Recognition Series .

A while back I mentioned that I wanted to take a moment and recognize all these different people that affected me in college, and really affected me as a person and had an influence on the person I have become today. I decided (after a few suggestions) that these people will be broken up into individuals or groups of individuals, over a series that will run indefinitely (basically until I finish).

This is not only a way to publicly recognize these people for the great individuals that they are, but also a way for me to look back and remember all that they've done to get me to where I am today in life. I'm going to try to be as thorough as possible and really make sure that everyone gets credit where credit is due! I pray that I don't forget anyone, but hopefully I won't. I hope that you guys enjoy getting to know some of the people that really had a vast impact on me! Stay tuned over the coming days!

I'm an Adult !

As many of you know, if you've been keeping up with this blog as of late, I graduated from college today! How weird it felt to be putting on those commencement robes and utterly ridiculous hats again after four years here at school. And though you sweat your butt off, you're uncomfortably close to people, and you feel awkward, graduation is really such an accomplishment. I am relieved to be done, and ready for the next adventure.

I wish that I could recite all the wonderful things that President Jim Barker said to us. He inspired us, and was able to instill in me an insatiable hunger for all that the future holds as a Clemson Tiger Alumni. How weird to think that I am now an Alumni. That word was always sort of foreign, or perhaps just code for all the old folks that now come back for football games.

Harder still was the post-graduation reception at Lee Hall, the last time I'll ever be there, and the last time I'll ever see quite a few people. Though many of them said that they'd love to come out and visit, and I really hope that they follow through with that notion and hit up the Northwest!

Tomorrow I'll be homeward bound, everything all packed, house cleared out, final bills paid, and of course, a fond farewell (and maybe even a few tears) as I say goodbye to Clemson for the very last time.

Major congratulations to all the 2013 graduates! I am so proud of you all, and can't wait to forever say I was a part of such a wonderful institution. Go Tigers!

Trips & Returning Home .

This weekend I was in Raleigh, NC with my studio section to visit a few museums up close and personal; we are doing a semester-long museum design project. Upon returning this evening, I took the rental van back to the on-campus Enterprise and walked back to my car in the cold, scarf wrapped tight, gloves on.

I realized two things on this walk; the first is that I really do love the cold: the way it bites and nips at you, the drastic change of from the frigid outside to when you get outside, the ability to see your breath in the air, the burning in your lungs when you take a deep breath. The other thing is that there is something great about trips and vacations (no matter how small) but there is something equally amazing about returning home.

Even more so, I realized that Clemson really can truly be called a home. It's one thing to routinely return to a place out of habit. But it's another entirely to not just go back there, but feel like you have returned. To a place of familiar surroundings, familiar people, and lots of memories. While I'm looking forward to the next step in life, there will always be a part of me in Clemson.

The Last First Day .

Tomorrow is the day we all dread publicly, but secretly look forward to: the first day of class. Now, semesters obviously are much shorter than years, and it's always nice to have time in between them, but to be honest I don't do very much in between the semesters. While we all hate working, we all hate deadlines, and we all hate those late nights with not enough sleep, life is simply boring without anything to do. There is no purpose, no goals, nothing to strive for, nothing really gets accomplished.

The Final Chapter .

At midnight tonight, I leave for South Carolina for the final time. This is the last semester of my undergraduate collegiate career, and I can hardly believe it. The time has flown by and it's truly amazing how fast it has gone. Looking back on the time, I can still remember the friends I made in my first freshman semester English class (who oddly enough ended up living in the apartment below me a few semesters ago). Life has a way of sneaking up on you, and rushing you through some things you want to enjoy.

More importantly though, it is almost certainly the case that the things around the corner will be even more extraordinary than you can imagine. A new setting, job, or experience will surely take the cake of your life's happenings.

For in all honesty, this is only the beginning. The close of one volume, and the start other a new one. I look forward to taking you friends through the next semester, and continue into life. I feel like we all know each other as close friends and will continue that through and through. Thanks for sticking with me all this time, and wish me safe travels over the next day.

church, southern eating & table rock .

Sunday was a fun-filled day for the two of us. We started off with an early mass at St. Andrew Catholic Church in downtown Clemson on Sloan Street. It's where I usually go on my own at 8am on Sundays. I was thrilled that Courtney not only decided to come with me, but wanted to; she is Jewish and I am Catholic, so it meant a lot.

football & flags .

Ladies and gentlemen, in South Carolina during the fall there is only one thing that truly matters to the population on Saturdays, and that thing is football. Being that I am part of Central Spirit, which is one of the biggest organizations on campus, I signed up to run flags for this game against Furman. What is running flags? Well, at the beginning of the game, when our team runs down the hill into the stadium, we run across the field with these giant flags that spell out Clemson. Need a visual? I got you.

the greek life decision .

My housemate and I were talking about Greek life last night, as Rush Blowout was last night in addition to the First Friday parade and all the sorority floats etc. There are some people that we are friends with involved in greek life, though I don't know as many as my housemate. We do know some incoming freshmen in Central Spirit that just recently were officially inducted into the whole greek life scene.

living at a lake .

