Now that the big Vegas trip is over, I feel like I can start to get settled in my Chicago plans and work on some goals I’ve set for 2018. Finding the right volunteer organization is top of my list. I’ve spent some time researching what would be a good fit. It’s tough because there are so many great opportunities across various fields that it makes it difficult to narrow it down. After some time on the internet, I noticed my interests peaked around organizations working to end poverty, human trafficking, gender inequality and some that support youth development. I’m excited to get in touch with these local organizations and see how I can get involved.

I’m currently taking a photography class in Ravenswood that has been such a fun experience so far. I have had a nice camera for years now but really known how to use it. I still have a ton to learn, but I’m getting much better with it now. When I was on a road trip with my sister last summer, we were in Arches National Park and it was incredibly windy but the moon was glowing like I had never seen before. I went to use my camera and nothing came out the way it looked in real life. It was mostly blurry with a white spec on a dark screen. From that point on I decided I need to know how to use my camera to capture pictures of the moon like the one I saw that night in Utah. I look forward to applying what I’ve learned to my next road trip in May through the Pacific Northwest!

Since my photography class lasts through April, I’m not going to add another big activity but instead focus on volunteering. Once my class ends though I’m really looking forward to starting French classes at the Alliance Française de Chicago. I was a French minor in college and got pretty decent at speaking after my semester in France, but I fear I have lost some of it since I rarely speak it anymore. The next session starts in June, which will be good timing with my other activities. Beyond classes, they offer fun events weekly such as wine nights, artist overviews, and cultural seminars. I look forward to joining the organization as a member and to participate in these various events!

On top of all this, I am officially moving into my own apartment on May 1! I found the perfect unit in a great area in the city. I will be right across the street from Ohio Street Beach and have access to Michigan Avenue in minutes. I’m looking forward to getting it all set up and making it my own, but until then I patiently am searching for the perfect pieces to make everything come together.

So far I am keeping up with a majority of goals which is very exciting, and summer in Chicago will propel me to try new things and enjoy what the city has to offer. This will also be the first summer I am living in the actual city, which will be a blast. Winter is nearly over, even though the weather doesn’t seem to be, and summer is coming. I started out 2018 with alllll of the 2018 vibes, and I am happy to report that I am living up to that expectation I set for myself. Each goal I’ve set has a purpose and I look forward to seeing what the outcome is. I feel refreshed after the first few months of the year and can’t wait to continue keeping up with my 2018 self.