I have a BA!

The best perk of graduating in the fall at my university: the lights!

{From the night before graduation, Baccalaureate Mass on campus!} 

Mickey and I still can't believe we graduated from college! I mean…COLLEGE! It's a pretty big deal! We graduated in the same place as I graduated from high school! I was very emotional that morning because I was angry at the fact that my mom wasn't there.  Then I stopped and tried to calm down once I saw Mickey and asked for God's guidance.  I knew that my mom wouldn't be there rooting for me in the stands physically but even better, she was there with a great seat rooting for me spiritually.  I felt her presence as I walked in the coliseum and I could hear her voice and I couldn't help but smile and look in awe at the amount of people there.  It was so surreal, the bagpipes were being played, I got goosebumps and got teary-eyed and got chills (and not just because it was one of the colder days here in the south).  We passed by teachers and I saw one of my favorites (whom we had just seen prior to lining up!) I kept thinking "Oh my God, I can't believe this is happening."

I'll rewind a bit.  I woke up feeling weird because I couldn't believe it was my college graduation day.     I felt a bit frustrated with the fact that I was so sad and angry that my mom wouldn't be there but it all slowly started improving when I saw Mickey.  I met him at his house and we finished getting ready and then left for the coliseum! 

We got there and started getting in line and finding our fellow Comm Arts friends and we started taking pictures, laughing, and talking.  Mickey and I went outside for a bit because he was going to leave something in my car when I saw one of our favorite teachers! We screamed, he heard us, we got excited, we took a picture and we all had to leave.  It was so amazing that we got to see him because things had gotten so crazy that it was hard to visit him that last semester! We were literally running and screaming his name then we caught up with him and he turned around, 

it was like something out of the movies.  

Best theater teacher ever! He's told us he has officially adopted us.  We couldn't be happier! ;)

Then Mickey and I went back inside and came to the realization we were going to graduate together.  It was amazing.  We couldn't believe this was all happening.  We then proceeded to take this picture.  

#collegesweethearts

We started lining up and after a while it was our turn to walk into the coliseum! 

(Read top paragraph for details).  

Next thing we know, bam. We're walking the freaking stage.  But, prior to that, after three hours of waiting for our turn, I realized even the few sips of water was too much for my little body to handle and I ran to the restroom a couple minutes before I walked the stage! (Too much info?)

I heard Mickey's name being called first and I screamed for my darling! Then it was my turn and I found some people I had invited there rooting for me and then I stood there waiting for my name to be called.  I looked out onto everybody there and took a deep breath.  This was it.  I was about to graduate from college.  I knew my mom was bawling her eyes out and cheering like nobody's business.  I was stoked.  

"Amy C. …" 

that was all I heard and everything got quiet in my head.

It was like I was dreaming.  I started walking the stage and smiled when I got the president of our university and shook his hand, got my pretend diploma, bam, picture, walked more, shook a strangers hand, bam, picture, walked down a ramp, bam, pose, picture, grabbed an alumni pin from some nice ladies, found somebody I had invited, bam, pose, picture, walked back to my seat and saw Mickey, gave each other a semi-high five and sat down. 

OMG. I just graduated from college with my college sweetheart. 

OMG. I have a B.A. in Communication Arts with a 

Concentration in Production with a Minor in Theatre!

First generation. College Grad. Magna Cum Laude. Ahh!

Everything after that was awesome.  We took pictures and went to Chili's that night.  It was fantastic!

December 8, 2013
:)

I will give you guys more information on other things soon, including my internship, job prospects, goals and of course Christmas and New Years stuff! Get ready! I'm back in the blogging world!

The City of Dreams

As promised, I will give a brief recap of my trip to New York. 

My aunt and I left on the 20th and returned the 24th. 

Here is what we saw/went to in no particular order:

-Carlo's Bakery *

[My mom and I used to watch the show on TLC and it 

was awesome to be able to go there! I hope to return and get something from there!]

