“Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.” - Einstein
I know I say it all the time, but I seriously CANNOT believe that 2011 is coming to an end! This was a big year for me. I mean, seriously! So what better way to sum up the year than with a Top 10 countdown?! Here goes nothing…
2011 Top 10 Moments
#10 Summer Concert Series: This was the best summer for concerts included on the Country MegaTicket. Who needs front row seats when you have the lawn?! Concerts have been a recurring event every summer since my freshman year of high school, and they’re something I look forward to every year! This year I saw: Jason Aldean, Eric Church, JaneDear Girls; Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Jerrod Neimann; Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Uncle Kracker; Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry; Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans, Justin Moore, Easton Corbin.
Ashton and I during one of the concerts!
#9 Traveling: The whole reason I started this blog was because of this job (see #2)! Even though I was a “resident” this semester and spent most of my time living in New Orleans, I still got to do quite a bit of traveling. I calculated this (I had 4 weeks off for break – not complaining! – but I had to do something with my time!) – since the end of July, I’ve been on 33 flights, went through 9 states, and visited 7 chapters. Yes, this job is still pretty cool and yes, I still enjoy it, all of it. J
from my very first visit to OSU - I went a total of 3 times this semester
#8: Family Vacay in Florida: I’m still in Florida right now and this trip has been nothing but fun. You can expect a blog to follow with all the details. Give me a book (or my Nook J), my iPod, and the beach and I’m the happiest person you’ll ever meet. With nowhere to go and nowhere to be, this has been the perfect family vacation.
now playing: "Knee Deep" by Zac Brown Band
#7 Spring Break: During my freshman, sophomore, and junior Spring Breaks, I went with a few different friends each year to random places down south. My senior year I decided to go with the rest of Hanover College and headed down to Gulf Shores, Alabama. I had too much fun soaking up the sun, hanging out with my friends, and enjoying every second we had there. ‘Tis mediocre.
we went all the way to the famous Flora-Bama just to get a koozie!
#6 Passing Comps: Senior Comprehensive Exams. I had anxiety about these ever since I stepped foot on campus in August 2007. After recruitment and interviews, my entire life starting in mid-January was devoted to studying for these bad boys. There were 4 impossible parts that I somehow passed with a B+. I’ve never worked so hard or felt more relieved to get a B+. The best part about all of it? I could officially graduate with that passing grade. J
this has nothing to do with comps but it's my little and little little who I absolutely love.
#5 New Friends: This fall I’ve met so many people and have made so many new friends. From the other consultants, HQ staff, collegians, and volunteers, I’ve met some people who I’ll be keeping in touch with for the rest of my life. And luckily I’ve still been able to keep in touch with my friends from home even with the distance. I feel so blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life right now!
training...ohhhh the memories. I think we knew each other for about 3 days at the time of this picture.
#4 Christmas: The week before Christmas we celebrated with my mom’s side of the family with around 30 people in my grandparent’s house. It’s probably my favorite day of the year. I’ve outgrown the presents stage and now all of the great-grandchildren are the ones sitting around the tree ripping open their presents after our big lunch, but it’s still such a fun day getting to see everyone. On Christmas Day, my family just spent the day at home and we had a nice, relaxing day. Having both my brother and me home so that the entire family was together was the best Christmas gift of all.
my mom still makes us a take this picture every year at my grandparent's house!
#3 Spring Term: My senior Spring Term was hands down the best 4 weeks of my life. We have 2 regular semesters and then we have Spring Term where you take 1 class for 4 weeks and enjoy your time as the school year winds down. We go to class for just a few hours a day, then go on hikes, hang out, go on road trips, and pretty much do whatever we want. Lambda Chi Alpha puts on a wiffleball tournament as a philanthropy event and we spend our evenings out at the wiffleball field. Yes, you read that correctly, the wiffleball field. And yes, there are specific rules. And yes, I played on 5 different teams my senior year. And yes, our house mom pinch hit for me and I ran for her (she got walked). I just can’t put into words how much fun we all had and how we made sure to enjoy every single second with graduation looming at the end of those 4 weeks. If I could go back, I’d do it all again.
PROOF that our house mom played in a wiffleball game - and check out that crowd for our game!
#2 Getting a Job: I found out in February right around my birthday that I got this job – talk about a huge stress relief! I had something lined up for after graduation and could focus on the rest of my senior year. I can’t say enough about how thankful I am to just have a job, especially when some of my friends are still searching for jobs. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world!
lunch with the National President back in August!
#1 Graduation: This. Was. Huge! I remember that weekend perfectly. My chapter held a cookout for all of our families that Friday evening. Saturday morning I woke up bright and early to get ready. I had a legacy family picture that morning with the fam and then we headed back to the Phi Mu house for a really nice luncheon that we have every year. Shortly after that, it was time to head out to The Point to get lined up. We had prayed and hoped all week that it wouldn’t rain so that we could have graduation outside. Thankfully, the rain held off that afternoon and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Because I have smart roomies, we were almost at the end of the line and were very close to sitting next to each other (we behaved, I promise!). Cue the graduation music and it was time to walk. As we headed in I spotted my brother (he’s 6’7 after all!) and the rest of my family. The ceremony was perfect. We finally got to the last row and it was time. Talk about a huge sense of accomplishment walking across that stage, shaking Dr. DeWine’s hand, and finally getting that diploma. As we exited through the tunnel of professors cheering for us, it really hit me that this was it. I had finally graduated! It was such a bittersweet moment but I tried to enjoy it all and take it all in without letting the sadness get to me. I made my rounds and said as many “see you laters” as I could (I hate goodbyes) and then headed back to the Phi Mu house one last time. I was really ok until it was just me…in my room…with none of our decorations up…with the desks, closets, and dressers empty…with the futon gone…and the room just looked so empty. It was then that the memories of the last 4 years came flooding back and I realized I would miss that place more than I ever could’ve imagined. Bittersweet doesn’t even begin to describe it, but at the same time, I could not have been happier to have that diploma in my hand!
at The Point pretty close to where I walked across the stage and said goodbye to the best 4 years.
So there it is, my top moments of 2011 and what a year it has been! As for resolutions, I’ve got only 1 this year and thanks to a good friend of mine, I think I’ll be able to finally accomplish it this year!
2011, you’ve been so good to me. 2012, bring it on. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for me!
