december | Sparkle and Shine

I can’t believe 2013 is already over.

I know that it’s been over for about a week now, but I have been working on this for so long, and so hard, to come up with the perfect lessons that I have realized and that could really summarize life as a 19 year old.

So here they are – what I learned in 2013!

1. January – Keep on dreaming!

My parents taught me to always dream, believe in my dreams, and work towards them. My biggest dream is to be an NBC broadcaster. In January of 2013, some of my college best friends and I went to the beautiful New York City (which you all know from this post!) I made my friends wake up super early, so we can be there to see them shoot part of “The Today Show.” My friends are so supportive of me, so they were there super early with me to watch the show be filmed. They even snapped this (candid) pic of me day dreaming into the studio. No matter what, I will keep my dreams alive in my heart because I believe one day, I will reach them!

2. February – You can ALWAYS make the best of ANY situation!

Connecticut found Nemo during February, resulting in no class for week at Quinnipiac. Instead of thinking of the negatives of one of the worst snow storms we have ever seen, my best friends and I all made the best of it. We had snowball fights, movie marathons, and even dug some igloos. We may have even Pamed up a cookie sheet to try and go sledding…which may or may not have ended badly. Either way, with the right people around you, you can always make the best of any situation! Keep to the positives and the situation itself will be positive.

3. March – Seize every opportunity possible, not only because of what you can get out of it, but it creates incredible memories.

In life, I have realized I don’t want to just sit back as an 80 year old woman and re-call worthless memories. I want to look back on my life and tell of all of the incredible experiences I have had. You can’t take anything for granted, so you must seize opportunities. In March, I attended a college journalism conference. There, NBC host Willie Geist, spoke to us college aged journalists. NBC is my dream job, as I mentioned earlier, so when Mr. Geist asked if anyone had any questions, I immediately came up with something (I honestly can’t even remember it because I was so star struck when I go onto the microphone to introduce myself and ask him). As soon as I was done, I also wanted to meet him. My sister, Nikki, who also asked a question, also wanted to meet him. So, when he was walking off the stage, we just simply ASKED him. Next thing we knew, we had not only a (dark) picture, but a line of people behind us. I proudly will admit that I seized the opportunity to ask one of my journalism heroes a question AND get a picture with him!

4. April – Show your school pride – because you won’t always be in college.

When you’re 35 years old, it isn’t socially acceptable to be sporting your college’s tee shirt, rioting, and screaming your pride to be whatever animal your school is. You’ll just be given the odd glances and eye rolls deeming you to be stuck in your college years. However, you still are in your college years! Cheer for your school, wear your school colors, hey, paint your face or even your body. Quinnipiac went to the finals for the Frozen Four last year, where our whole campus came together to cheer on our school. Once you graduate college, you’re in something called “the real world” (yuck.) So get all your school pride out while you’re still in college. For Quinnipiac, that even results in a riot or two. #bobcatpride

5. May – Cross things off your bucket list, no matter how “unlike you” it may be.

So, I’ve always wanted to go fishing. Yes, me – the girl who only likes the outdoors if she’s at the beach and is scared of any animal that she doesn’t consider “cute.” Yet, for some reason, I’ve always wanted go fishing. ANY boy, even family members, would NEVER take me for as long as I can remember, claiming I was going to be “too loud” for the fish or some other excuse they could come up with. My best friend Connor finally took me fishing! We had to climb through woods (which included a lot of rocks,trees, and bugs-oh my!), but finally got to his special fishing spot. Before I knew it, I had cast my line into the water and I was catching fish. Don’t just create a bucket list – but accomplish what is on it. There will be no better feeling to be able to cross it off your list. Don’t be afraid, no matter how “unlike you,” it may be – because hey, I’m a fishing natural, according to Connor!

