Senior Citizens

Senior year of high school, which was only 4 years ago, I remember walking around campus like I owned the place. In a way we did; our class held the top positions in our Student Government, almost all of my friends and I were leaders in our respective clubs, sports teams and other organizations, plus, all the underclassmen wanted to be the big Seniors who were leaving for college next Fall . . .

It's kind of a different story on campus here at UNC. There are some similarities; for example, many of my friends are leaders in their respective organizations, and we still have lots of football and basketball games to go to throughout the year. But the big difference is when you introduce yourself to the underclassmen they get a scared look in their eye . . . not because we're the big seniors, but because they feel sorry for us. I mean, the majority of us won't be going to grad school in Chapel Hill, as the case for me. Then they ask us the dreaded questions . . . "what are you doing after graduation," "how is the job search going," "are you staying in Chapel Hill, heading home or working somewhere else?" This is where I panic. Just ask mom. Since this summer I've been freaking out because I have absolutely no idea what I want to do after graduation. At the beginning of this summer I wanted to open a wedding/event planning business, then I wanted work in New York as a consultant, now I think it will be cool to live at home and open my own store with my best friend Bracey or maybe go to Charlotte and work at Bank of America or Red Ventures. I literally change my mind every two weeks. I go through at least 180 job openings a day trying to find something that catches my attention. So that leaves me applying for everything I can find that I'm qualified for, which leads to stress, which leads to mom saying, "I don't know why you're so worried; you have a home to come back to after graduation while you look for jobs." She's right, per-usual. It's just really hard to stay patient during this time when friends are accepting job offers and sending their resumes to companies. It's so easy to say its all in God's hands but its a lot harder to be fully relaxed in that belief. I know He's going to handle it and that many opportunities will come my way but, like my mother, I like to be in control. And I'm not. That's something I've got to wrap my mind around when it comes to resting the future in His hands.

So for now, my friends and I are the big "Senior Citizens" on campus, the ones everyone feels bad for because the "best days of our lives" are coming to a close. I know they're wrong . . . I'll definitely be working until I'm recognized as a senior citizen by the restaurants who will give me discounts, which is gonna be awesome! But the adventure doesn't end in May 2013. A new chapter will have just begun!

And don't worry Mom, after graduation you know I can't go too far from family, friends, sweet tea and my cat . . .

 

"She laughs with no fear of the future for her hope is in me" Proverbs 31:25

House Divided

Yesterday was my brother's first day of classes at NC State! I honestly can't believe he's old enough to be in college . . . its kinda scary. It doesn't feel like that long ago when he got in my car and we drove to his first day at Lee County High School together. From the outside looking in, everyone thinks we're the sweetest, most well-behaved siblings ever . . . unless you actually know us. Since birth we've argued.  Mom always says from the day they brought Seth home in a stocking I was begging them to send him back! Everyone said, "as you get older you two won't fight as much." Yeah right! It didn't change much when we went to high school either. We fought every single morning in the car. I was usually running late, he insists on being 30 minutes early wherever he goes, we argued about what music we listened to, what route I would take to school, how fast I was going, what he was wearing, and whether he sat shotgun or in the back between my other passengers (and practically little sisters) Molly and Halie. Halie was pretty much just like me so he wasn't too fond of riding beside her. HA. By the end of Seth's freshman year I was an expert at keeping my eyes on the road and nailing him with a nice, fat punch on the shoulder. He would usually act like he was going to punch me but never did, I guess because I'm a girl. We would both slam doors and the trunk.
Multiple times we rode to school in silence because we would turn the radio off just so the other one wouldn't get to listen to what he/she wanted. We were pretty mean to each other, but we knew we loved each other at least a tiny bit. We were obviously model siblings. When I left for college things progressively got better. This past year was probably the year we got along the most. And after his TCTW trip we're closer than we've ever been. Not that we text all the time or call each other because we don't really . . . but we do communicate regularly via texts/tweets, talk about the ridiculous things Dad says, and share hilarious YouTube videos.  It's a work in progress.  Plus, he still knows how to push my buttons.  Him and Dad are constantly picking on me, calling me the "lib at Carolina" or talking about how I could snow ski barefoot because my feet are so big. Mom said we'd act like we loved each other one day, and she was right. (Side Note:  Mom's usually right about the things she tells me but I never believe her). Now that we're both at college everyone says, "must be weird that you're at Carolina and your brother's at State" . . . eh, no. Not really. Our whole family has been Tar Heel fans since birth and I don't see Seth changing that too soon; Dad would probably disown him.  Not that he won't cheer for the Pack, because he will . . . just not when they're playing the Tar Heel boys.  Dad always says, "there's nothing divided about our house," and its true. Just because Seth will be in red this year doesn't mean much.  Just one more person I get to trash talk to when State loses another basketball game.  Plus, it would take a whole lot more than going to a different school just to divide us.  I mean, who else could I use as a punching bag? or who will pick on me so my head won't get too big?  Plus we look alike, so I can't get rid of him that easily.

When it feels good to feel small . . .

Last summer I went to NYC for the first time with Josh and his family and I was lucky enough to join him again last week!  I fell in love with the city last year.  As a small town girl I though the big city would be too dirty, too fast and the people would be too rude.  This year we did run into a handful of rude natives but that didn't ruin my bright-light, big-city experience. We left early Saturday morning and headed toward DC where we spent the day touring the monuments. Our first stop was Arlington Cemetery.  It was so beautiful and it was so expansive, covered with heroes who fought for our freedom.  We watched the changing of the guards at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and walked across the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial, White House, Washington Memorial, and the war memorials. More pictures from DC are on my Facebook!

We left DC early the next morning and stopped by an IHOP where we saw a few football players from FSU that we guessed were training or trying out with the Redskins. Super cool. LOVE the NFL.  We drove several more hours through NYC and up to the North Fork of Long Island where we would be staying.  Greenport.  Such a small beautiful, rural town on the sound.  Small, rural towns are the last thing I think of when I imagine NY. Surprise! We could walk from the rental house downtown to restaurants, the marina and a froyo shop!! After hitting the beach (which was pretty rocky) and learning to play Skip-Bo (which is now my favorite) we spent all day Tuesday in NYC. Favorite city ever.  While we were walking around I couldn't stop daydreaming about working there one day.  I don't think I would live there forever, I'm still a small-town, Southern girl at heart, but it would be so exciting to spend a couple years getting lost in the hustle and bustle of big city lights. As I start applying for jobs this year (eeeek!) that's one place I'll definitely keep on the radar!  I'm also looking at Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, Cary/Raleigh/RTP.  Of course I don't want to stray too far from my family but I want something different, new!  I'm sure I'll keep you posted on all the places I'm applying as the year progresses.  Anywho, while in Long Island we went to another beach, lots of vineyards, a kiddy farm, and the best aquarium EVER that had a butterfly room and a room where birds can land on you!  If you want to hear more about our trip I'll be glad to tell you! But that's all for now...better get back to work before the boss catches me!