tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9755573217963818972024-03-12T20:03:03.519-07:00Dangling Through LifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-36719434521743736502014-01-04T08:35:00.001-08:002014-01-04T08:36:38.820-08:00Dangling with GoalsSo with 2013 being so much about the unseen aspects of my life, I want 2014 to be about the concrete goals that will help to move my life forward. Everyone has the typical New Year's Resolutions and my goals definitely go back to those ideas with my own spin. <div><br></div><div>1. Pass each part of the CPA exam before starting work for EY in August. </div><div>2. Run at least four 5K races and one race that is at least a 10K or longer</div><div>3. Be aware of what I am eating on a daily basis and try to limit unhealthy snacking</div><div>4. Be present in the time I spend with the most important people in my life especially during the first half of the year when I will be consumed with goal #1</div><div>5. Do not pass up an adventure or an opportunity to try something new - the year of "YES" </div><div>6. Read at least one article a week that will expand my knowledge of either business or education</div><div>7. Stay more current with the news - sign up for notifications from a news service and pay attention when watching TV</div><div>8. Starting in August, learn how to make one new food dish per week </div><div>9. Take on one new project that benefits the community</div><div>10. Always continue to strengthen my relationship with God and be thankful for his blessings in my life</div><div><br></div><div>I guess 10 goals is quite a lot for this year and maybe they aren't as concrete as I thought they would be but these are the areas of my life where I see room for improvement. Even if I can't complete all these goals at least these ideas will be on the forefront of my mind and I will be working towards their improvement. </div><div><br></div><div>It's funny that the world is tied to recommitting ourselves at the beginning of each year because if our life needs improvement than we should recognize it and make a change in the moment. I guess the New Year is just that moment in time for us to reflect on all the things that fell off our radar over the course of the last 12 months and try our best to make a positive life change. I have a feeling 2014 is going to be a wild ride and I can't wait to jump on the horse! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-42397878655065137362014-01-04T08:02:00.001-08:002014-01-04T08:36:25.203-08:00Dangling with MeaningThis blog doesn't get much attention throughout the year but I love being able to come back to it each January to reflect on my year and set new goals for the coming months.<div><br></div><div>In 2013, I picked Patience, Trust, and Spiritual as my watchwords for the year. I wanted to focus on growing these qualities within myself as well as strengthening my relationship with God. No one can ever be perfect and I think my watchwords bit off a little bit more than I could chew to be honest. Yes, my patience has grown but I still want things to go my way. Yes, I am slowly growing my trust in the process of life but it's hard to be committed to whatever life throws your way. Fortunately, my relationships and discovering myself this year are helping me to grow in my trust. </div><div><br></div><div>And I don't know what to say about my spirituality this year. To be honest, it's the resolution that came firing out of the gate but seemed to wane throughout the year. I guess my problem is that there is not one "standard" goal to be reached in my relationship with God. My spirituality is going to be built up by my own beliefs and actions towards my relationship with God. My actions are lacking but my belief is strong. This year has proven to me that God puts into your life exactly what you need at that moment. I think the shining example from this year is that I found out I got into the Masters of Accounting program at UGA on Valentine's Day. I took it as a sign from God that the MAcc was my focus and anything that wasn't contributing positively to that goal should be set aside. Once again, God works in mysterious ways and set the path for me to discover Europe while also building a bond with a guy I would have never expected to be in my life. I was committed to me and my career this summer and then God decided someone incredibly important could contribute to my experience. I will never understand God's timing and I still want to work on my relationship with God, but I realize that my continuous commitment to him will bring about a life full of joy. </div><div><br></div><div>So 2013 was the year of events that moved my life in so many positive directions while also leading me on the path of strengthening myself. I guess that's why I like coming back to the blog each January because it helps me to reflect on how much I have grown in the past 12 months. I want to make a list of everything that happened but I don't know if it's actually that important. The most important part of my year was coming to the realization that I am exactly where I am suppose to be at this very moment and God is going to shape me into the person that I am suppose to be with each adventure of my life. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-25677460945974994882013-08-04T11:21:00.001-07:002013-08-04T11:21:12.854-07:00Dangling through a Whirlwind of a SummerIt feels like just yesterday that I was sitting on a plane on my way to Austria and now I am less than a week away from moving back to Athens. The past ten weeks have flown by but it has given me a great perspective and I would not dream of doing anything else with my time. <div><br></div><div>Austria and Germany taught me that it was a sin for me to believe that I could go through life without seeing the rest of the world. There are so many interesting places that deserve my attention and I don't want to regret going through life and not taking the opportunity to let the world have its own affect on me. </div><div><br></div><div>My first client of my internship taught me that it is necessary to step out of your comfort zone and there are going to be times when pushing myself is going to be the only path to success. It also gave me one distinct perspective of the advisory profession and helped me get closer to finding out exactly what I want to do. </div><div><br></div><div>My second client taught me that productive teams can do great work and some of the best ideas come from spending an hour in a conference room digesting information and coming to conclusions as a group. This client was much more what I was expecting as an advisory professional and it solidified my decision to switch service lines last fall.</div><div><br></div><div>I have gotten to know so many of the interns especially the other UGA interns who I will be in graduate classes with in just a few weeks. It is a great feeling when you look around and feel like most of the people around you hold the same values as you. It expedites the process of making connections and makes me really excited to hopefully start full time with all of them next summer. </div><div><br></div><div>I have learned the art of packing lightly and packing at the last minute. There was a span of two weeks where I was constantly packing and unpacking. I can see how business travel gets exhausting but I wouldn't trade the experience of being able to travel as an intern. I want to continue this streak of travel into the fall and I have a few trips in mind, but I understand now why so many people just take the first few years out of college to enjoy the world. </div><div><br></div><div>Overall this summer has been so packed that I do not think I have digested it all yet. I am on my way to my last engagement as an intern in which I get to spend 4 days with 2000+ other interns, celebrating our success from the summer and kickstarting our careers. I know the next four days are going to be jam packed but I can't wait to soak in as much as I can about this firm and all of the opportunities that I might have the chance to participate in. </div><div><br></div><div>It was a full circle when my flight this morning took off from the same gate as my flight to Austria in May. This summer has proved to me that all of my decisions over the past 12 months have been for the best and exactly what I was suppose to be doing. I can't wait to see how my life progresses over the next 12 months because I know right here, right now is exactly where I am suppose to be in this whirlwind of a life. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-48203318103266382622013-06-24T20:56:00.003-07:002013-06-24T20:56:54.311-07:00Dangling through Another BeginningThe great thing about college is that you have four summers to prove yourself in a variety of internships which also help you figure out what you might want to do once you get that diploma. The not so great thing about internships is that if you want a variety of experience, it means you are starting over every May. For the introvert like me, it can be a difficult transition to make sure that you are always on your "A" game and meeting as many new people as possible. <div><br></div><div>Due to planning, I flew into Atlanta from Berlin at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening and I started training for this summer's internship on Monday morning. It was exciting: getting up, driving to the city, slightly worrying about the traffic and finding a place to park in the office parking deck. Then I entered into the sea of interns, hoping to find a familiar face from UGA. The rest of the week is a blur of new people, new information, and new experiences like riding Marta for the first time. I realized that my "social interaction tank" had been exhausted by being with 19 other people on my study abroad and then all the Southeast interns. It was the first time in my life that I could actually tell I hadn't had enough "me" time. </div><div><br></div><div>I got to recharge over the weekend which I am sensing is going to become a norm with this working girl lifestyle. There isn't enough downtime during the week to worry about anything besides getting through the daily routine. One of the things I have missed the most over the past month has been running on a regular basis and now that I am out of the routine it's so hard to get back into it. I am waiting for the day when my body forces me to go do it which I am sensing is going to be pretty soon. </div><div><br></div><div>Another part of this internship experience is travel, so come Monday morning I was back on a plane heading to my first client engagement. It was definitely interesting getting up super early to catch a flight and then working a full day at the client. It was a day full of newness including the city, the rental car, and the hotel room. It was also another day of meeting new people and putting on my "A" game at all times. I am fortunate that by the end of this internship I will be more comfortable walking into a new situation and immediately feeling comfortable enough to break out of my shell. Last summer, it took me about two weeks to feel comfortable in the office. This summer I might only be on a client for two weeks, so I have to show the team how I operate in a shorter amount of time.</div><div><br></div><div>The client work is great. It definitely challenges me to expand my knowledge and it is aligned with the the classes that I enjoyed in college. I need to ask more questions but I am sure that will come as I am given harder controls to test. Also there is a lot of flexibility combined with managing your own schedule. The way we were working this week makes me feel like I have more hours in my day but I just have to get the motivation to use them wisely. Also I get to work from Atlanta on Friday which means understanding what the team expects from me before leaving the office on Thursday. It will be interesting to see how my other client operates in three weeks but so far I am satisfied.</div><div><br></div><div>I can definitely tell a difference between this summer and last summer. I have found work that challenges me to learn and aligns with why I thought I was getting an accounting degree. It can be lonely at times traveling by myself and the team is not as chatty during the day. But I can see progress on the controls testing and every day is different. So yes, this internship is another new beginning that will provide me with its share of ups and downs, but I am more ready then ever to take on the challenge and become the best version of me! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-80923719258550330832013-06-24T20:56:00.001-07:002013-06-24T20:56:52.494-07:00Dangling in Austria and GermanyI meant to write this post as I was traveling around Austria and Germany but to be honest I was so busy taking everything in that I didn't want to spend an afternoon compiling all of my thoughts. I made sure to write in my journal every day so that I can look back on it for specific details about this trip. <div><br></div><div>The first word that comes to mind when I think about this experience is "Wow". Last summer, I realized that I was going to be disappointed if I did not take the opportunity to study abroad while in college. The whole school year was focused on me getting to Europe whether or not I got any credit for the classes. Fortunately, the price was completely worth the experience and one of my classes is going to count for my graduate degree. </div><div><br></div><div>I don't even know where to begin to describe everything that I learned, so I guess I will try to highlight some of the key points. </div><div><br></div><div>When I fly overseas again, I will definitely fly during the day. We experienced both an overnight flight as well as a daytime flight and it is so much more enjoyable during the day. It is miserable to be on an overnight flight, wanting to sleep and not being able to. On the flight home, I was able to work on my journal and there wasn't the pressure to sleep because I knew I would be hitting the bed as soon as we landed. </div><div><br></div><div>One of our classes consisted of us attending school with 12 Viennese students at WU. It was interesting to see how their school was set up and to hear their opinions about both our education systems. I am grateful to be attending a university in the US and wish that I had taken advantage of the classes that were offered as electives. Our professor, Mark Laplante, emphasized how our education should be used to build a tool kit for our working lives and I understand now how that point of view would have been an advantage during my undergrad years. The class we were taking was focused on international finance, so our education was enhanced by the fact that we were sitting in the Eurozone during the financial crisis. I know that my knowledge is lacking on current business trends and being in Europe made me realize that I need to be reading as much as I can. Fortunately, getting out of school comes with a variety of half price magazine subscriptions, so I have already started to stay more informed. </div><div><br></div><div>The other component of our class was making 10 business visits to a variety of firms in both of these countries. We got to visit subsidiaries of American firms, family owned companies, and companies that specialize in products for the European market. As a class, we focused on how their business was affected by the European financial crisis and how their business focus is manufacturing. My favorite visit was to the BMW Motorcycle facility because I had the opportunity to compare manufacturing processes. Also, I have decided that BMW is my dream car when the time comes to buy something new. </div><div><br></div><div>Class and business visits are all great but the best part about this trip was being in two European countries with so much history. I enjoyed Vienna more than Berlin because we got to live across the street from WU for 2.5 weeks. By the time we transferred to Berlin, we knew our way around Vienna and everyone had a routine. I learned that I absolutely love the art museums and those will be the fist places I visit on the rest of my trips. I also realized that I cannot let one moment pass me by when I am in a new place. No matter what we did the previous night, I always tried to be up around 9:00 and making plans for the day. I was probably a little bit more exhausted at the end of the trip but I saw as much of the city as I could. Two of my favorite sites on the trip were Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna and Sachenhousen Concentration Camp outside of Berlin. The palace was absolutely beautiful and had a huge gallery overlooking the city of Vienna. It was a testament to the monarchies who previously ruled. The concentration camp was sad but it helped me to remember the horrible actions that have shaped Berlin's history. I cannot fathom how so many people believed that their actions were justified and it again makes me grateful for my own country's history. </div><div><br></div><div>This trip would not have been worthwhile if it weren't for the people that surrounded me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was one of three girls on the trip and we were accompanied by 17 guys. I have never spent so much time with guys and it definitely gave me a crash course in their behavior. I was the second oldest student and of course my nature is to be the "mother". By the third night, everyone was counting on me to know where we were going and get us home in a reasonable manner. I tried to shed the "motherly" instincts and it was definitely to my benefit because with that many guys around all the time, there is no doubt that we had a good time. The guys on this trip were some of the best guys that I have met at UGA and I am so glad that I got the opportunity to get to know them on this trip. I can't wait to see where their paths lead at the end of this coming year and I know that I have made some lasting connections. Audrey and Lindsay were the two other girls and I think it is really lucky that we all managed to get along for the whole trip. We balanced each others personalities well and I know we will reminisce about our shared experience with the boys. Mark Laplante was our professor and he brought his family on the trip as well. I signed up for this study abroad because I knew he was a great professor and that he was going to challenge me. His advice was invaluable and I will always take away little nuggets of knowledge. </div><div><br></div><div>In conclusion, this trip exceeded my expectations. Of course there were some ups and downs but I got to know so many great people and my eyes have been open to so many different aspects of life. I learned how to have fun with a group of people that you have to trust because they are the only people you have around. I learned how important it is to explore the world and take note of all the differences. I learned you should never stop absorbing information and expand your horizons because you never know the opportunities that might arise. I tried to go into this experience with a positive attitude and I think I realized that it can make all of the difference in the world. Yes, there are times when you have to get something off your chest but overall everything you do has a purpose and can add to your experience in some way. I think the most significant part of the trip is the fact that I am making this huge transition. I am leaving another country and stepping into an internship that is the start of another adventure. Opportunity at its finest! </div><div><br></div><div>So even though this post doesn't have all the details of my trip, it highlights some of the best moments and most of the lessons learned. I think I have fulfilled the last of my college wish list and I really will be able to walk away with no regrets. This trip exceeded my expectations and there is no way to completely convey all of the "dangling" moments. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-18894543938194514872013-05-12T06:46:00.001-07:002013-05-15T12:21:13.285-07:00Dangling through GraduationSo this semester has been pretty lazy with the blog but my excuse is that I have been living out my final undergraduate moments in Athens! It is so hard to believe that four years have already passed but I have so many memories to look back on and I know that I will have very few, if any, regrets. <div><br></div><div>Graduation was a whirlwind of activities! I was fortunate to be done with my harder exams on the first two days of finals, so I had a full week to enjoy Athens! I got to have dinner with one of my littles, yogurt with one of my grand littles and breakfast with an old friend. Delta Gamma had a morning full of taking seniors pictures and then a lunch with a bunch of us just catching up. To round out the week of activities, I went on a food tour on Prince Avenue. This week of activities helped me to remember how important it is to just take in each moment. There was so much time this week to just sit back and relax and really cherish the time with some of my great friends.</div><div><br></div><div>The day of graduation was awesome and full of everything that I have enjoyed so much in Athens! It started with a roommate breakfast that we dubbed "Happy Graduation Morning"! We opened presents and had donuts, all in the style of a Christmas morning surprise. I will always cherish that time with Allie and Katie because it is the pinnacle of all our memories in the 306. </div><div><br></div><div>Then we headed to the Graduation Brunch for the Leonard Class of 2013. It was a time for my family to sit and chat as well as see all the Leonard's before the rest of the day swept us off our feet. I was honored to receive not only my Certificate in Leadership but also the Journery Award voted on by my peers. This award is given to the person who the class believes has improved the most in leadership development. My receiving of this award just continues to prove to me that Leonard was the best decision that I made in college and its experiences and connections will continue to make an impact on my life for years to come. </div><div><br></div><div>Terry Graduation was a moment for me to reflect on my accounting career and walk across the stage in recognition of completing my BBA degree. Although it was a long ceremony, it was more intimate and I got to see so many people accomplish their own goals.</div><div><br></div><div>The pinnacle of the day was UGA Graduation in Sanford Stadium. It is why I walked in spring graduation with my class instead of waiting until next year when I finish my masters. It definitely lived up to my expectation and I got to spend the evening with all of the DGs. Our graduation speaker gave this great metaphor about how "a ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." All of the words were inspiring and just reminded me that I have so much to look forward to in life. </div><div><br></div><div>These last four years have been everything that I have hoped for in college. I will look back on these years fondly and I am so glad that I got to celebrate with these ceremonies. I will never be able to put into words everything I have been feeling the last few weeks but I know that it's special and I will cherish it. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this journey! </div><div><br></div><div>Stay tuned: on to the next adventure in Austria and Germany! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-75337642200889563852013-02-13T07:29:00.002-08:002013-02-13T07:29:21.567-08:00Dangling with QuestionsThere are so many questions that you can ask the world or yourself. You can be inquistive or thoughtful, funny or serious, and a whole host of other adjectives. Questions are what lead us to some of the best conversations with others as well as to the best reflections of ourselves. If you follow the blog regularly then you know that I reflect on my own actions with tremendous detail and sometimes to the extent that I just want to turn my brain off. <br />
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It's funny how my brain works because it goes through stages of thinking about different situations. I will consider how I feel about the situation for a few days and then move on to trying to understand the situation. I probably should just let everything slide off my back but I realize that I learn the most life lessons by digging deeper into certain situations. <br />
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So as the cycle would predict, I am currently dissecting January. I have thought that maybe January just needs to be a black hole on the calendar of this year, maybe January was a huge mistake. But I also realize that I have changed over the past 30 days and I would not have made that progress without the events of January. <br />
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Over the past year I have tried to take notice when I feel like I am going to regret something. I know we don't have time for everything in our lives but if we realize when we are giving something up, maybe we can turn it around and make a difference, lessening our regret about past situations. <br />
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Regret is the major question of January- how will this month effect me going forward? Did I really give up on something that could of been awesome, for something that will probably only be a bullet point on my list of college memories? Am I the only one that feels this way or are their two sides to every story? These questions can really only be answered by me and it kills me that the questions I keep asking myself all lead me to believe that January was a mistake. <br />
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All I can focus on now is that every situation in life leads to a lesson and I have definitely learned from January. For the first time in my life, I realize that the grass is definitely not greener on the other side of the pasture. Like my roommate said last night, you had to go over there to see but from this point forward I will choose to stick with what I have instead of putting myself in a position of uncertainty. It taught me to have more faith in people and that relationships are based on trust and honesty, so if you are not willing to give them then don't expect for the relationship to move forward. January definitely helped my trust in God and my patience for his plan, but I still have to work on the questioning of my actions that will lead me to his plan.<br />
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I am glad that I can apply this year's mottos to the situation and learn from my actions. As of right now, January is over but it is still in the works of being resolved in my head. It will effect me in the coming months but I can't begin to predict how it will manifest itself. All I can do is live in the moment and live for my own happiness because my life is headed in a great direction right now, so I don't have anything to worry about except maybe the questions. :) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-75669675389300064242013-01-13T09:35:00.000-08:002013-01-13T09:35:30.484-08:00Dangling with the Start of Another YearWell, the goal was to have both my 2012 reflection post and my 2013 ambition post before the New Year but seeing as how that didn't happen, all I can say is better late than never!<br />