One of the great benefits of having a house on the lake is well, you have the lake right there. The other day I came home just hating that I had had such a long a tiring day of class and when I rolled in the driveway there was an extra car there and I could see some people hanging out down by the dock (Josh had decided to have some people over. After walking down the to water and briefly saying hello, I ran back inside and threw on my swimsuit, walked back down to the dock, then ran and dove into the water.

back in the swing of things .

School has started, and we're on the second week of class, and things are good! Of course, the days are busy, but I'm definitely okay with that. Busy makes the time go by quickly (at a blistering pace, to be honest actually). But so far I'm keeping up with things more or less, still with enough time to get on the bike or work out. The weather has been insanely humid, literally to the point where you walk outside and your hands instantly feel sticky, but that is just a part of life here in South Carolina. I think it's safe to say that I'm finally settled in and back in the swing of things.

The best part? the beautiful orange and purple sunsets we get every night:

[via]

first day of class .

This week marked the first day of class of my senior year of college. I can't believe that I'm already in my senior year! It truly blows my mind. Looking around in some of the classes for my minor, it's always interesting to see the people who are still sophomores, freshmen, juniors... basically anyone who has not yet lived the years that I have. And every year, it blows my mind more to think about all these people that are here, and all the different life stories they have to tell. And yet, here, in this particular class, our paths cross.

back on the bike .

The last few weeks of summer I've been a lazy bum when it comes to riding. I haven't been out on the bike for quite some time and I finally had the chance to. Let me just say I felt so out of shape. Biking is not one of those things that you can drop and just pick right back up again. Maybe riding a bike in general, but certainly not riding at a competitive pace where you can push yourself. I about died. But it's time to focus and get back into it.

welcome home .

Now THIS. Is what I call home. Looking forward to this season... Last one! This is Clemson, ladies and gents, and football is our religion.

the drive to Clemson .

As per the usual plan, I began my drive down to Clemson around midnight. I slept from 5pm to 11pm or so, and finished up the last few items to pack and toss in my truck (more like carefully play Tetris with my luggage and numerous boxes). I was ready for the long haul. The day started well, with a Wawa hoagie to put in a little cooler and a quart of iced tea lemonade. I was making great time, flying through Pennsylvania on the PA Turnpike. The funny thing about the trip is that you think you're making lots of progress because you pass through a good number of states in a relatively short amount of time (You hit the NJ border, then through PA, then Maryland, West Virginia and into Virginia). Despite the fact that I consider Virginia to be the border of the south, what most don't realize is that once you hit that border, you are in Virginia for FOREVER. You go through the widest part, and so it takes forever and a day to get to North Carolina.

saying goodbye .

Saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. When you meet someone you really click with, and that you really enjoy spending time with, it's even harder. It's easy to say that you'll be okay and all will be well when you meet again. But it is easier said than done. That last hug, that final kiss... it's so hard knowing that this is the last time you'll have that luxury for several months.

driving woes .

Yes, it has been a week since I posted. For those of you who thought I had forever disappeared, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, I just was packing, getting ready for the trip down to school, and still don't have internet at my house in SC. It's supposed to be ready tomorrow, if AT&T feels like getting their shit together. However, I'm now sitting on campus and I have campus interwebs, so I will post the things that I already had written in preparation for when I did finally have the opportunity! And so without further ado, some serious catch-up:

Prior to any long drive there are things that you will almost always worry about. Being that I am leaving for school in a few days, I took some precautions, like getting my oil changed and fluids topped off, making sure my tires were inflated and rotated. But there are some things that are always sorta in the back of your head when you have a lot of miles to put under your belt.

beginning of the end .

And so it's August. This is the time when everyone starts shitting their pants because they realize that the return of class, homework and projects is just around the corner. And yet, while there are certainly some bittersweet moments, I'm excited for the final year of school. Endings are tough, but always yield new beginnings. The most exciting thing I'm excited for is to really begin polishing my skills as a future architect. Hopefully these future skills will be able to get me a real job for next summer, something that will continue to help me learn architecture!

the hunt for a grad school .

When it came time for me to look for my undergraduate college, my Mom did an incredible amount of work. She narrowed down schools based on things that I looked for and parameters I sort of had an idea about. I have to say, I definitely didn't have any perfect school in mind, and was open to pretty much anything -- as long as it was far away from home. I had also had the experience of tagging along on all of my sister's college visits. While we were and are interested in completely different fields, it was still interesting and enlightening to see all the campus facilities, different available lifestyles, accommodations, commodities and more. It sort of gave me some loose boundaries about what I wanted my college experience to be like. Clemson, oddly enough, was the very first school I visited for myself, and that's where I ended up going. I think I ended up doing alright. But I'm ready for the next step.

gym life .

Back when I was at Clemson and we were going to the gym regularly, it's funny how you get into a routine and you start seeing all the same people at the gym all the time. Of course likewise when you don't go to the gym at your usual time you see all kinds of people that mess with your feng shui and it feels weird. However, this post does not focus on those people. This instead focuses on the regulars we saw at the gym all the time, and what we nicknamed them.

several updates .

So, there are a good number of things I'm going to briefly mention in here before I doze off for the night. Let's see if I can remember them all, shall we?