Last week I participated in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia’s rush week. Phi Mu Alpha is a national fraternity with its objective being to advancing music in America. Now, these rush events are a completely different experience now that I am a collegiate member than they seemed when I was thinking about joining. There was a great deal of planning involved in preparing the events and deciding who to take as a little brother. Each day of the past week was a different rush event, all of which turned out to be successful.
On Monday we served French Toast to students as they walked to class. This event is always popular because it is free for the students. It was nice being able to meet some of the prospective brothers.
Tuesday we played dodge ball in the gym which was a lot of fun. Many people came for this event so we had fairly large teams. Regardless, it was a lot of fun pegging my friends with the ball.
As the week continued to progress we had other exciting events such as capture the flag and a cookout. Friday morning was the most important day to me because the brothers had to give a recital outside so that students walking to class could hear us. Because I am the music director for the fraternity, I was privileged to direct the choir and run rehearsals. This was a great experience for me because this will benefit me as a music educator in the future.
All of these events led to Sunday night, that actual pinning ceremony. Now i cannot give you all the details, but this is the night that we select who will join the fraternity and we officially pin our little brothers. Each current member is assigned a little because we are to act as their mentors until they become full members. Last week was crazy but I enjoyed every moment of it.

It’s hard to believe that I am already a senior! How incredibly bittersweet it is. As the reality of graduation begins to set in, I feel both overwhelmingly excited, and yet slightly nervous about what’s to come. I think the biggest challenge for me this year will be allocating sufficient time to both academic and personal commitments. Acquiring that balance will be critical to making the most of this, my senior year.
After having lived on-campus for the last three years, I decided to move off-campus this year. The house I am renting is a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom, located just a few minutes from campus. It’s definitely within walking distance…although I still can’t get up early enough to be able to take advantage of that. I love living here, because it has given me a whole new set of responsibilities and helps me feel like I’ve finally “planted my roots” in Nashville. (I am also super excited about having trick-or-treaters this Halloween!)

Classes are going well so far; surprisingly, my main focus right now is not on schoolwork! I’m in the process of completing my application to Belmont’s Occupational Therapy program. One of the components of the application is to obtain 50 hours of observation in the field. I have absolutely LOVED being able to job shadow because it has just solidified that this is, in fact, what I want to do for the rest of my life. I especially loved shadowing at Pediatric Therapies, located in Franklin.
In addition to babysitting, I’ve also been working part-time at The Friends Shop — the gift shop at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. It’s such a great job, and a totally new experience for me.
All in all, it’s turing out to be a busy (yet wonderful) semester!

It is finally the 1st of August! Its kind of weird to say this, but I can’t wait for classes to start. I am ready for these summer classes to end and for my normal, busy schedule to begin. My Medieval class ended last Tuesday which I was excited about. The class was interesting but having a four hour history class once a week got annoying. My third year writing class is ending this coming Thursday after I complete my ten page research paper on film music. Then my junior cornerstone will be complete the following Tuesday.
This summer overall, has been very productive. It was nice having a job, getting 9 credits out of the way, and
improving on my playing skills. Lucky, Dr. Kraus asked me a few weeks ago whether I would help out with Belmont’s first youth symphony by filling in on bass clarinet. This defenitely helped me improve my skills on the instrument and I also got to met some talented students. Working at camps like this simply confirm my chose of being a music education major.
So I guess I am going to be a junior soon. Well technically, I am a junior right now and am half way done with my undergradute degree. So plans for the future? I know for sure I want to go to graduate school as soon as I graduate from Belmont. I also know that I want to pursue an orchestral conducting masters, which they unfortunately do not offer here at Belmont. I have also been toying with the idea of getting a masters in classical voice as well because I have always wanted to refine my singing and maybe even become of professional singer some day. For now though, I still have time to think about my next stage in life…

Last Saturday I went to see Imogen Heap at the Ryman, here in Nashville TN. Now, I only knew one song from her
album but after that concert I was one of her biggest fans.
I recieved free tickets from one of my friends, Matt, to see her in concert. He actually got to perform a piece with her on stage. He is in a group called “We Are Nashville” and they performed an acappella version of her song Earth. The group had won a contest on youtube in which hundreds of people submitted their best acappella arrangement and recording of the piece. The group chosen by Imogen got to perform with her on stage. Matt’s group actually won the contest.
Part of the prize for winning was that they got to open for Imogen Heap. This was a great opportunity for the group to get there name out there. I know that the audience loved the group and i expect to hear of more opportunities for them to perform.

