I have been quietly trying to build up my credentials for a few months now, setting the stage for an alternative to mass e-mails come August as well as a solid career leap and an outlet for all of my opinions that do not fit into the school newspaper. I feel that now, for a number of reasons, it is finally time to propel my blog into the public eye.
Perhaps most importantly, I will now be a member of the Free Spirit Network. A certain series of events really propelled me to this launch:
A newspaper article that I wrote for the teen section of the Charleston Gazette one year ago recently won First Place in the Personality Profile category of the Newspaper Association of America's Youth Content awards. That is a fun fact, but even more fun is the ensuing story: the original article was (apparently) reprinted in Saturday morning's Charleston paper. Since I don't subscribe, I was doubly surprised to receive an e-mail with a subject beginning "FSN: Emily Barksdale" (very exciting, as it is the first of its kind that I have received) from a Furman alumnus - not such a common occurrence in West Virginia - who was not only congratulating me on my achievement but making further relative connections.
What a small world! And it must have all been thanks to an Internet search pulling up my bio on the Free Spirit Network. How's THAT for networking?
Well, that's really all that I had to say. Feel free to comment, peruse past entries, subscribe, comment, tell your friends, comment - you know the drill.
03 June 2009
14 May 2009
Oh, I believe in Yesterday
I was having a lot of...feelings...yesterday, but am just now getting around to posting them.
Yesterday was a strange kind of day; it left me wanting to do everything and nothing all at once, to be surrounded by people yet alone. I think that it had something to do with the weather.
It was absolutely perfect outside: sunny, about 70 degrees, low humidity...blue skies, white clouds, green grass, blossoming flowers, tall trees - you know the deal. I mean, it’s Furman. I had initially been apprehensive about the day’s weather - not that I had had anything planned, but the day before had been very out-of-character for May in Greenville: chilly, overcast, and windy.
Anyway, it was nice. After class, I ate lunch with Melissa - outside, at my suggestion, and then went to visit the other Melissa. She had to go to class, so I came back to my room. I then took some packages to mail after stopping by the library; after that, I trekked to North Village to retrieve my purchased bike.
The entire bike escapade was just awkward: at first, I couldn’t find it, and then, I was barely tall enough to get on the seat. In addition, I was wearing a skirt and a tote bag. When I finally got going, though, and had a few odd seconds to enjoy the ride, is when that above-mentioned feeling came over me.
I was by myself, but I wasn’t lonely. That in itself wasn’t odd, because I’ve felt that way before. However, I all at once wanted to do so much yet just be. I ended up doing a mix of things: talking to the maintenance guy, taking a receipt to Andrew and sitting in his office for a bit, taking a nap, watching the news, etc.
It wasn’t a strange day, really. Sure, a little less happened than what I would usually have on my plate, but that’s not out of the ordinary for this term, from what I’ve seen thus far. I just can’t forget that feeling.
Yesterday was a strange kind of day; it left me wanting to do everything and nothing all at once, to be surrounded by people yet alone. I think that it had something to do with the weather.
It was absolutely perfect outside: sunny, about 70 degrees, low humidity...blue skies, white clouds, green grass, blossoming flowers, tall trees - you know the deal. I mean, it’s Furman. I had initially been apprehensive about the day’s weather - not that I had had anything planned, but the day before had been very out-of-character for May in Greenville: chilly, overcast, and windy.
Anyway, it was nice. After class, I ate lunch with Melissa - outside, at my suggestion, and then went to visit the other Melissa. She had to go to class, so I came back to my room. I then took some packages to mail after stopping by the library; after that, I trekked to North Village to retrieve my purchased bike.
The entire bike escapade was just awkward: at first, I couldn’t find it, and then, I was barely tall enough to get on the seat. In addition, I was wearing a skirt and a tote bag. When I finally got going, though, and had a few odd seconds to enjoy the ride, is when that above-mentioned feeling came over me.
I was by myself, but I wasn’t lonely. That in itself wasn’t odd, because I’ve felt that way before. However, I all at once wanted to do so much yet just be. I ended up doing a mix of things: talking to the maintenance guy, taking a receipt to Andrew and sitting in his office for a bit, taking a nap, watching the news, etc.
It wasn’t a strange day, really. Sure, a little less happened than what I would usually have on my plate, but that’s not out of the ordinary for this term, from what I’ve seen thus far. I just can’t forget that feeling.
