"The Great Cold Snap of South Georgia"

The title of this post is intentionally in quotations, as this cold snap includes two consecutive nights of lows predicted in the teens. (Eighteen and sixteen, respectively, for the next two nights, in case you're curious).

Perhaps it is due to a few winters in Colorado (including one memorable winter when we had to use the roof hatch and a sled to enter and exit our home) and some extreme ice storms/snow storms in Missouri but I have to admit that the south Georgia version of a cold snap isn't exactly COLD. Sure, for the area, it's drastic, but in terms of actually being cold...no, not so much. Just put a few more blankets on the bed, go to sleep a bit earlier, and be thankful for those driving in this area that no snow will be falling (otherwise life would be a complete disaster, since they are already terrible drivers).

I'm about 95% sure that if I decided it was a good idea to go to a grocery store today or tomorrow, the place would offer a limited selection of bread, alcohol, and cereal, and whatever else was deemed absolutely necessary for life to continue even if by some miracle the doors of their home freeze shut given the lack of humidity (for once) or potential precipitation. Random thought: I'll never understand why the same people are not also stocking up on other things like toilet paper...

While I can't say I particularly miss the cold, I do miss the bonding experiences being snowed in with friends and family can provide. I'd even argue it's one of the reasons the bonds of those at Northwest are so strong even years after graduation - being snowed in/on is essentially a yearly ritual and you make the most of the experience. I think there are certainly other ways to bond without the need for severe weather, but adventures in a true winter wonderland make for some of the best memories I cherish.

Reflecting Upon 2013 & Resolving For 2014

Writers block would come along right after I came up with what I felt was a great title for this blog post. It's been a while...whoops. Plus, it took a few days to piece this together from thoughts keeping my mind occupied while driving halfway across the country to typed words on the screen. A number of transitions made 2013 a bit of a roller coaster, to put it mildly.

Summary (for the tl;dr crew): I have lived in the "deep South" for a year and a half, with a variety of experiences in the classroom, on the job as a hall director, completing an internship, transitioning to a graduate teaching/research assistant, getting my wisdom teeth yanked out, and coping with the consequences of decisions (both good and bad). I also experienced my first time outside of the continental United States via a cruise. 

While there are certain stereotypes that have been embodied in some of the individuals I meet, this is certainly not the case for everyone. As an individual working on a college campus, I am often surrounded by individuals with more liberal viewpoints, which helps create contrast when experiencing the local community.

I've held two different graduate assistantships and completed an internship, all in the South. While it was great to experience two exceptionally different cultures through my experiences in Valdosta and Clemson, I know now the importance of truly assessing one's fit in not only the institutional culture, but also the departmental culture when determining if the position is right. While I can't say that I love my current assistantship or find it particularly challenging, I would argue that it is a better fit for the semester ahead and enhanced my ability to focus on my studies versus feeling trapped by tasks and loneliness.

If you ever have the opportunity to go on a cruise, GO. Seriously. It may seem a bit pricey to think about, but when you think about the expenses of traveling (hotels, rental cars, flights, etc.) you realize it's really an awesome deal, complete with great meals. Every joke you've ever heard about people gaining weight on a cruise has a kernel of truth in it if you're not paying attention to how much  you're eating of everything in sight. I'm so thankful that I had the weeklong escape from the insanity of the Spring 2013 semester, and that my bond with a great friend grew even stronger. I suppose the cabin's small size and the concept of sharing a bathroom approximately the size of half an average elevator makes such things happen. I'm eyeing Alaska cruises for the future. (Hint, hint.)

April (starting with the much needed removal of my wisdom teeth) was a roller coaster in and of itself. I'm about 95% sure I ended up ignoring most of the advice the surgeon gave me and just toughed out the last two weeks. Turns out I do really well on finals whilst bleeding, a strategy I did not use again in either the summer or fall courses I completed.

I experienced the sketchiness of Greyhound in an attempt to make it to my brother's high school graduation, complete with being surrounded by people who deemed it appropriate to sell and swap drugs, knives, and firearms in the back of a bus after the 45-minute public spectacle of them being searched delayed everyone from the planned midnight departure in Nashville. At first, it seemed too much like a giant moral dilemma prompt testing the strength of one's ethics, and I was waiting for the plot twist. (Spoiler: it was real life, and the plot twist came when the bus stopped in a random town in Illinois. I almost vomited in the excuse of a bathroom, but a person can only ignore so much illegal activity before they feel obligated to act in some way.)

I dated a true Southern gentleman for the summer...well, at least I thought so until he decided to break up via text message. Turns out he thought I'd cry/that he sucks at the whole breaking-up-in-person thing...or so the text message goes. A breakup was pretty obviously in the cards for the near future. To celebrate this life event, my roommates and I had grilled hot dogs, wine, and then watched Pitch Perfect, because apparently Pitch Perfect is always appropriate. Or so I'm told...

