year 2. a year considerably and unexpectedly more difficult than freshman year. classes did increase in rigor, but that wasn’t really the area i significantly struggled in. somehow i found myself in a season of loneliness, which i couldn’t quite understand given that i am surrounded by people my age everyday. i would look around and feel as if everybody had somebody but me - stuck in what felt like perpetual darkness and invisibility. what i found in that season is that the one person who never left me was my Heavenly Father. He was so kind to me - sitting with me and just listening to all that i was going through. I prayed that He would reveal to me people who would make good friends and for Him to place people in my life. He was so faithful to provide. I now look back and see His hand and provision in it so clearly - the independence, freedom, opportunities, growth, friends, and joy that i have found. so all this to say that in the midst of all the semester/year recap highlight reels that populate your feed around this time of year, this is real. there were so many good times this year, but there were also some not so good ones. it’s okay if you feel lonely in college, if your social circle changes or gets smaller, if people leave. it’s normal, you are not alone, and i’m here to tell you that the Lord is working it out for your good. psalm 139 is scripture that got me through so much this year - to know that the Lord knows me deeply even when other people don’t, that He created me with purpose and intentionality, that He loves me and that He is greater than the darkness that most often feels like too much. He never leaves, and He is a good Father. here is some more scripture that became a comfort to me in a season of loneliness: - ecclesiastes 3:11 - 1 peter 5:6-7 - isaiah 41:10 - hebrews 4:15-16 - isaiah 42:16 - joshua 1:9 - revelation 7:17