The end of an era.
I’ve spent half a decade in Auburn, and in that time, there’s been a lot of change, a lot of growth, and more memories than I could probably put into words. What I’ll carry with me the most are the people—friends, mentors, and leaders who shaped me in ways I didn’t always realize at the time. I’m incredibly grateful for every one of them.
I came into college as an Air Force obsessed kid studying civil engineering, honestly just hoping to survive. Somewhere along the way, things shifted. I found a different path, a different purpose. Now I’m leaving as an Army medical officer with a degree in Law and Justice, heading to the one place I always joked I’d never end up, and somehow, it feels exactly right. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This past weekend felt like the perfect way to close it all out. My family stayed on Lake Martin, and we spent the time paddleboarding, cooking, sitting by the water, and just enjoying being together. It was simple, but it meant a lot. We had people stop by throughout the weekend, and it reminded me how lucky I am to have such a strong support system behind me going into this next chapter.
The weekend itself marked the transition in the most fitting way—commencement on Friday, commissioning on Monday. A clear beginning and end, all wrapped into a few days.
Auburn gave me more than I expected. And now it’s time to see what comes next. War Eagle and Never to Yield. This is Katie, signing off!
PS. Grandma was the first to cry, and they gave me a SWORD to cut my cake…it was awesome.
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