This past winter I got the call that most high schools seniors could only dream of. A likely call - my application had just been read and I had gotten the rubber stamp - I got in. Even now I wish I had the footage of that moment, but like all great moments, it couldn't have been planned. It was unexpected in all of the best ways. I still remember falling to the ground in my happiness, the tears running down my cheeks as my parents asked what was wrong. This was the break I had been waiting for. This for all intents and purposes felt like my next step and at that moment it was. I didn't care about the possible costs or details, those things I thought would fall into place. If I was meant to be there that God would make a way. Fast forward to Ivy Day and unlike all the other "normal" Harvard hopefuls wondering whether they'd find there opening. I knew. I knew that I had already gotten into the #1 school in America - if not the world, and I was ecstatic to see the official notification. I had worked towards this my entire life so I'd be lying if I said that I hated to see the fruits of my labor.

Yet, deep down I knew that my bigger question was financial aid. Living in a family of 6, I knew that I couldn't afford to pay anywhere near the costs of tuition and board. I knew that the odds weren't necessarily in my favor considering my family's financial situation, but I also knew that where there's a will there's a way. So I waited for my financial award and unsurprisingly I was greeted with the costs of an Ivy education. As you may expect I appealed the decision and saw a slight increase in how much I was given, but nowhere near what was needed in order for me to go. At this point, I looked for last-minute scholarships and hoped that some of the bigger scholarships I applied for would pan out, but they didn't.

Even now while reflecting on that fateful decision I sometimes wonder about the what ifs. What if I had chosen to go to Harvard? Would funding have appeared had I taken a step of faith? But as more days past I've realized that I'm actually super excited to go to Washington and Lee. This is a place that I have visited multiple times and have loved. I may not be going to the ivy league but I'm definitely not settling for a school that is any less rigorous education-wise.

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It's officially that time ladies and gentleman, to get back into the swing of things and get ready for school. Even though I don't start classes in September, I understand that many (including my siblings and friends) start in August. With that in mind, I thought I'd create a list of tech essentials for the new school year.

1. Backup Disk

I honestly can't think of something more important to have as the school year starts. I personally use this 2TB Seagate backup drive to ensure that I always have a second copy just in case my laptop decides to stop working. I also use Google Drive to back up my personal items a bit more frequently, but I seriously don't think you can do any wrong having multiple copies of your documents in case something gets corrupted. In this day and age, you really can't be too careful with your personal docs, and as a soon to be freshman in college I know the nightmare of losing everything is not something I want to experience.

2.  Reusable Insulated Water Bottle

I don't know whether you'd consider this a "tech" find, but I included it anyway because water bottles have really improved from the ones "back in the day" and are now keeping your drinks cooler (or warmer) for longer. I love when school restarts because it typically means I get back to my daily hydrated self. Summer is great, but I normally find that I don't drink nearly as much water as I should, and school helps me to get back into the rhyme of things. I suggest getting an insulated water bottle for school, and I found this great one on Amazon.

3. Laptop Case

It's super important to keep your laptop protected because it's practically an extension of yourself. That's why I suggest getting a laptop case like the one linked here. I was actually sent this one, by the company and have been using it for the past year. With that, I can seriously say it is a great laptop case! I love the fact that it has an outside pocket that makes it super easy to carry school supplies like pens and sticky notes inside of it. I only have three things that detract from my overall love of it. One, it doesn't really have a textured surface and the fabric they used for the outside is tough to keep from slipping in your hands. I also wish that it came in different colors because I love feminine touches included with my school supplies.

4. Alexa Echo Dot

This is definitely not a device that you "must-have", but is something that has made my life abundantly easier. Instead of having my annoying analog alarm clock go off in the morning I can wake up to music of my choosing with my Alexa. It also doubles as a speaker and personal assistant. Don't tell Apple, but I think that Alexa may be a smidge better than Siri - at least for me. It doesn't have quite as many capabilities, but there are a ton of free (and paid for) plugins that can allow you to add things like meditations and games so that it can be customized to your needs. My sister and I actually use to play heads up on my Alexa which is surprisingly more fun than you probably think.

5. iPad 5th Generation

I won't lie I left the iPad train behind in middle school after I got a lapotp for high school, but now that I'm looking to start college it's looking like a great option again. When searching for the best iPad option for me I knew I wanted something that could work with the apple pencil so that I could do handwritten notes. Not only would this be a more environmentally friendly option, but it's also easier to keep up with. After researching my needs I found that the 5th generation iPad would be the Walmart. I know most would now ask, but why didn't you just get the iPad pro, and I'd argue that I don't need that level of processing power since I only plan to take notes on this device. I still have a phone and laptop to use for video and photo editing. Anway, if you want to try out taking notes online or just want to try out digital calligraphy this is a great option that won't break the budget!