Over My Head

(Is anyone else now singing the Fray "Over My Head" in their heads now? Because I have been since I titled this post & just wondering if I'm the only crazy one! ha Just a side note!) Sometimes I have a habit of taking on too much at once. I have trouble saying no, and I really enjoy getting involved in things, so sometimes I often jump right into things without thinking about all that I have going on first. Now is one of those times where I feel like I am doing too much, and I am in over my head. (still singing the song: "everyone knows I'm in over my head, over my heaaddd..." just me?)

This summer so far has been pretty low-key, not too stressful. Which is nice because I am stressed enough during the year that when I have the summer off, I really want to be off for real. Only now that it's ending, I suddenly feel like I have a million things on my plate I took on all at once (at least it seems that way).

First of all, I started summer school this week. Blah. Don't even get me started. I am not the least bit happy about this, and even less happy about the fact that it won't be over until like 2 days before I go back to school. Awesome. It's just one class, and it's online so I don't even have to go to class, but it overwhelms me. School in general just totally stresses me out and overwhelms me because it doesn't come naturally to me, and I am a slow learner. So school over the summer? Ugh. Plus, this class is a lot harder than I expected. Last summer I took another online history class and it was pretty much a breeze. This one.. not so much. It's all essay writing, and reading 10 chapters a week. Thank goodness my mom is helping or I would be really losing it.

Also, there's this thing called a job. I love my job. I love where I work and who I work with, and this is probably my last summer there after like 4 years, so I really want to enjoy it. And, I am. But it means full hour days (ok like 10-5, but still), and when you have class on top of that, it makes for a long day. Also, on the job note, I am interning again for College Lifestyles. Which is such an amazing internship, and I love it. But, when I am working and doing summer school, it's hard to keep up with another internship and even harder to come up with creative post ideas.

Because that's not enough, I have the stress of trying to lose weight before I go back to school. I finally graduated from Boot Camp yesterday. With a total loss of like 2 pounds. Awesome. Somedays, I think my clothes are fitting better so maybe I lost inches (or at least centimeters! ha), but ask me again tomorrow & I'll probably tell you my jeans are tighter than ever. This happens to me every summer. I come home with the intention to lose weight, then when it gets to July and I haven't lost anything yet, I panic. It's just part of who I am. I'm not giving up yet, I still have the rest of the summer and I even signed up for 2 more weeks of boot camp (I could only do 2 because of vacation and then going back to school), so there's hope yet! I just have to figure out how to squeeze exercise into my schedule.

On a blog note, not only do I have to keep up with this blog (which I really don't think of as a chore at all, it's definitely a hobby, but sometimes I have total blogger's block & I stress about not posting frequently enough to keep people interested. Silly, I know), but I also signed up for the SITS Girls' ProBlogger 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Challenge. This is something I am super excited about, because although I've been blogging for two years now, I still feel like I have a lot to learn about blogging and this will teach me that stuff! Plus, I it will be a great way to connect to other bloggers that are also doing the challenge. And connecting with other bloggers is one of the best parts about blogging, so that's awesome! However, when I started thinking about the fact that this starts on Monday, and everything else I have going on, I started to feel like I had gotten in way over my head. Then when it's all over, I have to turn around and go back to school.

I know that it will all be okay. I've made it through other busy times, and I can do it again. And since most of the things I'm doing are things I love anyway, it really isn't so bad! And at least when I start thinking that I've gotten in over my head, that song pops back into my head and I can laugh at myself for being a dork! ha Sorry for whining, I know people have way worse problems and other people are way busier than I am, but this is my life and I think it's busy, and this is my blog so I get to complain blog about it if I want to! I'm off to go to write a summer school essay... *happy dance*

23 Days: A Year Later

A year ago, I wrote this post entitled 23 days about how close I was to making that final step in the transition from high school to college, and how scary that is. Now, a year later, I am back at that mile stone; the 23 days mark. (actually, a little bit past that, but work with me, people!) The overwhelming feeling, although I have many others too, is I can't believe I'm back here already! I remember writing that post so well. I remember those feelings of being unsure of what the future will hold for me. I remember being scared of those friendships that I had at the time, and what would happen to them? And now, a year later, it feels weird. In my post last year, I mentioned a get-together with students & alumns from Dallas that go to William Woods. Yesterday, I was back there again, only this time I was the one with the answers, with the advice for those new students feeling probably a lot like I did a year ago. That is weird. It definitely went by fast; it feels like yesterday I was writing this post about school ending. I remember that feeling of sadness the whole week before school let out. I remember wondering how I would ever survive the summer without my friends! Those friendships I was once so scared of losing have been lost, but replaced with better ones. I am lucky to be going back to a place I love and to people I love, even though I am leaving behind other people I love as well. Part of me is sad. I have had a great summer & have been blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with my family & strengthen those bonds. I'm going to miss them a lot, but I know I'll see them soon. Part of me is also scared. There is a lot at stake this semester... to be honest my grades weren't great at the end of the year. So non-great in fact, that if they aren't great or at least better this year, I'm basically screwed. Which is scary, of course. I want to believe I can do it, I'm capable of so much more than what I have done so far, but it's hard not to play the "what if" game. What if I can't do it? What if I try, and fail? Also, going back brings out some insecurities. Will they still like me?! Will they think know I got fatter? And, the hardest part for me is the back & forth. I like my comfort zones, & I don't like leaving them! But, I am doing my best not to focus on that, and instead focus on the things I am excited for, the things I have missed. My friends and sorority sisters, of course. Shower parties! Meeting and befriending new people. Partying (not too much of course!), and lots more. I know that it won't take hardly any time at all for me to feel comfortable again, and it will be like we never left! I have said it before, and I'll say it again! I am so lucky to be at a place I love & to have found friends I love. This is the most important thing, because above all else, I love where I go to school & I really love my friends & sorority sisters, so I know going back to school will be great despite all the insecurities & worries & whatever else! I just can't believe it's already been a year!