6. June – Real friendship doesn’t let time or distance come in between it.

One of the hardest parts about going away to college was being separated from my best friend, Julia. There were not enough phone calls, Facetimes, or text messages to make up for the fact that we couldn’t be together 24/7, like we normally are. Coming home felt like no time had passed – we were still as close as ever, not that I could ever, ever doubt that anything could come between us. Because with real friendship, nothing can ever come between it. You’ll realize who your friends are. They’re the friends who become family and soul sisters. The people you can tell anything to. They become your person, in Grey’s Anatomy terms. And nothing can come between that. It won’t be just like any friendship – when it’s your BFF soulmate, you’ll know. Cherish it. I do.

7. July – Live despite your fears and what scares you to death.

My girl Taylor Swift preaches such incredible quotes and lyrics about life and love. One of my favorites is, ““To me, Fearless is not the absense of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.” On July 13, I went to a Taylor Swift concert with my friends Kate and Tori. Being there, for my second ever T. Swift concert, just put this quote more into aspects. Taylor faces love, heart break, and haters all the time. However, she lets no obstacle stop her in life because she is fearless. Everyone needs to be fearless. More importantly, everyone can be.

8. August – Take the time out to visit true friends.

When I first moved to my town in the seventh grade, Sarah was my first best friend. Now, as sophomores in college, we are still best friends. Since then, Sarah has moved about an hour away. On top of that, I go to college about two hours away. So on average, we are away from each other by three hours. However, summer is the time when we can really see each other. Taking days off of work to visit Sarah was so worth it. They say friendship that lasts more than six years last forever, and we hit six years. I know Sarah and I will always be friends, especially since we have had plenty of long talks discussing our future weddings. In today’s day and age, we are always stressed and running from place to place. Take time out of the busy schedule to catch up with each other and visit each other. I am so thankful that Sarah and I can make our friendship work as we grow older. Take it from us- Friendly’s is a great place for BFF dates!

9. September – Be a little bit devil, but a little bit angel.

Sing along with me, readers: THERE’S A…LITTLE BIT OF DEVIL IN HER ANGEL EYES. In September, I saw “Love and Theft” perform. Of course they performed their hit song, “Angel Eyes.” So be a little bit wild, but find the happy medium of the good girl. Make mistakes, because you will learn from them. So, have fun. Let your guard down. Take chances and talk to new people. Just be aware of the thin line that exists. Don’t cross it. Be a happy balance between a bit of a devil, and a bit of an angel.

10. October: Halloween is the one day of the year you can be whatever you want to be, so seize the opportunity.

Halloween allows you to be whoever you want. Not everyday can I walk around as Tom Cruise from “Risky Business” (no matter how comfortable it may be) or a construction worker, like I did this year. In college, Halloween turns into a weekend, sometimes week long, event. Get dressed up. Be whatever you want. Nothing is off limits. Once your out of college, it won’t be socially acceptable to dress up. The office probably won’t want you to be walking around as “The Morning After,” will it?

11. November: A little party never killed nobody.

In November, I had my “Great Gatsby” themed semi formal. From it, I learned to go out and have fun. A party is a night where you can throw all your cares to the wind and be carefree. Take a moment out of the stressful life to de-stress and have fun. More importantly, do it big. Dress up, do your makeup and hair, and take as many pictures. These are memories you will always want to remember. There’s always time tomorrow to study for that test on Monday. There always going to be day for you to hangout in bed, but there won’t always be a themed party, or any party for that matter.

12. December: No matter your age, holidays are the perfect time with family.

Family is the most important thing to me. My mom is one of my best friends and I text/call/Snapchat/Facetime my family members all the time. As much as I love school, it was incredible to be home for the holidays. Now that I am older, I realize how much the holidays are about catching up with your family and realizing how blessed you really are. Family is the greatest blessing you have. Talking about all our memories we have together and being able to see each other was amazing. When you’re little, you think of your family as a necessity – they feed you, give you a home, and put clothes on your back. Now, as an adult, I realize how family is much more important for the soul.