2015 Goals and To-Do Lists

It's a new year and it seems like for some reason everyone is more excited about 2015. I'm feeling that excitement too. This year I will finish out my junior year of college and begin my senior year. There's so much pressure and excitement, there's also this seemingly never-ending To-Do list.

Here's just a peek at some of the things topping the various To-Do lists I have.

BLOGGING TO-DO

• Rebrand my blog, which is a HUGE process. 
• Set a schedule and write more!
• Find my niche and a tribe. 

WORK TO-DO

• Improve my department. I made so many changes last year and this year I have a few more changes I want to implement to make it the smoothest year we've had! 
• Keep up with the changes I've made. 
• Find a balance between my work life and school life. 

SCHOOL TO-DO

• Set up a spring and summer internship, possibly a fall internship.
• Get a 3.0 GPA! (Sooo close!)
• Get more involved around campus. 
• Start getting serious about Graduate school. 

LIFE TO-DO

• Exercise more and try to skate more!
• Read 50 books. 
• Watch at least 50 movies and complete 6 different TV shows. 
• Complete the remaining seasons of a few shows I started last year. 
• Keep up with a day planner. 
• Try to do devotionals or bible reading every day. 
• Write more and finish Southern Charm! 

Cougar Pride: Preparing For A New Semester

I start my junior year of college in 16 days. When I think about it only being 16 days from now I get this nervous excited feeling. Nervous, because new semester means joining a sorority, new classes, new professors, new friends, new opportunities and responsibilities. Excited for all the exact same reasons, hence nervous and excited.

This semester I'm taking French 201, which means my required language courses are almost over! Geology 103, which is environmental geology. I'm also taking Intro to English Studies, which I'm guessing is English Theory (that's a thing?) and techniques for writing papers. I'm also taking my first creative writing course at College of Charleston, and I can't wait! Finally, I have my internship with Blue Bicycle Books, which I'm receiving credit for.

A few of my textbooks

On top of my schoolwork and internship, I still have my supervisor duties. I'm trying to get as much of the little stuff done now, so that when school starts it'll be smooth sailing. Somehow, things will get crazy, but I'm prepared for it! Soon I'll post about my life as a supervisor.

For now, I'll leave you with two awesome college related links!

I have this app on my iPhone and iPad. I love it! I use it with my summer classes and it was helpful! I imagine with a full load this semester it'll be even better! -  http://istudentpro.com

A great blog that's full of idea for college students is Organized Charm! I have gotten many ideas and tips from this blog! - http://organizedcharm.blogspot.com

Beat This Summer

Summer is coming to an end, though in Charleston we'll have summer life weather for many more months. Especially because it seems like all it has done this summer is rain! We had a very long rainy season.

This summer has been a change for me. In many big and many small ways. I took two summer classes, Probability and Statistics, and World History. I passed my Probability and Statistics class with a C, which for me is a miracle and a major improvement from my grade during the spring. I passed my World History class with a B, so I did well overall. I've also gotten back into skating and I preformed for the first time in two years! It was a great experience that I haven't lost everything when it comes to skating. I still have potential, I just have to utilize it. 

Another change this summer has been my efforts to try to date. That's been going interesting to say the least. It's very different and very scary. Even after being out of a relationship for about 10 months it's still scary the idea of putting myself out there no getting close with someone again. I'm doing it though. 

I've also been trying to branch out and make more friends. That's beyond for me because I get comfortable with specific people and I hate having to adjust to new people. I've done it though and it can be fun. I've also gravitated towards people who are/were homeschooled, which probably helps because we have common ground. Homeschoolers are more accepting of others, at least the ones I grew up with. There are judgmental ones, but everyone group of people has the judgmental mean ones. You just learn to ignore them.

The biggest change of all is my switch from Trident Tech to College of Charleston. I had orientation this week and it was awesome! One of the best parts was that by the time we went to lunch and noon I had made 3 new friends. That's what I call success!

I'm excited about my classes at CofC and the atmosphere there. It's like I fit. Only downside, and this is a downside to Charleston living in general, is the humidity and heat! I'm super excited for it to cool off , then I will be able to wear cute scarves, jackets and boots! I've always been a fall/winter kinda girl.

This summer has been hard, with so many changes and all, but I don't think I'm gonna beat this summer.

Maroon, Gold and White

Hey y'all!

I had a tour this week of College of Charleston. It was my second tour there, but it did the trick. I am definitely going to be attending in the Fall! Last spring I fell in love with the campus and atmosphere, this spring I just realized how absolutely perfect it is there!

Randolph Hall



This is a picture of Randolph Hall. I can't wait to graduate in front of it in May of 2016! One of the things I love the most about College of Charleston is the history and tradition behind it. A lovely tradition has to do with graduation. Usual graduation attire of caps and gowns are abandoned for white sundresses and six long stem roses for the ladies, and white dinner jackets with a rose buttioner for the gents. Which is wonderful for Charleston weather that is very hot and humid in early May. Those graduating in December, still flow the same idea with black dresses and jackets, though they have their graduation indoors.




 

Arch over Porter's Lodge. "Know Thyself".



Another of my favorite things at College of Charleston is the inscription over Porter's Lodge. Written in Greek it says "Know Thyself". College of Charleston is all about learning who you are. Their goal is that between the day you gather in the Cistern Yard to sign your name in ledger where every student since the beginning has signed their name, and the day that you walk across the cistern to recieve your diploma.

 

I can't wait to start here in the Fall! It's an amazing school, with beautiful history, wonderful traditions and strong academics. Now if only I could decide what I'd like to major in!

