To whoever's reading this, whether you're working every day or relaxing, know that you're doing well. Don't push yourself too hard too soon, or feel guilty for taking a break. We are only two weeks into the new year and I'm sure many of us are going through that awkward period where we are trying to follow up on our resolutions while making sure we don't burn ourselves out. Best of luck to all of you!

My favorite thing to do in December that often extends into January, is reflecting on my previous year and analyzing my behaviors, decisions, and progress. This helps me understand myself better which allows me to prepare for the new year more efficiently. Today, I will be sharing my thoughts and findings after said reflection, so let me know if you can relate to any of them!

Looking back, I can barely express how amazed I am at how much I've grown, both personally and professionally. This year has been nothing like any before it. It was filled with new challenges, memorable moments, and notable shifts in how I view myself and my passions.

One of the standout highlights of the year was definetly my second major at my university, which is Applied Music. I started my double major back in Fall 2023, but it only fully kicked off in Spring 2024 with my first ever solo performance! I had been on stage many times before, but this was the closest scenario to my goal and vision. It marked the beginning of something special. Before I even knew it, I had performed more than 11 times by the end of the year, each experience building on the last. The stage, backstage, and practice rooms all became a second home, as cliche as that sounds, and each performance taught me more about myself, as an artist. I also returned to auditioning, which was something I had set aside for a year. It felt amazing to put myself out there once again, especially because I could see and measure my progress in a year more clearly now. I felt incredibly proud.

2024 was also the year I ventured into new opportunities, which broadened my perspective. The biggest of which has been this very moment. Becoming a Kcampus ambassador was the surprise of the year for me. I never would have gathered the courage to apply to this program just a year ago, but here I am. It was a wonderful journey that gave me the honor of meeting all of you and experincing Korean culture in a way I haven't before. I learned a lot about myself through writing monthly reviews, and realized that there's still so much I could learn about life in Korea overall!