Life is good.

Well it’s been about two and a half months since my last post. I’m already half done with this semester, and I feel like I owe my awesome followers and myself a little journal update.

Eating at USM President Dr. Bennett’s house for “Dr. B’s Book Club”

As a refresher, I’m a junior, so I would think that overall I should be getting a little more busy and overwhelmed. Surprisingly this has felt like the easiest semester yet. I think I finally got my ish together, and I feel like a new person. I’m actually going to bed early (well, early for a college student), working out regularly (outside of my ballet class), and not stressing over little details. Heck, maybe I’ll get my first fall semester 4.0; that’s my goal at least.

Live at 5 in downtown Hattiesburg.

This is my first semester living in my sorority house, and, gosh, it’s crazy fun. I’ve had so many moments of awkward bonding with these girls, and I love how my close friend circle continues to expand each day; not to mention, it’s super convenient when trying to find the perfect outfit or swap swag when there’s only one minute to spare.

I always get attacked when I walk in my room.

I had quite a few friends graduate in May, but this hasn’t stopped me from seeing them. I love that my close friendships have only adapted to the times and are now growing in different ways. I’ve also made so many new friends! I personally love meeting people, like anyone and everyone I come into contact with. These people have affected my life and play a part in it (whether they have lines or not), and I think I should take every opportunity to meet them. I like to think that some of them will even be a part of my distant future, so we shall see!

USM Homecoming game with old and new friends.

I’ve also been spending a lot of time with our new Delta Gamma members and trying to be the role model that I had at that time during my freshman year. I’m so impressed with these girls and just wish that I were able to spend bundles of time with each one of them.

Myra and I were glad that Recruitment was over. Super ready for Bid Day festivities!

I’m also so freaking proud of my chapter right now. More than ever before. We have given every ounce of oomph to every task that we have been given, and it shows! We’ve won the homecoming team activities and philanthropy events; new and active members have made their presence known, not only in the Greek community but also all across campus. I’m running for a few positions within my chapter for this upcoming calendar year, and I can’t wait to see how everything works out.

Delta Gamma on Team 2 for Homecoming!

Speaking of, I actually applied to be on USM’s orientation team for next year and was called back for the second round of interviews this upcoming week. I’m thrilled to be going back, so pray for me!

SMAC got its logo on the Student Activities HUB window!

On top of that exciting news, I also received some outstanding news that I’ve been waiting to hear for the past two months. Two of my fellow SMAC executive members and I will be presenting an educational session at the NACA national convention which will be held in February in Boston!!! This is a big deal, y’all. I jumped around all day yesterday telling everyone I know about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and will surely keep telling my friends over the next couple weeks. Sorry, I’m not sorry.

Can’t wait for Boston with this awesome friend!

Get ready Boston because you can’t stop this!

Also, SMAC has done superbly well this semester! I’m beyond proud to be a part of this team. Of course there have a been a couple flukes, but I have never seen us caught off guard by them. I have so much faith in our members, executive board, GA, and advisor that SMAC will continue to do great things for our university and just straight up conquer the world.

Sisterly support at SMAC’s Ice Skating event this semester

SMAC has rubbed off on me so much. I’ve gotten more organized (oddly enough) and more silly and creative too. I mean I’ve dressed up as some crazy things the past few weeks, like a rock and a pinata. All complete with awkward confrontations and worthwhile memories.

That Halloween when I rocked.

I’ve found a new love in exploring my college town by finding new places to visit with my friends, but we have still gone to the regular spots as well. This also includes volunteering. This morning Delta Gamma actually helped with the annual Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center dog walk, and once again it was a beautiful day for such an event. For the first time, we also visited the state veterans’ home in Collins, MS a few weeks ago. All these experiences have really opened my eyes to some hidden opportunities, and I’m grateful to be able to share these moments with my friends.

I asked State Senator Sally Doty (whom I met at NEW Leadership Mississippi over the summer) to come speak at DG’s chapter meeting, and she so sweetly agreed!

So back to classes… one thing I can’t share with my friends is my school work. I don’t have a tremendous amount of outside work to do, like I did in the past, but I have something new and big tacked on.

AN HONORS’ THESIS.