Something Unpredictable That In the End is Right...

When I was searching for the right words to sum up my freshman year of college, this song ("Good Riddance" by Green Day) all of the sudden popped in my head. This quote from the song was on our sorority Bid Day shirts a few years back (one of the seniors "willed" me theirs this year since they were graduating), they said "It's something unpredictable, that in the end is right... I hope you have the time of your life!". The more I thought about this, the more I realized Green Day summed it up perfectly for me. These words describe my freshman year of college better than any words I could write myself. Something unpredictable? Definitely true. I was going to a school where I didn't know anyone, and halfway across the country for that matter. I didn't even know anyone in the state! I had no idea how it would turn out. Would I make friends? Would I like being so far from home? There was so much unknown, so much that was unpredictable. However, like the song says... In the end it's right. This definitely rings true for me. I couldn't have asked for a better college experience (except maybe academically but that's on me & it's not what this post is about!), and for that I am so grateful. I have met some of my best friends this year. I have learned a lot about being on my own and about myself in general. I really believe this year changed my life for the better, and I'm sure it can only get better from here. The crazy thing is how fast it went by. It feels like just yesterday I was unsure of what the future holds. It feels like yesterday my mom was crying saying goodbye to me as they were leaving me at school. Everyone told me freshman year was the worst year. "You'll be so homesick." "School is hard; they try to weed out the less serious ones" I was homesick maybe once or twice, and it was mostly when I was sick and wanted my mom. One quote I found (on a bumper sticker on facebook, no less) comes to mind: "You leave your family to go to college, and then you leave your family to go home." This is so true, while I left my family at home & went to college on my own, I created a new family. Made up of fantastic friends and amazing people, and for that I am so blessed. It's not to say that it was all roses and rainbows. I have had my share of ups and downs this year, for sure. But overall, I had a great year, and I miss it already! Like the song says, It's something unpredictable, that in the end is right... I hope you had the time of your life. I am lucky enough to say I had the time of my life, and in the end it was definitely right!

School's Out (Almost)

It's that time of year... school's almost out. I heard someone use this phrase (School's out) the other day, and it got me thinking... it's funny how that term has changed meaning so much this past year. When I was younger hearing those words was cause for celebration, even a high school musical-esque celebration. School's out were the words we all waited to hear, counting down the days until there's only 100 days left of school, now only so many weeks, and then school's out! That meant freedom, it meant sleeping in late, pool parties, slumber parties, and so much more! No homework, no worries, no nothing! While all of the above benefits apply (and then some), I can't say that this year I am happy to hear the words "school's out." This means that I am leaving my comfort zone, and heading back home. I won't see my friends and my sorority sisters for 3 whole months. And worse than that, some of them are graduating or transferring next year! This year has been life changing for me. I've met amazing people who I hope will always be in my life. I'm gonna miss it here so much... even the little things. I'm gonna miss driving around town, making late night trips to McDonalds. I'm gonna miss my favorite frat house, where I've met some of my best friends. I'm gonna miss my room, laying in bed watching shows online. I'm gonna miss Saturday and Sunday mornings when I have 5 of my sisters in my room and we are all discussing the nights before. I'm gonna miss getting ready all together, and going out to party. I'm gonna miss it all. I don't like change. Even if it's just temporary. I know the summer will go by fast. I know when we get back it will be like we never left. But I don't want to leave. I want to just fast forward to the fall, when we are all reunited. And I can't stop thinking about those people who won't be here... some of my closest friends won't be here next year, and that really sucks. I'm trying to cherish these last few days, and enjoy the time I have with people, but I can't shake this feeling of sadness...

WWWAT!

Ok, so as you maybe can tell, I love fun blogfests like this! I think it's a great way to meet new people and it's just really fun to share something about yourself through the use of pictures. Anyway... I had heard of Wordless Wednesday, but I was lost as to what to post.. like anything? That's just too... open. Anyway, I digress. When I came accross American Mum's Wordless Wednesday With A Twist.. I couldn't resist participating, but never got the chance until now! Basically, it's the same concept as Wordless Wednesday except with a theme && a winner!! Perfect! So this weeks theme was Summer Fun... a perfect theme for a week spent at the beach. So here goes, enjoy! First what's best about summer is swimming!! This picture is of my cousins and I after getting out of the ocean! Of course, summer fun is not complete without a good game of soccer on the beach. (These are all the cousins at beach week, excluding me of course because I was taking the picture). And, of course, me being the oldest cousin and all, my summer fun (at least while at the beach) includes wrestling my 5 yr old cousin. Summer fun for me definitely includes quality time with my little sister... especially since I'm about to leave for school so soon. Then after a long day of playing in the ocean and such... we crash. So, not quite wordless, but that's ok, right ?! Hope you enjoyed! Make sure you check out everyone else's summer fun here.