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If you haven't noticed, the blog got a little bit of an update for 2013. I have changed up the design a bit as well as added some pages of things that I want to accomplish. I am hoping this change will reignite my love of the blogging world as well as encourage me to knock stuff off my multiple list. <br />
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This year, I saw that one of my DG sisters had decided to pick watchwords to define her year. I thought that was a great idea because it is something simple that can remind me of what I want to focus on. <br />
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So this year my words are: <br />
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<li>Patience: I can be stuborrn at times and expect things to happen sooner then they are suppose to. I want to take this year to focus on the fact that life works out how it is suppose to in the end and if I practice a little bit of patience I will probably be happier with the results. </li>
<li>Spiritual: This idea has been part of my life since my sophomore year of college but I have come to the realization that it is definitely something I need to keep in the forefront of my mind this year. I know that God is watching out for me at all times but I need to figure out how I want to best acknowledge his presence in my life. By the end of 2013, I want to be more secure in my faith and understand my own spirituality better. </li>
<li>Trust: This word was not my initial reaction when thinking about 2013 but I think it ties in nicely with both of my other watchwords and it is also one of my core values, so I think it could use some attention. I want to increase my ability to trust this year. I don't want to worry about every detail of my life. I want to trust myself, others and God that as long as I practice patience and stay true to myself, my life is going to be amazing! </li>
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I am sure these words will take on more meaning as I continue to think about them throughout the year but I know these short descriptions have already started to make an impact on my year. <br />
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Some great things that have already happened this year:<br />
<ul>
<li>Spent New Year's in Orlando and got to see the Dawgs play in the Capital One Bowl.</li>
<li>Spent a weekend in Savannah participating in service with the Leonards as well as having our last weekend of good, ole fashioned fun</li>
<li>Started my last semester as an undergrad and really looking forward to my classes</li>
<li>Worked out 6/6 days the first week of class and feel great about continuing to get stronger to run in another 5K in a few weeks</li>
<li>Continue to realize the importance of relationships in helping me grow as a person</li>
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If this week is an indication of my year then I can't wait to write my reflection blog at the end of the year because I know I am going to have so many new and challenging experiences. Here's to the followers who are going to join me on this journey!! <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-29685012276045541562013-01-13T09:34:00.005-08:002013-01-13T09:34:50.459-08:00Dangling through 2012Better late than never, I guess I have to say since we are now 11 days into 2013! Once again it's the end of the year and I am reflecting on everything that went on the past 12 months! My goals for this year was to take life one day at a time and live each day to the fullest! I feel like I have kept this mantra for the year but there are definitely times when I could have pushed myself harder. So, here is the recap of the year and how I want to improve in 2013! <br />
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January started off my sixth semester in college! And I went in with my new attitude about living life to the fullest. The major event of the month was the Leonard Retreat! It was probably the most rewarding weekend of my life. I forced myself to be honest with this group of 29 people who have become some of the most important people in my life. I also challenged myself to the high ropes course which was a new and sometimes terrifying experience for me! This weekend made me realize that life is full of rewarding experiences and I just need to make sure that I take full advantage of them.<br />
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In February, I planned the annual Sisterhood Retreat for our chapter! It was filled with goal setting and defining ourselves as well as a ton of bonding activities. I realized that planning events is a lot harder than it seems and even after a full year of it as vp: programming, I probably still need to work on it as a skill when I get into a real job. Even though there were some struggles, this event was meaningful for our chapter and I always look forward to it. We also got an extra day in February which just reinforced the idea that I need to live each day to the fullest. <br />
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In March, I spent spring break at home just focusing on rejuvenating. I got to spend a few days with my best friend in Savannah and it made me realize that I need to start focusing on me. I have heard that advice for the past few years but I never processed it until now. I also went to my first Delta Gamma Formal and had a great night with my sisters and all of our dates. It made me realize the importance to getting to know people while in college and taking advantage of these opportunities to have a good time. <br />
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In April, I found out that I was going to be spending my summer in a little place called Port Hudson, Louisiana. It is the location of a consumer products plant for Georgia Pacific and it was my assignment for my summer internship. I was so excited about this opportunity and it really helped to push me through the end of the semester. We also had Josh Gracin come play for us as our Spring Philanthropy event. It was cool getting to meet a former American Idol contestant and pretty popular country singer these days. <br />
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In May, I finished my finals and headed to the beach with one of my Leonard friends. We had a blast catching up on some much needed relaxation and getting burned to a crisp. I spent about a week at home attending some accounting recruiting events and trying to decide how I was going to move myself to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I decided to make the drive all by myself which was not as bad as I was expecting.<br />
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The whole summer was definitely a crash course in adult life. I lived in a one bedroom apartment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was responsible for getting myself to work each day and making friends since I didn't know anyone when I moved down there. I loved being able to immerse myself in the culture of Baton Rouge and visit all of the historical plantations. I also got to spend two weekends in New Orleans and really see what it's like to live in a port city. The whole summer was about growth and I spent a lot of time by myself so I had an opportunity to think about me, my life and my surroundings. I learned that I would not be opposed to going other places to work and that being challenged in my job is probably one of my top priorities. <br />
<br />
We had our final presentations in Atlanta the last week of July and it was great getting to hang out with all of the interns who I hadn't seen all summer. I started to understand what a work environment is going to be like and how your co-workers will become your good friends. It was a great way to end the summer but it was also a busy time getting ready to come back to Athens for recruitment. <br />
<br />
The first two weeks of August were filled with recruitment and it felt completely different being a senior this year. I know what I love about Delta Gamma and I am much better equipped to sell my experience to new girls walking through our doors. It was a great time to bond with my sisters and it will probably be one of the experiences that I miss when I leave. I started my last fall semester as an undergrad and it still feels weird to think that my college experience is coming to an end. <br />
<br />
In September, it was back to the routine of going to class, studying, keeping up with commitments and trying to remember that there are still a lot of things that I want to do with my time in Athens. I met a group of guys who would come to define my semester as I spent most of DG's date nights with them and almost every home game. Once again, I added a new member to my DG family with a shared little. This month was truly about relationships and getting to know people.<br />
<br />
October is always a sprint. I went to my last Greek Grind as an undergrad. I had numerous accounting recruiting events and office visits as it came down to the wire to decide where I wanted to spend my summer. I went on DG's Hayride as well as run my first 5K for Habitat for Humanity. It was my last Low Country Boil as an undergrad and the whole family came to visit as well as help cook! And to end the month, we went to Jacksonville and kicked some Gator butt in a weekend to remember! <br />
<br />
November started with DG's Semiformal which ended up probably being my favorite date night of the semester. My birthday was the next week and my family surprised me with a party in Athens. I was sick the whole week of my birthday but grateful that I have wonderful parents. My best friend from high school came to town for the Georgia Southern game and we had a great time partying in Athens! My little sister also found out that she will be spending the next four years of her life in Athens as a Bulldawg and I couldn't be prouder of her. I went to my first Georgia Tech game of my collegiate career and ended my two year run as an officer in Delta Gamma. November was definitely one of those months that pushed me to get everything done but I enjoyed it because I always felt like I had something going on. <br />
<br />
December was filled with lots of relaxing. I made it through all of the holiday parties and finals! I was really excited to see my grades at the end of the semester as well. I was happy to be home and spend the holidays with my family. I got caught up on lots of new movies and just took some time to think about me and the year that I had. <br />
<br />
I realize reflecting on this year that I am so glad I made such an effort to remember everything that happened. Yes, some of this stuff is probably just everyday things but I think it's so important to focus on all of the wonderful memories I have been making. Yeah, I probably could of learned a little bit more in school or my position in DG but in the end I am going to remember all of the stuff that is in this post and reflect on it in the future. I can't wait to continue this trend in 2013 because I know this year is going to be even more hectic and fun filled than 2012. <br />
<br />
I achieved my goal! I lived life to the fullest and took way less days for granted! And I am so thankful that I have opened my eyes to all of the opportunities that 24 hours has to offer. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-34898928787696018482012-11-23T14:42:00.002-08:002012-11-23T14:42:12.110-08:00Dangling with Drive
Every time I start to think about a blog post, I consider how much has
happened in my life since the last time I reflected on it. Each day I try to
have a worthwhile experience and really live a purpose driven life because
within the last year that has been instilled in me as a great way to drive
yourself towards your goals.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
As I was thinking about this post, it became clear to me how monotonous life
can become. I think a whole lot about my future goals in life but I have no
clear direction on how to reach the desired outcome. So instead of driving
myself every day to learn something new or challenge myself to become a more
purpose driven individual, I get into this routine that seems pointless. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I guess it could be a side effect of this transition period of my life. But
since I don’t have a direction right now, I have started to consider that I
might walk off this campus with a few more regrets that I was expecting. Was I
involved enough? Did I really experience everything this town has to offer? Did
I invest enough time in this campus that I will forever call my home? These
questions arise from my feelings of disconnect with major parts of this
university. Of course, I have checked the box on many of the typical
experiences that UGA students are supposed to have but have I really driven
myself to think outside of the box with my own college education?<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I have a short four and half months left in a place that I am not sure I
ever want to leave and to be honest, that scares me. It scares me enough to
change my attitude. I want to feel that constant drive to work towards my goal.
