College Thursday: Advice From Alumni

This week I'm so excited to have one of my favorite teachers from middle school post! She is such an amazing teacher and woman, and I was so lucky to be in her class!

College Tips from a former Virginia co-ed:

I’m approaching my ten year reunion this June and waxing nostalgic about how much I loved college life. Here are the tips I would give myself if I could write a letter and send it back in time:

1.       Make good friends, but keep the old. It’s easier than ever to stay in touch with your high school friends as you all move away, but make the extra effort to hand-write notes and make good, old-fashioned phone calls.

2.       Don’t lose yourself in your new life. When you arrive in a new environment, it’s easy to become what you think others want you to be. Change your style, change the way you talk, change what you believe. So much of college is about discovering who you are, but don’t lose sight of who you were and the values you hold dear.

3.       Leap at every opportunity! You have (hopefully) four years to explore different career paths and dreams of the future. Take advantage! Go to career fairs, volunteer, join a sorority, join a debate club, dance, sing, do whatever interests you! Get involved! Can’t find a club that’s right for you? Start one.

4.       You can be happy anywhere. I truly believe this. Some guys and girls go to college feeling disappointed because they didn’t get in somewhere else. Never waste a moment of your experience on that kind of helpless regret. You are in an environment with literally thousands of other people your own age. How can you possibly NOT have a good time?

Thanks so much to my teacher, Charlotte Zito for this post!

xx

College Thursday: The Little Things

So now that I've picked out my room, I still need to register for orientation (scary), and I'm going to pick out my bedding pretty soon. Going to camp has prepared me well to live in a tiny space and pack efficiently, but there are so many "littles" that I'm scared to forget.

Laptop case

Tide Pods

Towel Wrap
Crocs
Air purifier
3m command strips

What else did you take/wish you had taken to college?

xx

Boom, Accepted.

So Friday night I got some pretty amazing news, quite unexpectedly. I got home from the gym, super tired and really irritable, and I decided to randomly check my UGA admissions status before I went to dinner. 

As I clicked through everything, I was expecting a denial, or at least a wait-list.

I clicked "view" and immediately saw fireworks.

I got into Georgia!!!!!!

I'm officially 100%, 2/2. 

My high school experience has not been an easy one, and while I haven't always worked as hard as I should have, there were definite roadblocks that led me to thinking I would only get into Alabama. 

My acceptance is more than just a check mark to me. It's my proof and validation that if you work  really really really hard and believe in yourself, anything can and will happen. Good things happen to those who wait patiently and work hard day in and day out. 

But now I'm rethinking everything, and have a very hard decision to make in the next four weeks. I know you're all thinking that I was set on Alabama, and I was, because that's how much I didn't think I would get into UGA, so it was my way of softening the blow. Now I will be thinking everything through and listing lots of pros and cons. Right as I'm writing this, my head tells me UGA, but my heart tells me Alabama. 

When I visited Alabama, I felt like I was home and comfortable. When I visited UGA, I felt awed and challenged (see: that time I awkwardly cried on the tour). My brother and his friend have graciously offered to take me to an accepted students day in a few weeks to visit, just one more time. Maybe we'll even drive over to Tuscaloosa one more time

It's funny how life can completely change in an instant. This is going to be the hardest decision I'll probably make in my life, and I'm going to be sad because I'll be saying no to a great school either way. But then again, I'm extremely thankful that I'm being given the choice to make a decision about my college education. 

So now it's March 25th, and I have until May 1st, and I'm sure I'll change my mind many times over, etc etc, but regardless, I'm just thankful I look really good in red.

xx

College Thursday: Bedding

Originally, I was going to have my bedding be custom made and perfectly matched to my room. Then after talking to Sarah, since she lived in the dorm I'll be living in her freshman year as well, she made an excellent point: this is probably the first and last time I'll be using a twin bed, so why spend a ton of money on sheets etc that are going to be relegated to the guest room at my house by next June?

So now I'm thinking a simple color duvet, colored sheets, which I have right now and LOVE, with accent pillows. But maybe not. There are a plethora options available.

Dorm Suite Dorm has a customizable option for everything. I don't know if I'm going to to go down this road, but it's still an option.

For the super spirited Alabama, UGA, or Auburn girl you can get school sets from Decor 2 Ur Door.

I really like these sheets from PB Teen

And I love this duvet!

I'll do white pillowcases with my monogram like I have now, most likely from LL Bean, since they do a fantastic job with monogramming, and their quality is excellent.

What did you do for your dorm bedding?

xx

College Thursdays: Visit to Tuscaloosa!

I had such an amazing visit to Tuscaloosa last weekend!

My trip down was made better by a quick stop in the US Air club

It was rainy on Friday, but it didn't hamper my trip one bit!

My Dad and I went to Baumhower's and I had some really good Beignets. I mean better late than never, right?

The sun finally came out on Sunday before we drove back to Birmingham and of course I had to get a picture of Bryant-Denny!

xx

So College Right Now

So now that I'm a second semester senior and such, I've started to chat with my roommate and we get to pick our room in April! So now comes the fun part, decorating our dorm! Thursdays will now be dedicated to all things college and how I'm going to decorate my room for next year! I also hope to have some of my favorite college bloggers post about their freshman dorms!

Roll Tide!

Alabama Wins!

Roll Tide Y'all! Can't wait for #16 next year! 

xx

Roll Tide Roll!

Today's the big day!

