graduation day is coming...but not for me

This Saturday is the annual Spring commencement at UNA. I am happy for all my friends that are at the end of their academic careers, yet sad about the fact they will not be here with me next year. I'm not graduating on the four year plan. I will be in school an extra semester due to my over involvement in all things UNA. I lightened my course load this past year in order to maintain school and my extracurricular. I wouldn't take any of that involvement away or change anything, but I am sad that I will be facing a Welcome Week, Homecoming activities, and late night study sessions without them. There will be no more late nights at Courtyard 411 or stalking around Florence, no more talks of the summer spent in DC with my 2nd favorite red head, and no more snack time chats.

The friends I have made are so different and random. I have really enjoyed them all and the randomness that caused our friendship to happen. The first person I recall is Leah Beth Downs. I met LB during my second day at Rice Hall. I had "friended" her on Facebook and we had messaged back and forth. I'll never forget walking down to the 2nd floor and meeting her in her dorm room. LB and I always talked but we never were really that close until last Spring. I now consider her one of my best friends. She is my favorite little nugget homecoming queen. I also remember the first time I saw her roomate Kathryn. Kathryn was picking LB up from the Communications building in her big white suv. I remember thinking she looked so mean and intimidating and wondering where she had come from. I had never seen her before. I soon got to know Kathryn well since she was in my classes. Her love of all things Tim Tebow and her love of tweettweeting are two of the things I love most about her. Also her stalking skills and her great story telling. She's another favorite red head of mine. I have also really enjoyed getting to know the other friends I have gained that hang out at the 411. Mckenzie Martin is one of the funniest people I have met and she is the epitome of cool. I enjoy her amazing whit and creativity. So glad to have gotten to have a chance to call you my friend. Amy Woodhouse Richey and Allison Holt, I met them for the first time during sorority rush. They were in my gamma chi group. I will always remember Allison's joyful and happy spirit. It's scary really, but quite entertaining and Amy's sweet self.

Ashley Miller.We met in the class and I have such a deep respect for her and her big donk. We have worked together through UPC and Panhellenic and I have enjoyed both so much. Our weekend outings and fun times with Malinda have meant so much to me. I have learned many things from Ashley. The biggest of them all is to never try to guess someones t-shirt size. It really offends them. Also efficiency is so important. Ashley is moving to the University of Western Kentucky for grad school in Communications. She's one of the smartest people I know so she will do exceptionally well. I'll miss her donk and her Alicia Keys voice....apparently she can sing just like her.


My friend Christa, who I have blogged about before, is graduating as well. We enjoy the same things politics and communications along with bow ties and seersucker. I am so glad I met someone who really understood my love for The American President and who has such a great since of style. I know she will be great working for IMPACT Alabama in the upcoming year. I'm going to really miss her since she is moving to Birmingham but I know our paths will cross again in the future.







Will Hodges and Grace Anne Coburn. The University Man and Women of the Year 2009-2010 as well as UNA Homecoming King and Queen 2008. I thought it only right they should go together in my blog. I am so glad I got to know Will through Political Science and Communications classes. We have a similar since of humor and have the same thoughts about most things that happen around us. Will's going to DC for the summer and I am quite jealous. Hopefully I can go visit and show him some of my favorite places. Grace Anne was the chair of the StepSing committee when I first joined UPC. That's where our friendship began. GA is one of the sweetest people that has ever walked this campus. She also knows how to get things done. I've loved talking about everything from Panhellenic nonsense during the summer to Gossip Girl. I know she will be an excellent teacher and I am going to miss her living in the Applebys because seeing her around made me not feel so old for living here.




Amy Minnelli and Raleigh Green. We met in the honors program and we understood each other. I'm so proud of them for sticking it out until the end. They are the true smarties. Amy's getting married next week and Raleigh I'm sure will go on to some great things. I will always remember our Honors trip Chattanooga and Nashville as well as Western Lit I...oh that class.

Toni Crutcher and I first met freshman year in English class. She would come in every day with a crossword puzzle. She would do it during the entire class and come out of no where with these great comments. It frustrated me. She wouldn't pay a bit of attention and then would end up being the star student. Toni and I were also on UPC together since sophomore year. This past year she served as Pro-Tempore. She worked in housing with Cory and Rusty and we all became really good friends. Toni and I are very much alike. We hate meetings that last for hours discussing the same thing over and over. We like options presented, short discussion, decision made, and move on. We also hate retreat games. Her more so than myself. I will miss T and our trips to Ricks where many great venting conversations happened. Toni and I were both over involved. I think that is why we understand each other so well. Toni also thinks I am racist but we will not get into that story.

I am so blessed to have had all of these people in my life. I'm so proud to call each of them my friend