Bucket List: April 2012

118. Attend a spring training baseball game (checked off April 1, 2012)

This is no April Fool's joke, people!  On April 1st, I attended the New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins spring training game at the brand new Marlins Park in Miami.  I've lived in Florida for almost nine years and never attended a spring training game before this.  Crazy, right?!  It was such an awesome game AND the Yankees won 10-8!  It's a great day whenever the Yankees win :)

18. Graduate with honors in high school and college (checked off April 29, 2012)

Technically I knew I was graduating with honors after last semester, but today made it 100% official.  I graduated high school summa cum laude and college magna cum laude.  Hooray! 

129. Graduate college (checked off April 29, 2012)

I did it...I graduated college.  Four years, countless major changes, and memories that will last a lifetime.  I met my best friends (and future bridesmaids) throughout college, and that alone made it all worth it.  When I walked across that stage, all I could think was "is this real life?!"  It can't be real.  But it is.  I graduated college.  I'm so sad that this journey is over, but now it's time to create new beginnings and new memories.  I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Here's to New Beginnings

So much has happened since the last time I posted.

On April 29th, I graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University.  Even after sitting through a 2.5 hour ceremony, it still doesn't feel real.  I had an amazing four years at FGCU, and I wouldn't have wanted to spend those four years at any other college.  I have so many incredible memories at FGCU, and I couldn't possibly name them all.  But there are so many memories that stand out in my mind: three Student Government elections, moot court in Principles of Rhetoric & Argumentation, creating a PR campaign in PR Campaigns, our crazy group communication projects, joining a sorority, Chi Omega socials, meeting my best friends (and future bridesmaids), random lunch dates after class, running into sisters on campus, photoshoots in the Lutgert fountain, pie eating contests, Relay for Life, an internship at Pushing the Envelope, and so much more.  My experience at FGCU was one for the books.  I'm going to miss it so much, but I know this is only the beginning.  Here's to the FGCU Class of 2012!

After being accepted into all five graduate schools I applied to, I decided to attend The University of Alabama!  It was such a hard decision, but I think I made the best choice.  I loved that the program was geared towards recent college graduates and that it's only one year.  Yes, that means it's an accelerated program so it will definitely be harder, but it will be over before I know it.  Also, Alabama has an amazing football team, and since I've never been to a school with football, that was a huge plus.  And of course, it gets cold in Alabama.  Perfect.

On May 4-5th, my dad and I traveled to Alabama to get an apartment and visit the campus, and I'm happy to say that I got a one bedroom apartment at Crimson Student Living!  It's beautiful and it's within walking distance from the campus.  The next day we walked around campus, and I'm absolutely in love with the campus.  It's everything I could've wanted, and it felt like home.  I definitely made the right choice.

I'm scared of moving to place where I don't know anyone, and I'm sad to be leaving my boyfriend, friends, and family behind.  But I know my time in Alabama is going to shape me in such a positive way. It's going to force me to grow up and learn to do things on my own.  I'll have no one to rely on but myself.  And in a year, I'll be back in Fort Myers (hopefully) living with my boyfriend.  One year.  That's all it is.  I'm scared to death, but I know I can do it.