-Kleinfeld *

[This was one of my favorite places we went.  Again, my mom and I used to watch the show Say Yes to the Dress and even planned our budget for the dress.  It was something very emotional because I always hoped my mom would walk me down the aisle.  I showed my mom my dream dress a couple of years ago and she loved it.  It's funny, she told me that as soon as we moved there she would start making down payments for the dress and then by the time I would get engaged, we would already have the money.  Haha.  I was able to see a couple of the ladies that have appeared on the show! It was awesome! Mickey and I even watch that show sometimes, what can I say? 

The boy has good taste in television shows! ;) ]

-FAO Schwartz *

[This was cool! Last time my mom and I went to New York we weren't able to stop here so I made it a goal to go there this time. I felt like a kid again and I even played THE BIG PIANO!  

I would love to be able to get stuff for my children one day from there. There was this freakishly amazing stroller there! Oh gosh!]

-NBC Studio Tour *

[This was another one of my favorite places! I hope to one day work at NBC and so it was just amazing! We were able to see so many of the studios including the SNL studio.  It just sucked that we couldn't take pictures. At the end of the tour, I somehow volunteered to be the weather girl.  That was fun! After it was over and I got my DVD people suggested I go into television! I was like "Awww, thank you! I am!" It was awesome!]

-St. Patrick's Cathedral *

[This was fun! Although it is under construction, it is still such a beautiful place.  They had an area were you could write good wishes to Pope Francis.  I definitely wrote something in there.  When I was younger I thought I would get married there but it's interesting how things change.  Now, I don't see myself getting married anywhere else other than my chapel.  Crazy, huh? Who would've thought?]

-Central Park *

[I absolutely loved Central Park! I am not a big fan of the outdoors AT ALL but Central Park is perfect for me! It's so gorgeous and there's always something to do!]

-Alfredo of Rome {Restaurant}

[This is where I had the best cappuccino I'VE EVER HAD.]

-Brooklyn Diner 

-Applejack Diner

-Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. {Restaurant} 

-H&M

-Disney Store *

[We walked in and it was awesome! There were so many Mickey and Minnie things there that I turned into a little kid in a candy store.  Last Valentine's Day Mickey and I got each other Mickey and Minnie plush toys.  I love all things Mickey and Minnie and so it was pretty cool to see so many of those things there!]

-Forever21

-Grimaldi's Pizzeria

-Lego Store

We stayed at The Manhattan Club. 

They were so very sweet there! 

This was a wonderful trip and made me fall in love with this beautiful city even more.  I missed Mickey terribly and hope to one day go there together! 

But, until then, see you next time NYC! ♡♡♡

Sayonara Sixth Semester

I know it has taken me a long time to talk about this but I'm trying to get back into the writing flow. 

So, here it goes guys, a review of the classes and the semester. 

Advanced Acting

It was a very fun class. 

I love the teacher, it's so sad because I won't have a class with him anymore. 

I learned a lot about different styles of acting. It was awesome.  

It was a hard class and getting an A- was pretty cool. 

Writing the Script

It was also a very fun class.

I learned a lot about scripts and movies. 

We watched so many movies that now, I feel I could talk to

 Mickey more about movies (he's the movie guru)

I will be taking a class from this teacher again.  She's really sweet and she loves 

Mickey and I being together. :)

Play Analysis

This was an okay class.

It was fun reading different plays but I didn't like taking quizzes from them every class. 

It made me stressed and kinda sucked the fun out of reading them. 

I am glad it's over. 

TV Practicum

This is perhaps the class I learned most from.

We did lots of broadcasts and stories and I learned a lot. 

I shot, I edited, I wrote, I anchored, I reporter, I interviewed. 

It was amazing. 

It was interesting because at the start of the semester I had it in my mind that I was going to be a television producer. I've thought that for about 4 years and that all changed this semester. 

I found myself more interested in being in front of the camera and interviewing people in front of the camera.  I would get so excited and it would become the highlight of my day.  The best day was when I filled in for a girl that wasn't feeling well, it was seriously, the most fun I've had in a while. It was our first live broadcast EVER in the history of our TV station and I had a rush. 

It was eye-opening.  

So, I've decided to go for it. 

I'm interning right now at a local television station and I'm learning all the inside scoop. 

It's awesome!

My dream is to work on a daytime show, like a cousin of Ellen or Oprah.  

I think going into Late Night would be amazing as well. 

I want to start with morning shows.  