12 May 2009
A little MORE conversation
I feel as if I have been driving back and forth between college and home a lot lately. Unfortunately, it was only on this most recent return trip that I discovered talk radio.
Sure, I had known of its existence before, but my only recollections of talk radio up to Sunday were of annoying morning shows and boring subject matter. However, Sunday, my cell phone was dead, and my music supply from my iPod and CDs was, believe it or not, all but exhausted. Thus, I turned to my XM - never a bad choice, but after switching between the same five or ten stations for a few hours, you tend to hear the same songs. Finally, I began to spin the dial and scan all the way up into the 100s. Aha: talk radio.
From Cosmo to Oprah to medical shows to NPR to news to sports (probably in that order), I think that XM and its shows were my savior this weekend. I was tired, I was in a funny mood, and I had been driving for hours with absolutely no contact with the outside world. However, when I began to listen to a talk radio segment, the minutes suddenly seemed to fly by and turn into hours that brought me closer to my second home.
No longer do I see talk radio as annoying or boring. Sure, I have my preferences, and some shows are definitely better than others, but I actually found myself wishing that I had a car charger or at least some semblance of battery life in my new cell phone so that I could call in and chat. I disagreed, I laughed, I learned, and I actually look somewhat forward to my next long car ride.
Sure, I had known of its existence before, but my only recollections of talk radio up to Sunday were of annoying morning shows and boring subject matter. However, Sunday, my cell phone was dead, and my music supply from my iPod and CDs was, believe it or not, all but exhausted. Thus, I turned to my XM - never a bad choice, but after switching between the same five or ten stations for a few hours, you tend to hear the same songs. Finally, I began to spin the dial and scan all the way up into the 100s. Aha: talk radio.
From Cosmo to Oprah to medical shows to NPR to news to sports (probably in that order), I think that XM and its shows were my savior this weekend. I was tired, I was in a funny mood, and I had been driving for hours with absolutely no contact with the outside world. However, when I began to listen to a talk radio segment, the minutes suddenly seemed to fly by and turn into hours that brought me closer to my second home.
No longer do I see talk radio as annoying or boring. Sure, I have my preferences, and some shows are definitely better than others, but I actually found myself wishing that I had a car charger or at least some semblance of battery life in my new cell phone so that I could call in and chat. I disagreed, I laughed, I learned, and I actually look somewhat forward to my next long car ride.
04 May 2009
Goodbye, FU...kind of
My friends are all leaving. Finals at FU are coming to an end, and all but about 450 of us are heading home. Well, even we are going home for the weekend, but the point is that, as much rejoicing (LDOC, anyone?) and packing (clothes, mostly) I have done and bittersweetness I have felt, come Monday, I'll be in class again.
I am feeling a number of emotions at the moment: excitement and anticipation for my May X class, sadness to see my friends go, anxiousness of having to make new friends in May, disgust with having two more exams, exhaustion at the prospect of a busy few days at home after a busy few weeks here and then hardly any turnaround...mostly, I'm looking forward to working at Bridges this summer. I also am ridiculously tired from my work-out today: I literally came back in after a walk from the PAC to the dorm in the pouring rain and collapsed on our floor. Before I can let any of this digest, though, I need to actually pass said final exams. I'm off to eat dinner and study.
I am feeling a number of emotions at the moment: excitement and anticipation for my May X class, sadness to see my friends go, anxiousness of having to make new friends in May, disgust with having two more exams, exhaustion at the prospect of a busy few days at home after a busy few weeks here and then hardly any turnaround...mostly, I'm looking forward to working at Bridges this summer. I also am ridiculously tired from my work-out today: I literally came back in after a walk from the PAC to the dorm in the pouring rain and collapsed on our floor. Before I can let any of this digest, though, I need to actually pass said final exams. I'm off to eat dinner and study.
24 April 2009
Late night thoughts
My posts keep getting later and later...