This is my chance to present research through the Honors College that I will compile over the next (less than) 2 years. By research I don’t mean Facebook creeping; I mean real legit stuff. I was nervous about this process at the beginning of the semester, but now I have two advisors in place and just have to figure out a topic. I have a lot of ideas thanks to the fact that I reflect on all my class lessons throughout my daily routine. My only problem is that everything sounds so interesting, and I don’t know how to properly ask a research question (yet). I can’t seem to go a day without sounding out the Northampton symbols or analyzing situations in regards to how a Deaf person would feel, but I know this type of nonstop thinking will only help me in the long run.

Oh, I almost forgot. I became a Grand Big!

Side note: I’m in Womens’ Chorus again! I’m also really glad my best friends were able to come watch our fall concert (:

…which means it’s finally Fall! This is my favorite time of year mainly because of the different colors that the leaves radiate. I miss seeing the yellow leaves of the gingko trees at home, but I can’t wait to see them when I visit next time.

Visiting Dana for her 21st birthday.

I have only gone home once this semester, which is pretty normal, but I was able to see several of my good friends that still live at home or are working. I also entered a fun little contest/pageant at the Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, MS, and I was crowned Miss Hot Tamale 2013! This was definitely a huge step outside my comfort zone, but I received immense  support from my close friends. I am still immensely appreciative for my friends who visited me at home that weekend to help me not freak out and watch me work it. And especially for my roommate, who dealt with corn husks being all over the floor for a week. Thank you.

“Hot Tamale, y’all”

Random tidbit: my hair is getting long! No more cutting it. I’m trying to see how long I can get it again.

Since it is junior year, that means this is the year of turning 21. Several of my friends have turned 21 already, but my turn is quickly approaching. Mine is next Saturday (same day as our DG initiation) , and I honestly don’t have any birthday plans set for the weekend. I will probably just be spontaneous. That’s usually a real adventure, so I’m banking on that option.

One of my new friends Riane!

Finally, I think I’m ready to sign off again. I know this was long, but, hey, I had a lot to cover. I can’t wait to see what other opportunities God has in store for me, my family, and friends. Every day is a journey. A new day. A new beginning. That’s what keeps me going.

That and the free coffee.

Summer is officially over

Well…

The past three months have been one hell of an awesome summer! I’ve basically written about it all, so I’m really not sure how to wrap it all up.

The past couple weeks I’ve just been relaxing at home and packing up for school again. I’ve tried helping my brother with college research since he is a high school senior now. I’ve tried reading a little. I finished The Perks of Being a Wallflower and absolutely loved the movie. Lots of crying, but it’s OK. It just makes me so happy. I tried putting ice cream at the bottom of my snow cone, but it just wasn’t the same. I’ve started eating more fruit at home, and less servings of everything. I’ve adjusted my lifestyle to fit who I am now.

Originally I started this blog to record my journeys this summer, and I’d say that I’ve done pretty well. There were a few times when I got behind, but I didn’t let that stop me. I got back on track to make sure I still told the whole story (well, most of the time) even when I was tired.

Sidenote: This will probably be my last post. I’m about to start school, and everyone knows I have no time for myself, let alone a blog, during the school year. That’s crazy talk. Don’t worry though, I’ll try to post something sporadically about my life, and I’ll definitely consider continuous blogging next summer as well.

I just looked back to read my first post, and some of my original schedule changed. I went to some unexpected places and experienced new things that I had no idea about three months ago. I didn’t do a few things that were planned, but that’s OK too. So many changes happened this summer, so I’m just going to ramble about that for a little bit.

I think that life is all about change. Changing others. Changing perspectives. Changing ourselves. Changing the world. I don’t want to brag, but I know that at MGS I changed at least one person’s life. It makes my heart incredibly warm to know this and makes me want to care even more about the people around me. I’ve learned about different cultures and have experienced different things. I’ve gone through a women’s leadership program that actually (contradicting my first blog) has changed my mindset about writing. I already liked to write before this summer, but now I have developed more appreciation for those who write and the importance of recording your thoughts in time. I mean, my thoughts from the beginning of this blog to now have changed so much! I write differently. I’ve developed a style, I think. I love it. Sure, sometimes I don’t have the time for it, but I’ve never forgotten about it.

I’ve changed.

