See you later, 23!

On Monday (December 16th), I turned 24.  That's right...24.

I can't believe it's been a year since I celebrated my 23rd birthday.  So much has happened this year that I don't think I'd be able to capture it all in a single blog post (good thing for all those other posts).  But, I'm going to try and list out some of my favorites:

1. Watching my sister get married and being her maid of honor.

2. Watching Alabama win the BCS National Championship.  

3. Snow day in Tuscaloosa!

4. Celebrating my one year anniversary with Alex by going on a cruise to the Bahamas.

5. Watching Dunk City come to life during the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

6. Being in the ultrasound room when my sister found out she was having a girl.

7. Going to my first craft brewery.  I've been a craft beer lover ever since!

8. Seeing Lee Brice, Chris Young and Brad Paisley in Tuscaloosa.

9. Graduating with my master's degree and being back with my boyfriend.

10. Marley Shai Johnson.  In September, my sister gave birth to her first child, Marley Shai (she also happens to be my first niece).  She has brought so much joy to my life in such a short period of time, and I miss being able to see her all the time.

11. Landing my first job.  It's been nearly a month since I started working with ITVantage, and I'm so thankful for the opportunity I was given.

12. Painting and re-organizing the condo and making it "ours."  It feels nice to come home from work every day and feel at home.

13. Experiencing seasons while living in Tuscaloosa.  You don't get that in Southwest Florida.


Twenty-three was a great year, but I can't wait to see what the next year of my life will hold.  If it's anything like the past, it will be filled with ups and downs...but I wouldn't want things any other way.

I'm a Master!

On August 3, 2013, I graduated from The University of Alabama with my master's degree in advertising and public relations.  I did it.  I'm a master!

A year ago I packed up my car and moved 700 miles away from everything I knew and everyone I loved to start a new chapter of my life.  I moved into an apartment in Tuscaloosa by myself, and I struggled for weeks on end trying to get used to being on my own.  I started my graduate program with one goal: work hard and get that degree.  But through the long days, sleepless nights, endless papers and near-impossible exams, I gained so much more.  I fell in love with the incredible town of Tuscaloosa, but mostly, I fell in love with my amazing classmates.  They are an incredibly talented and amazing group of individuals, and I would not have survived the program without them.  When I had no one else to talk to, I had them.  When no one else understood the pressure or the frustrations I was feeling, they understood.  When I just wanted to give up and say "screw it," they reminded me why I was there.  I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today without the support of my classmates and fellow masters.

For a year I complained how much I hated the program, the classes, the professors and everything else in between.  And despite how much I complained, I now know that getting my master's degree was the right decision.  When I was giving my final presentation to my client on July 31st, I knew that I had the knowledge, talent and abilities to conquer the PR world.  The campaign my partner and I developed wasn't perfect by any means, and looking back there are things I wish I had added and changed.  BUT, I never would've been able to do that a year ago.  The creative elements, designs, advertisements, social media ideas and overall campaign we put together is a direct result of the knowledge I gained during my time at The University of Alabama.

A year after moving into my apartment in Tuscaloosa, I'm back in Florida and living with my boyfriend.  It isn't easy being back, and I miss Tuscaloosa terribly, but there's truly no place like home.  I'm ready to take on the PR world, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Thank you Alabama for a truly incredible year.  ROLL TIDE!

Bucket List: October 2012

175. Celebrate a college homecoming week

At FGCU, homecoming didn't exist.  All four years I was there they said they were going to try and create some sort of homecoming tradition even without a football team.  Never happened.

Now that I'm a student at The University of Alabama, I have the opportunity to do many things I couldn't do at FGCU...including celebrating a homecoming week and going to a homecoming football game.  Since this is my only year at UA, I did as much as I could, even though that meant going to the homecoming parade and (unexpectedly) going to the homecoming football game.  It was a blast.  That's the best way I can describe it.

Hopefully I can return to UA years down the road as an alumni to once again celebrate homecoming week.  It was an experience I won't forget.

Bucket List: August 2012

142. Live in a different time zone

I don't know why I've always wanted to do this, but having lived in the Eastern time zone all my life, I thought it might be fun to live in a different region of the country.  Even though I'm not super far away, I did check this one off by moving to Alabama.  I've lived in the north, I've lived in Florida (it gets its own category), and now I'm living in the south.  I'm excited for this experience!

143. Move to a city where you don't know anyone

This is one of those that's so much easier said than done.  Throughout my college career, I heard so many people say they wanted to move somewhere to get a fresh start.  I said it too.  But when it came down to it, choosing to move to a city where you don't know anyone is intimidating.  Fact is, you're all alone.  Your friends aren't here.  You have to start from square one.  Moving to Tuscaloosa has been one of the scariest experiences of my life, but I've been learning so much about myself along the way.  I'm happy to have the opportunity to cross this one off, but next time I move somewhere new, hopefully I'll have a boyfriend/fiancé/husband coming along with me.  

150. Go to graduate school

After applying, waiting to hear back, and finally making a decision, I finally started grad school on August 22, 2012!!  It's going to be such a hectic year (I'm doing a 12 month program), but I know that this year will push me to be the best student and PR professional that I can be.  I can't wait to learn from incredible faculty members as well as my classmates.  

A Change of Heart

I've been in Alabama for a little over a week, and this past week has been one of the hardest weeks of my entire life.  I've cried more than I ever have, and I've felt lower and more alone than ever before.  I've had such a hard time adjusting to being on my own, and this transition is much harder than I thought it would be.  I thought this was what I wanted, but I found myself doubting my decision every day for the past week.

