Saturday was my 23rd birthday, and in honor of making it to see another year, I thought I would reflect on 22 highlights from my 22nd year of life.

1. I moved to a new state and said goodbye to my home state, Louisiana.

2. I went skydiving in Memphis.

3. I got engaged to my college sweetheart and the love of my life, Allison East.

4. I started graduate school at the University of Mississippi, Hotty Toddy!

5. I spent another incredible summer at Warner-Tully YMCA Camp with my awesome co-counselor, Patrick Coccaro.

6. I became financially independent, well mostly.

7. I developed a deep respect for HGTV.

8. I made a lot of new Mississippi friends who I’ll never, ever forget.

9. I experienced The Grove, and it was every bit as great as I thought it would be.

10. Allison got a job she really likes at the Vicksburg YMCA, which led to a lot of other things on this list.

11. I spent plenty of hot summer nights out on the lake.

12. I really wanted to write for The Oxford Eagle, and I got the job.

13. I really wanted to write for The Vicksburg Post, and I got the job.

14. I brought in 2015 with some of my favorite people in one of my favorite cities, New Orleans.

15. I learned what it means to be Afton Strong.

16. Ole Miss beat Alabama and Mississippi State, and we were ranked No. 3 for a little bit.

17. I discovered a hidden passion for bingo.

18. I learned a lot about the Mississippi River, and I have a new appreciation for it and its people.

19. I continued my tradition of taking my little cousins Black Friday shopping, allowing me to stay “cool” for at least another year.

20. I finished the first year of my master’s degree in journalism on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll, a 4.0 GPA.

21. The beach — need I say more?

22. I moved to Vicksburg, which was one of the best decisions I’ve made to date.