It's hard to believe my first semester is almost over. I feel quite a bit of satisfaction - mainly because it took me three tries and two and a half years, but I finally did it. 

Of course, I'd have liked straight A's. But this semester was more about re-learning how to learn, especially with a different set of medical circumstances. It takes a lot more repetition to remember much information than it did a few years ago. I have to involve as many senses as possible, and sometime's it gets frustrating. But I'm learning how to work with what I've got, and I'm pretty proud of that. 

I'm excited to see where this Advertising major takes me. It's really cool to already be able to apply a lot of things I learned this semester to my existing photography business. 

Not a lot of freshmen can say they already have their own business, so I could myself very fortunate.

I love learning and I'm so grateful that I finally got the chance to get back into furthering my education.

An introduction.

I've been wracking my brain for a good fifteen minutes in the hopes of an intriguing and incredibly insightful attention getter popping into my head. It hasn't happened and I will probably think of an out-of-this-world intro worthy of a Pulitzer right after I post this. Good things happen to those who needed them to happen five minutes ago. Anyway!

I'm Isabel. I am 21 years of age and originally from the town of Kearney, NE. Kearney is smack dab in the middle of the United States. Right on the crosshairs. It is, for me, a routine motivated small city that's not exactly blossoming with creative opportunities. I'm criticized frequently on my somewhat pessimistic outlook of my hometown. Kearney is a phenomenal place to grow up, but not the place I want to develop my character and passions post high school graduation. It's a wonderful place to raise a family, but that's not exactly on my radar at the moment.

I attended Kearney High all four years. I was physically in the building maybe half of that time due to medical complications. It was tough to establish my place in the hallways of the school. I was well-liked (I think) but it's hard for teens of that age to grasp situations that don't fit in any of the societal boxes. My high school dance team was my rock. It gave me a purpose. I will be forever thankful for that experience and outlet.

After graduation, I took two and a half years off from school to sort out my medical afflictions. It's been quite a journey to get here. School became something I was desperate to experience, rather than an obligation or a responsibility.

I was very fortunate to have fallen into the energetic and welcoming world of photography soon after graduation. While dance gave me a purpose and a distraction, photography gave me identity. I so quickly transformed from Isabel, the sick girl, to Isabel, the photographer. I decided to declare Advertising as my major to enhance my career in photography.

School is overwhelming and stressful and absolutely wonderful. I'm here. I'm a student. I'm around people my own age. I love walking through campus and hardly knowing a single person I encounter. I love going to sleep listening to the bustle of the city. I am very lucky to be here, in a lot of ways. There are many different roads that lead to the same destination, and sometimes we only have to reroute.