In Between

Twenty years old and no longer a teenager, full of promise and hope for what the future will bring, but also stuck and trying to find a place in this unknown world: that is how I feel and how I have felt since I turned twenty over a month ago. There's something about getting older that is exciting, but I feel stuck in between "young adult" and "adult." With two years until I graduate from ONU, there's too much time to sit still and think about what life will be like after that grand day. College has been a great time in my life so far, but there's this nagging feeling that my mind is older than my physical body.

I am twenty years old, which allows me to do a lot of things, but there's more that I want to do and can't because of where I am in my life. I'm looking forward to an internship next summer, to moving away from home, to starting my life with Nolan, to securing my lifelong career, to having my own dog and cat, to be able to order an alcoholic drink in a restaurant with my meal (come on, the little things matter too). This in between time where I'm ready to go out into the world, but I'm also not ready, is harder than anyone ever told me it would be. Actually, no one ever told me about this awkward time, but that's ok.

Feeling old and young at the same time is a strange concept. I'm shocked to hear that one of my closer friends from high school will be graduating in less than a year, but I am still unable to go out for drinks. I will have an internship this time next year, but I am still unable to leave home (for good) and start my own life. I find myself saying "two years from now..." without realizing that two years is still a long time, but I know it will seem to go by as quickly as the past two years.

Twenty holds so much potential for what will be, but I suppose I should stick to the present and live every day making the most of the next two years.

Be More

School is starting back up in a little over a month and there's a lot to think about between packing, buying books, planning class schedules, and getting back into the groove of campus life. Why not add another thing to seriously think about? Everyone should be thinking about what activities they want to spend their time on campus doing.

Even though I'm not a first-year, and I know many of my friends aren't either, it's still something we all want. With the last two years of college classes, I want to finish strong and enhance the person I am by networking, strengthening bonds with friends, and leaving ONU better than when I arrived on campus two years ago. The past two years have set me up for just that because I decided to go through sorority recruitment freshman year.

Now, before you close this tab, discounting it as another sorority girl pushing for Greek Life, I want to say that's exactly what I'm doing because joining a sorority has seriously given me opportunities I would not have had if I had not joined. Say what you will about me and my sisters, but you cannot deny the amazing experience I have had thus far. I won't lay out all the details (you can contact me personally if you want more information), but I have grown so much and have Greek Life to thank for all of it.

If it's your first year, second year, third year, last year, or whatever year, it is never too late to join something bigger than yourself. If you're on the fence about joining or think you will never join, I'm sharing a few other posts about Greek Life.

For any ONU students out there, I'm sharing the Greek Life promotional video and the sorority formal recruitment sign up link so you can start your journey now!

USA Today
Total Frat Move
Huffington Post
The Odyssey
The Odyssey

ONU:
Promo Video: Facebook
Sorority Formal Recruitment Sign-Up

Be more, be Greek.

Pure Happiness

There is no greater feeling than being truly, completely happy. While being happy is the top priority for most people, getting there -- and staying there -- can often be a difficult task. We live in a world with a constant need to worry and stress over every little thing: school, safety, weight, appearance, etc. Let's all take a minute to breathe and think about what makes us happy.

I have been feeling very happy lately and I've started acknowledging the things that make me happy when they happen. This gives me an extra boost and puts a smile on my face. We could all benefit from forgetting what we think we should be doing and begin doing the things that make us happy as individuals.

Here's my list of a few things that make me happy:

• My dog's excitement when I come home, take him for a walk, or really all the time
• Being with Nolan
• Working in an ice cream shop
• Getting an amazing haircut
• Freshly coming out of the shower
• Sunny, breezy days
• Corgis
• Dancing
• Taylor Swift songs (specifically her album 1989)
• Sexy country love songs sung by men with low voices
• Watching Jimmy Fallon laugh at his own jokes
• Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, and Liam Hemsworth
• Bras that actually fit
• Getting paid
• Spending a day adventuring

Of course, there will be days that seem to never end and worries that will never go away, but take some time to yourself and realize that you're here, you're alive, and you deserve to be carefree and happy. Likewise, enjoy the happy times because you never know when something will happen to take that moment away from you. 

