The First Semester: Summarized Version

It's official.

The first semester of my freshman year of college is complete.
I'm back in Florence.

And it went by SO fast. I seriously feel like I moved in yesterday. And now, I'm (almost..) moved out with all the things I brought home for break.

It has been a busy, busy, busy, semester.

It's been full of many awesome things: football games, sorority functions, hanging with new friends.
And some not so great things: losing my Grandma Tyler, experiencing a tragic flood, and more.

There was something going on almost ever week, and due to the fact that between school and sorority I was not able to update at all, I wanted to show pictures to give you all a synopsis of everything Fall Freshman Year.
So let's begin!

Our football team may not have been great this year, but that doesn't mean that we didn't love going out and supporting them. From the first game, to the last, it was still so much fun cheering on my gamecocks.

First home game with Erin. It was the first game, naturally we had to throw what we know. #yeahKD

Also the first home game.. This was SO special/sentimental to me because I took Taylor to her first ever Carolina game two years ago, and now we were sitting side-by-side in the USC student section. It was just sweet. I can't explain how much I love living in the same city as my best friend again.

Second home game against UCF. Sarah and I have been friends since first grade, and I am so glad she is at school with me now! Also, we live in the same building on the same floor, which is oh so much fun.

Third home game against Vandy with my girl Abbey. Another close friend from Florence, who I dearly love. Also this picture is great. 

Also the Vandy game, with a new friend(I promise I have lots of them) and an old one. 

Caroline and Lauren are both KD's with me, and I love love love them.

Also, Caroline's family let us come and eat their food, so shout out to them, they're awesome.

Another game (Florida) with my girl Abbey. Also it's worth mentioning that while it was NOVEMBER and FREEZING in the morning, I was absolutely burning up by the time the game started. Oh South Carolin weather, you get me every time. 

I didn't make it to the Citadel game (more on that later), but the Clemson game was SO MUCH FUN, even if the outcome was not what I wanted. 

The student section was the loudest it has been all season, and we were all on our toes waiting to see what happened. 

And I happened to be sitting with three of my dearest KD sisters, Anna Maria, Caroline, and Erin, so like of course we had to take a picture.

And with that, football is over for 2015, BUT we are keeping the faith and excited to see what the new coach brings in 2016.

Okay, moving onto another fun thing, all things Kappa Delta related.

Note: Functions basically all themed events, and there's a band and food and they are just a lot of fun.

The first function we had was Semi-Formal. I was lucky to find a friend of a friend who went with me!

Then a few weeks later was "Shamrock Week" which is a whole week dedicated to fundraising for one of our philanthropies, Prevent Child Abuse America. This philanthropy was one of the many reasons I chose KD, but it specifically reaches out to kids in impoverished areas with high risks of being abused. Due to the fact that so many kids I work with at EFM have these risks, I just appreciate it all the more.

But anyways, Shamrock week included a Dodgeball tournament that "I coached" a team in, featuring these two, Sarah and one of the sweetest girls I know, Anna. 

Big/Little Reveal was also that week, with the sweet Ann Lowe.

And then to conclude that whole week, we had Parent's Cocktail. We actually got to have it at Williams Brice Stadium in the Zone. Dad and Alice were so sweet and made the trip to Columbia to come with me!

Andddd I brought my sweet friend from Florence, Benjamin as my date to Parent's Cocktail! He's also a freshman at USC and was kind enough to come in the pouring down rain.

Speaking of him, as much as I am thankful for all of my many new friends, I am also thankful for the ones from Florence who are at USC with me now. Sometimes it's nice to be able to grab a meal with people who already know you, and I'm glad to have this one above, and quite a few other ones to do that with. 

And then the flood happened. And our initiation got rescheduled.

But we eventually made it!!! I am officially a Kappa Delta now, with so so so many sweet sisters, like this one, Liz. She's always willing to go to Target no matter the time of day, and that is a great quality y'all.

And another snap chat of me and Liz, with all the white dresses. People definitely stared when I was trying to walk back to my dorm to change.

And, of course, a group picture of my pledge class plus our wonderful pledge mom, Logan. Who not only did the most amazing job answering our many questions, but specifically answered like twenty questions (not kidding) I've had about random things the past two weeks. She, and allllllll of my sisters, are absolutely awesome and I love them. 

We also had a Halloween function, and so five of us tried to dress up as Kiss (which turns out has four members). So then we realized it would be much easier to just draw the star, so that's what we ended up doing. So five Paul Ringos headed out to the function.

Lauren and I took this pic and I just thought it was cute.

And then my final function of the year was Low Country Boil. I took Anna, one of my very sweet friends who lives down the hall. She was a fab date and we had a really fun time.

And then that same night with Liz and Lauren. 

So that concludes the sorority pics. I'm so excited to keep getting more involved as the year goes on. I am so thankful to KD for letting me meet sooo many girls who have made this first semester so great.

And now we're to the random events. 

As a Public Relations major, I am in the school of Journalism and Mass Communications. The J-School, as it is referred to, just opened a brand new building in August, with state of the art everything. And it is so incredibly nice. So as part of the grand opening, some J-school alumni, Hootie and the Blowfish came and sang. And as a J-school student, I got to stand very close to the stage. And it was a free concert on the horseshoe on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon. So here is myself, and my friend Hannah. 

