The End of a Sanity

Hello 5:00am. It has been some time. Hello 4 blank pages. You present a challenge. Hello finals week. Your presence has not been missed. How do I get through it?

It is simple. Pandora radio plays with instrumental soundtracks from incredible movies. I remember watching each one of them with my family. I remember the thrill of the adventure from watching the plot unfold, the chill the music sent throughout the room, and the expressions on my family's face when the movies end. Those memories keep me holding on. They instill within me that sense of peace, that sense of motivation to reach the end. It is the goal : to push through finals to be with that family once again and make new memories.

This year : finish Harry Potter. Each time a Harry Potter soundtrack appears on Pandora I think of this. Even though I was at the midnight premiere of Deathly Hallows Part 2, my parents have yet to see Part 1 or Part 2. They are waiting for me to be home, because they have never seen one without me. I push through the papers, the late nights, the blistering headaches from caffeine withdraw all in the hopes of seeing my parents experience what I felt in the theatre : the end of a generation. Maybe, just maybe, they will see the end and realize what Harry Potter meant to those in my generation.

Whatever the reaction might be, I look forward to those nights. I type through the suffering of finals and pray to be home once again. 2.5 papers left in 4 days. 18 pages in 77 hours and 30 minutes. Trade for 3 weeks of family time without homework. 3 weeks of a final Christmas break before graduation. 3 weeks of Christmas normalcy in my life .... finals week may be torment, but the priceless feeling of home is worth a hundred tormenting hours.

A Week of Love

This week marked the week of recruitment here at Ashland University. It was a week packed full of planning, talking, emotional rollercoasters, but most importantly; love. Seeing girls from across campus come to join in Greek life filled me with excitement and joy. I remember the feeling of wonder, anxiety, nerves, and happiness all bundled into one during recruitment week. This year was different, this year I was on the other side looking in on a process that was thrilling. 

Seeing the other side reminded me why I love Alpha Phi. Standing with my sisters and singing whilst looking into their eyes brought back the memories of all my sisters have done for me. Being there on late nights to help me write papers, being my home away from home, but most importantly, being my support system when it seemed I had no one else.

Tomorrow marks a new chapter in Alpha Phi. Tomorrow we welcome new and phi-nominal women into our chapter. They will be filled with excitement, but what they do not realize is how excited we are. Having the opportunity to embrace them as family, and being able to share all new memories with them... well in one word: Priceless <3

Growing Stronger with Time like the Ivy that Twines.

AOE sisters <3

Unexpected Sister

    In life there are many bittersweet moments. These are the moments in which we cannot help but be happy for another, while feeling the sorrow ourselves. As the summer progressed, I knew one of those moments was coming ever closer; saying goodbye to my best friend. Tomorrow she is transferring to another University and I will miss her more than words can express.

    Goodbye is such a definite term. In life, in moments like these, the phrase "see you soon" is what I prefer. Although the words goodbye may escape my lips, this phrase continuously repeats inside my mind like a never ending record. See you soon. A way to say this is not over, this is not the end. I say that tomorrow as I bid my friend adieu. Our friendship will not be over, I refuse. As should we all. Friendships that build us up and restore our confidence have become rare in the world today. To find someone who I can laugh with until we cry is worth the efforts to keep. 

    Over our time at work together, this girl has been tremendous. After some tragic happenings of the past semester (more specifically the last 2 weeks), I lost all confidence and my perspective on life was shattered. She introduced me to her favorite childhood memory Harry Potter. Somehow, by reading the entire series over the summer I found a best friend. Not in the books, but in the girl that is transferring tomorrow. Through laughter, hilarity, movies, cookies, and HP, the pieces of myself were restored. If it was not for her, I would have still been in a state of daze and confusion, lost in the never ending maze. 

    So here is to tomorrow. A bittersweet moment. To Amanda : I wish you the best of luck at your new school. I hope that you conquer your major and love the new surroundings around you. Thank you for everything! I can honestly say you'll always be a best friend of mine, and let's make it to never change! I'll miss you!

A Summer Gone By

It is hard to believe that summer has come and past. Next week the school season officially begins for me and other fellow students who are moving in early for campus organizations. But before all of that begins, I want to step back and recall all the memories of this summer.

Living Away From Home

I must admit, living on campus over the summer is not what I expected it to be; however, it still brought memories. Two of my Alpha Phi sisters and I lived together, and I appreciate those two women more than ever. It was such an amazing opportunity to grow closer in friendships with both of them! Living with them over the summer just brought the idea of graduating to a more realistic level, knowing that I can do anything I put my mind to, and knowing I will not see my family every day.

Me & My Summer Roomies!
Harry Potter Mania!

This summer I had the opportunity to become friends with my co-worker! We had been friends before, but working with her over the summer just brought us that much closer as friends. She encouraged me to read the Harry Potter book series over the summer, which is something I had never done before. It was incredible to me though, not only the story line, but how much I should thank HP. By reading the books and just talking about it, it brought me so much closer to her. I can honestly say she is one of my best friends!! She somehow managed to bring that sense of childhood back to me, that I had forgotten over the past semester.

Me & My Best Friend at the Wizards Gathering. Yes we're house elves :)

Alpha Phi!

This summer was an amazing opportunity for me to grow in my love for my sorority Alpha Phi! Many of our sisters visited over the summer and stayed in our room on campus. The joke became our room  was the APhi hotel. But I would not trade it for the world. It gave me a chance to know so many of my sisters in a different way, and love the fact that I can call them sister! Shopping for recruitment made me incredibly excited for this fall. I cannot wait to begin recruitment and see all of the amazing new sisters we will get! 

The Epsilon Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi after Greek Week is over!

Senior Year!? Wha!?

It is hard to believe that summer is already half over. What is even more difficult to believe is that three years ago I was stepping into the University summer orientation pumped and ready to move in, and now, my last year here has arrived. Time has flown since being at Ashland University, and so many wonderful things have happened along the way. Let's re-cap my top 3 moments from years 1-3:

3) Traveling!

I have been so blessed in the area of traveling in these three years. For Spring break Sophomore year we headed to Myrtle Beach (the picture above). During Junior year I was able to attend a conference in Orlando, Florida and in Michigan, both sponsored by the University. 

2) O-Team!

 Orientation Team has been one of my all time favorite experiences. It has helped me break out of the "shy" shell and really meet some wonderful people along the way. Not only has it provided me with many a nights of laughter and hilarity, but practical teaching experience as well.

1) Alpha Phi

Alpha Phi has been my favorite memory. These women have given me a home away from home, and I feel so blessed that I can call all of them my sisters. It has given me opportunities in leadership positions, decorating fabulous events, and so much more. aoe.

~*~

With my senior year just around the corner, I cannot be more excited for the future. I know this coming year will provide struggles and test me as an individual, but it will allow me to grow into the adult I was destined to be. I have so many hopes and dreams for the future and thanks to the organizations and opportunities I have been given while at school, I can cross my fingers and pray that one day they will indeed come true.