The Good Old Days Begin Today

Dear current undergraduates/young people: 

I recently found out that a good friend of mine who just graduated with me was in a car accident. Apparently he was driving back from a day of work at his dream job as a director at a summer camp that teaches kids about outdoor adventures, when he swerved to hit a deer and ended up in a ditch. Although he had hit his head, he walked away from the car without a scratch on his body, but later blacked out and woke up without any memory of the last three years. The last memories that he has are from February 2012, of our freshman year.

My first post-grad summer!

Looks like we made it!

Although it is still hard for even me to believe, I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication studies and Spanish this past weekend! Four years of hard work and a great college experience had led me to this point. It is an overwhelming feeling which can really only be summed up as bittersweet.
Finals week was a total blur for me and the weekend that followed was full of events such as senior formal, a Baccalaureate Mass, and graduation on Sunday. I remember seeing all my friends walk across stage, and then waiting for the moment where my name was called. I don't actually remember the walk, but I was assured by my friends and family that the announcer read off both of my degrees and I definitely did not trip. Thank goodness!
After graduation, my life still moved at the speed of light. I had to pack up all of my stuff from my dorm room and put it in storage for the summer, since I will be moving back to Maryland in June. I also had to say goodbye to all of my lovely friends for an undetermined amount of time, which was as hard as you can believe it to be. I then made the six to seven hour drive home by car, which left me exhausted.
I got more sleep during my first few nights at home than I had for all of the week before graduation... and this seemed to be the general experience for graduating seniors.
Now that I am home, I am preparing to enjoy a shortened summer break, though one that will be full of adventures and excitement. (I will be posting on my upcoming trip soon!)
After I return from my trip, it will be a quick transition and move back South, to my college town, where I will be moving in to my first real apartment and starting summer work for my university, as well as beginning some prerequisite courses for my MBA... I will definitely be posting all about these exciting transitions later on!
For now, I will focus on unpacking my school supplies and immediately packing up again for my trip.
Stay tuned!

How it feels to be done with college:

TGIF- Thank God it's Finals? 

Friday was my last day of undergraduate classes ever, and the only thing that I feel right now is sweet relief. 

I just turned in my last paper (the one that I both started and finished on Thursday night) for my last Spanish class and I finally feel like I can breathe. This year, my last year as an undergrad, was challenging and sometimes scary, but I have overcome all the things that have stood in my way, and it just feels so good to be finished.
Finals week is a bit of a joke for me, since I only have two exams, one on Wednesday and one on Friday. Next weekend is Senior Formal and I graduate on Sunday, Mother's Day.
The majority of this coming weekend and week will consist of spending time with friends, trying to squeeze in every last bit of fun and memory making that we can. We will take lots of photos, make lots of jokes, and probably cry.
I should also probably study at least a little bit.
Although I will be continuing my studies at my same university, since I will be getting my MBA here for the next two years, I know that a lot of things are going to change after graduation.

• My roommates and I have lived together since freshman year... we were randomly placed with each other and somehow we have managed to love each other throughout our time here. Although we have gotten to know each other almost too well, I will miss saying goodnight to them and talking to them in the dark as we fall asleep.  
• I'm going to start wearing business clothes almost every day... this means that I need to spend more money to develop my work wardrobe and that is literally the last thing that I want to spend a ton of money on. 
• One of my favorite things about College is living in such close proximity to all of my friends. It is hard to get bored when everyone lives in the same building complex as you do. Next year, although most of my friends are staying in the area, we will actually have to make plans to see each other, instead of just walking across the quad and knocking on each other's doors. 
• I'm going to have to start paying monthly rent... and I'm really not looking forward to writing those checks every month for my new landlord. 

Graduation is the pure definition of "bittersweet." I will try my hardest to make this next week the best that it can be. 

Humans of the Mount

Getting to Know the Mount Community, One Member at a Time 

     So, I have always been a huge fan of Brandon Stanton's project, Humans of New York, which is a compilation of photos and mini interviews that he has with strangers and passersby in NYC. When I began my internship at my university's Communications Office, I wanted to start a project that I would enjoy doing, would involve the Mount community, and also appeal to prospective students and even people outside of our university.

     That's how this initiative came to be! The account, @humansofthemount had already been started by an organization on campus, so I talked to them and they allowed me to take it over, since they were not planning on posting any more, and I was ready to dedicate the time and effort to make it even better. 

     I have always loved photography, writing, and getting to know people, so I thought I would really enjoy working on this for the semester and that it would go pretty smoothly.  

