It feels like just yesterday I was six years old watching an episode of Hannah Montana after coming home from a day at school spent learning how to add and subtract. And then I blinked and am somehow a 22-year-old college graduate about to move to a new city and start a corporate job. Where did the time go?

My dad while curling my hair for 5th-grade graduation. I remember being obsessed with this dress because it was from Juicy Couture and was so sad when I was too tall to wear it anymore. Coincidentally enough, I ended up getting the same nail color for my college graduation. Some things just never change!

Life was good back in the 2012-2015 years when Instagram was still casual, wearing a graphic Hollister long sleeve was normal, and you could just be your silly self with no repercussions. One of my favorite memories of being on the bus to this day I was in the 6th I hid underneath a seat one afternoon and scared the living daylight out of a 7th-grade boy. Once a scarer, always a scarer.

I was IN MY BAG in middle school. The smirk says it all.

I miss North Atlanta and all of the different people I got to be in contact with on a daily basis, like Chandler (middle). Chandler, if you ever read this, please remember me when you’re famous!! Although high school was definitely my least favorite period of schooling, it taught me so many lessons about life and myself, and I wouldn’t be who I am without it.

This has to have been one of my favorite football games in high school. It was Hawaiian-themed and happened to fall on the 21st night of September, so you already know I was tooting that thang all night to the tune of September by Earth, Wind, & Fire. My boyfriend made so many great plays in that game and the student section stormed the field after we won. All around, it was a great night.

And now moving on to my absolute favorite period of schooling, attending Georgia Tech for college. As I always like to say, sometimes you have to flop before you can slay 🤣. These past four years have been the best of my life, largely because of the freedom, fun, and awesome people I got to build relationships with. Even though it had a rocky beginning freshman year with me considering transferring, getting my heart broken, and the second semester ending early from COVID, I am so glad that everything unfolded the way it did. College brought me experiences and perspectives I hadn’t known were possible before. It just kept on getting better and better.

To anyone who has been by my side through any of these phases, thank you for all of the shared memories, laughs, trips, meals, and everything in between. I cannot wait to see all of the great things that everyone goes on to accomplish. This is just the beginning!!

💘 Hanna