Dear 2025

Dear 2025,

You were a good year. Our time together is almost over now. As we start to part ways, I find myself feeling grateful for everything we shared. We had some really good moments together. So much happened that I can’t even keep it all straight in my head right now, but let’s try to reminisce.

You saw me through my final year of law school. Another semester started back in January, marking the halfway point of the year and my fourth of six semesters. Law school came and went so fast, maybe even too fast. I remember the decision to go to law school and all the anticipation and excitement that came with it, from studying for the LSAT to sending in applications. It’s wild to think that this month, I finished. It’s all over now. I’m just playing the waiting game for final grades so I can be sure I passed. Quite frankly, I think I would have gotten a phone call or email by now if I hadn’t. I’m 99% sure I’m in the clear. It was a real learning and growing experience. It was humbling. I don’t think I ever once felt like I was the smartest guy in the room, and that’s a good thing. I once read that if you always think you’re the smartest person in the room, then you aren’t in the right place. That mindset creates room to grow, and grow in law school I did.

You also brought some big changes on the work front. I took a different job as a clerk at a different firm this summer. The interview and job offer happened back in 2024, but I didn’t actually start until May of this year. My previous experiences, writing demand letters for a personal injury attorney and working at a civil defense firm, prepared me well for the Corneille Law Group. It’s also a civil defense firm, with much of the same work but in a different location. The culture, though, was different in the best way. A better fit for me. I genuinely like my co-workers and bosses. People enjoy each other’s company. We socialize, have the occasional happy hour, and even have a snack budget with plenty of coffee and tea at the office. It’s a vibe.

Toward the end of summer, you threw me a curveball when we found out the firm was merging. I was nervous at first, wondering whether I’d still have a job afterward. Thankfully, it all worked out. Corneille merged with Baker, Sterchi, Cowden & Rice. So far, the culture has stayed in line with what we knew before the merger. I have so much to be grateful for there. I have a job lined up after law school at a firm I already know and like. The starting pay for new attorneys seems to have increased post-merger, and, just as importantly, they paid for my bar study program and exam fees, saving me a few thousand dollars. They gave me an office, let me work half days, and study the rest of the time. I’m in a really good place right now. All I have to do is pass the February bar exam. I’ve only been studying for a couple of weeks, and it definitely sucks, it’s like reviewing all of law school in two months just to be tested on it. But I did sign up for this, so I suppose I shouldn't complain.

You were generous when it came to memories. Jamie and I took a few trips together this year. In January, we went on a long weekend trip to Nashville with her friends. It was mostly the classic downtown Broadway experience, but I did manage to convince Jamie to go to a Predators hockey game with me. It ended up being a blast. They unexpectedly beat Minnesota, which was exciting during a rough year for the Preds. We sat in section 303, the Cell Block, and I finally got to cross that off my bucket list. And the walking tacos were incredible. I don’t always show it, but I really appreciate Jamie’s friends. They’re good people who truly care about her and look out for one another. I’m glad she has them. They also take great candid photos of us, and we ended up with some really good pictures from that trip.

On spring break in March, you took us to Wilmington, North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I love the beach and always will. Jamie got to meet my friends, Skyie and Cori, and the whole trip was just fun. We did the touristy things, explored the area, and tried Korean hot pot for the first time, which was an experience all on its own. Jamie even made some real attempts to run with me on the beach. She picked up running this year, not competitively, just hobby jogging, and I think that trip marked the start of us actually running together.

In May, Jamie visited me at the end of the semester, right in the middle of Derby season. Everyone in Louisville knows how big that is. We had infield tickets to both Kentucky Oaks and Derby. The infield is an experience, general admission, packed crowds, and on Oaks Day, plenty of high school and college kids trying to hold their own. It reminded me of my college days. Even getting drenched in the rain didn’t ruin the fun. We went back the next day for Derby, which somehow manages to be even more crowded but more adult than Oaks. People everywhere, nonstop energy. I’m really glad we went.

Then, in June, you took us all the way to Paris. And yeah, you were right. I finally understood the hype. The city really is beautiful, with palaces and museums around every corner. Seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in person was something special. We tried all kinds of food. I loved the croissants and espresso. I could definitely do without beef tartare again. I expected it to be closer to a rare steak, but even after the waiter warned me, I was still shocked when a raw ground beef patty showed up on my plate. I’m surprised I made it through half of it, but I gave it an honest try. We also went to a famous café for hot chocolate, and even as someone who isn’t a big hot chocolate guy, I have to admit it was worth it. I also didn’t know the Eiffel Tower sparkled at night. Every hour on the hour, it lights up in a way that’s hard to describe but unforgettable to see.

And then, you gave me one of the biggest moments of my life. I got engaged to Jamie. I’m proud of myself for this one, not just because I found someone so incredible after a tough breakup in the past, but because I genuinely did a damn good job with the engagement. I went to a local jeweler in my hometown, a small husband-and-wife-owned shop where my family has shopped before. They took great care of me and helped walk me through all the options without making it overwhelming. For the proposal itself, I took Jamie to Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, the same place we met and the same place we celebrated our one-year anniversary. Somehow, we ended up at the same table with the same waiter as last year. After dinner, I asked her the big question, and she said yes, just as I hoped. What she didn’t know was that I had a surprise engagement party waiting for us at Nitro Beverage Lounge. Friends and family were there, including friends who drove in from out of state. Huge credit to my mom and Jamie’s mom for helping pull everything together. Julie went above and beyond with decorating and planning. It all just happened days ago, and Jamie hasn’t stopped smiling since. I am truly a lucky guy.

So, 2025, I want you to know this: I am grateful. I have so much to be thankful for because of you. Even in a world that feels chaotic and uncertain, you were good to me. I’ll admit, you didn’t let us off easy with everything, Donny Trump 2.0 and all. But even so, I’m hopeful that things will get better. As you grow old and weary, preparing to step aside, I raise a glass to you. Thank you for the memories, the lessons, and the moments that will stick with me. Cheers to you, and here’s to 2026. I have big plans for the next year. As the bottle of champage pictured above says, "Do epic shit." That's the plan. I hope it doesn't disappoint.