I want to be able to say that I sucked all of the life out of my education and
the opportunities it afforded to me. I want to be able to say that even though
there were weeks when I didn’t feel that deep down motivation to live life to
the fullest, when the pendulum started to swing in the other direction I didn’t
want to look back at the monotony. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
My goal of 2012 was to live life to the fullest and even though it’s not
time for my reflection, I think I succeeded until the tides turned in a
different direction. This transition period in my life is going to make for a
very interesting 2013 because in a matter of 12 months my life is probably
going to change multiple times and each time I am going to have to reflect on
my purpose and continue to feed my inner passion. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
In my leadership program, we had a speaker come talk about his career at
Chick-fil-A and he mentioned that my generation is so different from his
because we talk about passion constantly and his main focus in college was to
get a job. So what if you didn’t enjoy it? My generation is going to be the
group of people who either leave an organization if our values don’t align or
build up this inner drive to influence the organization significantly in our
favor. I want to make sure that I have that inner drive and that I am making sure
my activities are aligning with the passions that make my come alive inside.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I guess the point of this post is that times of transition lead to great
opportunities to experience everything that life has to offer. In terms of one
door closing and another one opening, I want that closed door to be the exit of
an empty room and I want to be stepping into a room full of possibilities. And
I guess thinking about my how I haven’t been taking advantage of life recently,
I want to reignite my drive to live life to the fullest and not let my laziness
lead to regrets and unfulfilled opportunities. <o:p></o:p><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-79038709113239952912012-11-23T14:18:00.001-08:002012-11-23T14:42:21.888-08:00Dangling through ThanksgivingThe holiday season is upon us again and this year I am really trying to focus on the reason for the season rather than the commercialized aspects of the time between Thanksgiving and New Years. <br />
<br />
I think one of the most interesting parts of this time of year is learning about everyone else's traditions. My extended family is always together for both holidays. We usually have about 25-30 people attend our Thanksgiving dinner but this year that number was about half. I think due to the smaller crowd around our table, it made me realize that many people celebrate with just their families or groups of friends that they are not related to. I have been fortunate to have all of those people around me at one Thanksgiving meal. I am realizing that as my life changes over the next few years, my traditions will have to adjust. <br />
<br />
That is why I would like to take a moment to reflect on all of the aspects of my life that I am thankful for because I don't want to lose sight of what is really important during this holiday season.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Family: without any of these people I would not be the person that I am and I know that no matter what happens they will always be beside me</li>
<li>Friends: I have been fortunate to cross paths with so many different people in my life and I am just now realizing how much of an impact each of these people can make. I want to continue to make sure that I am investing in worthwhile relationships and make sure that moving forward I take opportunities to meet new people. </li>
<li>Education: I feel fortunate to be able to attend an outstanding university that has afforded me with too many opportunities to count. I am grateful that someone identified me as a student who wants to change the world and gave me the chance to start learning about how I can. I know there are people who do not have this chance and I do not want to take for granted this opportunity. </li>
<li>Job: I am so grateful that I have accepted an offer for an internship for next summer. I was so worried that I wasn't going to have this type of opportunity and I am excited to learn so much in this role. I know this job is going to lead me in an amazing direction and I can't wait to see how much I grow.</li>
<li>Worries: I know this one is strange but I see these worries as a positive aspect of my life. I am naturally a worry wart and tend to stress about things I can't control or things that are not worth stressing over. I am grateful for these worries because it means that I am so blessed. If I stopped worrying, life would go on and be blissful but these worries just signal to me that I can push myself to achieve more and help the greater good, and for that I am grateful. </li>
<li>Culture: probably another strange one. I am grateful for the way I was raised and the values that my parents have instilled in me. I am grateful for the fact that I can have my own tastes in XYZ and even though people might disagree with me, I am still allowed to have an opinion. I am grateful that every person I meet has their own views of culture and it creates a better society as a whole. </li>
<li>God: I am so grateful that God has given me such a wonderful life and given me the chance to be grateful for so many things. My religion has been a constant struggle in college because I know I have become closer to God but I am not necessarily showing it on a daily/weekly basis. I feel fortunate to believe that someone is always watching out for me and hope that my actions can start to reflect this attitude. </li>
</ul>
Obviously, these are a lot of the basic aspects of life that everyone is thankful for but I wanted to write them down in my own terms. I hope everyone had a glorious Thanksgiving and takes a moment to reflect on why they are thankful! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-42032802900830191602012-10-06T18:33:00.002-07:002012-10-06T18:33:51.357-07:00Dangling with "Let Life Happen"So it's been a month and a half since I have blogged but it is seriously because life as a senior is nothing like I was expecting it to be! My life is always running at full speed ahead but now I am balancing it with a slight case of seniorities and just thinking about life outside of Athens, Georgia.<br />
<br />
First, living in the house has been a whole new challenge. I find myself living with girls who are two years younger than me and realizing what a difference those two years make. I am worrying about my internship opportunities for next summer and if I am going to come back for graduate school. Both of those worries could take up the majority of my time, but I add on the fact that most of the girls that are around me are worrying about who-likes-who and I feel like I need to have those worries as well. <br />
<br />
Second, like I said I am trying to find an internship and figure out how I want to spend my first few years in the work force. Ever since I became a part of the Leonard program, I feel like I think about how I want to impact the world a lot. I know that I am suppose to use my skills and abilities to do something out of the ordinary. Coming out of school, I have to decide if I want to take the path that is laid down for me or try to define my own path. Part of that decision is if I want to come back for my masters degree. These last few weeks I have been taking every opportunity to learn from the professionals around me in order to make a better decision on what I want to do. I am starting to understand how valuable my masters degree would be but I still have to make sure that it is what I want to do rather than what I feel like I have to do. I am also trying to decide which firm is the best for me. I have to attend lots of different events and ask lots of questions to find out where I will fit in. It is very much out of my comfort zone to go to so many events and throw myself into a group of people but I am learning that it is a way of life in Accounting. There are so many factors that come into play when making this decision about my future and I have really had to learn how to digest all the information and make the best decision for me. <br />
<br />
The third area of my life that has been on the rocks recently is my interactions with others. I am learning what it means to be a good friend and be accountable to the people who are good to me. I am realizing that having a quality conversation with someone is so much more satisfying then worrying about what others are saying behind my back. Also, the less I worry about what someone else is thinking of me, the more likely I am going to be able to relax and be myself. It is also so important to understand what you are saying to the people around you. I have a lot going on in my life, but there are some things that I need to process on my own and other things that I want to chat with others about. By making that distinction, I have proven to myself that when you know what you want you don't have to get wrapped up in drama. I can make decisions and be happy even when others are trying to convince me otherwise.<br />
<br />
So, to wrap it up. The title of this post has been the phrase that has been running through my head for the last month and half. I need to be motivated and working towards all of my goals but I also have to realize that there are aspects of my life that I can't control so I might as well enjoy them. I am reflecting on my post from the beginning of this year and I am amazed at how much my life has changed. I love the fact that my attitude has turned around and I am perfectly content with living my life to the fullest. I have faith in whatever plan has been set out for me, so why not "let life happen" and be open to whatever comes my way. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-37791616214936800512012-08-18T12:57:00.000-07:002012-08-18T12:57:18.898-07:00Dangling with RecruitmentFor the last four years, the first two weeks of August have been devoted to sorority recruitment. <br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0Lc3McYN87w4K6Gc_z7LiA6Kzghg7YWXxXgS7U4FWplO8IHHjqoFm94c1p5uzmdRoB57bSNo67TFNYDam77NFdwUCHExojdlFyBmMeua7Xeh8wDDCepj1xjrjciT2N8pCGvz1mlEaDxi/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0Lc3McYN87w4K6Gc_z7LiA6Kzghg7YWXxXgS7U4FWplO8IHHjqoFm94c1p5uzmdRoB57bSNo67TFNYDam77NFdwUCHExojdlFyBmMeua7Xeh8wDDCepj1xjrjciT2N8pCGvz1mlEaDxi/s320/IMG_1980.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshman Year: Round 2</td></tr>
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My freshman year it was probably one of the most difficult weeks of my life because it was all about finding out where I fit in on such a large campus like UGA. I knew very little about Delta Gamma when I joined but I am so grateful for that now because it has allowed me to be completely immersed in the values of this organization. <br />
<br />
My sophomore and junior year there were many ups and downs during the two weeks of recruitment. My sophomore year I made the decision to go home to be with my family and even though I was glad to be with them, it killed me to miss out on my first recruitment with my sisters. My junior year I was stuck in this position of trying to figure out why I truly loved being a Delta Gamma and relating to all of the underclassman that were coming through recruitment. If I had to go back and redo junior year recruitment, I would definitely try to make it more worthwhile and take the opportunity to get closer to my sisters.<br />
<br />
This year, the goal was to have a positive attitude and take in every moment because it was the last year that I would experience something like sorority recruitment. At what other time in your life will you spend five days straight talking to girls that you don't know very well and selling them on why your sorority has been the highlight of your college experience? Never, so I wanted to make this year one for the record books. I think my member class and I achieved our goal because this year we saw three years of long days and nights come full circle when we welcomed 74 new members into an organization that has weaved itself into all of our lives. There were smiles and laughs and tears but I wouldn't expect anything different from my sisters.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNThKBJisTnB_kJX0z0tot89Kx91MK91AhRtBMoL_rEPvPu-cur4cE4HKhUoLmVzrtI5CJ209TnY8L_Sh19sYoXAU3O9YCISPJ01KWyaTJOLTxFwELeGn5xzoiHpDq5MHh3r_2a1VUCw_C/s1600/IMG_3850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNThKBJisTnB_kJX0z0tot89Kx91MK91AhRtBMoL_rEPvPu-cur4cE4HKhUoLmVzrtI5CJ209TnY8L_Sh19sYoXAU3O9YCISPJ01KWyaTJOLTxFwELeGn5xzoiHpDq5MHh3r_2a1VUCw_C/s320/IMG_3850.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PC '09</td></tr>
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My three years in Delta Gamma have proven so much to me. Every girl goes through recruitment for a number of reasons but what I have found is that those reasons are magnified and broadened throughout your college experience. Most of my good friends will be my sisters and I met my two soul mate best friends by spending most of my free time with them in Deeg Room 306. These 200 women are the people who will forever call me "Dang" and the girls who don't even realized how much of an impact they have made on bringing me out of my shell. Delta Gamma has taught me about selflessness and its impact on being a leader. I have gotten the opportunity to make my own story because of my lack of knowledge going through recruitment. My decisions make an impact on Delta Gamma and I will be able to walk out of college knowing that we both have changed for good. I am continuously impressed by the bond that ties us all together and how it impacts my life every day. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to join such a rewarding organization and that is why recruitment is worthwhile to me because I get to pass this idea on to the next generation of Delta Gammas. <br />
