One week. It’s been one week since I graduated college, packed up three years of my life, said goodbye to Boston and all my friends, and officially entered “the real world”. Can you be proud and wildly depressed at the same time?

Attending Boston University was a dream come true for me — and one I fought incredibly hard for. As a transfer student, it was hard at times not to feel a tiny bit bitter about missing out on my freshman year, especially as graduation approached. Everyone talking about then and now, first roommates and friends, late nights at the dining hall, the differences and similarities throughout their four years.

But I am so lucky. I had the incredible opportunity to attend this university, my dream school, for three years. Through the eyes of a transfer student, I knew I couldn’t waste a single day. As I look back, I know I did the best I could with the time I had. And I don’t regret my college experience in the slightest.

Attending Boston University was my first real test of how far I was willing to go to follow my dreams. It was the first real proof of my determination (and perhaps, my stubbornness). And it was a boundary I kept breaking throughout my three years. I worked four jobs, studied abroad twice, landed four internships, and consistently maintained above a 3.5 GPA. All while falling completely, deeply, irrevocably in love with Boston and exploring every inch of the city I still call home.

As my final semester was coming to a close, I set two last goals for myself: receive the Blue Chip Award and graduate Magna Cum Laude. The Blue Chip Award is the highest honor given to exceptional seniors in the College of Communication. Only a handful are picked each year, self-nominated and recommended by the faculty and internship supervisors. My second goal was a bit tricker. I started my last semester with Cum Laude, just .02 points shy of Magna. I needed at least an A- in both my spring semester courses to bump my GPA to the required 3.53.

I studied and worked and pushed to the final minute. I sent out recommendation requests and attended office hours. I fought off the senioritis and crammed for my finals. And my determination paid off once again. I surpassed my own expectations and proudly closed my college chapter with a bang.

Why do I write this? Because Boston University has taught me so much. Hell, college has taught me so much. These past fours years have changed and matured me in unprecedented ways. And one of the most important things I have learned is that I am capable of so much more than I can ever imagine. We are all capable of so much more than we can ever imagine.

And whatever your dreams may be, know that there burns within you a determination that will take you where you need to go.

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In my case, it has taken me home for a summer filled with travel, adventure, family, friends, and of course the World Cup. I write this as I wrap up an incredible family vacation in Hawaii. Tomorrow, I head to Los Angeles for a two-week backpacking and camping trip around the West Coast. Be prepared for gorgeous Instagrams and blog posts from the road. I return just in time for the World Cup which is basically what my entire life revolves around so yes I will be writing and thinking and breathing and everything about soccer the entire summer (on that note HALA MADRID BABY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CHAMPS!) A possibly spontaneous trip to New York at the end of June, a trip to Napa Valley for a wedding in July, a quick stop by DC to visit my sister, and a weekend in Michigan for the Real Madrid game in August wraps up the rest of my summer travels, with my wonderful South Florida as my sunny home base.

And then… who knows. There is a positive flow to my life right now and I’m confident it will take me where I need to be when the time is right. I have a few leads out there but let’s not jinx anything!

For now, I’m content and excited and relaxed.

Mahalo for the memories, Hawaii. LA, here I come.