     Well, when I first began posting, I found it difficult to approach people with my camera and ask for a photo and a quote for the caption... It just seemed so awkward. Sometimes people wouldn't want to be photographed, or they would be in a hurry to be on their way. It was also difficult for me to find time to walk around campus, just hoping to run into someone to talk to, and then think of a question to ask them, on the spot. Since things weren't running as smoothly as I had wanted them to, I was a little discouraged when I first began the project.

     Now I have learned to just go for it and talk to everyone. I have really gotten the hang of it now!  It also helps that the account has gotten more popular on campus lately, so now more and more of the people who I talk to have heard of it, which means that I don't have to explain as much. Some people actually get really excited when I ask if they would like to be featured!

     My favorite part of this project has been getting to know people who I probably would not have gotten the opportunity to talk to if I had not been working on this project. I am also really glad that I can share what they have to say with the entire Mount community over social media. 

     Also, let's face it... I like being able to show off what a gorgeous school I go to and the great people who attend here. 

So if you have not already, please check out @humansofthemount on Instagram or Tumblr 

Stay tuned for more posts!

The hunt: My first apartment

     I am both thrilled and relieved to announce that I have figured out a plan for myself after graduation in May! If you have been in my position of being a second-semester senior, about to graduate with a Bachelor's degree and no plans in sight, then you know just how much better I am feeling now that I know that I will be doing something.
     I have never felt more blessed than the moment I realized that I had a plan. It was a whole lot of "being in the right place, at the right time." I had decided to apply to do an internship during my final semester at my university's office of communication. After I got the internship and began working, I was offered a Grad Assistant position, which will be covering the cost for an MBA. I will also be working as a managing editor of a local newspaper.
     Although I do feel incredibly lucky and glad, this new stage in my life is coming up very quickly, and it is a teeny tiny bit overwhelming. Now, I have to really prepare myself for my latest transition, and a very intimidating part of the real world:

     Apartment Hunting 

     My university and future place of employment are located in a tiny town, almost in the middle of nowhere. I recently found out that it is almost impossible to find open apartments for rent online... there are virtually none listed. Most of these kinds of transactions happen by word of mouth around here.
     I was lucky enough to know someone who will be moving out of a two-bedroom apartment at the end of this semester, so I visited with a friend/potential roommate last week. We were not completely sold on the apartment, and we also may be having a third roommate, so we are not sure if this will work out. Now, I have moved on to looking for town houses/bigger apartments in the area. I am also considering a larger town that is relatively close by. We shall see what happens.
     Before I actually started looking for apartments, I thought the process would be relatively painless and I would find a cute, quaint, cheap apartment for rent in no time. Unfortunately, these kinds of things take a lot of patience and I have come to terms with the fact that I will not likely be able to buy my dream apartment just yet.
     Luckily, I feel very supported by friends, the people in my office, and those who I know in the community. Through them, I have been able to be in contact with around four possible places for next year, and I am now working on talking to my potential roommates to see how they feel about these places. I really feel like a grown up now, and the whole idea of living in the "real world" is becoming more and more real by the minute.
     Honestly, I am most excited to decorate my future apartment... even though my budget is very small. I have already started listing some tips and decoration ideas on my "Living Little" Pinterest board.
     Do you have any tips for me about looking for my first apartment? 

7 tips for staying in touch

     When I decided to go to college around six hours away from my hometown, the thing I was most nervous about was losing touch with high school friends and family. Luckily, technological advances such as the smart phone and social media have made it much much easier to stay in contact with people who live across the country or across the world from you. 

     Not only have these technologies made it relatively easy to talk to the people that I miss, but they have also allowed me to see them through video, share things through social media, and keep in contact, despite being in a different timezone or continent. Isn't that just amazing?

     So, now that you have realized just how easy it is to stay in touch, here are some tips on how to excel at it:

