Happy Belated Thanksgiving and Roll Tide!

Well, happy belated Thanksgiving!














I went to Mobile for the holiday and I even took my roommate, Caitlin (she's from Orange County, Calif.), home with me to meet the Shipley Clan. It was an eventful few days and I got to enjoy my family, friends and all the turkey and dressing I could fit into my belly.

I didn't stay at home very long because there was an "Iron Bowl" to be played and as the dedicated Alabama Football Fan that I am, I had to travel to AuBARN to support the Tide as they played the Tigers. It was a great game and the Tigers sure did give us a run for our money. But in the end we pulled it out and beat them 26-21 in the last couple minutes of the game. The trip was totally worth it!

I had so much fun visiting with friends from Auburn and celebrating the BIG win!! So Roll Tide and I can't wait to beat the Florida Gators next week in the SEC Championship game!!!

So one more update to share... I received the internship with The Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Ala. for the Spring 2010 semester!!!!!!!! I will travel to Birmingham 2 days a week and work on various communication projects. I am really excited and I know this is going to be valuable work experience for me! If you want to check out where I'll be working and what they are currently doing at the hospital, here is the Web site address: http://www.chsys.org/

Thanks for reading and until the next time, this is me lately!!!

Coming to a end... I'm almost there!

As my last fall semester at UA is quickly coming to a close I look back on all the memories I have made during "the best years" of my life. I think about the people I have met and all the friendships I have made. I have to wonder what college would have been like without them.

I think about all the parties I have attended, football games I've lost my voice at, classes I have taken, assignments I have waited until the very last minute to complete, late night dinners that I just shouldn't have eaten (the 4th meal), my time as a member of the Greek community on campus (PHI MU) and all the many mistakes I've made that taught me those valuable life lessons. I truly feel that every aspect of my life as a college student has allowed me to grow as a person and has made me the woman I am today.

I have had what some may call the true college experience. Reflecting back on everything, I wouldn't change one thing about my college journey towards the real world. I know that it has prepared me for what is to come. Now it's time to look forward and make those imperative decisions about what to do with the rest of my life.

So as I sit here this Sunday night and try to complete my CSM 415 online class, I ponder all of the possibilities that May 2010 can bring. I get so excited picturing myself walking across the stage at the Coleman Coliseum in my cap and gown. I have waited so long for this day and can't wait to see the proud look on my mom and dad's faces. They have worked so hard for me to be where I am and I owe all my future success to them.

But, all the excitement of graduation aside... I have so many decisions to make. The biggest decision for me right now is deciding where I want to move after May 8, 2010 (that's commencement day!). I know I'm not quite ready to move back home (but one day I feel Mobile will be calling my name). I know the economy is not in the best shape and jobs are very far and few in between. This being the case, I have already begun the process of looking for a J-O-B. The funny thing is that the opening line of every company or organization I have talked to thus far is, "First, I have to tell you that we currently don't have any positions available. But, we are offering internships!"

Well, internships are just dandy. And of course I say that in the least sarcastic way possible. Now, I do have to clear the air.. For my chosen profession I can take all the communications, public relations and journalism courses they offer at UA but no class can provide me with the hands on experience that I need to be a successful PR person. That is where an internship comes into play. And yes, I was a Congressional intern in DC this past summer. I got to do so much as an intern that I would have never gotten to do. I had the privilege of attending committee meetings, researching and responding to legislative inquiries, and writing statements for the Congressman that were submitted onto the Congressional record and much much more. I learned a ton during my time there but there is still soooo much for me to learn.

So, to further my quest of internship/job hunting I have begun to attend the career fairs at The University and I have already been on two interviews for potential internships for the Spring 2010 semester. I have interviewed with Alabama Public Television and The Children's Hospital in Birmingham for a spring internship. I feel like one more internship before graduation will be very beneficial for me and could quite possibly put me one step ahead of the next Joe Blow after I graduate. I hope to hear yea or nay from both organizations within the next couple of weeks (and I'll definitely keep you updated).

I am very hopeful to find a position that will teach me all aspects of the public relations field. As of now, I know that I love the writing side of PR as well as graphic design. I'm sure I would like event planning as well but I can't say quite yet because I haven't actually done it before (unless you count baby and wedding showers). I am actually attending an event planning class this coming Wednesday night (11/18) to hopefully learn the basics about event planning. We'll see how that goes.. Ha!

So, I AM looking forward to the end of this semester. Not only because of the Christmas holidays, visiting with family, seeing long lost high school friends and the yummy food my mother cooks every year, but because I am even closer to the end of my college journey and the beginning of the rest of my life.

I can only ask that you send me lots of luck and your best wishes. I'M EXCITED!!

Until the next time, this is me lately!!!