So we'll see. :)

Anyway, this class was definitely life-changing. 

Law and the Media

It was difficult.

Teacher was nice. 

Glad it's over. 

Producing and Directing

Teacher was very scattered.  

Class was okay. 

I did a short film, it's fantastic!

Glad the class is over. 

So there you have it. 

My sixth semester. 

Next up:

Final semester of college which starts in 81 days

Then college graduation in approx. 191 days. 

I'll be taking:

Senior Portfolio

Seminar in Film: Spanish Language Films

Creativity in the Arts

Internship (I'm hoping to get another internship in the fall with the same TV station)

The United States to 1865

AND I'll be the Entertainment Director for our college TV station!!! 

I'm über excited!

Growing Inspiration

I've been meaning to blog for a very long time but things keep getting in the way. So here are just a few things that have occurred that haven't been mentioned are very worthy to be put in this blog.

I have now officially closed my old bank account.

Can you say "grown up"?

I had switched to Chase but needed to get stuff settled with my older bank

I had been using this old bank since I was about 16 years old and it was bittersweet to close that account when it feels like yesterday I was there with my mom and my aunt.

I have to admit though, it was nice to switch to Chase and start new. It felt amazing.

Mickey and I attended a gala at our university for our Comm Arts dept!

I assisted with several things, it was insane but in the end, it was wonderful!

Mickey has a job with the radio station on campus!! So proud of my talented man!

I helped set up this promotion event with one of our local tv stations! :)

Just a few Comm Arts peeps!

I got a full-length picture of what I wore! (Which was the same outfit I wore for Valentine's Day!) Hoorah! A picture was taken! And yes, I'm an outfit repeater. Lizzie McGuire and I share that. ;)

Also, I've come to the conclusion that because my college career is nearing it's end [Yikes], I'm starting to feel overwhelmed and pressured about my future. I had mentioned it a while ago but I feel like I haven't found my niche. Lately, I've been seeing lots of talented individuals go on to further their careers by enrolling in grad school and doing so much. 

I hate to admit it but I compare myself to people and I sometimes feel like I'm not doing enough. Like, I'm not where I think I should be. Granted, I shouldn't beat myself up but I can't just keep thinking this without doing something. 

So, I know that my schedule is crazy busy but I have consciously started to make an effort to be better at everything. To improve on everything. I'm going to try harder and harder because I know what I want for my future and I know that it'll take work but it will be so worth it. 

I found this quote that I absolutely fell in love with by Maya Angelou.

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. 
 Life's a *itch.  You've got to go out and kick a**."

I mean, dang! Ain't that the truth. I want to be THAT girl. 

Tomorrow's schedule:
{class}
{Sports broadcast-Yours truly is one of the anchors!}
{Big Law and the Media test...dun dun dun.}

And come thursday evening...
spring break. spring break. spring break. 
!!!!!

Excitement awaits. 

48-Hour Film Experience!

So, as promised in the last post, I will talk about participating in my first ever: 

48-Hour Film Experience.  

It all started a few months ago, when some of my Comm Arts friends asked me to be a part of their team as "talent" (that's what on-camera people are called) so I immediately said "Duh!" Mickey came on board a bit later as Assistant DP (Director of Photography).  I knew this was going to be a blast.

So here's the premise of this Film Experience.  Each team (or director and asst. director actually) go to this place on friday evening at 8pm and get the genre and location.  The theme was retro. Our genre was horror and location was 50s.  All teams would have 48 hours to film, edit and everything to turn it in by 8pm that Sunday.  And so it started!

That friday night several people got together to write the script/rough outline and the rest of us got info for Saturday (shooting day).  And so, after a slow start that Saturday, we were off!

That's me!!! 

We filmed (almost) everything on campus because its architecture is very 50s and it was perfect!! 

Just some of us. :)

I played the new girl out of town who's being haunted by The Clique (behind me).  

Then, everything takes a turn! Dun...dun...dun!!!

In the wee hours of the morn'. 

We finished filming that night/early morning Sunday at around 1am. We were freakishly exhausted but so excited to see the final product!!! That following morning I had to meet the crew at a local high school to shoot a shot and then we wrapped filming! Then it was crunch time! They turned it in in the knick of time.  :)

Mickey and I the last day of shooting. Bright & Early. 

