In this vlog, I’m looking back at 2024—the highs, the lows, and everything in between—and sharing why I’m still so glad I documented it. At the start of the year, I felt stuck in a routine, overwhelmed by grad school, and not really pausing to appreciate the little victories. So I decided to document my life, not just the highlight reel, but the raw in-between moments too… and honestly, it gave me a whole new perspective on how far I’ve come. I’m revisiting the moments I’m most grateful I captured: passing my written qualifying exam after my third try (yes, the tears were REAL), traveling guilt-free with friends from Florida to Chicago to Mackinac Island and Frankenmuth, and hitting my YouTube anniversary + 3.14k “pi subs.” I also talk about spontaneous Canada travel, passing my PhD prospectus defense, and getting to see Sabrina Carpenter and Seventeen live—Seventeen in Chicago was literally inner-child healing. The biggest takeaway? Documenting helped me stay present, savor the moment, and find meaning even on tough days. I may not have saved much money this year, but I saved something more valuable: memories.