My Last Days As A Gamecock

 "December, you've always been a problem child."

Can't believe my time as a UofSC undergrad is winding down. Like I've said in all my social media posts and vocally to anyone with ears, I am SO EXCITED about all the new adventures that lay ahead, and equally as anxious/incredulous/shocked. But with new things and opening doors, comes leaving behind things that you love and closing doors. It's called the next chapter for a reason. You turn the page, leaving behind what you've just read, but every word before has carried you to where you are now.

<insert cheesy, but true, quote here>

As I pack up my apartment, send my graduation announcements and lock down details for my upcoming moves, I can't help but think about all the things I'm excited to do for one last time with the people that have made my time here amazing. *Most of these are food related and that is not only because I love food, but because these are social activities.* In chronological order, of course.

• Carolina v. Clemson

And Gamecock Football in general. I spent Saturday screaming for the Gamecocks and watching them beat our rival team, the Clemson Tigers, for the fifth consecutive time. I dressed head to toe in garnet and black and sandstormed over and over again. I never saw Clemson win against us as an undergrad at UofSC. I'll never step foot in the stadium as a student again, but I will always get chills when I hear 2001. Forever to thee, Carolina.

• 

  Freshman year. 

Sophomore year.

Sophomore year. 

Junior year! When I got to work with the amazing Road Trip crew! 

Senior year! 

Senior year! 

Senior year! 

Chicken Finger Wednesday
A UofSC tradition. Chicken fingers and CURLY FRIES in Russell House every Wednesday. Enjoy this picture of me holding the treasure of all curly fries.

Thursday night at the Whig.
A new tradition this semester (for us young people that just turned 21 this year.) Thursday nights at the Whig this semester held me together. No matter how sick I felt or how much I needed to do, I made sure this social time was mandatory and it was the greatest decision. Looking forward to seeing some of my favorite people on Thursday nights and catching up got me through most weeks.

Saturday Morning at Soda City market
Not a tradition, but a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning in Columbia, SC. This Saturday it'll be festive and the ice rink is out by the Museum so there will be a lot of life going on on Main Street. Something unique to Columbia that I'll miss (mainly I'll miss the goat cheese)

Spending a late night working in student media and solving my late night hunger with a Beezer's sandwich or late night Marble Slab.
This happened far too often. The amount of all-nighters I spent in Student Media because I couldn't focus on editing a video because of all the wonderful people around me. I would attribute at least 90% of all my laughs to time in Student Media. Or, spending hours being the one distracting everyone from their work. 

Graduation party.
This is still tentative, but I need to have everyone all together before everyone leaves for winter break. Which leads me to....

GRADUATION

• All the work I've put in over the past 3.5 years will be worth it when I cross that stage. This degree is something I will be proud of forever. Plus, my whole family will be in town and will be watching and they have done everything possible to support me and help me succeed.  

And, in regards to the beginning of December and this transition point of my life, I think my girl Sara Bareilles summed it up perfectly.

The month of December is always, kind of, a happy month because I love the holidays, but it's also always brought me a sense of melancholy. There's this idea of reflection where you're looking at the year that has past and you're thinking about what's to come. And it's this kind of transition point where you want to believe that anything is possible but, really a lot of times you end up reflecting on what didn't work from the year before.

Here's to whatever's next. If you know, don't tell me. I'll figure it out as I go.