Next up was the screening that week.  I was so pumped and excited! I couldn't believe all the people that were there! Even more so, all the people that were gonna see MY FACE on a BIG SCREEN! I could hardly contain myself.  I was like a little kid! 

MY FACE on the freakin' BIG SCREEN! Oh. my. goodness.
My momma would've been so proud!! ♥

Everybody's films were very nice.  Although, I did think ours was just the bees knee's.  Haha. Get it? :)

We went to celebrate after the screening at a local Mexican Restaurant.  Only in the South.  

Not all the cast and crew were able to go but it was wonderful to be able to celebrate. 

 It was actually Anthony's birthday and so we surprised him with a birthday sing-a-long at the restaurant, along with a balloon and cake.  It was a fun time!

Some of our amazing cast and crew. :)

There was an awards ceremony the following week but unfortunately we didn't win anything. BOO.  We all thought 3rd place was ours. Oh well! There's always August and December for some more film experiences.  We are all hoping to get together and hang out because, well, we're pretty awesome.  

All in all, this was an AMAZING experience.  Thank you Joel and Ysenia for asking me to be a part of your fantastic team!

 If you want to see the video, just let me know! 

(acssndr2010@gmail[dot]com)

Only.ONE.More.Year.

My beautiful campus! 

Guys, I'm gonna graduate from college in year.  Hold the phone. I know. A year! That's like, nothing! I'm so excited.  I want to find a good job that I can start out with and begin getting paid for what I like to do! Aaah! Anyway, back to the present, I will recap my classes and how I did. I AM SO GLAD TO BE DONE WITH FINALS AND MY 6TH SEMESTER OF COLLEGE!! :D

THIS is what I thought about these classes at the beginning of the semester.

Aesthetics of Vision and Sound
-It was a fun class!
-We watched two foreign films and Pride and Prejudice near the end of the semester which I LOVED!
-I learned a tremendous amount of stuff in that class! Simply amazing!
-I'll be taking a class from this teacher again next semester, it's called Writing the Script! Holy cow! I know. I'm pumped!

Speech
-Honestly? A weird class, so I'm glad it's over.
-I met cool people and got to give fun speeches, so I did learn but...still. :)

Intermediate Acting
-Amazing class.
-Tougher than I thought, different teaching methods.
-Hard grader :(
-Impersonation assignment=brilliant.
-Final scene was stressful.  I'm such an overthinker.

I love my school. #nerdalert

{I already got assignments for Advanced Acting next semester! Heck yes! :) This class will be taught with my Acting in Everyday Life and Beginning Acting teacher.  Yepee!}

Theories of Communication
-Easy!
-Learned some stuff! :)

Social Media
-Learned A LOT!
-Fun class and classmates! :)

So that's my review of the classes! Hope y'all enjoyed!
I will be blogging shortly about a 48-Hour Film Experience I participated in!


P.S. I'm making changes to my blog so stay tuned! :)



On a serious note, I also wanted to send thoughts and prayers out to the victims of the horrible shooting in Newtown, CT.  It's absolutely heartbreaking and I just pray to God that everything gets better and that he comforts those in mourning.

Volare. I believe I can fly.

     It is with a heavy heart that I tell y'all these news.  I will not be studying abroad in Rome during Spring 2013.  After much consideration and crying, it is a better option to not go.  As y'all remember from my first post about studying abroad, I was pumped about it.  This was way back in December 2011.  My Italian teacher suggested I go during the spring because the weather is nicer, so I began looking into it after being apprehensive about it.
     I told my friends about it and Mickey became interested in the idea as well.  I took on a second job at Cracker Barrel to save money and to still be able to pay the bills.  At the beginning of this semester, Mickey and I went and visited Alanna and we continued the process of applying to study abroad.  Everything was fine but slowly we started realizing that, financially, this would be something very difficult.  I had money saved up to pay bills while away but my concern was about my return to the U.S. and internships and everything.  Paying for the plane ticket and passports and additional expenses were also of concern.
    After obstacle after obstacle, Mickey and I still kept persevering through and tried to figure out ways to work with them (obstacles) but then the biggest one came.  If we stayed here in the U.S. we could graduate in December 2013.  If we would go, we wouldn't graduate 'til at least Spring 2014, if not later, as some classes aren't offered every semester.  My biggest worry is that I need to graduate and get a job soon so I can start living independently. I'll be turning 21 in 175 days and as I get older I want to make sure I can get in the business and work my way up ASAP.  I will start almost anywhere. I just want to get there and do it.

