2023: A Year in Review
- Kailee
- Dec 31, 2023
- 7 min read
That elusive period between Christmas and New Year's Eve is here again, and I'm reflecting on what has certainly been a memorable 2023 before we usher in a new year.
January saw the beginning of my final semester as a St Andrews student. As anyone who knows me knows, I have loved my time at the University of St Andrews with all my heart and was determined to make the most of my final months as a student. I started writing my dissertation, took a course on reading Old English, and held auditions for my final student theatre production, Julius Caesar, with two of the first and best friends I made at university.
With February came a week of celebrations, including my partner Shaun's birthday, Valentine's Day, and Galentine's Day brunch with some of my favourite women this side of the Atlantic. I left the week on a high from the immense gratitude for all the wonderful people I've been blessed with (and also from the post-Valentine's sugar rush).
In March, Julius Caesar went up at Younger Hall in St Andrews after a hectic final few weeks when our original venue was suddenly shuddered following a safety inspection a week before we were supposed to perform. The cast, crew, and Mermaids committee pulled together brilliantly, and after minimal rehearsal time in a larger, grander, and safer new venue (and a pre-planned night out), the show went on! I was so proud of the wonderful cast and crew of Julius Caesar who couldn't have been more brilliant despite the many challenges they faced.
I also made the difficult decision to turn down a job offer that was perfect on paper but in actuality wasn't right for me. The job itself sounded wonderful, but Shaun and I both struggled with the idea of leaving Scotland, and now, at the end of the year, I can only begin to count on two hands the reasons why I'm glad we listened to that gut-level feeling. I hope to continue trusting my gut and trusting God in 2024.
April was a whirlwind month as I turned my attention fully to my studies for the last weeks before both my dissertation deadline and my final exam. Toward the end of the month, I submitted my dissertation,10,500 words on Salinger's Glass family series and a possible interpretation of them as a rejection, rather than a celebration, of ascetic withdrawal. I love that being an academic meant I got to spend my days researching and writing about all my favourite things: the Glass books, J.D. Salinger, religion, philosophy, mid-century America, and how, simply put, we aren't built to do life alone.
Later that week, I sat my final exam, coincidentally, my first in-person exam since first semester of first year due to Covid-19 safety measures. I celebrated finishing the exam the only way final year St Andrews students know how... by getting soaked. My friend Clara and I finished our final exams around the same time, so we arranged to meet our friends at the beach, where they thoroughly soaked us with water and other questionable liquids before we ran into the sea. The weather wasn't the nicest, so we warmed up afterwards with hot showers and a trip to the pub with friends.
The end of April and beginning of May were celebrated by attending one last Gaudie and May Dip, also known as a torchlit procession to the pier on the final night of April before an early morning dip into the freezing North Sea on May Day.
Clara and I also treated ourselves to a graduation trip to Italy. The stunning city of Rome was everything I could have hoped for, and we spent one perfect day sightseeing, reminiscing on the past four years, and eating copious amounts of pizza. In Salerno, on the Amalfi Coast, we were met with a rainstorm that slightly dampened my dream of Italian living, but we were soon warmed by Italian hot chocolate and Eurovision, and our quest to see the beautiful Amalfi the following day was a total success.
June was even busier than the months preceding it, as I celebrated my two year anniversary with Shaun, finished my final few weeks of work at the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), where I had been working in communications alongside my studies for the previous three months, and prepared to graduate.
My family flew in from the United States to celebrate with me for a few weeks, so they were here to see me receive the Malcom Edwards Prize for outstanding contribution to drama, in particular design, stage management or production management, from the University of St Andrews.
I have been involved with Mermaids, the university's performing arts fund, since first year and have had the opportunity to try my hand at writing scripts, marketing, co-directing, and, more often than not, producing. I am very proud to have served on two committees across three years, where I acted as executive producer for 16 productions, organised and ran a week-long drama festival, worked to keep theatre alive in a responsible and safe manner during the Covid-19 pandemic, and liaised with alumni and current students to include works written by our community in a theatre library database. I have made lasting friendships, developed confidence as well as leadership and problem solving skills, and discovered a passion for bringing creative visions—both mine and others’—to life from behind the scenes.
My involvement in student theatre in St Andrews has nothing short of defined my university experience, and I was extremely honoured to have my work recognised by the university. However, far greater than any award is the honour of having my name listed alongside the names of the incredible nominees of my graduating class, every one of whom has made the theatre community a better place through extensive hours of passionate work, and my life richer for their warm company and steadfast, kindhearted friendship.
The week of graduation was such a special time as I got to celebrate my academic accomplishments as well as those of my peers, surrounded by family and friends. It was a surreal yet blessed week of saying goodbye to the people I have spent the past four years with and hello again to my family, who I hadn't seen in almost a year. It was so nice to show them around St Andrews at its finest - there is nothing like small seaside towns in the summer!
My family returned home just before the start of July, and I started my first graduate job at St Andrews Links Trust, the Home of Golf, in communications and marketing. The photo below is from one of my favourite days, when I spoke with several golfers who were fortunate enough to be playing the historic Old Course and who all had wonderful stories.
In August, I turned twenty-five in My Favorite Murder pyjamas, eating brownies for breakfast and forcing my cat to take pictures with me. After spending some time in Edinburgh for the Fringe, Shaun was offered a job at his old company in Edinburgh, and we began to think seriously about moving to the city.
September brought with it the start of a new academic year, if not for me! It was nice to catch up with returning friends over coffee and pancakes at Northpoint Café, as well as catch the first Sunday Pier Walk on camera with my good friend Louise, who took my graduation photos. I also started expanding my knowledge of social media, making reels for Instagram and TikTok, as well as launching my blog.
In October, my application for a graduate visa was accepted, meaning that I am officially allowed to stay and work in the UK an additional two years, which is an exciting next step toward permanent residency! I also received my final marks after industrial action came to an end, and I am happy to report that I earned a first class degree and achieved a first on my dissertation. I also saw a lot of Mermaids shows, read a lot of gothic books, and saw two of my good friends, who returned to St Andrews for a visit.
In November, Shaun and I got serious about flat hunting and took several trips to Edinburgh to view properties (a great excuse for a couple of dates in the city!). We finally found the perfect flat and knew immediately it was 'the one'. Luckily, we were successful, and after much paperwork, emailing, and many phone calls, we have a place to live in just a few days! I also visited with my friend Molly who came to visit, finished my cover to cover Bible reading, and celebrated Thanksgiving and St Andrews Day surrounded by friends.
December started with picking up a tree from Morrisons and decorating our St Andrews home for Christmas one last time. I also completed my Goodreads reading goal, surpassing my goal of 25 (if only just!) with 26 books read. After a month of packing, cleaning, sorting admin, and attending carol services and Christmas parties (and picking up Covid in the process, after managing to avoid it for four years), I celebrated a quiet Christmas at home with Shaun and our cat, Gloria. I'm looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve in St Andrews and moving very shortly in the new year!
All in all, 2023 has been one of the most eventful years of my life as I say a very fond farewell to my university years and transition into a new phase of adulthood. It has brought with it many difficult decisions and changes (two things I'm not especially fond of), but also so many wonderful moments to remember, as well as opportunities that have made me genuinely excited for the year to come.
Whatever this year brought you, I hope you have a few nice moments to look back on and wish you a year of whatever you need most in 2024!
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