My first semester at USC

As many of you know, I just completed my first semester at the University of South Carolina. Never in a million years did I believe that I would leave my beloved Anderson and return home to attend the flagship university of South Carolina.

Anderson University has always been a huge part of my life and coincidentally 5 years ago today I was accepted into my dream school. Though I graduated from Anderson University in May, my plan never was to move back home. In fact, I had been accepted to Liberty University's online program for a MAT in Special Ed. After much deliberation and snide remarks from my father, I began my 25 page application to the University of South Carolina.

A week after I had applied I was contacted for an interview with the Special Ed department in regards to my application and [hopefully] future acceptance into their masters program. Though I was excited to take the next step I was still very unsure about attending USC. In this light, USC was never an option for me. I did not want to attend a big school for my undergraduate years, USC was WAY too close to home and Anderson was my only concern, even though I applied to twelve schools and got accepted to each one. A week after my interview I checked my email and had gotten my acceptance into USC, their masters program and a job offer from the CarolinaLIFE program.

Now fast forward to August 10th, 2016. I had just finished my fourth summer at Camp Burnt Gin and had my wisdom teeth removed two days prior. I head to the university to begin my training for CarolinaLIFE. A week and a day later, my classes began and I found myself increasingly upset and unhappy.

As the semester progressed I began to find my place on campus. I had the privilege of working with some amazing students and peers as well as some amazing mentors on campus. I was able to work with two intro to the university classes and was able to learn about the university with two separate groups of freshmen, even though I had grown up 20 minutes away.

Never did I think I would be a student at the University of South Carolina but I am thankful.

I am thankful for the new opportunities.

I am thankful for the new friendships.

I am thankful for the chance to reach my goals.

I am thankful for the acceptance I have been given.

I am thankful for the laughs that have been shared.

I am thankful for the football games, the tailgates and the blisters on my feet.

I am thankful for the chance to live at home again no matter how frustrating it can be sometimes.

I am thankful to be near family again.

I am thankful for the experiences at AU that led me to USC. 

I am thankful for bosses who care about my life as well as what I am doing in students' lives. 

I am thankful for coworkers who I can share stories with about students and the funny happenings.

I am thankful for the lunch dates with students where we can just hang out.

I am thankful for the early mornings in Thomas Cooper where students are way too awake.

I am thankful for the freezing cold classrooms and the SC heat in August.

I am thankful for the cheapest parking passes and no parking.

I am thankful for the two parking tickets I received.

I am thankful for the rekindling of friendships.

I am thankful for the University of South Carolina.

If I have learned anything this semester, it is that change is inevitable. Though I spent the first month of school upset and angry that I had to leave a place that I had called home, I am accepting of the future that I now possess. 

Though this semester was not ideally what I wanted, nor what I had expected I am blessed to have come this far not only personally but academically as well. 

I ended up with 2 A's and 1 B this semester and a 3.667 GPA. Something I never would have dreamed of as a first semester graduate student who had her whole world flipped upside down.

Though USC was never in my plan, I'm thankful it was in Gods plan.

Forever to thee.