This week I registered for classes for my SENIOR year of COLLEGE. I can’t believe that this time next year I will be graduating. It’s crazy!! Seems like just yesterday I was pulling up to Wright Hall and unloading my Mercury Sable…oh, how time flies.
When I reflect on what I’ve learned over the course of my last three years at Belmont, I don’t think about anything subject-related. (For example, “accumulated depreciation,” certainly isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.) What I do think about are the friends I’ve made and the many memories we’ve shared. I also recall the numerous experiences in which I was forced to “put on my big girl panties” and grow up. (There have been quite a few of those — the most challenging one being when I spent 24 hours in the JFK airport after having spent a semester in Spain!)
Yesterday, my friend Kelly and I were recalling how we first met. We had both signed up for the same group project in Abnormal Psychology, so we spent quite a few hours preparing PowerPoint slides and practicing our presentation together. I remember her inviting me to have breakfast at her house one Saturday, but I couldn’t because I was working on the Virtual Campus Tour. I was so disappointed to have to turn down the invitation, and I hoped she would want to hang out again! After that, we started taking walks together and ended up keeping in touch all summer, despite the fact that we were 500+ miles apart. When she came to visit me (and her grandparents, who conveniently live five miles away from my house in KC) in early-August, we spent the week singing to Rascal Flatts, sun-tanning, cooking, hanging out with my family, and — always — laughing. It was truly one of the best weeks of my life.
I ended up getting a C in Abnormal Psychology, which means I’l have to take it again next Spring in order to apply for Occupational Therapy school (I need all As and Bs in my prerequisite classes for OT). However, like I told Kelly yesterday, the first time I took Abnormal Psychology, I wasn’t destined to make an A or a B; I was destined to meet her.
I want to leave you with an excerpt from the very first blog entry I wrote. These words are still as true as they were three years ago…
“Let me preface this entry by saying that these past three weeks at Belmont have been absolutely life-changing for me. There is no way I could possibly express how welcomed I have felt since my first day here or how much I love everything about this place. One consistent characteristic of Belmont, and perhaps what I love most about it, is the genuine hospitality of everyone here. People make eye contact with each other. Strangers greet each other with a ‘Hey! How are you?’ There is just such a sense of community and optimism here and I love being a part of it.”

I can’t believe it! Graduation is finally within sight! It’s crazy how quickly these past four years have gone! It hasn’t been perfect and definitely not without mistakes and bumps along the way, but looking back over the last four years I’m very happy with the person I’ve become and where I’m going as I leave Belmont.
I landed a full time job as a freelance writer (an English major’s dream) and am going to work on that, try to publish some of the articles/stories, and continue writing grants for local nonprofit organizations. With the economy in the state it is in, it’s very difficult to find a decent post-grad job right now and I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given. A few weeks ago I was very stressed out about getting a job, but I was actually approached by a connection I made as a Belmont student that offered me the position. I am so thrilled!
As excited as I am for the future as I’ve ever been and I’m always going to be happy to look back on my time as at Belmont as a time of great growth. I’m not the same girl I was checking into Hail Hall on move-in day 2006, but now I’m a woman who is confident in herself and has been given the tools to succeed. In the next few years I’m going to be pursuing my Masters degree and hopefully finish up a book.

I’m looking forward to graduation ceremony where I know I’ll be surrounded by faces of classmates and hopefully I’ll be able to introduce my parents to a few of my favorite professors. More than anything though, I’m looking forward to the days when I will be able to think back to the moment I cross the stage as I am handed my diploma as a closing of one chapter of life and the beginning of a new one. Here’s to going from here to anywhere!

I can’t believe it! Graduation is finally within sight! It’s crazy how quickly these past four years have gone! It hasn’t been perfect and definitely not without mistakes and bumps along the way, but looking back over the last four years I’m very happy with the person I’ve become and where I’m going as I leave Belmont.
I landed a full time job as a freelance writer (an English major’s dream) and am going to work on that, try to publish some of the articles/stories, and continue writing grants for local nonprofit organizations. With the economy in the state it is in, it’s very difficult to find a decent post-grad job right now and I’m very thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given. A few weeks ago I was very stressed out about getting a job, but I was actually approached by a connection I made as a Belmont student that offered me the position. I am so thrilled!
As excited as I am for the future as I’ve ever been and I’m always going to be happy to look back on my time as at Belmont as a time of great growth. I’m not the same girl I was checking into Hail Hall on move-in day 2006, but now I’m a woman who is confident in herself and has been given the tools to succeed. In the next few years I’m going to be pursuing my Masters degree and hopefully finish up a book.
I’m looking forward to graduation ceremony where I know I’ll be surrounded by faces of classmates and hopefully I’ll be able to introduce my parents to a few of my favorite professors. More than anything though, I’m looking forward to the days when I will be able to think back to the moment I cross the stage as I am handed my diploma as a closing of one chapter of life and the beginning of a new one. Here’s to going from here to anywhere!