1. The "I'm thinking of you" text- What is better than randomly hearing from a friend who lives across the country? My best friend from home and I do not talk every day, but we do exchange a few texts and posts on Facebook a month, just to keep up with each others lives, each starting with something as simple as "HEY" or "HI I MISS YOU WHAT'S UP."
2. Having a shared Pinterest board with friends- Every time you add a pin can start a new conversation or bring back memories from the good times you've had together. 
3. Calling/Facetime- I do not get to see my parents very often, so we usually Facetime once a week, just so they can see how I am doing and catch me up on their lives. It is nice to set aside an hour or so to just chat with them.
4. What's App- This is the best way to stay in contact with someone who lives in a different country. The app allows you to text them without having to pay an extra fee. I still have a group chat with friends that I met in Spain over the summer. 
5. A good, old-fashioned letter- Getting mail is one of the best feelings in the world, and writing a letter is a great way to let someone know that you are thinking of them, especially in this world where finding stamps and a post office are considered extra hassles. 
6. Random sharing- One of my very best friends transferred schools at the end of our freshman year, and now attends school in Indiana. He gets to visit my friends and I at our school in Maryland every so often, but our favorite way of keeping in contact in between those times is sending each other links to vines that make us laugh the most. We exchange vines and comments at least three times a week! It's a great way to keep a conversation going with someone who you miss and I always look forward to his latest hilarious discovery. 
7. Watch a show with someone- I mean, just because you do not live close by each other anymore doesn't mean that you can't have viewing parties of you favorite shows together! Stay in contact with each other during the show or discuss it in great detail over the phone or Skype after you have each watched the latest episode. 

     What are some other ways that you stay in contact with the people you love?

A Snow Day Well Spent

     Today has been one of the snowiest of all days at my university in Maryland so far this year, and even though I do not love snow, I can admit that it is beautiful and that I am enjoying this day. It has been a good day to spend with friends, catch up on homework, and play in the snow.
     For this year's Lenten season, I am working on complaining less, since I do not actually have any reason to complain at all. Right now, life is good.
     Here are just a few great things that I would like to share with you about today:

1. Getting to sleep in
2. Finishing a paper that is not due until Wednesday
3. Dancing in my apartment with friends to Florence and the Machine 
4. Trudging to the other side of campus in the snow while holding hands 
5. Making snow angels 
6. Watching my best friend cheerlead at a basketball game
7. Having a hot shower
8. Watching the snow fall
9. Eating mint chocolate chip ice cream (even though it is really cold outside)
10. Making a great dinner 

     Winter really is not my thing, but today has definitely been my thing. 

     I hope you have had a great day as well!

     Stay warm!

Final semester whirlwind

As a second semester senior, I can attest to the fact that things do not get any easier as you get to be an upperclassman. I have been doing so much running around and intricate balancing that, some days, I have to actually schedule what time I want to shower... as in, I have to make a mental note to shower at a certain half hour time block. So even though the beginning of this semester has been pretty hectic for me, I have been able to do some pretty incredible things. 

• Since I am interning with my University's Communication Office, I have been able to take photos with a really nice camera at events like our Homecoming games and a big dance that we have every year. I wear an official name tag and sometimes even a polo with an official logo on it. So far, I have learned a lot about photography in a different context. Taking photos is something that I have always loved to do, but this internship has taught me about taking portrait-style photos and covering events. 
• Also through my internship, I get to be in charge of some of my University's social media accounts. When I cover events like the Homecoming game, I also get to post some photos on Instagram and link that with Tumblr and Twitter. The whole process is interesting and usually pretty fun for me. 
• I was able to sign up for classes that I am actually interested in this semester, one being a social media class. I love learning about how to maximize post reach depending on which social media platform is being used. Hopefully, what I learn can help me with my blog!
• I have gotten my resume in order and have begun to apply to some jobs. This is an exciting time for me and my peers, but there is a lot of stress, fear, and anxiety that goes into the job searching process. I have felt all of the above emotions, all at the same time about a million times. But there is also hope that my undergraduate career and experience will lead me to some kind of career by the end of the summer. 
• And finally, I was able to hit up my local thrift shop this weekend and I scored an awesome pair of purple roller blades for $7. I cannot wait to use them when the weather gets nicer. 

I am making the most of my final semester of undergrad and I cannot wait to see what my future holds. 

15 Bucket List Items for the Class of 2015

These four years have gone by even faster than I could have ever imagined. I have tried to cherish every moment and learn from both the good times and the bad times. I have been able to make lasting friends and some great memories during my undergraduate career and the fact that it will soon be coming to an end is both exciting and unsettling.

Although we may not want to admit it, a whole lot of things are going to change after we move out after finals. 

We have to face the fact that we will never see most of our peers and acquaintances again and, like we experienced after high school, we will only keep in touch with a select few of our friends. We will also probably be moving to cities where we will not know almost all the people on our hall and where we will not be best friends with our roommates. 

There is a lot that we will be leaving behind as graduates... so it is time to make the best of our last few months as undergrads.

Here is a list of 15 things I want to do before I walk across the stage at the end of the semester:

1. Take a group photo with my friends at by our university's sign