"I go to Athens because it reminds me of why we are alive."

Have you ever tried and failed to find the right words to describe something only to have someone else nail it perfectly? For one of my last posts I wanted to tell you how special Athens is and why I will probably never live outside of reasonable driving distance from the Classic City. I wanted to tell you why you should take the time to look around you every day because you will surely find something wonderful right in front of you. I wanted to tell you why I am so excited to be finished with school, but devastated to leave Athens. I wanted to describe to you why Athens is truly a one-of-a-kind place, but I couldn't find the right words.

Fortunately for me and you, Mark E. Murphy, a Savannah physician and writer, found the perfect words.

Read this Tumblr post.

Read it again.

Absorb it.

Now don’t you dare take your time in Athens for granted because while this crazy place is home for a few years, you’ll never forget it, the people you met here, or the great times you had.

I know I talked about cherishing your time at UGA in my last post, but it is an important enough point that I don’t feel bad about repeating myself.

If you ignored my demanding “Read it again.” At least re-read this part of Dr. Murphy’s fantastic post:

“I wanted to tell her that life was too short, that she should revel in this moment, that she should enjoy every second of college because she’s going to spend the rest of her life trying to get back to this point, right here. And she’ll fail, because once it’s over, it’s over. Everything else is an imitation, a sham, a mirage.”

Once it’s over, it’s over. Honestly, since I am so painfully close to graduation, that simple truth brings tears to my eyes.

It is hard to believe that my best friends will never live as close to me as they do right now. One is upstairs, a couple of them are around the corner, and another is a whole 7 minutes drive away in 5 Points.

It is hard to believe that once I have a full-time job I can’t take spontaneous road trips without worrying about any real responsibilities.

It is hard to believe that my days of sitting in Park Hall discussing Shakespeare, Chopin, Fitzgerald, and other literary legends are over.

It’s hard to believe, but it is what it is. Everything else is an imitation.

So, why am I depressing you with my nostalgia?

I think Billy Madison can sum it up:

So don't waste any time worrying about the details. Enjoy every second of your time at UGA. And yes I am aware of how much easier it is to say that than to actually do it, but try. Take classes you want to take, not because they are required, or because Koofers says it has a 3.9 average GPA, but because you are genuinely interested in that class. Have movie nights with your friends, go on random drives around town, go to dinner and have a real conversation about real things. Explore Athens. It has so much to offer aside from bars and a lot of it you may never see without making a little effort. Don't stress out too much about school. Seriously, don't. It's not worth it. Plus, in a couple of weeks or years, depending on how old you are, you probably won't even remember that test you are freaking out about right now.

Everything will work out in the end. It usually does, right? That's the main lesson I have learned from my time at UGA that I want to pass onto you. Everything will work out eventually. You just have to give it your best shot, give it time, and then enjoy the waiting line.

p.s. Go Dawgs.

Make a (College) Bucket List

It is nine days until graduation and I have not completed everything on my UGA bucket list. Here it is:

Luckily, I will be sticking around Athens for another month or so and I am determined to check at least a couple more things off my list. 

Don’t end up like me desperately trying to fulfill a goal with not enough time left. Make a bucket list of everything you want to do before you graduate. Make it with your friends so you have partners in crime and enough stories to eventually bore your grand kids  Write it down! You are more likely to do something if you write it down. That’s science. Laminate the sucker if it means you are more likely to accomplish everything you want to!

Now, if you are unsure of what you want to write down, I’ll share with you everything I included on my bucket list. Some are age-old UGA traditions and some are just personal goals I set for myself. Either way, they may inspire you to jot down a bucket list of your own.

