Oh boy, it's time for an update

Friends, it has been far too long since I've updated. Wow. I had no idea it had been September since I had last written down a few of my thoughts. That alone should show how busy I've been this semester!

Where to begin... :)

Early October was Fall Break, and I got to spend it on the Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, working for Lagniappe Presbyterian Church. A group from MSU's RUF went down for a few days and we had a great time building, sheetrocking, lifting walls, building relationships, and exploring New Orleans! Here's our goofy group picture:



In mid-October, I became copy editor at The Reflector. Basically, this means I scour all the pages of the newspaper multiple times before it is printed to find errors; in other words, when there are mistakes printed, it's sometimes my fault. It's teaching me humility (because who likes having their mistakes pointed out for over 12,000 readers to see?) and patience with the other editors. (And oh yeah, since copy editor reads the whole paper, if we print anything libelous or have a lawsuit against us, I'm automatically involved. Yikes.) Prior to this, I had just been a news writer and photographer, so it's been quite an adjustment. I'm in the office ALL THE TIME and am never home for dinner, except on weekends. I really do like it, but it has been a challenge and a huge time consumer. The pay increase has been a God-send and I'm thankful for more time to be salt and light in the newsroom, even though it's difficult. I am sorely outnumbered in the newsroom on multiple levels, one being that I am the only girl among eight guys in the newsroom! (The editor in chief is also a girl, but she has her own office just down the hall from the chaos of the newsroom.)

I also turned 21 mid-October and survived. ;) I had a great time out with friends for dinner (and yes, a first drink) and then my incredible roommates had a ton of people over for cake and ice cream at our apartment, plus they decorated. This roomie made me a crown:



Other than that, things have just stayed constantly busy. School work consumes me (as usual), but I like most of it. I've recently discovered my passion for law (specifically media law) and am looking into the legal field since the journalism market is currently frozen (no hiring whatsoever). I know I don't want to be a lawyer, but I'm looking into the paralegal and legal secretary fields.

I think that's more than enough for now. You know, each semester, I pledge to make better use of my time, stay in touch with family and friends from home, and make some time to rest and chill. I think that last part has happened several times this semester, but the other two areas, eh, not so much. I look forward to being home for the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks to catch up with everyone (and I guess I'm looking forward to a fresh semester so I can make yet another vow to use my time more wisely!). Please keep those blogs and pictures coming - while I don't always make time to write, I do make time to read. :)

Ode to Technology

Oh technology, thou are wonderful and great.
Thou has kept my hands from becoming ink-stained
Thou has enabled me to keep up with my notes electronically
Thou has allowed me to take loads of photographs
Thou has also stored said photographs.
Thou has equipped me to better waste my time on the evil known as Facebook.
Quite frankly, technology,
Thou hast saved my rear many a time.

But tonight, technology, alas, my love has faded
For thou has not kept up with all of my audio recording (which is due tomorrow)
Technology, why must thou plague me this way?
Why must thou refuse to cooperate and lose my material, especially the night before a deadline?
Why, technology, why?
Thou are cruel and unjust
Thou art not dependable
Thou only frustrates and bringeth despair.

Oh technology, tonight, I do not love thee.

I can't believe I did this...

Last Friday night/Saturday morning, I camped out for a chance at getting tickets to Saturday Night Live's season finale (Steve Carell from The Office, John McCain, and Usher). It was fun, but one of the craziest/stupidest things I've done in a LONG time. Friday, we were in class 8:30-1 and then had two deadlines to meet that afternoon. We also had to be in class Saturday morning by 9. What were we thinking...



This is the group of girls: Mary Catherine, Molly, Debs, and yours truly. James and Chris were also with us. And yes, we did get in to the dress rehearsal. It was fun, but it was a pretty dirty episode. Hope they cut some of the nasty stuff out of the real show. Steve Carell is so talented. It was exciting to see John McCain and hey, he's got guts to appear in New York and poke fun of his age on SNL. Usher, um, he is talented and a very attractive man. I think it would be wise for me to leave it at that or I'll run into a rant.

New York is wonderful. I'm blown away by how many opportunities there are here. I'm blessed to live in a "big" city, but I feel like it's a map dot compared to New York. I'm also humbled every day through subtle and not-so-subtle reminders of how much I have to learn - and it's not just journalism.

New York is also cold. I should have brought something other than a sweatshirt and a blazer. (Thank you, Kate! You've seriously aided my professional image..hah.)

Okay, off to keep writing stories. Currently pondering, sorting through, and working on a New York piece that required me going out into a totally unfamiliar place and approaching and interviewing complete strangers. Loved it. (Isn't that crazy? I've never minded talking to complete strangers, but I thought being in an unfamiliar city might really throw me a huge curve ball.) I just wish I had another day or two to better craft my story...but hey, that's always my thought on pretty much every story.

Write about yourself...in 100 words

So I cheated the system a little bit and made this over 100 words. I didn't think I would have any trouble writing my bio for WJI, but it was really hard for me to stick to such a short amount of words! Guess I need to work on being brief...being an English major has trained me to expound upon everything that I know while being a Journalism major has trained me to keep it short and sweet and still get the point across adequately. 

(The assignment was to write a 100 word bio, including journalism background and goals. Try it sometime and see if you go over, too.)

I’m a rising junior from Memphis, Tenn., studying journalism and English at Mississippi State University. I’m a news/online writer and photographer for our campus newspaper. I took newspaper courses in high school, gaining writing, photography and editing experience. I’ve freelanced with The Commercial Appeal and will do so again this summer. 

