of the uniformed type - there, you have your confirmation), but who am I too make plans? A 21 year old girl and still mostly convinced that boys have cooties.

So in 2014 I didn't fall in love with a boy, shocker. I got a tattoo, died my hair purple, went to Italy with my best friend, read the entire Chronicles of Narnia series, and flew to Germany for the last time (last one is super bittersweet). Oh and I turned 21, I guess that's kind of a milestone in the US of A. I did a lot, and a lot of rather exciting things. And I learned a lot. I'm a very blessed 21 year old.

But back to love. In 2014 I fell in love with mountains (I've always loved mountains, but that love grew lots), and elementary schools, and passion. I read a quote somewhere (most likely Pinterest) that said, "Passion changes everything." Which I promptly wrote on the cover of my journal with the word "everything" capitalized. Passion changes EVERYTHING. I'm not an incredibly passionate person. I'm not moved easily, and more often than not I don't see things through (just ask my mother, this is her favorite trait of mine).

I fell in love, and it made me passionate, and it changed everything. Honestly I probably couldn't tell you what I wanted to do with my life this time last year. Odds are it was probably something close to guidance counselor or full-time ministry, but just so that I'd have a viable answer for the age old "So what are you going to do with your life?" question. I knew I liked kids, I knew I liked schools, I knew I liked places like Floyd, but there's definitely a difference between I-like-this and I-want-to-do-this-forever feelings.

Interning as a guidance counselor these last five months wrecked me. I failed. I messed up. I realized I know nothing. I sat, tongue tied with hurting kids because I didn't know how to help them. But strangely, I loved it. In my beloved Floyd I watched school become so much than a place for kids to learn math. Here they were fed, safe, got almost any kind of help they needed and in the guidance office we got to fight for kids' wellbeing and success and teach them about being little people.

I don't stick with anything, I don't stay anywhere. But here I am prepping for grad school (and dreading the 3 years I have to wait to actually be in an elementary school) and man oh man is it so worth it. It's hard. It's hard to watch kids hurt for any number of reasons and not know what to do or be able to help in the way that I want to, but as a friend of mine recently put it you have to love the potential for goodness in your job to love it. And there is so much potential for good, for change that is wholesome. I haven't gotten to see a ton of that, but I've been able to see little glimpses and that's enough. Enough to make me fall in love with the kiddos, and the school, and all the work that I have to do to get there.

Cheers to elementary schoolers for making me fall in love and become passionate for once in my life.