I'm so excited to watch AJ and the rest of the team take on Notre Dame! I think it's going to be a great game and of course I'll be yelling Roll Tide!

Who will you be rooting for today?

xx,

Royar

Second Semester Senior

Today is my "last" last first day of school. It's a new semester, new classes, new start. For the last time. I'm really excited to get back in the swing of things, because this semester is going to be super exciting. And I've also really missed my daily coffee.

It might be still yucky outside, but I'm already really looking forward to spring. I can't wait for it to be warm again, to be able to wear tank tops, Jacks, white jeans, and sundresses. But until then, I'll keep day dreaming of warmer weathers and clearer waters, while freezing my toes off in the cold days of January.

This break has been a mixture of "oh my gosh y'all I'm actually going to Alabama and I'm going to live in Tut and why can't I leave already I want to be there now" and "how am I going to possibly leave my school and all these people I've grown up with?". It rotates back and forth about ten times a day, and sadly, the first is starting to be heard more than the former. It's going to be a huge step out of my comfort zone, but somehow I just know that I've made the right decision, and I'm genuinely so ready to go. But Alabama will come, and one day I won't be in school with my 123 best friends, and I know I will miss it. 

This semester will be rocky, but I'm ready for it. Maybe. We'll see.

xoxo,

Royar

It's Official!

I'll be yelling "Roll Tide Roll" next year!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Happy December!

Rabbit, rabbit y'all!!!

I can't believe the last month of 2012 is already here, what a fast year! It feels like forever ago that I wrote my resolutions for the year and kicked them off! Needless to say, this month will be very exciting! Between my 18th birthday, exams, Christmas, and senior festivities, I will be very busy!

But today is also a very important day!

Although it's a game between the only schools I applied to, I will still be rooting for Alabama! Roll Tide!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Decision Day

Well, y'all, today's the day. I find out where I'm going to college, or if the road continues on. I have been accepted to Alabama already, and if I get into Georgia, it's going to be one tough choice. I would like to say that I've had a gut feeling about UGA, but I don't. I honestly don't know what I'm going to see on that screen. Since I don't know how I stand with UGA, I've made myself fall out of love with it, in case I end up getting hurt. But sometimes I forget that I teared up on the tour twice, because I could see myself there. I didn't want to leave Athens, nor did I want to go to Alabama the next day.

The past week has been rough, but I've made peace with the process, and I'm ready to see what the outcome is. I'm also very excited to hear about my friend's results.

As much as I would love to be a Bulldog for another four years, I do know I get to buy a lot of red and black either way!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Gameday!

Today, Alabama takes on FAU, for their fourth game of the season! I can't wait to watch this afternoon!

Today is also "gameday" for me, and the first one of the season! I'm running my first 5K race of the season, which I'm super excited about! Cheers to senior year cross country!

xoxo,

Royar
{The Young Southern Prep}

College Tour: Tuscaloosa

Thursday, July 12 was casually one of the greatest mornings of my life.  Although it was a little lot rainy (note to self: buy hunters before attending), it didn't dampen my mood as I finally set foot in Tuscaloosa! Parking next to Bryant-Denny was unreal, as well as going into the visitors center inside! I absolutely fell in love with the campus and the school, and I'm so excited that my application is currently being reviewed! 

Tuscaloosa is a great town as well, and thanks to some amazing recs from my twitter followers, my Mom and I had a delicious lunch at Buffalo Phil's and we popped into The Locker Room, The Shirt Shop and Expeditions! 

It was a great trip, and I hope to make another trip down this fall! Also, if you're wise, don't be like my Mother and I and have the only umbrella in your car be Orange and Blue...

Roll Tide!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

PS My amazing cousin, Ensley, has been nominated for a Best of the Web award! If y'all could vote for The Preppy Vegan by liking/pinning/Google +ing here:http://tinyurl.com/78f655j I would love y'all forever!

What I'm Loving: July

Monogrammed Sunglasses from DKM Accessories

My iPad, now that I actually have time to play around on it! 

Comfort Colors tank from TuskWear Collections picked up from Expeditions, aka the best store ever, in Tuscaloosa. (But really y'all. I'm going to have to avoid going in there if I end up going to Alabama. Such an amazing store!)

Essie's Bikini So Teeny

Lilly Pulitzer Alexi Dress

What are your favorites as of late?

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Gameday and Roll Tide!

I'm off for yet another weekend jaunt!

Here is my OOTD!

On another note, Alabama takes on Vanderbilt today!

As always, Roll Tide and have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Roll Tide Roll & Gameday!

Last week, the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated Penn State 27-11

Today, they take on North Texas! Roll Tide!

I'm off this weekend to watch some good football and visit some friends!

Today I will be wearing...

Have a wonderful weekend y'all!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Roll Tide Roll

After a VERY long offseason, Alabama football returns today with a game against Kent State.

Roll Tide.

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What are your New Year's Resolutions? Mine are:

1. Start running again.

2. Stop worrying about things that are out of my control.

3. Focus on just school right now, less on the college search.

4. Read more books.

5. Appreciate each moment.

On another note,

Today the Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the Michigan State Spartans in the Capital One Bowl.

ROLL TIDE ROLL. Beat Michigan State!

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}

Roll Tide Y'all

I have been missing my Alabama football something fierce since that heartbreaker to Auburn (But we're not talking about that.) Thankfully this ESPN commercial has surfaced to fill the gaping hole in my life left by the end of the regular season.

Roll Tide

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}