It wasn't until yesterday that my opinions changed.  Yesterday was my first day of grad school.  It was the first day of my program's orientation and we had an exam.  As I was standing outside the room waiting for orientation to start, I talked with a few other people in the program and for the first time in over a week, I felt excited.  For one, no one else really studied for the exam which took away all of my nerves.  Also, I wasn't the only person who just moved here and didn't know anyone.  For the first time in a week, I didn't feel alone.  I didn't feel like I was going through this alone.  I felt like I had just made 14 new friends and that everything was going to be okay.

For all of you interested in the one-year MA Advertising & PR program at Alabama, here's what you need to know for your diagnostic exam: (1) What is advertising? (2) What is public relations? (3) Why do organizations engage in advertising and public relations activities? (4) What are the similarities and differences between advertising and public relations?

Seriously, that's all you need to know.  Don't spend your summer slaving over the books trying to learn every single definition.  Know these four things and you'll be set.  (From what I've been told, these are the same questions they ask every year.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm still extremely nervous about the program and what these next 11 months hold.  But at the same time, I'm hopeful and I know I can do this.  The hardest part is being away from Alex, but knowing that he's supporting me in all of this makes it so much easier.  And in 15 days, we'll get to see each other again.  Those visits give me hope.  They keep me going.  He keeps me going even when I want to give up.

This year is going to be a whirlwind and it's going to test me on every single level, but I can do it.  In August 2013, I will have my master's degree.

Two More Weeks

Two weeks from today I'm moving to Alabama for a year to get my master's degree at The University of Alabama.  Two weeks.  That's all I have left in Southwest Florida (until August 2013, of course).

It's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around.  So much has happened this summer that I didn't expect to, and a combination of everything is going to make it so hard for me to leave.  I never imagined that I'd be sad to leave Florida.  It truly never crossed my mind.

I moved in with Alex this summer and even though it wasn't exactly planned or expected, I'm happy that it happened.  One day I was bringing a bag of clothes back and forth to his condo and the next I brought a giant bag of clothes and invaded his drawers.  One day I woke up and thought, "I'd rather live with him than live at home."

I'm excited to live on my own, but it's going to be weird.  It's going to be weird not going to sleep and waking up next to Alex.  It's going to be weird not hearing him snore as he tries to fall asleep or hearing him get ready in the morning as I try to sleep in.  It's going to be weird not anxiously waiting for him to get home after work.  It's going to be weird talking to him on the phone, saying "see you soon," but not actually seeing him soon.  It's going to be weird being alone when I'm so used to being around someone else.

I used to think I was ready for all of this to happen, but as the day gets closer and closer, I'm not so sure.  I know I'm determined enough and strong enough to get through this year of grad school, but I'm not so sure if I'm ready to do it without my best friend by my side.  I know he'll always be there for me, but being physically there and mentally there are two different things.

I hope this next year goes by as fast as this summer did...not only so I can have my master's degree in hand, but so I can be reunited with my boyfriend (hopefully) forever.

I also hope these next two weeks go by slow because I'm not strong enough to say "see you later" just yet.

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.  

Grad School War

With all but one of my grad school applications in, I have a lot to think about.  How will I afford these schools?  Where will I live?  Am I ready for all that grad school brings?  But most importantly...where do I really want to go?

This is where I'm torn.  I have my top four (4) schools, and they are divided by two categories: college football and city life.

As I sit here during rivalry weekend in college football, I want nothing more than to have this experience.  I want the experience of going to one of these games and cheering for my school.  FGCU couldn't give me this experience.  And while I know that grad school requires me to "grow up," I still really want to be able to have the football season experience.

On the other hand, I would love to move to a big city.  Both of my parents went to school in New York City, and I would love to have a similar experience as them.  I would love to take the subway/metro to get to campus.  I would love to walk out of a college building and step into the streets of one of the nation's biggest cities.  I would love to have opportunities at my fingertips.

So what is it?  Florida State or Alabama?  Georgetown or NYU?  Or will I end up at one of my back up schools...USF or FIU?

I guess only time and tears will tell.

Grad school or bust

The Bachelor's degree is losing its value.

Reality is telling me that I have to go to grad school.  It's practically the only option these days.  But the rest of me is telling me something different.  I don't know what's holding me back from applying.  Maybe it's the money issue or that I haven't found the right program or that I don't know what I want to do with my life.  Maybe it's all of the above.  I don't know.

But right now, I don't know if I want to go to grad school.

It just sucks to know that that's not even an option.

The Bachelor's degree is losing its value.  I have to go to grad school and get my Master's Degree.

I just have to.

Best and Worst Advice

Last week, I received the best and worst advice of my college career: Don't get a Master's degree in public relations.

With the job market being extremely tough, there are 12,000 people looking for a job for every one position.  During these difficult times, it's important for applicants to diversify themselves.  Basically, applicants need to be able to do more than one thing.  They need to have experiences in a wide range of areas.  Not only will they be better qualified for a job in their "top choice" career, but they'll have a back-up plan.

Getting a BA in Communication/PR AND a Master's in PR wouldn't do anything for my career.  So it's important for me to look elsewhere.

Why it's the worst advice: I've spent all year searching for Master's programs in public relations, and I've finally picked my "top 5."  I've fallen in love with all of these schools, and I would have been happy going to any of them.  These schools are the best of the best and their grad programs are just what I'm looking for.  The schools? New York University, George Washington University, University of Houston, University of Alabama, and University of Miami.

Why it's the best advice: At least I learned it now before it's too late.  Plus, getting a degree in Advertising or Journalism will help me to diversify myself so I'll have many different qualifications.  It's giving me more options in my internships and in my future.

I'm not going to lie: I'm bummed out.  I'm starting again at square one.  But at least it will be a bonus for my future.