The fall semester of 2026 is finally here, and with it comes that familiar shift in energy — the mix of anticipation, nerves, and determination that always arrives when school is about to begin. After three years of steady coursework, deadlines, and late‑night study sessions, the routine feels almost second nature to me now. My classes are lined up, my materials are ready, and I can already feel myself slipping back into the rhythm of learning.

I didn’t take any summer courses this year, and I’ve genuinely missed the structure. I’ve missed the quiet focus of study time, the satisfaction of checking off assignments, and the feeling of moving one step closer to my goals. So stepping into this semester feels refreshing, like returning to something that fuels me.

But this fall is different — deeply, emotionally different. Because this time, I’m not the only one heading back to college. My last baby is officially off to begin her own journey.

She’ll be living in the dorms at the University of Southern Indiana, stepping into her independence, her adulthood, and her own version of what comes next. Watching her prepare has been surreal. One minute she’s packing her favorite hoodie, the next she’s arranging her dorm décor, and I’m standing there wondering how we got here so fast.

It feels like yesterday she was that grumpy morning toddler who refused to get dressed, who needed her cereal in the right bowl, who stomped around with bedhead and big feelings. Somewhere between then and now, time snapped its fingers and transformed her into a young woman ready to take on the world. I’ve always called her Baby, not because she stayed little, but because the name held a piece of our bond that never changed. So, I’m holding onto that here, using it as a small anchor while everything else shifts.

This semester marks a milestone for both of us. Two students in the same family, learning in parallel, growing in different directions but still connected. She’s beginning her journey, and I’m continuing mine. It’s a strange, beautiful chapter — one filled with pride, nostalgia, and a whole lot of determination.

As we both step into our new routines, I’m reminded that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It happens in seasons, in semesters, in moments where life nudges us forward. And this fall, life is nudging both of us.

Here’s to new beginnings, shared experiences, and the incredible journey ahead, for Baby, and for me.