As crazy as it sounds, I have. It’s one of those things that I find difficulty putting it into words. I feel truly blessed all the time, and I think about different things than I did before this summer. I communicate differently, like a lot differently. I feel connected to the world.

One of my Delta Gamma sisters (who also traveled a lot this summer) told me a few days ago that there’s a difference between a tourist and a traveler. I think it’s because these two groups of people have different motives. Tourists want to have fun and see the world, but travelers want to experience it. They want to be a part of this place, basically do what the locals do, and learn the lifestyle. I “amen”ed her immediately and felt instantly deeper connected to her. There’s something about having lots of experiences that make you more knowledgeable of the world and more relatable to people. Experience the world. Learn about it and use your knowledge to change it.

I am SO ready for school to start tomorrow. I can just feel that it’s going to be a great year. I mean, come on, I’m a junior; I’m turning 21 this year! Hollaaaaaa

Actually, I’ve been in the ‘Burg for a week now and have been trying to prepare as much as possible for this semester. My Delta Gamma sisters and I have been working hard for sorority recruitment in a few weeks. I’ve been getting organized and ready for a new year with Southern Miss Activities Council as the Vice-President. I met today for Senior Honors Orientation to talk about starting my Honors College thesis (lots of writing, yay!). What can I say? I’m growing up. I’m a big girl now. One of the “older girls” on campus, and it’s kind of scary, but isn’t that what college is about? Isn’t that what life is about?

I’m ready to do the things here that I have grown to love and with the people I have grown to love even more.

I’m also ready to scare myself and do new things that I wouldn’t normally do.

I’m ready to succeed, and I’m ready to fail.

I’m ready to take those totally bad study breaks to take time for myself and breathe. Just breathe and relax and know that everything is going to be alright 🙂

I’m ready to meet new people, and I’m ready to get closer to the girls in my member class that are living in the DG house with me this year.

I’m ready to figure out what I want to do for my thesis and as a career one day.

I’m ready to make mistakes, and I’m ready to learn from them.

I’m ready to lead, and I’m ready to follow.

Honestly, I’m ready to fall in love, whether that means more in love with the people I care most about or someone new. I have no idea!

I’m ready for God to take me by the hand and just say “Rachael, I want you to do this for me.”

I’m ready to be led one direction or called where I am needed.

I’m ready to change even more and continue to develop who I am and what I stand for.

I’m ready to explore the town I am going to school in and not just know the campus like the back of my hand.

I’m ready to be there for others.

I’m ready for a lot of work and a lot of play.

I’m ready! Junior year, let’s do this!

With love,

Luckettmenow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gyLR4NfMiI

(My best friend thought this would be a good way to close out my blogging and also get pumped for school. She was totally right.)

TGIF

Hiking Diamond Head Crater. Last year when I visited, I hiked this same route with my cousin and best friend. Today, I’ll be hiking it at 8:00A.M. and with my aunt and uncle.

The muscle burn was the same, but this year it felt cooler since we went early in the A.M. I’ll try not to talk too much about it since my last blog was ridiculously long. So here are my many pictures that I took on the way up and down.

Check out my Instagram for a quick video of the panoramic view at the top. (@ray__chill)

One thing I don’t want to forget to mention is the people. So many people, locals and tourists alike, hike Diamond Head on a daily basis.

Half are moderately fit or exercise junkies. They wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, a sports bra and shorts, or no shirt and shorts. Some even run up. Less is more, right?

Half are tourists that did not dress properly for such a trip. Many Japanese that were hiking wore cute clothing, dresses, or even wedges. This trail is the complete opposite of even (see pics) so I hope they didn’t fall down. I saw one girl wearing a dress with a pair of long exercise shorts underneath. Don’t be silly; don’t wear flip-flops either. You will be panting all the way up and maybe not even make it. Any age or size can do this hike. You just have to be prepared, which basically means dress appropriately. Duh.

We ate at the Diamond Head Market & Grill, located at the base of the mountain’s slope. I just about died when I finished my stack of coconut pancakes (and coconut syrup). This place is food heaven.

After cleaning up at home, we headed to our company’s team builder, “Summer Jubilee”, at the bowling alley. See all the awesome pictures here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152062371624972.1073741827.225154404971&type=3 (Like the page while you’re at it!)

