The Opportunity of a Lifetime

by Nikki Howard

Happy December, readers!

And Unhappy Last Day to all of my fellow CS students. We had our farewell party on Wednesday, and I’m pretty sure I can speak for everyone when I say that we’re stunned at how fast this semester has gone. It’s amazing how we’ve all changed in these three and a half months.

In August, I was convinced that at some point I would get myself so lost even the internet couldn’t save me. In September, I decided to go visit a recommended coffee shop on a whim, so I got on the Brown Line for the first time. Now, I barely use the transit app that I was glued to for that first month. Getting lost was one of my top worries, so it’s amazing how anticlimactic it all was.

It left me more time to worry about properly taking it all in, and I made sure to do the best I could.

For one thing, Chicago during the holiday season is honestly so beautiful that I’m actually debating whether I preferred the fall or winter portion more. And for those who don’t know me well, I detest cold weather. I detest hot weather. Fall is the perfect season for me, so this is pretty big.

And to those of you debating whether or not Chicago Semester is something for you, I would recommend yes. Yes, yes, yes. You’ll get an advantage with job searches after college, you’ll get to explore a culturally diverse city to your heart’s content, and you’ll learn so much about yourself. Do you enjoy living in a big city? Are you good at adapting to the situation? Are you comfortable with your internship field? If anything, do it for the food. (Just kidding—maybe. Not really. Everything is so good.)

So, to finish out my last blog post, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you, Chicago Semester, for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, to my internship site, Open Books, for accepting the awkward quiet me and then the awkward blabbermouth me once I got more comfortable. I’ll miss everyone at my internship and Chicago Semester, and I wish them the absolute best in life. Also, to everyone reading this: visit the Open Books bookstore sometime. It’s amazing.

Thank you for these wonderful months, Chicago—I hope to come back soon!

Nikki

P.S. If someone ever came up to me and asked: What was the worst thing about your time in Chicago? I would have to answer drinking Swedish Christmas Soda. Nowhere near enough sugar. I know American soda is unhealthy, but why’s it gotta taste so good?