1. Sit in the student section at a football game. Now this may seem odd, but you would be surprised how many times you get roped into sitting at the very tippy top of Sanford stadium with the fraternity boys. Sit in the student section! It is so much more fun and I wish I had done it more often!
2. Go see a movie at Ciné.
3. Go to a Gym Dogs meet. Ten.Time.National.Champions. That is all.
4. Eat at ECV (dining hall) for dinner as a senior. You will appreciate it so much more once you have been cooking for yourself for a while. 
5. Ring the Chapel Bell. Get an A? Get a job? Finally talk to that boy in bio? Let Athens know!
6. Go to a lecture at the Chapel. They happen a lot. Check UGA's Master Calendar.
7. Complete a Pauley's Beer Card. Like beer? Go for it! I, sadly, never did.
8. Hang out on North Campus on a nice day! Have you seen how beautiful North Campus is?
9. Go to Terrapin.  A great thing to do once you turn 21! 
10. Experience the Athens Twilight Criterium. It's like a football game...in the spring...with bicycles.
11. Go to a show at the Georgia Theatre.
12. Get breakfast at Mama's Boy. You will have to wait in line. But it's worth it.
13. Enjoy downtown in the daytime. Yes, there are things to do downtown in the bright light of day.
14. Go to a UGA Theatre performance. Macbeth? Chicago? Yes, please!
15. Go to the Georgia Museum of Art.
16. Visit the Georgia State Botanical Garden. A great place to go for a run!
17. Go on a GORP trip. Another thing I wish I had done. Check it out for your PE requirement!
18. Kayak down the Broad River. An incredibly fun day trip for the summer.
19. Go to Ath Fest.
20. Eat at every restaurant downtown. I will probably miss Athens' restaurants the most.
21. Get a picture with Uga or Hairy Dawg.
22. Go between the Hedges during a game.
23. Enjoy late night Snelling. AKA Snellebration.
24. GO TO GEORGIA/FLORIDA. I cannot stress this one enough.
25. Study or volunteer abroad! I went to South Africa with International Student Volunteers. Best decision of my life (aside from coming to UGA, of course).
26. Go to UGA night at Six Flags.
27. Go to the Great Southland Stampede Rodeo.
28. Get ice cream at the UGA Creamery.
29. See the Tree that Owns Itself
30. Go to the Homecoming game. Seeing the cute little old male cheerleaders is just a bonus.
31. Tailgate on Myers Quad.
32. Go to Dawgs after Dark.
33. Play an intramural sport.
34. Watch a quidditch match on Myers Quad. This is real.
35. Take pictures with the bulldogs around Athens.
36. Spend a summer in Athens.
37. Walk under the Arch! But not until you have graduated!

I know everyone says to cherish your time in college because it goes by so fast. But you will not really appreciate the truth of that statement until it's your turn to graduate and leave Athens. So let me give you some advice. Don't worry too much about the future. You are not just at UGA to get a degree. You are also here to get an education; the kind of education that comes from the people and the town around you as well as the pile of books on your desk. Don't take those people and this amazing town for granted. How can you do that? Make a college bucket list and make sure you are checking things off and adding to it as much as you can. Because it will be nine days until graduation before you know it.

Explore Your Options and Don't Settle

I did not want to do it. I really didn’t want to. But I did. With a deep breath and a feeling of impending nausea I counted the days until I graduate from college. There are only 45. That is an incredibly depressing number. Kim Kardashian’s marriage lasted 72 days. I am beyond upset and am filled with regret for putting the reality of my departure from college in such concrete terms. Just give me a second.
 Okay, it’s not the end of the world. It’s really not. That’s what I am here to tell you. This entire blog is supposed to be helpful to people who have not yet had to realize the imminent end of the greatest four years of their lives. So, with 45 (barf) days left it is time to get down to business. I will attempt to be serious. Seriously.

 In 45 days I will graduate from college. Everyone around me seems to be at least slightly excited for the next step of their lives. One of my roommates and best friends is ecstatic that all of her hard work has finally paid off as she will be attending Physical Therapy School at the University of North Carolina in the fall. Another one of my best friends cannot wait to start her work in the Peace Corps where she is able to marry her passions for travel and service. Another friend couldn't believe his luck that the condition on which he accepted his dream job at a New York City record label was that he must stay in Athens for another year and obtain his Masters in Music Business. And who could forget my loving father? He is over the moon that his third and last daughter will be graduating and he never has to pay for tuition again (don’t remind him about the three weddings for which he will eventually have to foot the bill). Everyone’s lives seem to be falling perfectly into place. Everyone it seems, except me. Pause for a pity party.

When I first arrived in the Classic City on a blistering hot day, I wanted to be a journalist. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2009, the journalism majors were pretty strict and I could not choose between magazines, newspapers, etc., so I decided to become an English major instead. For kicks I tacked on a Psychology double major because AP psych was my favorite class in high school. Then I realized I needed to choose a more marketable double major to complement my English. I took enough advertising courses to realize it was not all brain storming sessions with the brilliant creative minds that came up with “Where’s the beef?” and “Tape a cheetah to her back!” Next, I tested out Public Relations, decided it was for me, applied and was accepted in the Grady School of Journalism, then had an epiphany and turned down my acceptance. I had had a revelation that I should be a teacher and promptly switched to English and English Education. After one educational psychology course I realized I would be a horrible teacher and would end up corrupting young minds rather than mold them into the future leaders of America. My dreams of being Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society (minus the misinterpretation of Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled” of course) were dashed. What was I left with? Luckily it was the one constant thing in my life: my love of reading, writing, and all things English.