Once again, I was reminded of the ick of having a birthday during a long holiday weekend. Some would argue that this is the best timing for a birthday, but holiday weekends encourage others to travel and enjoy a brief respite from reality it seems. Just another reminder of who my true friends are versus the acquaintances I keep around for some reason...

I have learned much, much more about who my true friends really are as well as who the fair-weather friends are in my life. It is painful to watch sometimes, but I know that my true friends have always been here for me and are dependable. Tactfully, I can say I have learned the painful truth of how some people see your status (employment, connections, network potential) as the only reason to keep you around until you're no longer necessary to advance their own interests, all while professing how invaluable your friendship is to them.

In many ways, 2013 resembled a yo-yo. Great things would happen followed by some not-so-great things, all while various commitments pulled me in different directions. Many times, it felt like someone was using me in a giant production and needed me to do things just a certain way in order to maintain order.

Well, the above describes the adventures of 2013 in brief since I have been rather lax in blogging my way through the year. With that, it's time to commit to my resolutions.

2014 is a year with intentional change, including a job search, graduating with my master's degree in education, and a year to refocus. 

I have learned a great deal about what I hope to avoid in my pursuit of full-time employment. It is my hope to find a school which provides a great cultural and personal fit within the institution and the community and also be able to continue my education part-time to obtain my Ph.D.

Every time I swipe past the graduation countdown on my phone, a combination of excitement and terror builds. For the first time in...many many years (okay, 20 if you don't count pre-school) I won't be a student.

In a nutshell, my resolutions are:

• To be much, much better about maintaining regular contact with long-distance mentors/friends who are spread out throughout the country. I am so blessed with a support system that truly gets me and has this uncanny way of knowing when a few words of encouragement are welcomed. I'm sad to say that much like this blog, these mentors are often not someone I keep in touch with on a regular basis. (I can hear someone in the background saying 'bad mentee!')
• To be more dedicated to my health and work on being less of an emotional eater. The gym and I do need to become good friends, because the scale certainly isn't my friend.
• Writing a blog post every month or two. ;) 
• Make the most of the job searching experience, with the ultimate goal of finding a job I will grow to love in a community supportive of my continued growth and development as a young professional.   

Sunday Thoughts

For this graduate student, Sundays are a precious day for preparation for the upcoming week. I assess my planner for its preparation for the following weeks, complete homework, knock out the smaller tasks I can do, and often feel a little bit like Superwoman. Now that it's fall, this routine is accompanied with the sounds of football in the background throughout the afternoon and evening.

One thing I've noticed is the hours seem to fly by when I am preparing for the upcoming week. I don't chastise myself if I am sucked in by an impressive play. I don't criticize myself when I somehow manage to line one of my hands up incorrectly on the keyboard. I don't get upset at myself when I struggle with addition and subtraction while balancing my checkbook. For some reason I have yet to understand, I am most patient with myself on Sundays.

This patience is something I should carry forward to the rest of the week. Really. I have a short fuse, and know it. I believe one of the reasons I am most patient on Sundays is my weekly quest to write out a thank you card to someone who has influenced me positively in the past week.

Patience is a virtue. Or so it goes.

the bucket list

It seems so simple - write down a list of things you know you want to do sometime in your life, and then set about making sure to take time for the extraordinary in the midst of all the ordinary. The picture of Homer Simpson and his bucket list (perhaps a bit literal, but nonetheless, it's a list!) showcases some of the things which give pleasure for Homer to seek, along with a little bit of a dose of reality at the end.

Friends tell me they've written down their bucket lists, and it's apparently wise to tackle a lot of the list while young. I can remember sitting around with groups of student leaders as enthusiastic conversations were held comparing bucket lists. I generally stayed silent during these conversations. 

Confession: I've never actually committed my bucket list to any sort of written form. I may say something is for sure on the list, but I have no written way to recall the events I've deemed of importance. This is by choice.

Ultimately, I believe life is experience-rich and despite being a strong Type-A personality with a to-dominate list at nearly all times on the ever-trusty legal pad, a color-coded planner, and a love for organization, I cannot bring myself to write down a list of "dream things to do", more commonly known as a bucket list. If a dream is strong enough, I believe it will stay with me until it is accomplished. If an experience is meant to be, opportunity will exist. 

I know that on occasion, you need to create your own opportunity in order to move forward. I am not saying I am one to sit around and knit afghans and dream up my Crazy Cat Lady collection while waiting for opportunity to present itself. First, I can't knit (well). Second, I don't even like cats. The Type A in me wants research and facts prior to commitment. When a new potential experience comes to mind, research is there to help me understand WHAT about the idea fascinates me. Perhaps I am interested in skydiving because of the sense of actually seeing all - well, this would translate elsewhere in life and teach me to be more patient and understanding of others in order to see all in another sense. Perhaps I am interested in singing karaoke on a cruise ship (done, surprisingly...) because of knowing exactly no one except who you travel with beyond hellos. Checking things off (or crossing them out, if you prefer) seems a bit impersonal for items one has deemed "must happen during their lifetime". I believe my perception of the impersonal nature comes from my list-making ways in other facets of life. 

