My last ever fall semester of my undergraduate career has been completed. My grades are in and my winter break has begun. Weird? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Ready for a stress free start to break? Uh…Not exactly.

Now this doesn’t mean I am not enjoying my senior year. Truthfully, I love it. I love being comfortable in my academic setting and knowing the ropes of campus. I love knowing my faculty and my professors. I love knowing Marywood. I am able to look back and see how far I’ve come, however, it’s getting to be the end of the Marywood chapter in my life and with every end to an old chapter a new one has to begin; and along with new chapters comes new stress. Although senior year is fun and memorable it is also a year consisting of planning. Planing your next step to take in life. Planning on what you are going to do in the real world. And in my case, planning on what Graduate Program you will be part of which will in the long run get you a career.

Whenever I freak out over my computer not responding, whenever I question if my personal statement actually makes sense, whenever I do not feel confident in my artwork in my portfolio, I try to remember this is just part of the process of a career in art therapy. The fees and extensive application process will be well worth it.

So going back to my not-so-stress-free beginning of my break, I am wrapping up applying to art therapy programs that I would be honored to learn from and be a part of. And then I will have a very merry break.

I am well equipped though. Organization is truly key. I have my nifty organized graduate school folder.

Believe it or not this….

Can fit all of this….

And I am well aware that my laptop will be my best friend for the next few days. I even have an email folder specifically for all of the emails specifically dealing with graduate schools. It will hold all of the confirmation and information emails I will be too paranoid to delete even after I receive answers from universities.

I cannot wait to get started on this new chapter in my life and get more experience within the field of art therapy. Here’s to an important start to my break.

For even more incentive, I plan to motivate myself with Christmas crafting as a reward for applying to graduate schools. Pinterest and Netflix, I will see you soon after I finish up my adult responsibilities. Until then, I will miss you.