In the midst of what is – without a doubt – the craziest time of the year, it was nice to take a break and spend the weekend with my mom. She and one of her friends came to visit me, allowing me to be their personal Nashville tour guide for a few days. In return, they offered me much-needed emotional support and encouragement to finish the semester strong. (They also treated me to a few meals, which is always very much appreciated!) It was a perfect weekend.
When they arrived on Friday, I took them to Belmont for a quick tour of the campus. Next, we picked up my best friend, Kelly, and the four of us enjoyed a delicious lunch at one of my new favorite places: Star Bagel.
They have this incredible Peanut Butter, Honey, Granola, & Banana wrap…it is TO DIE FOR. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Really. Anyway, after lunch, we drove around downtown Nashville before heading to Radnor Lake for an afternoon walk. I had never been to Radnor before, but now I’m not sure I will be able to keep myself from going daily! Everything is so peaceful and beautiful there; it’s the perfect escape.
Friday night we ate at J. Alexander’s, taking our time to enjoy great food and great company.
After that, we called it an early night so that we could get up and go to Pancake Pantry the next morning! The line was long, as per usual, but it was completely worth it (as per usual). From there, we went to downtown Franklin to shop and enjoy the spectacular weather. Since Saturday was Earth Day, there was a celebration in Centennial that included live music, so we went to check it out. We had a wonderful time! Later that night, we visited the Gaylord Opryland hotel and Opry Mills Mall.
On Sunday, we went to church, shopped for a few hours, and then my mom and her friend went to the Bluebird Café. I had been planning on joining them, but ended up feeling sick so I decided to take a nap. The girls left early yesterday morning and I miss them already! It’s nice knowing that I will be home in less than three weeks, but I still have so much do to before the end of the semester comes!

These past few weeks have been crazy! Thankfully, however, Spring is finally here! That means just a few more weeks until graduation!
My boyfriend, J. L. has been recording a lot lately with our friend, Josh. They’re working on finishing up a record that will hopefully be finished later this month. We used to record with Josh at the Belmont Studios, but since Josh got an internship with a local producer, he is allowed to use his facilities for free! This studio is where Sixpence None the Richer recorded their debut album (ever hear the song “Kiss Me”? Yeah. It was recorded here!)
There have been a lot of late nights, but it’s been really fun and time flies when you’re with friends who love what they’re doing!

Apart from that, I’ve just been busy searching for jobs and getting school wrapped up! Thankfully, I’ve been able to enjoy some of this wonderful sunshine! Here is a picture from Dragon Park (which is right near Belmont.)

Happy Easter!

Yesterday, my friend Ateia and I drove to Memphis for the day. Although I was born in Memphis, we moved when I was a month old and I hadn’t been back since.The combination of good music, beautiful weather, delicious food, and great conversations made for a perfect day! We started out by visiting Germantown (Ateia and I tend to be drawn to malls), then visited Baptist Memorial Hospital(where I was born!), then ate a yummy lunch at Neely’s BBQ, and headed downtown for the rest of the evening. Downtown Memphis reminded me of a cross between Nashville and Kansas City. So I felt right at home! Ateia and I estimated that we each spent about $40 on gas and food, which is very reasonable for a day-trip! Next semester we’re planning to go to Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Not having classes yesterday or today has been VERY nice. Not only has it given me the opportunity to catch up on homework (an opportunity that I have yet to take advantage of…), but it has also allowed me to reflect on the final days of Lent. I’m spending the rest of the weekend at a friend’s house, and celebrating Easter with them.
The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, so I’m going to try to spend as much time outside as possible! I’m loving being able to roll the windows down in my car and let the warm wind comb my hair as I sing along to Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts. Allergies are a small price to pay for the splendid springtime beauty.