I do not write this post to squash the dreams and bucket lists of my friends. Rather, I write it to explain why I choose not to keep a bucket list, but rather to seek out opportunities as they are possible. I believe everyone approaches life in their own way and values their approach most when able to verbalize why. 

Published. Whoaaaaaaa...

The word 'published' is a bit incredible when you're embracing it for the first time.

Sure, lots of things are published each and every day. I hit a pretty orange button that says 'Publish' at the end of typing a blog post. You'd think the word would be desensitized to me, much as it is to many I know.

Have you ever sat down and discussed a design concept? A color scheme? The font family to be used? Or do you just trust that your "typical settings" will do the job?

Once you've made those minor decisions which seemed intense, there's just a little task looming on the horizon: content.

How does one KNOW what to write about next? How do you know your writings will be pertinent? Is anyone actually going to read what you have to write? Questionable, at best.

I realize this seems incredible cynical, but the reality is the written word is valued only as much as each person chooses to value it. While some will never read anything more complex than a restaurant menu in their everyday life, others choose to immerse themselves in Tolstoy or Steinbeck. Others will never send a written letter through the mail when a Facebook message or an email suffices given the demand of instant gratification when it comes to information transfer.

When is the last time you valued what you wrote?
When is the last time you seriously contemplated what it means to be 'published'?

I admit, I was right there with what I suspect is the majority opinion: Almost never, although there was that one time...

One time? You mean to tell me you learned how to write in order to only ever write one meaningful thing?

However, stepping back and taking a moment to reflect and consider what is important regarding the written word has shown me the potential of the written word. While I don't fool myself into thinking my personal blog is heavily trafficked by tons of interested readers, I do believe in the importance of writing something meaningful and thought-provoking.

It IS a big deal to be published in any form, especially when experienced for the first time. Embrace it.

pretzels and pajamas

Once in a while, you just NEED a day where you refuse to put on pants. Insert: today. 

Recharging this introvert's batteries can be a tough thing to do, especially given the events of the previous week (a divisional meeting, a two-day workshop, and lots of other networking). Each interaction takes a bit of digging deep to make sure the end result is meaningful...and all of that chips away at my "in public" persona. 

Homework had monopolized my life for the past month, but fortunately the June-mester only course is over. I still have two online classes in full swing, but they are far more bearable as the assignments for each class require a few hours a week of effort versus hoping I would be done by midnight each night. This meant that I did not have much of an opportunity to truly recharge. 

Rant over. Today's been fantastic, the sun is setting, and I have no plans to put on pants. This is a grad school weekend as it should be done. :)

reintroducing words to my vocabulary and striking a balance.

A year ago, I never would have imagined that I would be sitting on a bed in the apartment of a residence hall at Clemson. I would have laughed at you if you said I would say "I love you" to someone other than a family member. Needless to say, the past 24 hours have been incredibly interesting for a variety of personal and professional reasons, and I am excited to see how this summer continues to unfold.

I have a tendency to keep my personal life very, very private. Few people know much about me, and even fewer know the real me. For a long time, I thought that was what I needed to do to be "safe" and make sure that no one hurt me. The few times I abstained from this mentality, it backfired and I was the one left alone and tending to wounds. Tentative at best was my approach to any potential suitor...

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. Between wrapping up my previous job, the adventures of traveling home for a few days, getting to reunite with one of my best friends, and the road trip to Clemson, you would think my time would be monopolized. Rather, my heart was monopolized by someone who came into my life at just the right time...we tease each other because we met during the madness of finals and getting moved out for summer, but it was really the right time for me. I did not know how much I needed someone to come into my life and show me that I am beautiful and loved.

Self-confidence can be very difficult to build if you are someone who is not accustomed to receiving compliments. College and graduate school have completely altered my life, especially since I was fortunate enough to escape the outsider status of the small town that used to be my world. I believe in many ways I am a success story that shows you can leave behind a negative experience and build a new life with positive beginnings and positive influences. There is someone for everyone who will not only tell you about your strengths, but will vehemently defend your honor before anyone.

All smiles from the relationship front, now on to the employment front...
It was a wonderful first day at Clemson. The people are fantastic, and fortunately there are a few individuals close to my age here in town that are all super nice. It has certainly confirmed some of the qualities I seek for my first professional job - the search process creeps up on you before you fully recover from the last search! All in all, it has been an absolutely wonderful day, and the internship enables me to use my degree (ha! that old dusty thing that hasn't been of much use other than tutoring residents/RAs so they pass their history tests...) in a way that will benefit an organization that helped me gain some of my first professional contacts in the Southeast. :)

This may seem like a rather long blog post...and to tell the truth, it is! Life is looking up, and I am blessed with great family, friends, and an amazing boyfriend who seems to always know when to say the right thing and to challenge my thoughts so that I continue to grow. Striking a balance between wanting to spend every moment being happy with all of the recent life changes and actually getting down to work may be a bit tough right now, but it will all work out for the best - just have to have faith. :)