As I reflect on the process of creating this project, I am simultaneously mourning the end of my college years. The time I have left as a Michigan student has rapidly dwindled. While I simultaneously feel more than ready to leave Ann Arbor, I’m also facing a daily dose of existential dread whenever I’m reminded of the harsh reality which follows graduation: that adulthood has really arrived.. and isn't going anywhere. To make matters worse, it seems I become increasingly unsure about my next steps with each passing day. However, one thing I know for certain is that while my profound love for Wallows has continued to evolve over my four years at college, it will never disappear. 

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Since returning from my semester abroad, I saw the band live an additional three times, and it never got old. Not only am I looking forward to adding to my Wallows live show total (thirteen) with the trio’s upcoming tour, I also can’t wait for the band’s new album, Model, to serve as the soundtrack to this new chapter of my life as a college graduate. At 22, I’m now the same age Preston and Minnette were when Nothing Happens was released. (If you didn't catch on by now, the title of this project, Everything Happens, is an homage to the band’s first LP). When I look back at how far the two- along with Lemasters, who is a year older- have come, even just from a fan’s perspective, this makes me even more excited for my own future; especially given that this is the happiest and most stable I've ever felt mentally. 

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In the meantime, I’ve tried to take time each day and appreciate the little things. I remind myself how badly I will one day miss these fleeting moments I’ve become accustomed to. I cherish every Thursday night pregame I spend meticulously choosing songs for my roommates to scream the words to before we go to Ricks, our beloved college bar. On Bachelor Mondays, I etch a recording of each one of my roommates’ laughter in my mind. Now that spring has arrived, I’m able to sit on the porch of my rickety house and play Wallows’ new singles, “Your Apartment” and “Calling After Me”, as I memorize the vibrant colors each Michigan sunset brings. When I walk through the law quad, I remember the night I visited the picturesque landscape for the first time with my father during my junior year of high school. I recall the feeling of hope that filled my core, and remind myself how badly I wanted what I will soon have: a complete four years at the University of Michigan.