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

Perspective

So Friday may or may not have been the longest day of my life. But at 4:20, I logged into my status check for UGA, and clicked the "view now". Not really knowing what to expect, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and looked at the screen. 

I got deferred. 

It doesn't mean I got denied, but it also certainly means I wasn't accepted. My application needs a little more time to develop. So now I get to write some fun essays, talk about myself, and hopefully be admitted in the coming months. While I would have loved to have been admitted for early action, it's not the end of the world. I'm not a perfect student, but I know I will leave high school with few regrets, and if that causes UGA to not accept me in the long run, so be it. God has a plan for me, and I'm just along for the ride.

Besides, at the same time a year ago, I was getting accepted into Mission Training for Operation Smile. Would I have rather gotten into UGA this year, or not gone to India last year?

You bet I'd take India a million times over.

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}

College Tour: Athens

After my five weeks of camp, Mumsy and I set off for USC, UGA, and Alabama! Sadly I didn't get any pictures at USC but I loved it!

We stopped and visited my Aunt and sweet cousins in Atlanta before heading to Athens, and we went to lunch at the Swan Coach House!

Lunch was so lovely - I highly recommend the pimento cheese and chicken salad sandwiches!

Isn't the Swan House gorgeous?

After our delicious lunch, we visited the Beverly Bremer Silver Shop! Oh my word y'all, if I can picture heaven, I want it to be this place.  I narrowed down my race for choosing a silver pattern and received some great tips, which I'll share in a later post!

Ensley even stopped in for the evening and made us a yummy vegan dinner!

The next morning we woke up, and were off to Athens!

Sidenote: If you ever go from Atlanta to Athens and need a Starbucks, do not wait until you're half an hour into the drive to start wanting one.  It's either ATL or Athens, there's no in between to stop in! Mumsy and I learned this the very hard way! Sadly, I didn't think to snap any pictures on the tour (Blackberry problems!) but after our tour and browsing around Clayton Street, we drove out to the new University of Georgia Health Science Campus! It used to be the Naval Supply School, and Royar Square is located there, named for my Great-Grandfather. 

I absolutely fell in love with UGA and would love to keep being a bulldog for another four years!

Have you ever visited Athens? What's your favorite place to go?

xoxo,

Royar

{The Young Southern Prep}