With 45 days until graduation, it seems that every person I encounter is asking me what I plan on doing after college. Most hear that I am an English major and assume I am either going to be a teacher or a novelist. My dad, who thinks he is hilarious, tells people I am going to work in the English factory. What’s the truth? I don’t know what I am doing after graduation, yet. But don’t worry I am not just twiddling my thumbs until I move into my parents’ basement. I am actively applying and interviewing for various jobs in communications, marketing, and advertising (the creative side). My point is that I have never known exactly what I wanted to do and that’s okay. The pieces will eventually fall into place for me, too.

So, if you are undecided on your major explore your options. The University of Georgia has TONS of majors, so take a few intro classes and figure out what you like and don’t like. If you are in a major that you are realizing is not for you, don’t freak out. You can always change your major and (probably) still graduate on time. If you have ever wondered "What can I do with a major in..." then check out the UGA Career Center's website. I have spent countless hours there. The important thing is that you are enjoying school as well as college. And don’t let anyone tell you that you have decide what you want to be when you grow up right this instant because that just isn't true. So, let me reiterate. Explore your options and don't settle for something that won't make you happy. And feel free to borrow that mantra for every aspect of your life be it career choices, romantic pursuits, or what you are going to eat. Definitely don't ever settle on food. (Sorry, I tried, seriously.)

Be Aware of Your Surroundings (and camera flashes)

Being a senior, I have made my fair share of poor life decisions when I am downtown and enjoying a high level of inebriation. I have also witnessed a cornucopia (picture The Hunger Games) of sloppiness and situations that make you just want to say "Oh, honey" before you snap a quick picture so you can show all of your friends tomorrow. Now I know that when we have a little too much liquid courage we tend to lower (or give up on completely) our inhibitions. This may lead to the following: drunkenly making out with that guy that kind of looks like Gerard Butler; dancing so passionately that somehow your dress hikes up to your belly button; deciding to take off your stilettos and going barefoot in a bar because not enough tequila shots in the world can numb that excruciating pain.

Now I am not saying be Sober Sally to avoid any and all embarrassment downtown because unless you have the patience of this dog, being the only sober person surrounded by what seems like every drunk person in the world can be maddening enough to turn even Miss Honey into Ms. Trunchbull (if you don't understand that reference just go away). Sobriety is not the only answer. Moderation, loyal friends, and peripheral vision is the best solution.

So, have you and some cutie been shamelessly flirting at the bar and somehow find yourself leaning closer and closer until your lips are only inches apart? (sigh, what lovely rum-soaked romance) By all means, go for it (as long as you are both unattached, consenting adults), but don't be a spectacle. Because if you are, odds are you will end up on the UGA Makeouts Twitter. For all of you pre-med, pre-law, pre-need-to-find-a-job-someday folks out there, pictures of you in various states of debauchery on the internet is not good. If you really can't control the stirring in your loins long enough to get a cab home, find a dark corner and be as inconspicuous as possible. Straddling someone in Whiskey Bent while people dance around you to "Wagon Wheel" is not inconspicuous. People will take pictures. Hopefully, it will be your friends (like mine who love me enough not to do anything they would regret with certain pictures), but most of the time it's not.

Think as long as you are not playing tonsil hockey your drunken antics are uninteresting to everyone around you? Think again. If any part of your body that is typically covered by undergarments somehow escapes your prison of clothing without your drunk self realizing it prepare to find yourself on Tap That UGA Drunk Student. Once again, proof of debauchery online is bad. I know it is hard to keep all aspects of your being under control when you have had one too many kamikazes, but get it together Carol! (once again just go away if you don't get it) If you feel a breeze where there is normally no draft, check yourself for exposed parts. This is where loyal friends come in handy. Stuff happens, so make sure you have friends that will tell you when you have junk in your teeth and when your other junk is making an unwelcomed appearance.

Lastly, wear shoes you won't drunkenly take off. I have to include this because I personally have made the poor life decision to go barefoot in Bourbon. I woke up the next morning to feet that were covered in bar tar and blood. Have you seen the floors at Bourbon? Disgusting. If you haven't thought about the components of bar tar before, don't start now. The blood was from a broken beer bottle I stepped on, pieces of which were still lodged in my aching feet. If I hadn't been up-to-date on all of my shots you can bet I would have been visiting the health center. Making good decisions for your feet and overall well-being does not have much to do with avoiding ending up an internet sensation, but it falls under the category of being aware of your surroundings. I learned my lesson and have not worn heels downtown since except for the occasional semi-formal when my friends won't be seen with me if I wear boots.

To summarize, avoid the cornucopia of sloppiness, keep your friends close and your eyes open, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Sidenote: The only person that can get away with inappropriate acts showing up on the internet is Jennifer Lawrence. (if you don't like Jennifer Lawrence then seriously, just leave) Here's some proof.

