Flipping around last year's calendar, it sure was a busy 2012.

It was a year of anticipation, a year of memories. The past year has helped me grow as an individual, and it has assisted me in becoming more independent.

From working a lockout-shortened NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, to going abroad to Rome for a month in the summer, 2012 will be a year for the books.

Traveling abroad to Rome and London made me appreciate the world around us at a much deeper level. I made many friends in Europe who I still stay connected with and have even met up with since we parted ways in Italia.

Three days after touching U.S. soil, it was off to Montreal and Ottawa for a few extra days of international exposure, and then back to Montreal and Quebec City three weeks later for a family vacation.

A definite highlight of the year was driving from Narragansett to Milwaukee in time for the start of the fall semester at Marquette. A 1,000-mile trip over two days certainly took its toll on my brother and I because of the road fatigue, but we persisted and made it to Brew City without hassle.

Writing for The Marquette Tribune has been a rewarding experience. I have had the opportunity to write about several sports at the school and not be pinned to just a single beat.

In the process, I have met almost all the teams' coaches face to face, attended their games and have grown comfortable with how the newsroom operates. It's a position I intend on holding until I graduate next year.

Since a car is now available to me at school, I have visited several places that I would otherwise not be able to see. Visiting Madison, WI for the first time was a blast and will be a city I'll definitely frequent in the near future. I took a road trip a couple of weeks ago to Detroit to see the Milwaukee Bucks battle the Detroit Pistons.

As a recent 21-year-old, I had the pleasure of enjoying the sights of Las Vegas last week. Although I don't have any winnings (nor losses) to show for it, the city is ideal for college students who wish to completely forget about their obligations for a few days.

This weekend I will be seeing the URI men's basketball team square off with St. Louis on the road and meeting up with a couple of friends from the Rome study abroad program. It's safe to say the car is getting its miles here in the Midwest.

This year should be equally exciting. My brother Corey will be attending college in the fall (still deciding on which one), and my youngest brother Brett has been working incredibly hard for his Pier School play, which will be shown in February.

Working Bucks games until the spring, and writing for the Tribune until the semester ends will help out with my experience, career-wise.

The whole past year has made me a more well-rounded person because of the people I have met and the places I have seen. Not many chances to go to a different part of the country or world come up, and it's important to seize these opportunities and savor the moments, because it's those kinds of memories that will last a lifetime.

For those who have started the new semester already, get off on the right foot and work hard. For those who haven't, enjoy the closing moments of the break.

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