8 months ago

8 Months ago, I arrived as an anxious freshman to a small college in a tiny town. Little did I know that the next 8 months of my life would go by so incredibly fast and little did I know that those 8 months would be some of the best of my young life. I'm not a freshman anymore. Wait. what was that? No longer a freshman? It's already over? Well, dang.
I don't think I can properly describe how much I have changed this year. College has brought about so many challenges, but with these challenges has come so many amazing opportunities to learn and grow in myself, and two-fold in my faith. So, what have I learned? Of course we have to do a list;
The Top 20 Things I've Learned as a Freshman at Presbyterian College:
1) Sorority life isn't what they show on TV: we don't sit in a circle and get drunk. It just doesn't happen.
2) Yes, you really do need to go to class.
3)...Yes, even if it's 8:00 on a Friday morning. Professors do pay attention.
4) When you go to college, your closet size easily doubles; no, not its physical size. Make friends with the girls on your hall.
5) Dinner at GDH is at 5. Period.
6) Exam week can either be really really miserable, or it can be doable. Keep up with your studies, and start studying for exams sooner than the night before.
7) There's always that one class that you will absolutely hate. (ie Linguistics) Suck it up.
8) There are people that are just like you at college. You just have to find them.
9) It's not as hard as you think it is to continue (or begin) your life as a christian once you get to college. It's actually so much cooler!
10) Forming your opinion and sticking to it is vital; grow a backbone.
11) Putting on makeup and getting dressed up for class every day just doesn't happen.
12) It's perfectly acceptable to wake up a 7:50 for your 8:00 class. Thank God for our small campus.
13) You and your roomate will not always get along. I mean, you're living in a 12x16 square for 8 months. What do you expect?
14) The Library isn't just for studying. Socializing happens...usually more than studying.
15) Sometimes, the chicken fingers in GDH are really spicy on Sundays. Proceed with caution.
16) Your Bonus Bucks disappear quicker than you think they do. Whoops.
17) Getting mail is like Christmas. Too bad it doesn't happen too often. Thanks, mom and dad.
18) You have to learn to take time for yourself. Go for a walk or go have quiet time with God. Being around people all the time will drive you insane.
19) The Belk Lobby is, and will forever be, one of my most favorite places at PC
20) You really do go to college and find your best friends. <3

On another note, now that classes are over it's time to begin the preparations for BEACH WEEK! wahooooo! So excited. I'll be heading to Garden City on Monday and returning Wednesday afternoon; hopefully bronzed and properly relaxed. Be jealous.

Much Love,
Emma

11 days

...and I'll be finished with my freshman year of college. Although when I think about it, my initial reaction is excitement and anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer. But, after this initial excitement has sunk in, I can't help but to get a little sad. No longer a freshman? It seems like I counted down to the beginning of this year for EVER...and now it's already gone? Well, dang. Thanks a lot, father time.
I'm not going to count down my top ten moments of this year...yet. We'll have to save that for a different blog post. However, I will tell warn those of you who don't know yet, how quickly time flies. And perhaps one of the most important lessons I've learned this year is that you have to take time to stop and appreciate everything around you, otherwise, you'll miss it. The next 11 days will surely fly by, but I can't help to get so excited for everything that's left to come in the next 3 years here at PC.
My last day of classes is on Friday. This Friday. 4 days away. Whoah.
Nope, still hasn't sunk in yet.
BUT as a means of celebration and a late anniversary present, I'm heading to Clemson to see Needtobreathe! (If you take a little look, they're in that playlist at the bottom of the page. Yepp, thats where the music comes from...) I'm so excited considering that it's my last hoorah before exams. and then moving out. for the whole summer. without my PC bubble.
Nope. Still hasn't sunk in.

Hope y'all have an amazing week! Just remember to take it all in!
Much Love,
Emma

I, Emma Reynolds

• am no longer a people pleaser.
• am ready for summertime.
• am growing stronger in my faith on a daily basis
• am slowly growing a backbone.
• am starting to stand up for myself.
• am living for God and no one else.

Wanna know what living life to the fullest really is?

It's waking up on a Monday morning with no complaints

It's knowing you always deserve to laugh

It's doing what feels right, no matter what

It's about following God and fishing for men

It's about being yourself; because no one can tell you that you're wrong.

Just Some Skype Fun...

So, going through my pictures, I came across some of the funnies pictures from Skyping. I thought I'd share them with you!

Smell something funny?

Hey, beautiful

Not a good look...

I love me seeeester

Ready for lab!

Hey Thanks

Wanna know the one awesome thing about having a bad day? (oxymoron, I know, but just bare with me)
Even when we have the WORST days, sometimes God uses the people around us to show us how blessed we are when we're having bad days...much like the one I had today. I'm going to spare you the dramatic details, but let's just say that after today, I'm so thankful for my AMAZING Big Diamond Sister, Harriett-Graham, who calms me down when I'm FREAKING out, my INCREDIBLE boyfriend who listens to me cry even when he's an hour and a half away, and my FANTASTIC mama, who, after having such a hectic past two days, still takes the time to listen to me and knows just what to say to calm me down and bring me back to earth.
Love you all SO much

No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined what

God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthinans 2:9

My Best Friend

Ya know, I've been blessed with some pretty amazing people in my life. I have an awesome family who loves me for who I am and supports me through thick and thin, a sister who loves me regardless that we're 2 hours away and fight more than we get along, and a group of friends that make me laugh when I don't even want to smile.

But, right now, I want to tell you about someone who has made one of the biggest impacts on me in perhaps the smallest amount of time possible; my best friend. Exactly one year ago today, I went to prom with what I thought was just one of my really good friends. You know, the guy that I could vent to, the guy that would call me for advice after a really bad day. It wasn't until the weeks approaching prom that I began to realize that my feelings for this supposed "friend" were much deeper than what I ever thought they would be. It started with "...so I've been thinking," and one year later, here we are.

Chad Yaken, I love you more than you'll ever know! Thank you so much for being my everything; my shoulder to cry on, my support system when no one else thinks I can do it, my inspiration, and most importantly...the best friend a girl could ask for.