<br />
Switching Gears: I went in to the first week of classes completely exhausted from the previous two weeks but knowing that it was worth it. The first week was really about realizing that I am entering what could potentially be my last year in Athens. There are so many items to check off my bucket list and so many options to consider for my future. I am determined to return to my star student glory of freshman year while also dealing with so many emotions and decisions. College has been a time of growth and change for me and this year might be on a whole another level completely but I think that is what makes life so interesting. Stay tuned for more dangling through life! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-69762070414951945242012-07-28T20:06:00.001-07:002012-07-28T20:06:12.316-07:00Dangling with Enough Lessons to Last a LifetimeOkay, so maybe the title of this post is a little daunting but this summer really has been all about my growth into a young adult who has a job and is expected to take care of herself. I am really happy that I have had the option to smoothly transition into adulthood. I get to go back to Athens and have one or two more years of fun and then I won't be as blindsided when I actually hit the real world. <br />
<br />
<strong>Lesson #1: Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to find...</strong><br />
<br />
I took this internship in the fall of 2011 without knowing where I would end up in the summer. I was ready to have an adventure and it definitely has been everything I expected. It has truly made me want to travel more and not overlook any opportunity that comes my way. It has given me the opportunity to try out one aspect of business and make judgments based on my work. I really feel like I made a difference in my role this summer and I can't wait to continue that feeling when I do decide to enter the working world. <br />
<br />
Because I have spent so much time by myself this summer, I have gotten the opportunity to think about my own self management. I want to make sure that going into senior year I remember that the best I can do is be the best version of myself because if I am focused on myself then I will portray my best self to others. The more time I spend worrying about everyone else's opinions of my life, the less time I am spending on supporting myself. If the only lesson I took away from this summer was the idea of supporting my own decisions then I would be a pretty happy camper. I can decide what is going to make my life move forward in the direction that I want to take it and all of the people in my life who really matter are going to be standing behind me when I get to the next fork in the road because like I said, "life is like a box of chocolates...". <br />
<br />
<strong>Lesson #2: All's fair in love and "business"...</strong><br />
<br />
I am still working on my extraversion skills since those tend to be on the complete opposite end of the spectrum for me. Well, there is no better lesson then throwing a small fish into a really big pond and saying sink or swim. I decided to "swim" this summer and after going over my final evaluation I realized there were even more opportunities for me to become stronger both professionally and personally. I need to learn the value of the simple question, "do you have 30 minutes to tell me about your job?" I think if I had realized that lesson earlier than I would of gotten a much better understanding of all the opportunities at a mill location. Also related to this lesson, there is always room to grow in business. A corporation is not going to get better unless there are people within the organization trying to push the envelope. <br />
<br />
Personally, there were only so many weekends that I could spend looking at the four walls of my apartment. My mom and sister came into town a few times which made it easier to adjust and I made a few trips to Atlanta and New Orleans. When one of those events wasn't happening then I had time to spend by myself and, believe me, there were some weekends when I craved that time. Those were the weekends when I went sightseeing by myself or ran errands and realized that big girls have things they have to get done and sometimes those things just don't happen during the week. Another big part of this life was that I had to make friends. I had to reach out to sorority sisters or the controller's daughter in order to learn more about Baton Rouge and I wanted to get to know people. I didn't want to spend the whole summer longing to get back to Athens because I didn't know anyone. Tying back into this lesson, if I hadn't been pushing myself to get out of my shell then I would of missed the opportunity to meet some really great people. <br />
<br />
The best part about this summer was the opportunity for me to evaluate some of my own relationships. I got the opportunity to talk to one person almost every day the whole summer, but I realized I was falling back into my old ways of fantasizing about something that was more likely not to come true. I got to make the decision about how I wanted to move forward which is a very powerful feeling. This last semester was one of hardest of my life and part of the reason why was because I couldn't seem to let go of another person who is in my life on a pretty consistent basis. By the end of the semester, my roommates were tired of hearing about this person and I was determined to forget about it this summer. My summer didn't start off along that path because I couldn't seem to get this person out of my head and I really thought that it was a lost cause. I was talking with my supervisor today and she finally looked at me and said "speak up, you only live once." If I don't take the chance, then I might regret it later and this year is definitely about not leaving anything behind which should make for an interesting conclusion. Also, I really got to see how my relationships with my friends are going to play out when we are in our own corners of the world. There are people that I know I will always be able to pick up the phone and call no matter the length of time. There are other people who I am really interested to see how the next year plays out and there are other people who I just have to realize were in my life for a reason and we have both moved on for a reason. Even though I really like getting to know people, relationships are one of the things that have no rules, so I will always be trying to define the next step. <br />
<br />
<strong>Lesson #3: Each part of the world has it's own set of quirks...</strong><br />
<br />
Baton Rouge is no exception to this rule. I learned that "Cajun Spice" (don't even ask me where you buy this spice because I don't even know the actual name) could be considered a vegetable within the state lines of Louisiana. Anything and everything that I ordered this summer, undoubtedly, had some sprinkle of this ingredient and let me tell you, my tongue definitely has a higher spice tolerance.<br />
<br />
Jersey Shore is not the only place where you can find guidos! There are also some located within East Baton Rouge Parish at the pool of my apartment complex. I do not know why people from New York/New Jersey like to move down below the Mason Dixon Line but these people at the pool are probably some of the most interesting sights of the summer. <br />
<br />
The accent is like nothing else you will hear in your entire life and it is even harder to describe to someone who has never been to these parts of the United States. Need a lesson, go watch an episode of Swamp People and turn back their accent about three notches. That's what you hear on a regular basis in Baton Rouge.<br />
<br />
<strong>Lesson #4: All good things come to an end...</strong><br />
<br />
I spent the last week moving back home and finishing up my internship in Atlanta. My presentations went really well and I got to hang out with all the other interns. One of the relationships that I described above came to a conclusion and it really helped me realize how much I have grown this summer. I also realized that my work really paid off this summer and I have the option to continue to make a difference in this company. I am so glad that I spent the summer the way that I did. I do not regret anything and I am ready to apply these lessons the next few years of my life. The next few months are probably going to be the most hectic of my life but I am ready to take them on and continue to dangle through life!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo17Cte3fKxDiBs4pTNkoJwjD733kdkOC54YyUtkKH4NnzrHfplBT5rmXncpGwMY5grFSOvFKponk-9-iyz0llexZ47XAIyKK_TQI_DQ9CVMwBj8iBh_mqv4vg_dp9sE0heViE3a9_Yhqj/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo17Cte3fKxDiBs4pTNkoJwjD733kdkOC54YyUtkKH4NnzrHfplBT5rmXncpGwMY5grFSOvFKponk-9-iyz0llexZ47XAIyKK_TQI_DQ9CVMwBj8iBh_mqv4vg_dp9sE0heViE3a9_Yhqj/s320/IMG_3575.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swamp Tour Time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaeC1cR6FteAYomDB23YMmRUf4eDKNEWpWXEF_iX2zuwQ_y57Pez7tdKwyd5iwqTUe3d3k3jdaPG_74Oa2r-FH8ntgCWMuFb_GC3xlHsrHF-6k0fmUXuwOAUBtNHcpZ7RnPlqNytbQJ0y/s1600/IMG_3730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaeC1cR6FteAYomDB23YMmRUf4eDKNEWpWXEF_iX2zuwQ_y57Pez7tdKwyd5iwqTUe3d3k3jdaPG_74Oa2r-FH8ntgCWMuFb_GC3xlHsrHF-6k0fmUXuwOAUBtNHcpZ7RnPlqNytbQJ0y/s320/IMG_3730.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Orleans! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNE20pRCGgSZ8qstNWI92SYet1aGHcNNYZzybUJox84OI9QBKrOeUxyFhriS1yV9se8YX4jvIiwkgxA3LKkqEtg6y_db010El8gPRQKt0GgTakRkS1T6_AUwKY2CRFrn2ek7jCjKnDuT9/s1600/IMG_0715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNE20pRCGgSZ8qstNWI92SYet1aGHcNNYZzybUJox84OI9QBKrOeUxyFhriS1yV9se8YX4jvIiwkgxA3LKkqEtg6y_db010El8gPRQKt0GgTakRkS1T6_AUwKY2CRFrn2ek7jCjKnDuT9/s320/IMG_0715.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corporate!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwijiGNVBDAbSADnjY6aFrf_-H9yZbY8pCkeW9MeZgluCLhyphenhyphenFzwghUqStw0uZ1HN4_ZKaqAA62urg0DINbbvVjovcdGdxzAiLIwu7H6GWZhyFyY7QvE2cniRmuhYrS0UW30m8VG9trY-W/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAwijiGNVBDAbSADnjY6aFrf_-H9yZbY8pCkeW9MeZgluCLhyphenhyphenFzwghUqStw0uZ1HN4_ZKaqAA62urg0DINbbvVjovcdGdxzAiLIwu7H6GWZhyFyY7QvE2cniRmuhYrS0UW30m8VG9trY-W/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apartment in Baton Rouge! </td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-32757280893554117912012-07-12T19:29:00.001-07:002012-07-12T19:29:36.908-07:00Dangling through a Routine LifeWell, since I got back from New Orleans it has been a pretty average working girl life. It seems crazy to me that I only have a week left in Baton Rouge. The first month of my internship went by just right but doing a lot of the same makes the days go by faster. <br />
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It was really interesting having a break right in the middle of the week. I feel like July 4th was much more laid back this year because if you didn't take vacation then it was just another day. Unfortunately, I got a really bad headache so I ended up staying in and watching the fireworks on TV.<br />
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On Friday, I settled in for a relaxing weekend. I tried to get to the pool to tan but the weather has been rainy here, so I have not gotten the opportunity. On Sunday, I decided to head to the Denham Springs Antique District. I really don't want to be on my own but it would be fun to decorate an apartment with cool furniture. My headache returned so it was an early night, getting ready to return to work on Monday. <br />
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Movie of the Week #1: Water for Elephants- one of the best movies that I have watched this summer. It made me want to read the book which is a powerful statement for a movie. Yes, the movie had some downer parts but it was definitely a good way to spend a Friday night. <br />
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Movie of the Week #2: Friday Night Lights- this movie might not be new. I might have seen it before but I couldn't remember. It was definitely different from the other movie I watched this weekend. I really like sports movies that are based on real life but I don't know if I will need to watch this movie again.<br />
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This week has really been about preparing myself for the next few weeks. I have had a constant headache for the past five days and I can slowly feel the stress start to build back up in my shoulders. I have a lot to get done before I leave Baton Rouge including finishing some projects at work and packing up my apartment. I also have to get ready to present my final project to corporate which makes me nervous because I am such an introverted person. After all of that is said and done then I have to worry about going back to Athens and figuring out how I want to tackle my senior year of college. <br />
