KJB Says See You Later

If you had asked me when I was a freshman how I felt about Akron, I would not have had nice things to say... At this time 4 1/2 years ago, right before Christmas break, I had decided not to transfer closer to home. But now at 22 years old and a recent college graduate, 12/13/14, I can honestly say that I love Akron and that I am leaving a proud alumna.

For the past 3 semesters, I have had the pleasure of living in the "prettiest house on campus" and I'm going to greatly miss it; the walks to class, my fabulous bed, my room with the perfect view, and the too perfect for words Alpha Gam couch:

 

For 2 of my 3 years my sorority gave me the very best roommates I could've asked for:

Life is found/lived at the end of your comfort zone. My time in Akron has been just that. First, I moved 2 1/2 hours away, then the friends I thought I had made the first two years in the dorms- turned out to be anything but that. So I left my comfort zone and joined my sorority:

The girl that I met on freshman orientation day, somehow became my life line and grand supreme best friend, without her I would be utterly and completely lost:

The girl I met at random on Preference Night became my other half:

A beautiful girl from the inside, out became my Ride or Die:

A girl I sat down to talk to on a whim at a Recruitment event at Starbucks became, my little my perfect one and only:

                      

 

 My first roommate and 2 quasi-roommates still manage to keep me sane and always laughing, 3 years and counting:

The girl, who've I've known longer as an alum than I did as an active. My tv companion, the girl who no matter what can get my anxiety and irrationalities in line: 

My adventure buddies, down for anything- be that a Saturday adventure or laying on the couch watching Frozen on repeat, playing Pinterest and "Look Who I Went to High School With" on Facebook; the kind of friends that want a "candid" laughing photo- and that's exactly what they get, with 15 minutes of genuine laughter:

                          

The kind of friends I always wanted and never knew I needed but would be completely lost without them:

The girl who swears more than anyone I know, and taught me it's okay to be passionate about important topics and that if you mean what you say- you can say whatever you feel:

My sarcastic, partner in crime, full of life & love & jokes:

 

The pretty, pretty princess that loves sitting in the dark and watching Jason DeRulo videos while looking on Tumblr and Pinterest wedding boards and talking nail polish and painting our nails:

 

 

My first beautiful secret squirrel:

My beautifully perfect Alpha Gam family continued on by the most wonderfully perfect people imaginable:

The only girls to truly understand my Taylor Swift obsession:

My three perfect legacies from my time as a Rho Gamma:

A best friend that taught me life is about more than a plan. Things don't always happen as you would want them to or as you imagined them but we are capable of absolutely anything. I was given the opportunity to spend time with her and her daughter and grow up along the way:

 

THE Be All End All of Pledge Classes, Fall '11:

 

When Carrie moves to Paris, in the series finale of Sex and the City, she says, "Today, I had a thought: What if I had never met you?" It's almost too painful and unimaginable to even fathom but as I pack up and set out on my way, with Akron in my rearview mirror I know that these people among so many more taught me how to be myself and 100% comfortable in my skin. 

Akron, this place, this time in my life will always hold a special place in my heart. I can say unequivocally these people are the loves of my life. Come hell or high water, these people will be here for me and I will be there for them. I am so glad to say that I am an Akron Zip. 

Close beside Cuyahoga’s waters, Stream of amber hue,
O’er old Buchtel Summit’s glory, Waves the gold and blue.
Hail we Akron! Sound her praises, Speed them on the gale,
Ever stand our Alma Mater, Akron hail, all hail!

Staying when all I wanted to do was leave is one of my proudest moment. You can't move forward while looking back, while it's bittersweet to be leaving college, I'm excited to see what this BIG WORLD has in store for me. So while this is the most kick ass chapter yet, it's time to turn the page and see what's next. 

It's the end of the beginning, and the start of something new.

xoxo

KJB

To grow up would be an awfully big adventure

KJB the Alpha Gamma Delta

This weekend we had our senior bar crawl and Senior Day, slideshows, wills and food, simply being able to enjoy our time together- true sisterhood. Exactly what I needed after my final week of classes and before Finals Week. Here are a few photos:

     

 

 

 

My Beautiful Gam Fam

When a chapter of your life is closing, you can't help but look back and so I can honestly say the reason I love my school so much is because of my sorority. For the past 3 years I've had the distinct pleasure of being an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta at the University of Akron, Omega. In high school I always said I wanted to join a fraternity. I never realized what that would mean, but now looking back, I know how blessed I was to receive a bid September 2011 and be initiated November 19, 2011. Alpha Gamma Delta International Fraternity has been and continues to be the best decision of my life. The diverse set of women that I am able to call my sisters and the leadership experiences that I have been given- have helped to shape me into the woman I am today. Good or bad, I am thankful for every memory that I have here. You don't always get what you want, but you survive and learn from it. You sometimes get way more than you bargained for but you then get to rise to the occasion. I know that a number of these women will still be every day lifelines and I know that the rest will continue to be in my life in one way or another. These women truly are my very best friends. I know because of the strength, knowledge & integrity I get from calling myself their sister, that I'm going to be just fine in this world. My family, friends and Alpha Gamma Delta have taught me that. 

It is so sad to think that my time as a collegian is over. But my sisterhood within Alpha Gamma Delta is eternal. As I prepare for graduation this upcoming Saturday, I'm so excited to be applying for the Leadership Consultant position within the fraternity. I have wanted to be an LC for the past 3 years, and the simple fact that I can apply makes it almost too good to be true. All I want is to be able to give back to this organization that has given me so much! Be that an active role as an LC right away or as an advisor when the time comes. The limit really does not exist.

So I'm studying hard, and getting in all my Alpha Gam couch time in, because this place is about to one of my fondest memories. Finals week is the last milestone before I can say I am a college graduate. It's almost time, that this girl has her diploma!

Good luck on finals!

xoxo

Smart Squirrel, KJB

Incredibly Blessed

I am incredibly blessed and immensely happy at where I am in my life. I have wonderful friends that have turned into family and amazingly supportive family. It's true what they say, it gets better. It's true that once you stop worrying about things you can't control- you start to really live. I know that I'm going to be just fine in this world. There's beauty in the struggle, and you come out feeling more alive than you did going in. Embrace the journey. 

When I Am With You There's No Place I'd Rather Be; so blessed to have these beautiful people in my life! Happy Thanksgiving! 

2014, has been a great year. I could not have asked for a better final semester, graduation is 12 days away! It's bitter sweet to see my time in Akron come to a close but I'm excited to see what this life has in store for me, and it's not goodbye, it's see you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving from Harry & I

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Now-- the final week of classes and finals week!

Then graduation!

I've got this!

xoxo

KJB