Finish the Drill (Midterm)

Once upon a time, a week before Spring Break, I was studying for a midterm in the basement of my sorority house. I was sprawled out on my stomach surrounded by flashcards and stacks of books when something shocking happened--my phone rang. Now if you are like me, the only person that ever calls me is my mom, so when it was a guy I liked (shall we call him Mr. Darcy?) calling me I was slightly confused. Darcy was calling just to talk (it’s a Midterms miracle!) so for the next hour or so I shoved my note cards aside and happily chatted with Darcy while my friends looked on with a mixture of awe and disgust.

Now I am all for the “I’ll get it done eventually” mentality, but when I finally hung up with Darcy it was midnight and I was exhausted, happily in like, and thinking about my Spring Break plans. My midterm was at 10:00 a.m. the next day, so I figured I would just get up early and finish studying. So the next day I continued my studying and passed my midterm with flying colors, right? Wrong.

I did not study enough. That was apparent within the first 30 seconds of starting the midterm. I did not know the answer to a vast majority of the questions. English majors are notorious BS-ers, but I could not even force my brain to make things up. I have never experienced this in my life. Is this what Joey Tribbiani feels like all the time? I panicked, fought the tears, and walked to the front of the room. My TA was speechless when I gave her a blank midterm and said “I can’t do this” and walked out of the room. The professor, who I had never spoken to before, saw what happened and followed me into the hall. She sat me down and asked what was wrong. The sleep deprivation took over and I squeaked out a few nonsensical excuses before my professor convinced me to go back inside and do what I could with the midterm. And I did just that.

I ended up getting a C in the class and I am still very bitter about the only C I’ve ever received, but there is no way I would have ever passed the class if I hadn't sucked it up and finished that midterm.

So what’s the lesson? Get enough sleep. Don’t prioritize talking on the phone with boys. Ever. Darcy turned out to be a loser (a total Mr. Wickham, ugh). Don’t panic. Write down something. Anything. And finally, a C is not the end of the world and eventually you will laugh about that time you tried to turn in a blank midterm. By the way, that very same professor teaches one of my classes this semester. She has no idea who I am. There are 8 people in the class. So don't fret.

And if my story isn't inspirational enough, here is the coolest kid ever with a pep talk for you.

"Excuse me, where is the SLC?"

For my first post I'll be addressing something that most freshmen (primarily girls) struggle with during the first week of classes: trying not to look like freshmen. Let me paint you a picture. It is the first day of class in August and as you walk through campus you begin hearing snickers of laughter followed by a muttered “freshman.” You panic. “How did they know?!” Just ask yourself the following questions:

Am I lost in the labyrinth of the Journalism building?

Do yourself a favor and download the University of Georgia Undergraduate Admissions app on your iPhone right now. It has a campus tour and map feature so you can find your next class while pretending to text something of dire importance. If you are like freshman me with my Lg EnV and don’t have a fancy smart phone then grab a friend the day before classes start and go explore campus and find all of your classes. Then on the first day of class you can walk by the other freshmen with their maps and laugh as if you have never been unfamiliar with your surroundings before.

Am I wearing real clothes?

If you look like you put any effort into your outfit you are probably a freshman. Invest in some snazzy workout clothes that will never see the inside of Ramsey and don’t wear high heeled shoes. Not only will it give you away, but the UGA campus is treacherously hilly, so unless you have calves carved from pure gold save the strappy wedges for your downtown escapades. Also, get excited about all of the new t-shirts you/your parents will be buying (especially you, sorority girls). It’s only socially acceptable to wear t-shirts as much as college students do for four years, so enjoy it while you can. At the end of those four years you will probably have enough t-shirts to make a quilt or two, so you have that to look forward to.

Are you being a bag lady?

Don’t carry a purse AND a backpack. It’s unnecessary and when you smack six people in the face trying to get to a seat in the middle of a row in your Intro to Sociology class they will know you are a freshman and will probably immediately dislike you. Consolidate your crap into one bag. If you have friends that refuse then kindly bully them until they surrender one of their many bags. They will thank you eventually.

Am I on the Family Housing bus?

I haven’t taken a bus since freshman year for good reason. I get lost easily and the buses are confusing. The only real advice I have is don’t get on Family Housing and plant your feet firmly when the bus is in motion. If you are determined to avoid any and all physical exertion by catching a ride to all your classes then check is the UGA Bus Routes and Schedule Website . Prepare to be shoved between a few sweaty randos.

Am I acting my age?

Don’t get too caught up in trying not to look like a freshman. The majority of people at UGA aren’t total jerks, so don’t be afraid to ask for directions, or where a bus goes, or what the difference between the SLC and the MLC is (answer: nothing). Embrace being a freshman because you probably aren’t fooling anyone anyway!