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I am really not ready for college to end. There are so many options in front of me and I already have a hard time making decisions. I am so glad that I have gotten the opportunity to work for such a big company this summer. It has given me the ability to figure out where I see myself in the next couple of years. The best thing about my internship has been getting to see a huge manufacturing operation and seeing how that ties into the financial information that the accounting department is handling. <br />
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I guess the biggest lesson the past few weeks has been that you have to search for the adventure in life. It is really easy to get into a routine and not having anything to show for a full week of experiences. I know that no matter what I am doing I want to keep myself active. I do not know if that will mean working out more regularly or continuing to stay involved in outside organizations, but I know that I am going to need something to fill my life besides just going to work 40 hours a week. <br />
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My goal for the last week in Baton Rouge is to rejuvenate the spirit of adventure that I had at the beginning of the summer. I want to make sure that I do not miss out on any last possibility to have a great experience that will become a story I tell my kids one day! I am currently not satisfied with having a routine life, so I am determined to change it. Watch in my next post how I make this week great and everything I learned this summer!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-13346647740955170322012-07-02T20:42:00.000-07:002012-07-02T20:42:57.348-07:00Dangling in NOLA!That's right, I spent the weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana! I had been looking forward to this weekend since I got to Baton Rouge. I wasn't really too worried about planning anything and I was just going to have a good time! <br />
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I was not disappointed with our weekend excursion! I got to get off early and got to New Orleans just in time to pick up Audrey, Leslie and Julia at the airport. We made our way to our hotel in the center of the French Quarter and got ready for our first night on the town. We headed to Pat O'Briens thinking that we could eat dinner and listen to the dueling pianist. We were wrong and it ended up with us getting hurricanes before dinner. After that we realized that we really needed dinner so we headed out to Bourbon Street to find some authentic New Orleans food. We ate at a restaurant overlooking Bourbon Street and really got to see all the hype. We joined the hype and walked down most of Bourbon but then we decided to go in some place and just hang out. Unfortunately, we all got tired pretty quickly, so it was an early night.<br />
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On Saturday, we headed to Cafe Beignet to try the first of two beignet places. It was definitely a great way to start the morning. After that it was up to the Garden District for a walking tour. I loved the Garden District because it was the perfect combination of old style houses and a lovely community. We got to see Sandra Bullock's house as well as Archie Manning's and John Goodman's. We also got to learn about some of the legends of New Orleans. It was definitely a lot of walking but I am glad that I got to see it. We headed to the opposite side of the French Quarter for a muffalatta and then come shopping. I didn't find anything to buy but I did start thinking about the possibility of decorating my own apartment. I can't wait to be able to walk around cities and find something that is my style. We decided that we didn't need to experience Bourbon Street again, so we got a great dinner at the Red Fish Grill and then went back to Pat O'Brien's for some more music. <br />
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On Sunday, we went to Brennan's for the traditional New Orleans brunch. It was my first time trying a poached egg and I can't say I will be eating another one any time soon. Everything else we got was great though. I really want to learn how to make a baked apple now. We didn't have anything planned for Sunday but it was nice to feel like we had a little bit of a break. <br />
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Overalll, this weekend was what I was expecting it to be. I loved being able to travel and see friends. It is a completely new experience for me to be able to go somewhere by myself. I am glad that my parents have pointed out how cool cities can be when you decide to be a tourist and this weekend just reassured me that I need to take advantage of the opportunities to travel now. <br />
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P.S. I wish my camera would load pictures right now. Expect a post with just pictures when I get back to Atlanta!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-52391953501208626682012-06-26T19:23:00.002-07:002012-06-26T19:25:01.275-07:00Dangling with "Real" LifeI feel like I have gotten into a great rhythm in Baton Rouge. I am on my own during the week and then I get to make some awesome plans over the weekend. <br />
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This weekend, my mom and sister came back into town to visit. On Thursday night I decided to catch my mom and sister up on what has been going on in my life recently. I told them about some of my future plans and some of the people that I have gotten to know while in Baton Rouge. It was a big learning experience for me because I am stuck in the middle of deciding what is best for me and what is going to make me happy. I am hoping that I can find something that will satisfy both of those wants but I also will never know everything when I am making my final decision. I think one of my biggest lessons this summer is about being my own support system. It would be a lot easier for me to make decisions if I didn't want all of the people close to me to be on the same page. I am not at that stage yet but I think it is only a matter of time. <br />
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The next day, we went to the Myrtle's Plantation. It is one of the top 10 most haunted plantations in the United States and my sister just couldn't get enough of all the legends. I usually don't do scary but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be. On Saturday, we really became a part of the Bayou by going on a Swamp Tour. My mom is obsessed with the show "Swamp People" and the first thing that our tour guide told us was that you can't believe everything you see on TV. We only saw one little alligator but we learned a lot about different birds and a lot of flowers in the swamp. After that we were looking around the antique shops for a cameo necklace but we didn't have any luck. I am hoping that there will be an antique one in New Orleans this weekend. We were exhausted to say the least, so we spent the rest of the weekend just relaxing in my apartment. <br />
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It was another average week at work. It was the first time in a few weeks that I actually worked regular hours, not trying to make up hours to leave early on Friday. I have really started to make note of what I like at work. I like when I get to work with other people. I didn't think I would like collaboration but I think it reminds me how I am helping the other people in the accounting department. I also like having control over my work. The more work that I get to contribute to a project, the more I feel like I am making a difference. I also like projects where I am making a significant difference for the better. I know that realizing what I like about work will help me make a better decision in the coming year. <br />
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This past weekend, I got to spend some time by myself. It was nice to feel like I could do whatever I want and that is exactly waht I did. I stayed in bed for a long time on both Saturday and Sunday. I got out of bed to do some sightseeing on Saturday and to go to this great restaurant on Sunday night. It was just what I needed in order to get ready for New Orleans this coming weekend. Unfortunately, I am not feeling too good this week, so hopefully I can kick it in the next few days. <br />
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Movie of the Week: Forrest Gump. I know, it's a tradegy that I haven't seen it before now. It was a very interesting movie and I can definitely understand more of the jokes now. I am glad that I am using this movie of the week goal to get caught up on some pretty old movies. I feel like it helps me get caught up with my generation.<br />
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Book of the Week: How to Bake a Perfect Life. One of the many books I picked up when Borders was going out of business. It was your typical chick lit novel with a few bread recipes tied in. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it as a summer read in the future.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-6866308578139135092012-06-18T20:21:00.000-07:002012-06-18T20:24:04.689-07:00Dangling with Parrotheads and a few other pretty awesome people!So after working extra hours a few days, I got to head out of work at 3:00 p.m. to catch my flight to Atlanta. I am getting really use to being in the airport and by the end of this trip I was kind of tired of seeing planes fly into the distance. <br />
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I headed to Atlanta to see the Jimmy Buffett concert (check that off the bucket list) and boy was it a sight to see. My friends, Audrey and Coey, had the pleasure of coming with me and we will probably talk about this night for awhile. We were first excused of being too young to buy beverages for the tailgate, so we pulled out our IDs and proved the cashier wrong. Once we got to the concert, we picked one of the more chill parking lots that was probably a good mile away from the entrance to the amphitheatre. We made it to the amphitheatre and tried to find a place on the lawn. Lucky us, we picked a great place to see two shows that night. One show was taking place on the stage, the other was taking place two feet in front of us. I won't go into all the details but I will say that the average "Parrothead" is a very interesting bird =) Also, I had my first experience having a beer thrown in my direction. To set the record straight, I did not do anything to deserve this beer being thrown in my direction, I just happen to be in the crossfire of a fight. <br />
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The biggest surprise of the evening was when Zac Brown decided to join Mr. Buffett on stage. They sang a few of their collaborative songs which I thought was a great added bonus. All in all, the concert was great. I feel like I got the experience that college students should have and I will definitely go back to one of his concerts one day. <br />
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The next day, I got the pleasure of having brunch with my sorority advisor. It was her goal to meet with all the vps individually over the summer and my meeting could not have come at a better time. I got a lot of my feelings out on the table and she really helped me come up with a game plan for the rest of the summer and into the fall semester. I am hoping that I can rebuild some bridges this summer in the land of Delta Gamma. I think it is great that I have gotten away from my responsibilities for awhile and I know I will be ready to come back with a renewed vigor in the fall. I wouldn't be able to feel so good about this experience without the help of my advisor. <br />
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I got back to work on Monday and had a pretty relaxing day just catching up on stuff. On Tuesday, I finally got to have dinner with someone my own age because the controller at the plant introduced me to his daughter. We went to a restaurant/bar that someone had suggested to me and I got to try my first po'boy. I am not sure why this sandwich is such a rave down here. It is really just like a seafood sandwich with all the regular fixins. I think it at least needs an unique sauce or something. On Wednesday, I got to participate in a Cycle Count Audit for one of the warehouses and teach someone how to work with Maintenance Labor Reporting. It is great to see the work that I have put into a project being used to improve processes. When I can see that I am helping people is when I really enjoy my job. That night I got to catch up with the president of Delta Gamma and it was absolutely one of the best discussions I have ever had. She reminded me that Delta Gamma is really about the relationship that I make and in order to be a good leader you have to be able to hold yourself and others accountable. I am hoping by the end of this fall semester, we will have made a lasting impact on the chapter and be able to walk away from our experience as great friends. On Thursday, I got to spend a lot of time in the retention shed at work putting together some documentation. It is one of the tasks that has to be done but it's hard to find the right time to do it. I am hoping that the work that I put in this summer will help them to move forward with this project.<br />
