Is this the end or is it something more?

Tonight I went to the Legacy Banquet for Cornerstone resident assistants, both current and next year's. The Legacy Banquet takes place every April and is the "passing of the torch" ceremony for resident assistants. The ceremony is both comic and poignant; it is the end for some of us and the beginning for others. First, we all enjoyed dinner (yummy food transported from the cafeteria to the buffet line) then a speaker spoke about legacies. After that, all the current RA's handed down physical manifestations of their sections, as well as survival tools for the next year (often journals, coffee and blue tape for putting things on the walls). The legacy I hope I left to Kristin, the next RA of C1W, is the general caring and support that I have tried to show to all of my women. Of course, I also left her a couple of dolls that have travelled from room to room in my section ever since the Christmas party last December. The creepy Christmas Carolers will live on forever. I just hope they won't come back to haunt me! I also gave Kristin our birthday crown and some of our birthday decorations. C1W is definitely the party section!

I can't believe a whole year has passed since last year's banquet. It feels like I just moved into Cook Hall and began my RA position. It made me sad to think that I will not be an RA next year, yet at the same time the possibilities of next school year tantalize and tempt me from behind the veil of summer.

So in order to deal with the loss of this position, I've decided to make a list. (Side note: I love lists! I'm the nerd who will write things that I've already finished on a list just to cross it out.)

Things I look forward to next school year:

1. I won't have to be on duty. (No more nights sitting at the desk in the lobby and filling out duty logs, making sure that every i is dotted and every t is crossed.)

2. I won't have to worry if I'm spending enough time in my room or around the dorm.

3. It will be much easier to volunteer outside of where I live with the extra time.

4. My schedule will be freed up in the evenings (No more Monday and Wednesday evening meetings.)

5. I can concentrate on my schoolwork and study abroad applications for next summer.

6. My friends will be able to get to see me more and I will have more energy to pour in them.

7. I have the possibility of living off campus!

There are more, but I keep thinking about how much I'm going to miss my section this year. They are so awesome and I love each and everyone of them. Most of all, I'll miss the opportunity to be part of their everyday lives. Of course, I know that end of this year means the beginning of next year which is really exciting!

Endings are only beginnings by a different name.

And for that, I am glad.