A Year in the Life: Reflections on my Niece's First Year

My niece turned one last Sunday. It made me reflect on all the things that have happened since she was born, in a way I haven't really thought about the span of a year before.

I finally visited my brother in SC. He'd only been living there for two years.

I taught my first online class, which also happened to be the largest class I have ever taught.

I experienced my first time teaching a class for a second time. Things are remarkably easier the second time around...who would have imagined?

I advanced to candidacy (and have more or less written my dissertation...I think...)

I went through two roommates (through no fault of my own...I swear...)

Trump is running for President (and it terrifies me that my niece's earliest memories may involve him as President!)

I went through my first round of (real) job applications, my first (real) interview and my first round of heart-wrenching rejections.

I turned 30, which was surprisingly accompanied with a bit of an identity crisis.

I accepted a position as an adjunct professor at my alma mater, Wittenberg University.

I moved back to Ohio.

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemo and radiation.

And then my grandma's cancer returned.

Now, this week, my mom has to have another surgery, unrelated (hopefully!) to the cancer.

And all these things -- many of which have been major moments in my life -- won't even be memories for my niece.

So much can happen in a year, good and bad. The good things in life don't wait for the bad things to pass. My advisor said that to me once. It turns out, the bad things in life don't always wait for the good things to pass either. Life just keeps going, good turning into bad, bad turning into good, one replacing the other.