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Another pretty average week work wise but I am trying to use my time away from work to create meaningful experiences. I am hoping that I can come back to Athens with a new outlook on life and be more aware of how to make my senior year in Athens one for the record books.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-6947375217007919292012-06-18T19:51:00.001-07:002012-06-18T19:51:42.896-07:00Dangling with the FamilySo, as soon as I got back from my trip to Atlanta the worldwind adventure kicked up a notch. My mom and sister came into town on Saturday and we decided to go to one of the tourist restaurants in town. My tongue is slowly getting use to the cajun flavor that is used on everything in Baton Rouge. Also, we got to hear some Cajun music and see all the old couples dance which I thoroughly enjoyed...really makes me want to take dance lessons! On Sunday, we decided to make our way to St. Francisville. I got to show my mom and sister where I am working on a daily basis and we took a trip to the back side of the plant to see the new building ang the National Cemetary that is located near the mill. <br />
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After a trip around the plant, we made our way to Rosedown Plantation. It is an absolutely beautiful plantation home and has acres of gardens that can be walked through after the tour. We learned about the history of the house and got to take a ton of pictures. I wish my internet was fast enough to post these pictures haha! My biggest discovery about this weekend was that it is great to have people visit you when you are living in a different city. I enjoy the time that I get to spend by myself during the week but living this far away from home has made me realize how important it is to spend time with your family. We got to experience Baton Rouge together and I could not have asked for two better people to keep me company. <br />
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This week at work was the first that I got to experience working later hours. I had plans to fly home for the Jimmy Buffett concert, so I had to make up the hours that I was going to be missing on Friday. Fortunately, my supervisor gave me a project that can fill up hours of a day or weeks at a time, so I was not lacking in tasks to complete. I am keeping the company in business these days because I am printing a million invoices, putting them in numerical order, and keying in the appropriate information. That week I also got back to keeping myself accountable by making list in my planner. I knew it was going to come around eventually and it really does make me feel better to be organized. <br />
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The best part about the week was probably getting to catch up with one of the other interns. I was really interested in watching the CMT Music Awards but I got caught up in a great conversation instead. I think the best part of the internship is getting to know other people who I might not have met otherwise and I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings. <br />
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It was a pretty average week for me but I am still trying to absorb every experience. Everything about this situation makes you think and you have to learn how to control what you think about on a regular basis. I know there are some people who would go crazy with this much alone time but I believe it is making me a better person.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-61882836593489940252012-06-11T20:24:00.000-07:002012-06-11T20:24:52.132-07:00Dangling with a Business TripSo, I am kind of behind on posting but I am really trying to remember everything that has been happening the last few weeks and will try to give a complete overview! <br />
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I spent my day off watching Cake Boss. It felt great to relax for what feels like the first time this summer! I also got ready to go on my first business trip. On Tuesday, I worked all day and then flew to Atlanta. The Baton Rouge airport is so small! If you get to the airport 30 minutes before your plane leaves then you will probably still make it. It is so different from a big city airport. I got to see my parents because they picked me up at the airport. On Wednesday, we started our internship training in Atlanta. We learned all about the different positions available in the company and learned about the culture. That night we went to the Braves game and they started their winning streak! We had more training on Thursday and then I headed to the airport. I met another intern right before we got on Marta. We had a mishap with the traveling on Marta but we got to laugh about it and we had four hours to waste at Hartsfield-Jackson. I walked through Concourses A-D and got to eat at Sweetwater! It was really tiring taking a business trip during the week. You do so much with such a small amount of time. I feel into bed when I got home from the airport. On Friday, it was the first day of closing which means that I was learning more about general accounting. My sister and mom came into town on Saturday and I was so excited! It is a completely different experience living away from them. They were coming to see me and the town that I live in, so we got to be tourist and I got to enjoy having them around. On Sunday, we went out to St. Francisville to see the Rosedown Plantation. I didn't enjoy all this tourist stuff when I was younger but now that I have a limited time in a city I really want to get the most out of the experience. We ate at a great cafe in St. Francisville and drove around downtown Baton Rouge to see where I should visit on my own.<br />
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All-in-all, it was a great week living on my own. I felt grown up by traveling on my own and hosting my mom and sister. I know that life is gong to work out in my favor because I am willing to take chances. I was so shy up until my sophomore year of college and I still have those introvert tendencies but I also realize that I can make myself happy on my own. <br />
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Movie of the Week: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- a great movie that really let me just get all my emotions out. There wasn't necessarily one ending. It was one of those movies that let you come to your own conclusions. It was about healing and the bond between families. It was completely different from Top Gun but I needed it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-89139939407521530972012-05-28T10:01:00.003-07:002012-05-28T10:01:44.815-07:00Dangling with a Cork<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I made it through my first week in Baton Rouge! It was full
of learning about Georgia Pacific and figuring out what to do at night but
overall it was a great week!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cooked my first meal on Tuesday night. It was a Dangler
standard with pasta and fruit but it has been great getting to decide what I
want to eat each day. It cost a lot to provide for yourself but I know it is
going to be fun to try different recipes over the summer. Later in the week, I
made chicken which was even more of an experience. I didn’t have all the ingredients
that I needed to get the pan ready, so I might have burned the butter I used to
coat the pan once. After I cleared out the little bit of smoke, I cooked the
chicken which I thought was pretty successful. In the end, I put it in the
microwave for two minutes just to make sure that it was cooked. I am looking
forward to becoming more comfortable over the summer with my chicken cooking
skills. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout the week, I was learning all about the processes
of the plant and how those processes affect the accounting process. On Tuesday,
I got to take a tour of a few of the buildings but I am really looking forward
to getting the full tour in a few weeks. There is a huge project going on at
the plant right now, so they are being extra cautious with safety. One of the
big projects I am going to be working on over the summer is Maintenance Labor Reporting
which involves a lot of input from the maintenance workers at the plant and
then the accounting department uses their input to analyze cost. I have the opportunity
to help with this process and make an impact on how the process works in the
future. It will be great to see how all the projects I am working on will
progress over the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The most interesting part of the week is having all the time
after work. I have realized that I should probably be going out after work to
experience Baton Rouge because my weekends are limited but this past week I
just wanted to relax at my apartment. I started to study for the GMAT. I don’t
think it is going to be as bad as I was expecting it to be but it definitely
takes brain power. I also started reviewing my Leonard PDLP because I realized
over the course of the semester that there are some crucial elements that I
left out when I originally wrote it. It is also great because I can incorporate
my feelings about my internship into how I want to move forward in school and
in my career. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great mix of
working at the plant, hanging out, and slowly progressing on personal projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, the explanation for the title of this post. When I got
here last weekend I went grocery shopping and decided that I deserved a little
treat, so I bought a bottle of wine. I checked out and never even considered
how I was going to enjoy my treat. I figured that an apartment complex that
caters to business people would have something as simple as a wine opener. Next
thing I know I am looking up makeshift corkscrews on my phone (internet was
still out at this point). When that didn’t work, I decided to add a corkscrew
to the grocery list. With everything going on at work, I didn’t get to the
store again until this Saturday. I made sure to get a corkscrew and that night
I decided to enjoy a glass of my treat. Well, once again I could not get the
cork to budge. I was about to break the bottle when the cork finally gave in.
It’s funny how one experience can really make you think about living on your
own. I have spent a lot of time by myself this weekend and even though I like
having the time by myself, I don’t want to miss out on the experience of meeting
people from Baton Rouge. It’s only the first week, so I still have a lot of the
adventure left! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Movie of the Week: It’s my goal to watch more
movies this summer because I tend to miss out on a lot of movies and I have the
time to do it. So this week, it was Top Gun. I had to see what the Danger Zone
is all about since my nickname incorporates it. It was a good movie…a great mix
of action and a love story. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-86980958971749842782012-05-28T09:59:00.000-07:002012-05-28T09:59:50.585-07:00Dangling through the First Day<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, this entry has a similar title as a previous post but a
very different experience. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today was my actual first day at my internship. I got up at
6:00 a.m. and got all ready to go. I wore my new favorite business casual
outfit and straightened my hair for the occasion. I got in the car and was
worried because it was a little bit farther than I was expecting it to be but
fortunately there is hardly any traffic in Louisiana, so I made it right on
time. I walked around the whole administrative building meeting all the people
in a few different departments. It is going to be hard to remember everyone’s
names but I am sure I will get the hang of it eventually. My supervisor showed
me my cubicle and we got all signed into all the systems I am going to be using
throughout the summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, we were off to lunch at a great restaurant that is
down the road from the office. It was a little café that had a variety of menu
options including seafood and sandwiches. I had a grilled chicken sandwich with
bacon and cheese which is probably one of the best lunches I will have all
summer. After lunch, my supervisor continued to show me around Zachary and then
we went to get me some safety shoes that I will need to wear when I am working
in the manufacturing part of the plant. I never dreamed that I would have to
wear safety shoes during an internship but its all part of the experience. Also,
I pretty much decided today that I will be wearing pretty casual clothes all
summer. It’s upsetting that I won’t get to wear all of my new skirts but it
gives me a reason to go buy some more tops!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After we got back to
the office, my supervisor was helping with some utility issues, so I got my
email organized and starting looking at my roles, responsibilities and
expectations for the summer. I am going to be learning so much and working on
so many different projects. I am really excited about everything that I will be
learning and I think that it will give me a great understanding of business and
where I see myself fitting into the business world. I started working on a
project today to help reconcile some tax issues that the facility has been
dealing with. I didn’t completely understand what I was doing in the beginning
but I took everyone’s advice and starting asking a lot of questions. It’s so
cool because now when I go into work tomorrow I already have a project waiting
for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wanted to reward myself with Mexican food after work today
because I had a craving for cheese dip. To my surprise, Baton Rouge does not
have any of the standard Mexican places I am use to dining at in Athens. I
tried a new place but their queso is definitely not as good. Now, I am just
trying to stay awake until a little bit later. It was kind of an exhausting day