     I would have loved to study abroad in Rome and learn the Italian language more but I feel that it's not God's plan for us now.  Ironically, today I found out I received the Gilman Scholarship, it's a study abroad scholarship Mickey and I had applied for a while back.  I'm not gonna lie, declining that scholarship was one of the harder things I've had to do in college. We were both extremely sad to not be able to do this but realize that everything happens for a reason, so here are the opportunities available for us here!

1. Mickey is Vice-President of To Write Love on Her Arms at our university! Congrats babe!
2. I can audition for The Memory of Water and even if I don't get in, I'll have added experience.
3. I can cut down on the amount of time I work at Cracker Barrel. (I'll tell y'all more about that another time).
4. I can volunteer here and put in my application for graduation in January.

I must have God's side hurting from all the laughing.  Haha.  

5. We can possibly continue Off Broadway!
6. I can not be as restricted financially!
7. We get amazing classes here!
8. We can graduate in December 2013 (God willing).
9. We won't miss all those spring holidays with loved ones.
10. I can continue participating in events with Catholic Daughters, TWLOHA and maybe if our Associated for Women in Communications organization grows on campus, I can be an officer!

Yes.  I'm very sad that this didn't work out but I know that God and my mom have bigger plans for me.  This just wasn't meant to be, not now.  So, wish us luck as we finish this semester strong!

The Memory of Steel Magnolias

So this blog post title is an amalgamation of The Memory of Water (my favorite play) and Steel Magnolias.  :)

Here's the story:

So last fall I was in search of a monologue that would really be good for me.  I was taking my Beginning Acting class and we needed to have a monologue and so I began the search.  I found one but it wasn't up to par with what I had hoped for.  I went and took a trip to my Beginning Acting teacher's office and asked him for his help.  He came up with a few options.  Three Days of Rain, Steel Magnolias and The Memory of Water.  He had a copy of The Memory of Water and felt that was the best one for me.  I read it so fast, it was so interesting and I could relate to it so well! If you know me, you know I'm not a fan of reading, I know, it's sad, so reading this play so fast was a sign of how much I loved it.  It's about sisters dealing with their mother's death.  But guys, it's so much better than that! Anyway, I did it for my monologue and it went very well. I absolutely loved it and still have the copy of the monologue I made.  

"What is it with men?  I mean, I don’t have a problem with men or anything.  I love men.  I’ve been to bed with seventy-eight of them, I counted, so obviously there’s not a problem or anything, it’s just he didn’t even apologise or anything and how can he say on the phone he doesn’t want to see me anymore?  I mean, why now?  Why couldn’t he have waited?  I don’t know what to do, why does it always go wrong?  I don’t want to be on my own, I’m not that sort of person, and I can’t do it.  I did everything for him, I was patient and all the things you’re supposed to be and people kept saying don’t accept this from him, don’t accept that, like, you know, when he stayed out all night, not very often, I mean once or twice, and everyone said to tell him to **** off but how could I because what if he did?  Because they all do, everyone I’ve ever met does, they all disappear and I don’t know if it’s me or what.  I don’t want to be on my own, I can’t stand it, I know it’s suppose to be great but I don’t think it is.  I can’t help it, it’s no good pretending, it’s ******* lonely and I can’t bear it. "

So, guys, y'all won't believe it but my university is doing The Memory of Water in the Spring!!! So, I had it in my heart to audition.  So, here I go, auditioning for only the second time at my university. I think I've improved enough and I'm so glad to have this opportunity. December 5th 9:20pm! Wish me luck. 