Reading Labels

In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex marriage in all fifty states, I want to discuss labels and stereotypes. We are placed in specific groups from a young age, typically in middle school, and most people are unable to shake their reputation after that point leaving young adults searching for their place in a world with wide opportunities.

Our society lives off labeling ourselves and others. From relationships to personalities, there is a need to fit into a certain group and you're often outcasted if you can't decide to what group you belong. Everyone had a "best friend" growing up and it was so important to label that person as your best friend. What if you had a lot of really good friends? How did you decide? What if your other friends were hurt because you didn't choose them to have that title? As a college student, I'm supposed to know what I want to be when I "grow up." What do you want to be when you graduate? What do you mean you don't know? Aren't you graduating soon? Shouldn't you know?

I am a white, female, sorority girl in a serious committed relationship with a white, male, fraternity boy, which makes me a straight female. I am currently going to school to study math to become a mathematician (I guess). Some would consider me a prude because I don't necessarily like to drink or party, but I would just consider myself introverted and shy. Shall I continue this madness?

Why can't we all just be humans? No other label needed. Individual humans who can be anything they want, regardless of what others think. What is so wrong about that? Why do these labels tell us who we should be and how we should act? Why am I treated differently than any other person based on these labels?

I say we all love each other for the value  of our individuality and we don't judge each other based on the stereotypes our society has created over the years. Every single human being on this Earth deserves the right to love whomever they choose and however they choose. Every single human being deserves to be loved and cherished in every way. Every single human being deserves the right to live their lives as they see fit for their own beliefs. Every single human being deserves the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; no matter what that means to each individual.

We are all labeled in some way -- this will not end anytime soon and I realize that, but we can all make an effort to eliminate the negative consequences of labeling others. Racial conflict, gender inequality and disputes on sexual orientation are real issues we face in the world and we all need to work together to make this a safe place for all.

The Truth About Summer

There was hope and high expectations in the air as the final days of Spring Semester came to an end, but now I'm sitting on the couch wondering what happened to those wonderful plans. Summer was meant to be a chance to finally do the things I have always wanted to do: clean my room, redecorate my room, get a nice tan, save money, travel and get in shape. With so much promise at the beginning, I'm disappointed with how this summer has turned out so far.

Seven weeks down and seven weeks left to go, I am halfway through the summer, but I can't stop this nagging feeling that I've wasted valuable time. It is often said that you can only get out of something what you put into it, and I believe that cliche statement holds some truth. I haven't put much into this summer recently so I only have myself to blame for this disappointment.

If I had to choose the activity that has taken most of my time this summer, it would be sitting in front of the TV in my pajamas. Please understand that the time I am not sitting on the couch is spent at work in an ice cream shop, which often leaves me feeling physically drained. Yes, I have spent time off the couch, in real clothes, going out with friends and family, but it isn't quite to the caliber I expected coming into the summer. The ratio of time spent doing various activities is not ideal, but the past week of trying to change my tired routine has failed for some reason I'd like to blame on lack of motivation.

I wouldn't be completely honest if I said this entire summer has been a bust because I have had some great moments: I visited my wonderful Little in Pittsburgh (and saw TSwift), I have been doing my best to eat healthily, I have spent time with my amazing friends, I have found plenty of opportunities for internships next summer, I painted and rearranged my room and I have been on a nice track to save money for when I graduate in two years.

Summer is always thought of as a fresh start for students, but it's sometimes not all that it's cracked up to be. Grand images of returning to school in the Fall as a completely new, cultured and "hot" version of yourself definitely doesn't come easily and by sitting on the couch all day. Hopefully I can find some motivation to follow through with the plans I had when summer began. I have seven weeks left and I think now is a good time to start living the life I want.