I plan on attending graduate school and hope to work with a newspaper or magazine, possibly focusing on non-profit and pro-life agencies.

As a Christian, I’m called to seek truth and share it with the world. I can think of no better profession for doing so than journalism.

See, just a glimpse...I guess I just want people to know more about me than just a blurb of 100 words. I thought about making it a string of random thoughts...like so: 

I'm on a first name basis with several of the AT&T hotline phone technicians because I've been through six or seven cell phones in two years. (Honestly, I take really good care of them, but they just stop working!) I've been in the PCA since I was six. I've never been on a roller coaster - just the thought of riding one scares me. I've lived in Memphis all my life and have never been to Graceland, but I've visited Graceland Too in Holly Springs, Miss. at least four times! I have a Mac and I'm never going back. I have arthritis and can't find my wrist brace at the moment...really hoping it's still packed in one of my boxes from moving back home from college. I have a learning disability that is frustrating but has taught and forced me to work hard in many aspects of life, especially school. I'm incredibly afraid of heights. I wouldn't dive into water or light a match until I was about 11. (Not sure exactly why. I guess I was scared?) I don't mind if you ask me questions about being adopted; in fact, I love telling people! I'm named after my great grandmother, and yes, if you forget my name, I'll answer to Audra, Aubrey, Audrey, Auburn, even Anna, but I would love it if you could remember my name. I think beautiful buildings, especially old churches, are wonderful. Probably 70 percent of my wardrobe is blue. I use guy's deodorant because it works better. I can't memorize to save my life. My jaw is completely out of alignment and I have TMJ, but I still love smiling, even though it's very crooked. I love my Trinity Hymnal. You'll be my new best friend if you can make me laugh. I have the most incredible family and home church in the world. I love going to a huge SEC school and I don't feel like I'm simply a number at a school of 16,000 (-ish) students. I love being from the South. Yes, my hair is naturally that curly and no, I've never colored it. Instead of reading me bedtime stories or singing to me, my daddy read my the children's catechism at night before bed (starting the day I came home for the first time!). I have Raynaud's, so it's okay/normal when my fingers and toes turn death blue or blood red. I'm incredibly allergic to MSG. I think it's really sad that Russians don't have/don't eat peanut butter. I'm a major night owl and can function for days with no sleep.

Okay, that's definitely enough and way more than anyone wants to read. Someone else needs to give bio writing a try while I keep reading my books and writing my other essays!

P.S. Got to attend a Derek Webb/Sandra McCracken concert in Memphis last night at Otherlands. They're incredible. If you're looking for new music, check them out.

I want to do anything but study

I realize this isn't a "thoughtful" post, but it will be awhile before I can sit down for some time to really think about things going on...

I'm nearing the end of my semester. It's crazy that I'm almost finished with my sophomore year. I still remember being the confused, lost freshman on a campus with countless buildings and a study body of around 16,000. Where has the time gone? Have I used it wisely? What do I have to show for my two years here? Where have I invested myself and do I need to continue those investments for my remaining two years? Where have I spent my time to further the Kingdom? What investments have helped me grow in my walk with the Lord? What investments have I made to serve others and make a difference in their lives? 

I keep telling everyone that I can't wait for summer and honestly, I'm really excited about it: family, New York, freelancing, maybe a new job, home church, reuniting with best friends, reading for enjoyment and not for school, being back in a big city. Despite all these things, it hit me last week how much I'm going to miss the things at school: all my incredible friends, RUF, the wonderful girls in community group, core group, random walks around campus, late night "exploration expeditions" of campus, staying up ridiculously late for various reasons, meeting new people, music team, 525, being able to walk almost anywhere that I need to go. I felt the same "torn" feeling going in to last summer, but I was really almost too busy at home last summer to think about feeling torn between the two places.

Anyway, moving on to this week. Maybe posting all this will help me get my thoughts together and relieve some stress of having it all in my head? 

Today: Missed first class because I overslept. I think this is the first time that's ever happened. Met with a professor for help with one of the 10-page papers. Now on to writing newspaper interview questions, calling sources, setting up interviews; studying for cumulative AP Style test and current events quiz (last one of the year!); start Latin word list/final; work on two 10-page papers

Tuesday: The test and quiz; meet with a professor to get double major dropped to a single major (hooray!); continue with article, Latin, and papers

Wednesday: Latin quiz; college's cookout (serving); RUF banquet for the seniors (serving); studying like mad for an exam the next day

Thursday: 19th Century British Novels final exam; continue working on papers and Latin; study for Mass Media test; meet with a professor about the first paper; meet with the Writing Center to have a tutor examine said paper; RUF luau party/Suicidal Margarine farewell concert (I'm sad to think that I'll probably be missing that last event for the second year in a row)

Friday: One paper due; Mass Media test; Latin list/exam due; run a friend around town; keep writing my last paper of the semester

This week is going to be difficult, but so will everyone else's (probably?), and hey, it's life. (And all this makes exam week look a LOT better.) And as several sweet friends have reminded me, God is always faithful to give me the strength to complete everything that He has called me to do (even if it means not sleeping for a few nights).

God is good!

Got my approval for a freelance contract this summer that will enable to get my classroom fee waived for summer journalism school (assuming I get in)---thank you, Jesus!

Also received confirmation/peace/direction about changing one of my majors to a minor last night. Wow, what an incredible feeling of relief! I'm sticking with a Journalism major and an English minor...I'll hopefully go next week to figure out how that changes my courses for the next two years. 

Just wanted to share that good news! :) God is good!