 

New Year Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I know today is the 4th day of the New Year, so I'm a tad late, but forgive me. The New Year always brings the absolute rush to make promises and goals, but 88%(I think that was the statistic I heard on the radio, can't be too far off, either way) of the people who make these goals and promises don't actually see them through.

Tonight my mom and I were in Wal-Mart when she made the observation that "Either we're attacked by weight loss books or Southern Comfort foods". She's right too. The top resolution is losing weight and getting in shape. Gyms probably make more money in January than any other month of the year.

Well this year I've decided to make a resolution and stick with it. So here are my goals and resolutions for the year.

1. Lose 40 pounds by the end of April/early May. I'm keepin' my fingers crossed I can accomplish this, even if it is only half of my goal by then. That's better than nothing.
2. Read more this year. Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Susane Colasanti, Stephanie Perkins and many other GenFic or Romance YA writers top my list of books.
3. Get a tablet. Simple, yet difficult. I am super picky.
4. Get back into skating and really move forward with it.
5. Finish Southern Charm, the first draft.
6. Plan and start the sequel to Southern Charm.
7. Get into college. Easy enough, but picking one will be hard.
8. Decide what I want to major in.
9. Decide what I want to do after college.
10. Zach. He is an entire goal by himself. Difficult boy, but I love him dearly.

Well that's my list of goals and resolutions. Some are silly, others normal or reasonable. But all of these are important goals to me.

Gravel Path - Road to the Future

So, I've decided what I'm gonna be when I grow up. I'm going to be a teacher. *Fan fare* Yes, a teacher. Now this is really only a temporary thing, not what I plan to do for the rest of my life. I'm planning to do it until I'm at least 30, and by then I will have paid back my loans, earned a Master's and decided what I really want to do with the rest of my life. Plus being a teacher isn't all that bad.

I could go to work for SCCA, maybe as a History or English teacher. I'd be a pretty awesome success story. I was apart of the first freshman class at SCCA, and one of only a small handful of students to have been there from day one, and graduate from there. Then to go back and teach there? Pretty awesome.

But now is the fun part. My life plan last week was this...Do two years a Trident Tech, transfer to College of Charleston and get a dual degree, probably in English and Political Science. That changed on Monday.

Monday I received a webmail from my guidance counselor about the Teaching Fellows Program. They will pay up to $6000 of your tuition and board a year for up to 4 years, if you become a teacher in South Carolina. For every year I receive the money I must be a teacher in a public school. So four years of college equals four years of teaching. Not that bad of a trade. Plus it gives me direction and funds. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Tomorrow I'm gonna call around to my teachers and talk to them about being a teacher(Mr. Kitchens and Ms. Crumbo are at the top of my list. Both will be thrilled to hear I'm gonna become a teacher. I'm a teacher's pet, lol) and also ask for some letters of recommendation. Then I have to see if I can get paper applications for USC and CofC. CSU was the only one that had it online(I already printed it). I also should do a quick draft of my essay for CofC(the only school that has an essay).

Not including the story I need to read for ENG 101, the paper I need to do research for and the notes I need to finish for PSY 201, and all the statistics I need to do. I'm gonna be so busy tomorrow. But it's nice to have set a goal and laid down a path towards my future.

My path was just a tiny little dirt path, and now it's become a gravel path. Soon it will be a stone path and my future will be nice and bright(Sorry for the metaphor everyone, couldn't resist).

Who Am I Going To Be?

I started college this year, and I'm a year early. I'm still doing high school class, so I guess technically I'm not a true college student, but whatever. I get up early, sit through lectures, walk across campus and get lost like everyone else. For a while I've been pondering what I want to do with my life. Such an easy question, right? No. Most definitely not.

For me the problem is my need to be good at many things. I've always thought of myself as a chameleon. I change with my surroundings. Through this ability I've always been able to make friends with pretty much anybody, or at least hold a decent conversation. It's a true gift, but it's also turning out to be a curse. My main loves in life are writing, history, law, and talking. I like to be the boss and be in charge, but I also like to work on my own. I can talk for days and days on things I love, but I also love to write.

I've narrowed my career choices down to these few things(not a small list)

1. Lawyer or Paralegal
2. Writer (Screenwriter, Author, Journalist)
3. Reporter (Television or Print)
4. Producer
5. Teacher (Elementary)
6. Public Relations

All of these focus on writing, law or talking in some way. Yet, I can't decide which one to focus on. I know I would be good at any of these and enjoy them, but I don't know which one is where I fit in the best. That's hindering my figuring out my college major. I don't have to declare a major until June when I graduate high school, but I don't see me being really any closer to a decision in June. I guess I'm waiting for God to put a big sign that says in flashing neon lights "THIS IS YOUR PATH! FOLLOW IT!".

I'm pretty sure God doesn't send out those kind of messages, though if he did life would be so much easier. So for now I'm still trying to decide where I fit in. I really ought to Google my perfect career, it couldn't hurt. Or maybe I'll put out a want ad for my perfect career. It'd look something like this...

Seeking Career

Must have these qualities in some form

1. Socialization on a regular basis.
2. Writing of documents of an important nature
3. Serves a purpose, or changes the community and/or world
4. Leadership roles and team abilities
5. Something to be passionate about
6. Pays well
   
   

It might be awhile before I figure out what my perfect job is, and I might be one of those people who goes through many types of jobs in search for my niche, and I'm okay with that. Hell, I'd be a Writer/Lawyer/Teacher/President of the United States (I will be President. Look for me to be running sometime after 2030).

Well, while I continue to ponder who I am, I hope all of your have either found yourselves or are close.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt