“The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of that which is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope."

Today has been absolutely amazing. I didn't sleep much last night because of fittings and reading and yada yada, so I was exhausted this morning. Hauled my butt over to draping, and was in uber productive mode. Got the pattern for my skirt completely done (huzzah!) and started on the top. Got lunch with Stephanie, then went to World Lit, then ran to my car. Picked up Lindsay, and we went to Wal Mart for last minute show stuff. I got a bunch of lures to put in everyone's hair. (Which I just realized I didn't get pictures of. CURSES.) Got bobby pins, sticky boobs, and everything else we needed, then ran around like crazy. Annie met me at my apartment, I threw clothes everywhere because I couldn't find an outfit I liked, then got the PA and went to Doster. Got eeeeverything ready just barely in time, was super awkward speaking into the microphone, then ran the show. Everything went REALLY well, except we messed up two songs. Oops. But I say if that was the only mistake, that is pretty darn good.

The show was AMAZING. I love my models so so soooo much. This is why I stand firm in my use of my friends as models. We all know I hate "normal" expectations. I'm going to take my theme and run with it, then I'm going to have an amazing time doing it. That includes letting my friends model and take photos. And I'm really happy about that. And I'm really okay with having that weirdo collection, because that's me, and I love it. :)

Cleaned up afterwards (I love you my friends for helping me!!) then off to Buffalo Wild Wings for super late dinner with Clay, Annie, Heather, Lauren, Lindsay and Cody. So much fun. :)

Now I need to work on a paper, but first...PICTURES!!!!

(The collection is called Angler)

"There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being - to help someone succeed.”

We can talk elitism in the Honors College until our lungs give out. Indeed, many of the programs associated with the Honors College have the term "elite" in their description. So we can go on and on about how we believe we are better than everyone else, and we are more privileged, and so on and so forth, but that is playing the elitism card once again. If you truly believe that the way Honors College students are treated is unfair to everyone else, why aren't you doing anything about it? Why have you not started a mentoring program for "regular" students, or worked with the faculty to get "regular" students into research positions? After all, you have been coddled by the Honors College staff for years, so you have the right connections.

We as Honors College students enjoy the perks we have. As a CBHer, I love my exclusive lab. I hold strong to the fact that my hard work and dedication to CBH have deemed me deserving of that privilege, however I understand that it gives me the "elite" status. In that respect, I am okay with that title.

As academic students, we should be at the top of our classes, and we should be heavily involved. We have shown throughout our lives that we can handle a heavy course load, and we are determined to excel. In the academic field, it makes sense for us to be involved in research, tutoring others, and moving on to grad school.

Where this becomes an issue is the point that you sit back on your laurels and say, "I'm an Honors student, now fan me, fan boy." Obviously, we don't have fan boys (yet), but you get the picture. I can understand the frustration with a lot of Honors College programs, because they have yet to DO anything. They are associated with a certain faculty member, or a certain status, therefore they are given what is not necessarily owed to them.

So again, I ask you, what are you planning to do about it? Those of you involved in the SGA, are you going to fight to make sure EVERYONE is heard? Are you going to set up programs to encourage "regular" students to invest in their academics? Fellows, are you going to take the things you learn in the Black Belt and apply them to real life here at the Capstone? Will you realize that the impoverished people you worked with are just like the "regular" students and they just need some guidance and assistance? CBHers, are you going to encourage your non-CBH friends to seek out research opportunities? Will you help them realize how beneficial this can be to them?

We as Honors College students have many doors opened for us, and many opportunities presented to us. Isn't it time we bring others through those doors with us? Shouldn't we be sharing our opportunities with other students?

Use the connections you have made. Use the Honors College as a tool to your success, but don't forget the success of others. Our Honors College means nothing if the University surrounding it falls to pieces. Don't turn an elite blind eye to the world outside of Nott Hall.

As the future President of a non-Honors organization, and the soon to be former treasurer for HCA, my eyes have been opened to how difficult it is to be an organization not backed by departmental money. Fashion, Inc. has to fight and beg for the money to put on high quality fashion shows, and to bring in speakers relevant to our students. However, through everything I have learned in the Honors College, I have been able to make strong connections with other organizations, getting sponsorships for the show and getting over 800 t-shirts donated. It may be a small part, but that's how I'm making a difference outside of the Honors College, while never forgetting all of the perks given to me because of it. How will you make a difference? How will you show the rest of this campus that Honors students don't hold their noses so high that they can't be bothered by "regular" students?

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

Blogger is no place for me at 2:15 in the morning. I'm far too tired and delirious for blogging.

And yet, here I am.

Since about 2 pm Thursday, I have been sewing practically nonstop. I don't recommend saving all of the work you need to get done for a fashion show until the last four days before it. It causes sleepless nights, the messiest apartment you've ever seen, and an unnecessarily high number of finger stabs.

But I'm really happy with how things are turning out. My ideas have changed, of course, as the always do. I'm super pleased with them, though, and I'm getting to a finishing point on most of them. I will have probably close to 10 pieces, with probably five complete looks. Who knows how that happened, or how I pulled it off, but it seems to be going well.

The unfortunate thing is that my already spotty social life has been put almost completely on hold this weekend. I had to miss game night and going out. Boooooo. BUT I'm hoping it will all prove worth it on Tuesday.

In addition to trying to get my collection done, as future president of Fashion, Inc. I've been having to deal with programs, lighting, sound, organization, yada yada yada so that gives me a time crunch as well.

I also have to finish a dress for draping, and by finish I mean start and finish. And then there's that pesky 7 page paper for World Lit that's due Friday.

But let's ignore all of that for now.

After lots of soul searching and blah blah blah, I think I've decided that I'm going to apply to grad school. It's kind of funny how I fell into it. At the research conference (which I won first place in! Woooo!!!) the woman in charge of my college found me after my presentation and told me I need to continue being involved in research and that I really need to look at grad school. I smiled and said thanks, and when I got home I decided to investigate it a little. Turns out, there are several schools in the US that offer a PhD in some aspect of Apparel & Textiles. Can you imagine me with a PhD? Insanity, right? But it would be amazing. I always knew I was meant for more than just a 4 year degree then jumping into the industry. I want to be at the forefront of the industry, creating new, revolutionary things. Sure, I could just go for my Masters, but I want to open up as many avenues as I can. I think maybe someday I would like to teach at the University level. I want the opportunity to change people's lives, not just sit at a desk as an assistant designer hoping in five years I'll move up to associate designer, then someday designer, then maybe if I'm good enough senior designer. I want the intimacy of one-on-one interaction with my designs. While in grad school, I can create my own company, I can create my own designs.

Anywho. With that in mind, I now feel horribly behind. I have to get my portfolio together, I have to take the GRE, I have to figure out what schools to apply to, etc etc. Actually, that last one isn't so bad. The cream of the crop is Cornell, which would be AMAZING, and has the exact program I want. KSU, OSU, Auburn, UGA, UNL, and several others also have good programs. So, I'm going to apply to all of them. Go big or go home, right?

So, there's that. Life plan changing AGAIN. What else is new?

Oh, I got the MRI on my shoulder. It's just bursitis, so no big deal. I'm going to go get a better backpack and hope that helps a bit. I'm looking at the Timbuk2 backpacks. Any thoughts on them?

I just thought of something else I wanted to talk about. But I NEED to sleep. So remind me to tell you next time what I've realized about sorority girls. It's nothing bad, I swear, just a very interesting observation.

So, next time. :)

OH BUT HEY WAIT. Don't forget about Tee Time!

April 19, 2011

7:30 pm

Doster Lawn

$5

Reception to follow with Pie Lab and all garments for sale!

“Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more.”

Life life life. I've been sprinting for the past two weeks and I am TIRED.

I don't really remember the past two weeks, to be honest. I think some important stuff happened, but who knows. My memory is really terrible.

Friday was Honors Day. Mom was supposed to come down but couldn't. I was sad, but she sent me flowers, which made me happy. :) I will always always always love receiving flowers. :)

I had the HES Convocation at 10:30 where I received the Margaret Stough Gold Key Award. That was nice. Then I ran over to Lloyd for the CBH Convocation where I got the Jane Nix Service Award. AKA you work in the office and CBH owns you. Just kidding. It means I love CBH and I work extra hard for them. After that, Annie and I walked over to the mound for tapping. We both got tapped for Mortar Board. Yay. I got the worst tan lines from sitting in the sun for 2+ hours. I wanted to pass out. Oy. After that I came home and worked on my presentation for the rest of the night. So exciting.

Saturday I got up early-ish and Abby and Clay picked me up. We headed to Lake Lurleen to go hiking. I was so excited! After the last two weeks, I needed something fun. We hiked for around 3 hours, 6ish miles, saw a rattle snake and a copperhead, and various other creatures. After that we headed over to the beach area to cool off. That felt amazing. Oh, I hiked in my Chaco's with great success! I'm really loooving these shoes. So yeah. After that, we went over to Mike & Ed's for yummy BBQ. We were all super hungry, and M&E's is delicious! I also downed like 4 giant glasses of water. SO thirsty!

After that, they dropped me off and I passed out for a few hours. I LOVE exhaustion naps. haha they are the best. Then I went over to Heather's to feed the dogs and let them out. They left me some surprises, which I was not too pleased about. Then I came back and worked on my draping dress for the rest of the night. I got A LOT done, which I was so happy about.

Today, I've worked on draping/research presentation/tee time all day. Literally. I woke up at 10 and didn't stop until 10 tonight. Lindsay came over to work on her stuff too, so that helped both of us focus for so long. I loove Lindsay. She, Stephanie and I need to go into business together. Seriously.

So anywho. I'm exhausted and I'm going to get to bed a little early. Tomorrow goes like this: 8 am Vet, 9 am Dr. Wimberley, 10:30 powerpoint turn in, 12 registration, 4 presentation, 5:15 awards, 6-9 sewing lab. Tomorrow will result in a very tired Theresa.