I guess that maybe now would be an appropriate time to explain my sleeping habits: firstly, let it be known that I LIKE SLEEP. I would not go so far as to say that I am in love with sleep, as it sometimes has negative effects on my work habits, but I may be involved in a love affair with it, staying with it as late as possible - I'll give you that. However, over the years and especially the past few months here at college, I've discovered that I really just am a night owl. No matter how hard I try, productivity and concentration are very difficult tasks for me during daylight hours, especially when I am left to my own devices and self-discipline - or lack thereof. So, I figure, why not sleep late, take naps, and stay up until all hours? I am currently testing this hypothesis. Results have been positive and conclusive thus far. I will keep you updated, for sure - we'll have to examine how this theory works with a full-time, paying job in the summer and early morning classes in the fall. =P
I really do not have a lot to say in this post; I have some news and updates, though. Is that even intersting to you? Oh, well. Quickly:
1.) I went home for a funeral last week of a high school friend. Prepare for more, longer, and hopefully better-articulated thoughts to come on this.
2.) As you may have gathered, I found a job for this summer! I will be a Counselor with Bridges to a Brighter Future, a college entrance program at my university for economically disadvantaged youth. I will be employed for one week of training followed by four weeks of service in June and July. Initially, I was a bit hesitant, despite the rave reviews that I had heard from previous participants who now go here, but after a sort of orientation session last week, I am SO EXCITED! Perks include: working with amazing people. Additional perks include: stipend, free housing, sea kayaking, half of the summer off, etc. I assure you that you will hear more about this in the future.
And now, for a little segment that I like to call "Frequently Asked Questions" - known more commonly as "Questions that have probably never been posed to me in my life, but that came to mind; therefore, I felt obliged to answer":
Favorite punctuation mark? This is a tie between the semicolon and the dash; I feel that both have very unique and legitimate uses - I probably use the dash slightly more often, though; it may, in fact, be more versatile, while the semicolon is just the cool, glasses-wearing, Mac-using uncle of the comma, of which I'm also a huge fan.
Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot in your mouth? Why, yes - yes, I can. Thank you for asking.
What does your desk look like? Currently? It's rather messy. In fact, here:
However, I rarely ever let it get this way; I just brought in a lot of stuff today from the DH and UC in between classes and such. Usually, it looks a lot like this:
So, I just cleaned it. bwahaha
Bedtime?
I guess that maybe now would be an appropriate time to explain my sleeping habits: firstly, let it be known that I LIKE SLEEP. I would not go so far as to say that I am in love with sleep, as it sometimes has negative effects on my work habits, but I may be involved in a love affair with it, staying with it as late as possible - I'll give you that. However, over the years and especially the past few months here at college, I've discovered that I really just am a night owl. No matter how hard I try, productivity and concentration are very difficult tasks for me during daylight hours, especially when I am left to my own devices and self-discipline - or lack thereof. So, I figure, why not sleep late, take naps, and stay up until all hours? I am currently testing this hypothesis. Results have been positive and conclusive thus far. I will keep you updated, for sure - we'll have to examine how this theory works with a full-time, paying job in the summer and early morning classes in the fall. =P
I really do not have a lot to say in this post; I have some news and updates, though. Is that even intersting to you? Oh, well. Quickly:
1.) I went home for a funeral last week of a high school friend. Prepare for more, longer, and hopefully better-articulated thoughts to come on this.
2.) As you may have gathered, I found a job for this summer! I will be a Counselor with Bridges to a Brighter Future, a college entrance program at my university for economically disadvantaged youth. I will be employed for one week of training followed by four weeks of service in June and July. Initially, I was a bit hesitant, despite the rave reviews that I had heard from previous participants who now go here, but after a sort of orientation session last week, I am SO EXCITED! Perks include: working with amazing people. Additional perks include: stipend, free housing, sea kayaking, half of the summer off, etc. I assure you that you will hear more about this in the future.
And now, for a little segment that I like to call "Frequently Asked Questions" - known more commonly as "Questions that have probably never been posed to me in my life, but that came to mind; therefore, I felt obliged to answer":
Favorite punctuation mark? This is a tie between the semicolon and the dash; I feel that both have very unique and legitimate uses - I probably use the dash slightly more often, though; it may, in fact, be more versatile, while the semicolon is just the cool, glasses-wearing, Mac-using uncle of the comma, of which I'm also a huge fan.
Can you tie a cherry stem in a knot in your mouth? Why, yes - yes, I can. Thank you for asking.
What does your desk look like? Currently? It's rather messy. In fact, here:
However, I rarely ever let it get this way; I just brought in a lot of stuff today from the DH and UC in between classes and such. Usually, it looks a lot like this:
So, I just cleaned it. bwahahaBedtime?
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