Outside of the pictures, I was able to talk to several of the people I had met this week, and I had a lot of fun! I even scored 151 when we bowled! The last time I bowled was last October. Since I was one of the few new people, they all already knew my name and where I was from. Since I was the only one from Mississippi and they considered me a beast bowler, some now think that all of us, Mississippians, are expert bowlers. You’re welcome.

I sat by Cool Cat during lunch and talked to her a lot again. Another woman sat by us and asked me if I had done the Stairway to Heaven. It took me a while to figure out that this is a very tall, steep hike on one of the mountains here. It sounded really scary, so I now want to do it. We’ll see. I’ve got two more weeks.

Tonight, we ate homemade chicken cacciatore and watched a newly release movie called “Only God Forgives”. Yeah, only God will forgive you for making such an terrible movie. They should have renamed it “Stare and Slice” because those are the only two things the characters did the entire movie. Seriously, if you don’t believe me, go ahead and waste ninety minutes of your life. The preview for it looked SO much better. I only agreed to watch it partially because it has Ryan Gosling. I mean Ryan G. makes everything great, right? WRONG. I would say the only good aspects of this movie were the camera angles, lighting, and perspective. Otherwise, don’t watch it.

Aloha.

“Always come back”

“Always come back”

At our last Delta Gamma chapter meeting this spring, a senior, Katie, stood up and shared these words of wisdom. (Yes, I took notes). From the moment she said it, I could not help but realize how true and important it is. If you don’t go back to where you are from how are you supposed to share your new knowledge of the world?

Today, I visited my old high school. Not much has changed. Like always, students filter in and out of the hallways and into the world with new skills and lifelong friends. Teachers come and go, but the ones that remain from my years as a student have not changed.

I’m especially glad about this because these are the people who pushed me out of my hometown and to bigger and better things for myself. I will never forget that my most inspirational and motivational teacher was my art teacher.

I took art every year of high school. It was one of the most relaxing hobbies I could have adopted and I am forever glad that I did. Every day I happily went to art class because of the atmosphere of encouragement and acceptance that hovered in the room. Today was no exception.

To start off, I visited all my previous teachers and saved my art teacher for last. I did this so I could stay late and paint more on our mural.

 

My last semester of high school, the more advanced art students (mainly seniors) worked together to paint a mural of our Delta home. Sadly, we did not finish before we graduated.

  

But, every time I came home last year I made sure to go see if anything new had been painted on the mural. It was finally completely covered with paint and looked amazing but still needed to be fixed in certain areas. Two of my best friends and I (the “art captains” for the mural) visited the school a few times to finish painting where we left off. We even decided to add some new features.

 

One thing our class had thought of but never drew on the wall was a Teddy Roosevelt bear. On one of my more recent visits, the bear was drawn on the wall (dun dun dun). Well today, I finally finished the bear and painted the rope that he hung on.

It’s been a journey to see this masterpiece blossom in my presence and to come back to it after almost two years and see how much it has developed in my absence. (Unfortunately I have had the worst luck finding my photos that encompass the entire mural, BUT if I find them I will be sure to post them one day)

Now let me back track… so when I was in high school my teacher always told me to believe in myself and pushed me to do so much more than I thought I could. He always said you can do whatever you put your mind to (which I have found to be even truer recently)

Side note: many clichés have been proven true. Therefore, I use many of them (in case you didn’t notice).

While I was painting the rope, I was being self-critical (again) and my teacher called me out on it (again). He spoke more about how that’s what drives us in life and always makes us want more. We push ourselves and God pushes us. We should want the best out of ourselves and not accept less.

He assured me that anything I do on this mural, or anywhere, will always be admirable to someone. I don’t have to impress the best because there will always be people who are impressed by what I have done. He shared many stories about his life with my class throughout the years and I believe they always served as encouragement in some way. He always said how thankful he was that he realized what he was missing and was glad he came back, especially to art. God helped him come back.

God really does bring you back to where you need to be. You may not realize it at first but He does.

So in my attempt to tie all of this together…

My point is never forget where you come from and always come back. Stay motivated and never give up on yourself. Be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished. People want you to share what you have learned and also see what has happened while you were away. You are wanted and needed, and don’t let someone or something make you think otherwise. You’d be surprised by what you can give and still learn from going back to your beginnings.