but I am so grateful that I am getting this experience. I am ready to go back
to work tomorrow and then possibly get started on all the other stuff I have
planned for the summer. I am using the excuse that I don’t have internet to
take a few more days off from my outside responsibilities. Well, I hope today
is an indication of how the rest of the summer is going to go because if so
then I know it will be a worthwhile experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-78222915991409696152012-05-28T08:02:00.000-07:002012-05-28T08:02:03.404-07:00Dangling through Day Two<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So today was a day to get settled into Baton Rouge. I
basically unpacked everything yesterday except for the few bags of stuff I want
to work on this summer. It didn’t take too long tonight to get that stuff
organized and I have started to make the “To Do” List of things to get
accomplished. I can’t forget that I am on an adventure though, so I have to
experience the local culture. I guess talking to the people at the office
tomorrow will help me to figure out exactly what I need to do. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went to lunch with my supervisor, my mentor and the
controller of the accounting department today. We went to the PF Chang’s right
around the corner from my apartment. I wasn’t in the mood to try the local
flair just yet. I learned a little bit about what I am going to be doing at the
plant but mostly we talked about food. It just reinforced the fact that I will
most likely be spending a lot of my money on eating out this summer. After our
lunch, I decided to give myself a tour rather than follow the GPS. I looked
through the Towne Center shopping center and went into a few of the boutique
shops. After that I decided to go to the other side of my apartment complex in
hopes of finding LSU. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsJf8-A46tMcy8LAR3Ig2JThnOhUwxMg-eZAfk8FytOTypyVWmeNMc7rWTITBQGUz43cBqGkr50466owmY3hyBIBRecyXoYPqGn2JhDF5xnuhWgPZ7BW2_7rCNjNS2KiiRIBRsODY-X7E/s1600/8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsJf8-A46tMcy8LAR3Ig2JThnOhUwxMg-eZAfk8FytOTypyVWmeNMc7rWTITBQGUz43cBqGkr50466owmY3hyBIBRecyXoYPqGn2JhDF5xnuhWgPZ7BW2_7rCNjNS2KiiRIBRsODY-X7E/s200/8.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I saw a lot of the places that had been suggested for me to
try and after pulling out the GPS for a little bit of guidance I found the
campus. It is really flat in Louisiana, so I am sure walking around the campus
is not as strenuous as in Athens. I don’t know what most of the buildings house
but their architecture is unlike anything I have seen. All of the buildings are
made of brick or stone and there are trees everywhere. It looks a lot like the
neighborhoods in San Antonio which made the campus feel very homey. One of the
first points on campus that I saw was the stadium. I recognized it because
there was a huge sign acknowledging the championship seasons for the Tigers. I
didn’t drive all the way around it but I can imagine the kind of tailgating
that goes on during game days and I can’t wait to come back and experience it
one time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmRYwNoMgi-2vOr5-ImzNXcOiFWNIIQhZSOP_gtoQKcF9TZYBlpx26yV9Im-BAPRI0wZWIS6NUadcYqpmF35H-S4dXZXbr0gERS0V0MTmHRce9kIMpM2zCLyJzwD3nNQKM_q3KaM3jRma/s1600/IMG_0679%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmRYwNoMgi-2vOr5-ImzNXcOiFWNIIQhZSOP_gtoQKcF9TZYBlpx26yV9Im-BAPRI0wZWIS6NUadcYqpmF35H-S4dXZXbr0gERS0V0MTmHRce9kIMpM2zCLyJzwD3nNQKM_q3KaM3jRma/s200/IMG_0679%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other point that I was interested in was finding the
Greek houses. They have a Greek Park about the size of the one in Athens and
then there is Lakeshore Drive. I haven’t been to a lot of university campuses,
so I don’t know how Milledge compares but Lakeshore Drive is absolutely
beautiful. Like the name suggest, all of the Greek Houses have a view of the
lake meaning they all have wonderful porches. Most of the houses are decently
sized and they all share a huge parking lot behind all the houses. I got to
meet the DG house mother because as I was walking around taking pictures she
stopped me because she saw the letters on my car. Also all the houses are
located around the corner from the student recreation center, I couldn’t get my
bearings completely so I don’t know how far they are from the center of campus
but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to walk out the backdoor and have a fully
equipped gym. Running down Milledge is nice, but sometimes you need a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all, it was a great experience getting
to see how another university is set up. I am sure I will be touring the campus
again this summer, maybe I will even sign up for one of their tours, so that I
can learn a little bit of history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The rest of the evening was filled with settling
in, working out in the apartment gym and eating some dinner. I will say there
is not really a good place to eat in my apartment because the bar is too tall
for the barstools that have been provided. My biggest realization today is that
my mother has been right for the past 21 years. It is really nice to drive
around a city to get a feel for the culture. Baton Rouge isn’t as centered on
the university campus as Athens. I also feel like Baton Rouge has grown
steadily but there are definitely still parts of town that maintain the roots.
The biggest thing I need to learn is to ask questions. I think I was a little
too worried today to speak up but in the end I need to know the information. I
just have to get to a point where I feel comfortable which I am hoping happens
sooner rather than later. I guess I will test out trying to ask more questions
tomorrow at work but for now it is off to get ready for the next step of the
adventure. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-59032733057840988152012-05-27T20:39:00.000-07:002012-05-27T20:39:24.650-07:00Dangling through Day One<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a really busy day! Why, you might ask? I moved
to Baton Rouge, LA to start my 10-week long adventure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lesson #1: Adulthood hits you fast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First Rule of Business: Always bring your own toilet paper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I drove about 560 miles today. It wasn’t as bad as I was
expecting though. I stopped in Montgomery, got gas and stretched my legs. I
stopped in Mobile, got lunch, got gas and stretched my legs. At that point, I
had made it through more than half of my trip. I decided that unless I needed
gas again that I was going to make it to my apartment without any more stops.
The last hour of the trip was probably the worst. I must have been excited in
the morning because miles seem to float away. In the afternoon, I would look at
the GPS every five minutes expecting the miles to keep whizzing by.
Fortunately, my sorority little sister called to chat which made the afternoon
less tiresome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got my first impression of Baton Rouge by driving down the
road to my apartment complex. It seems like a nice town. I think it is
somewhere between Athens and Atlanta based on size. It reminds me of San
Antonio a little bit but that might be because it is flat. There is a really
nice shopping center less than a mile from my complex and my complex is one of
many “execu-stays” in the area. I got into my apartment and unloaded my car
without any issues. I started to fill out the paperwork that was left for me
and look around at the apartment. I quickly realized that even though the apartment
was furnished it was lacking some key essentials i.e. the first rule of
business. It seems very funny to me that I will be spending my summer with a
consumer products firm yet the apartment that they set up for me failed to have
any consumer products. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Upon this realization, I headed off to the store
i.e. lesson #1. I got a great GPS guided tour of Baton Rouge because it could
not lead me in the right direction to get to Wal-Mart. There are some quaint
houses right around the corner from my apartment and the main roads that I will
be driving on have tons of stores. I finally found the Wal-Mart (my GPS never
really led me directly to it). I basically walked through every aisle of the
store because I needed most the essentials as well as food to get me through my
first week at work. As I was looking around for all the items I realized that I
have been living a pleasured life for the past 21 years. I have literally
always been able to move my stuff and everything else is waiting for me.
Adulthood is realizing that providing for yourself is a much bigger task than
previously expected. I need to start making money because I am quickly
realizing that nothing comes cheap in this world. I also realized that I have
no idea how to take care of maintenance on an apartment. I am without internet
and television at the moment because I was told that they were going to be
provided for me and when I got here I saw a lot of "salt and pepper" on the TV
screen. How does an adult work and be present for things such as getting cable
set up? I realized even in college, most of the time, your parents come up to
help you set up an apartment. I literally moved everything in by myself and
figured out that my best bet would be to go to the store. I can’t believe today
is the first day of this crazy adventure. I know it is going to be a fun and
exciting adventure but right now I am exhausted thinking about this crazy thing
called growing up.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-975557321796381897.post-38407685470893936202012-04-21T21:10:00.000-07:002012-04-21T21:10:42.138-07:00Dangling in Port Hudson, LouisianaSo I just got my location assignment for the summer. I will be working for 10 weeks in Port Hudson, Louisiana. I took this internship because of the possibility of being away from home for a short amount of time. It was kind of scary to see where I would officially be working but the more I research the more excited I am becoming about discovering this small town and the bigger cities surrounding it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgFzySXww073oCJBbSZQ-5e7qcvNLM5IQqjxPnKp9VGnjVYgVxjAkzWUIpG1FdcHixh-A3oG8Az_GhfrtsZB2yjv07J5QNX-UIIWUT_8BmuTOo9fh1390Jyj0FgRf4BJWkH1gTyR9yPLD/s1600/Port+Hudson.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgFzySXww073oCJBbSZQ-5e7qcvNLM5IQqjxPnKp9VGnjVYgVxjAkzWUIpG1FdcHixh-A3oG8Az_GhfrtsZB2yjv07J5QNX-UIIWUT_8BmuTOo9fh1390Jyj0FgRf4BJWkH1gTyR9yPLD/s320/Port+Hudson.png" width="320" /></a><strong><u>Info:</u></strong><br />
Port Hudson, LA<br />
<br />
As you can see on the map, it really is in the middle of the lower portion of Louisiana.<br />
<br />
Time to Baton Rouge: approximately 30 minutes<br />
<br />
Time to New Orleans: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes<br />
<br />
So it's not too far out in the middle of nowhere. I haven't spent any time in either Baton Rouge or in New Orleans, so I will definitely be taking a trip or two. <br />
<br />
Distance from Atlanta to Port Hudson: approximately 10 hours; haven't decided yet if I am going to try to drive by myself<br />
<br />
Price of a Plane Ticket: approximately $300; going to spend once because I am coming back to Atlanta to see Jimmy Buffett at the beginning of June<br />
<br />
Plant Information: Make consumer products and communication papers. The main brands that are housed in the plant are Brawny paper towel, Quilted Northern/Angel Soft bath tissue as well as paper used in printing. Maybe, I will come back with a lifetime supply of bath tissue haha!<br />
<br />
I contacted my former advisor for my sorority because she lives in Baton Rouge and she told me that she thought I would probably be living in Zachary or Baton Rouge because there aren't very many places to live in Port Hudson. A lot of my research is based on that fact since I can't find that much information on Port Hudson. The biggest fact that I keep finding is that there was a Civil War battle named after this city. I guess I will have to check out the reenactment. <br />
<br />
Some restaurants that I found in Baton Rouge: The Chimes, Fleur de Lis Pizza, and Chelsea's Cafe. It looks like I will be eating a lot of seafood this summer and I might just have to try alligator. <br />
<br />
Attractions:<br />
<ul><li>I am looking forward to getting the opportunity to tour LSU. My former advisor already told me that she will introduce me to some of the Gamma Zetas, so I will be able to hang out with girls my own age. </li>
<li>Rural Life Museum</li>
<li>Shaw Center for the Arts</li>
<li>Baton Rouge Zoo</li>
<li>Downtown Area, etc.</li>
</ul>Plus, there is the time that I want to spend in New Orleans. I plan to make every minute that I am not working worth it. I am waiting to hear back on my housing arrangement for the summer and hopefully I will have a better idea about what is going to be near me. This blog is going to be a great resource for me this summer, so that I can share with the rest of the world about my adventure. <br />
<br />
So here goes nothing. Port Hudson, I hope you are ready for a 21 year old who is ready to be on her own and looking to have one of the best summers of her life, learning as much as she can about accounting and even more about the world around her. Wish me good luck!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00755822540128601057noreply@blogger.com0