I'm going to college!!

[Sahara]

After a two-month hiatus I'm finally back online and back to the Ledge... in that time I've been living in horrible fear that I'd miss announcements of a new Mac album - HA! - or Stevie's long-awaited tour of Europe - HA! - or news of the release of Lindsey's new rock album - HA ... oh no, wait. I did miss that.

These have been very exciting times for me... In July I headed off to beautiful Australia for three weeks to celebrate World Youth Day in Sydney. It's a massive Catholic youth festival that takes place every couple of years and about half a million young people descended on the city for a week of prayer and festivities. It was a great experience, even though I'm not Catholic anymore, and you know it's a special sort of journey when you can come home and say you've had your picture taken with a koala, a small crocodile and Cardinal Sean Brady...

After that I had a fortnight's nervous waiting for my Leaving Certificate results... these basically would tell me whether or not I got the college place I wanted. I got straight As in my eight subjects and now I'm off to study Psychology at Trinity College Dublin, which has been my ambition for many years now. I start on the 29th of September and I'm so excited! I'll be leaving home to live in Dublin, which is going to be pretty painful, but I'll be living in a great house with my three best friends (pictured below), so there's a lot to look forward to.

In the meantime, I had my Debs Ball, which is the Irish equivalent of a senior prom ... and a wonderful night was had by all! I always imagined I'd end up wearing something black and flowing and thoroughly Stevie-esque to my debs, but then I found this red number and that was kind of that...!

Please keep me in your prayers over the next few weeks. A lot of changes are about to happen very quickly and I'm relying on the Lord to help me get settled for - hopefully - the best few years of my life.

[jannieC]

Congratulations, Kathryn. You have your whole life ahead of you. You seem like such a wonderful girl; I hope college is everything you hope it will be.

P.S. You look lovely in your formal gown.

[Steviefan49]

Congrats Kathryn!!! How exciting!! I wish you lots of good luck with your new college endeavors!! Beautiful pictures! Thanks SO much for sharing them with us!

[Betsy]

Kathryn! You made it! I bet your parents are so proud!

(And you got your braces off! I only remember seeing the Elton John T-shirt photo!)

You are in for some of the best years of your life. College days are ones that you'll always remember. (BTW, Nice shot of you in the red dress!) And the wrist corsage is pretty too!

Congratulations my friend. You are the one who introduced me to the Ledge and I owe you a lot.

[iamnotafraid]

Kathryn my favorite Ledgie!!!!

Congrats on college, I know you'll do well.

And very nice pictures, it's good to finally see you!

[Phoenix]

WELCOME BACK!!

[DavidMn]

Thats such great news! I'm VERY happy for you! You are quite obviously a very intelligent young woman and I have no doubt you'll do well.

[Enchanted_Stevi]

Originally Posted by Sahara

These have been very exciting times for me... In July I headed off to beautiful Australia for three weeks to celebrate World Youth Day in Sydney. It's a massive Catholic youth festival that takes place every couple of years and about half a million young people descended on the city for a week of prayer and festivities. It was a great experience, even though I'm not Catholic anymore, and you know it's a special sort of journey when you can come home and say you've had your picture taken with a koala, a small crocodile and Cardinal Sean Brady...

You know whats funny? I work at a church rectory and Father Edward went there to the festival thing. He's from Poland...but lives here in Ma...He brought back a ON of stuff for us at work...I was like "OOO PRESENTS" I'm glad you have so much fun

P.S. You look so pretty in this pics!

[Musicman408]

Congrats on all of the pieces of good news. I hope you have an AMAZING time with your college experience. It is the experience of a lifetime.

[Sahara]

Thanks so much everyone!!