So the sweet Anna mentioned a few times above, invited me to her semi-formal for her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, back in September. She was so kind to invite me, and it was so fun! 

And then the next afternoon, that Saturday, I took Anna home with me for a short trip to Florence.

And that night saw my SWEET SISTERS from Clemson, Amanda and Hailey who were home for the weekend. I loved the short reunion.

A few weeks later, I was feeling homesick, but didn't wanna go to Florence because I knew dad was working and Austin was at school. So I texted Lia Severance, asked what would happen if I showed up to their house in about 3 hours, and next thing I knew I was sitting on their couch eating lunch. I am SO grateful they let me come hang out for the day and visit on such short notice. It was just what I needed.

And then the flood happened.

So parent's cocktail was Friday night, October the 2nd. It started raining, but I didn't think much of it. Dad and Alice drove to Columbia, and while they were on their way I talked to dad and he encouraged me to just follow him back to Florence that night and go home for the weekend, instead of just coming Saturday morning. I knew it was supposed to be bad weather, but I was just going to sleep in Saturday and then drive home

I am so glad I went home Friday night.

I left with a small bag, thinking I'd be coming back Sunday night.

Instead I stayed an extra seven days, and was home for ten days.

I was so thankful that my house in Florence wasn't affected, and my dorm and classroom buildings in Columbia were without damage. However, so many of my friends who are from Columbia lost their homes and possessions, and several people lost their lives.

I was thankful that my friend Erin, who couldn't get home to Texas, was able to come stay with me for a few days and get some fresh water.

We actually didn't have water in Columbia, on campus, for weeks. 

The flood was tragic. However, as we all returned to campus, and the volunteer efforts began, the gathering of supplies for those who lost everything began, just the outpouring of support from everywhere.. It just made me realize that I chose the right place to go to school. 

It hit me just how much I already LOVE Columbia.

And it made me dang proud to be a student at the University of South Carolina.

So while I was home I got to surprise these cuties. And that was so so sweet. I loved every second of it.

And I took Erin to the beach for a couple of days! Just to get out of Florence. She's never been to the East Coast, so it was fun letting her see the Atlantic. 

And then back to Cola we went.

So Brad Paisley brought his college tour to USC for a free concert. I went with Sarah…

and Caroline!!

I also got the chance to take some friends to see Cole Swindell play at the fair. My sweet Aunt Henny was able to get us some tickets, and we had a lot of fun. 

I also got to go down to the beach and spend some time with dad and Aus. 

And….. I did the unthinkable and went to Clemson to see my friends. 

I did wear white.

But seeing this one, even in her native orange, was so so nice. 

Love this girl.

And this crazy Clemson boy too. Who was SO excited about winning against Notre Dame. Taylor basically showed both of our expressions with a "what's the big deal" kind of expression.

And then a few weeks later I was asked to come home and crown the winner of MR. West Florence. As I have been the one behind stage for the past few years, it was fun to be in the audience not directing boys this year.

Instead, this sweet one above did all the work, and it paid off. Mr. WF was a huge success, as always, so congrats to the Pres of Tennis Club for that. She deserves it.

Then that weekend in November, I surprised the First Pres youth group by joining them on their fall retreat! (This was the Citadel game that I missed. I only miss football games for certain people, so they knew it was special.) It was at Look Up Lodge and was so fun. I was thankful to get to see all of their faces!

Boating, anyone?

These adorable seventh grade girls.

Thanksgiving was the next week, and I enjoyed being home! 

Dad was happy to pose for a pic with me.

And I also decorated for EFM while home!! Our EFM Christmas is this Tuesday, the 15th, and I am SO excited. They will get their own blog post sometime soon.

This group of girls means so much to me already. We all are first year freshman at USC, and have been going to First Presbyterian Church of Columbia for the past couple of months.

And I am loving the church, and I am loving these girls. SO much already.

Anyways, the college ministry did a Christmas Oyster Roast, so we went and had a great time.

And Caroline took this picture of me eating oysters, because apparently not one out of the four of them like them. 

I have no idea how, cause they are delicious.

And that brings me home for break! Finals were not fun at all. But I finished out strong, thankfully.

And on my first day of break I cut five inches of hair off my head.

Friday I was able to do something I absolutely love, bake a ton of cupcakes. And I managed to get a few orders to bake some more over the holidays! (Let me know if you're interested in some (: )

And then Saturday night I finished "my reign" as Miss West Florence and passed on the crown. Anna and Ann Collins (the two GORGEOUS girls above) were two of my favorite contestants, and did such a good job. I love having so many good friends both at school and at home.

That wraps up the more important events of my semester.

I am incredibly thankful.

I am thankful for a mostly smooth transition.

I am thankful for a sweet roommate.

I am thankful for wonderful friends on my hall.

I am thankful for absolutely amazing sorority sisters, who I love so much.

I am thankful for finding a church that I feel at home in.

I am thankful for feeling at home at USC.

I am thankful that I serve a God who directs my paths.

Who knew that it would be a crazy semester full of so many things.

Who made it happen, just how it was supposed to happen.

Even if it's not necessarily how I thought it would happen.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" Proverbs 19:21

This verse, my favorite verse, has proven to be even more true this semester.

And that, I am thankful for.

It's late. 

Tomorrow is Christmas at EFM, and my excitement is through the roof. I cannot wait.

Stay tuned to see a blog post soon.

Thanks for reading. 

I'm thankful for you, too.