Here's the other story:

I picked a M'Lynn's monologue about Shelby from Steel Magnolias.  I am undecided between two but I believe I'm going to chose this one. I absolutely love Steel Magnolias even though it makes me cry.  I remember watching it for the second time when my mom was in hospice and I surprised myself by not crying.  As a young southern gal, I feel a strong connection with these ladies and I feel doing this monologue will be absolutely wonderful.  I have so many memories of watching this movie with my mom and I know that this is a really good choice for a monologue.  So, wish me luck as I begin memorizing lines.  I'll update y'all on other things about theatre soon! :)

"No.  I couldn’t leave my Shelby.  It’s interesting.  Both the boys were very difficult births.  I almost died when Jonothan was born.  Very difficult births.  Shelby was a breeze.  I could’ve gone home that afternoon I had her.  I was thinking about that as I sat next to Shelby while she was in the coma.  I would work her legs and arms to keep the circulation going.  I told the ICU nurse we were doing our Jane Fonda.  I stayed there.  I kept pushing…….just like I always did where Shelby was concerned……..hoping she’d sit up and argue with me.  But finally we realised that there was no hope.  At that point I panicked.  I was very afraid that I would not survive the next few minutes while they turned off the machines.  Drum couldn’t take it.  He left.  Jackson couldn’t take it.  He left.  It struck me as amusing.  Men are supposed to be made of steel or something.  But I could not leave.  I just sat there…..holding Shelby’s hand while the sounds got softer and the beeps got farther apart until all was quiet.  There was no noise, no tremble…..just peace.  I realised as a woman how lucky I was.  I was there when this wonderful person drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out.  It was the most precious moment of my life." 

O Rome-o Rome-o! Wherefore art thou Rome-o?

Okay so Mickey and I have been super stressed about this whole study abroad situation.  Well, actually mainly me because those of you who know me know how I can be a worrywart.  So, this is no exception.

Here's a little recap:

-So apparently, I came into college with 32 hours from high school, which basically put me at sophomore standing.  Now, I'm considered a senior in college, even though this is only my 5th semester!
-Mickey and I went to talk with a teacher who basically told me I could graduate this coming May, which isn't that surprising to me because I heard about this last semester.  The thing is that many of my Comm Arts teachers kind of don't care about my minor in Theatre.  Actually, a lot of people don't, which is weird because I wouldn't be minoring in it if I didn't absolutely love it.  They only care about my BA in Communication Arts which is cool and all but I am also minoring in Theatre for a reason.
-The thing is that apparently, there aren't really that many classes that could transfer from Rome to my college here because at my current senior standing, I need certain classes that are only available here.  I was told by this teacher we saw that I would only need my History class.
-Later, Mickey and I went to talk with an advisor I've gone to since my mom passed.  She said that I could take about 3 classes that would most likely transfer here.  She reiterated the idea that she just cares about the Comm Arts stuff and another thing that people have told me since, that I could always go visit Rome.  The thing is that visiting and living in Rome are two completely different things.  She, along with Mickey, realized that I had gotten very stressed.  I've got some people telling me that studying abroad right now would be dumb and others that say do what you feel is right.  
-Here's the conclusion I've come to:

"She believed in her dreams but she also believed
in doing something about them."

I would have never even slightly considered studying abroad if my mom were alive.  Technically, I could possibly graduate this coming May but I know myself and I'm not ready.  I may take my time to do certain things but I do them in my own time.  I'm getting there but I'm not ready yet.  I need to do some more growing up.  Studying abroad would allow me to do this.  I would learn to live on my own even more than I do now.  If I could make all of this happen right now, I would feel so beyond proud of myself.  I've gotten an extra job and have cut back on expenses to make this a reality.  It hasn't been easy but I don't want to live my life with regret.  I don't want to wonder in 10 years what would have happened if I'd study abroad.  I want to look back and realize that even though I graduated in 3.5 years,  I was able to get the most out of college.  I want to live life, I want to experience as much of it as possible.  I want to talk to people of all countries, I want to explore new things.  I want to study abroad in Rome this Spring 2013 semester.

I have asked my mom for guidance in helping us during this process and I've been surprised to find her ways already working.

So, wish us luck as Mickey and I continue to embark on this adventure as we figure out how to make this crazy dream of ours come true.  I will try to keep y'all updated and apologize for the scattered nature of this post.  :)