new york

I visit New York City once a year. It’s only been a tradition for two years now, but I’m planning to keep it going.

My friend Nora is one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. When she turned 16 she wrapped her Honda accord turquoise. Her college acceptance video to NYU is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. She’s always loved the eccentric things in life.

Last year, I was supposed to visit her for 24 hours. Until my flight got cancelled on the day where all the flights got grounded and I got food poisoning that sent me to a holistic doctor and I really had to limit my palette for six months after. Anyways, I visited Nora in New York City, and I really got a glimpse into how different the college experience can be for different people. Just listening to the conversations she had with her friends, going to 75th floor high rise apartments, I felt constantly reminded that I went to school in Wisconsin.

I visited New York City this year. Again, I stayed with Nora for 24 hours, and did we make the most of those 24 hours. We took the subway back from Brooklyn at 4am(sorry mom). I got a rainbow bagel the next morning. I went to my first pride parade. My friends and I all took on New York City together, I didn’t get food poisoning.

It was great.

I love live shows. My first broadway show ever was Mean Girls when Renee Rapp was Regina, I fell in love with broadway. Eleanor’s family graciously gifted us tickets to &Juliet , I was again reminded that I love live shows.

Ruby lives upstate. No notes.

Lexi lives on Long Island, Bitch.

Eleanor lives just a town over from where my dad grew up. Life always comes full circle.

My adult friends

I have 3 adult friends. And it’s taught me the value of having a variety of perspective. In my life, I have certainly had friends with various perspectives, backgrounds, and upbringings; but the through line between them all is that they are all my age. Now, I feel like I am at a point where I can consider my adult friends my friends, and not necessarily within a mentor setting.

My friend Taylor was my boss. I was hired at South Moon Under the month after my 16th birthday. It became a wonderful community for me over the course of 3.5 years. I wouldn’t trade that experience for the world. Taylor was exactly the “adult friend” I needed at that point in my life, she understood my life, as she had graduated from my high school, but also had a much different lived experience as I had. As I got older, and “better at my job”, she trusted me to take on more responsibilities. When I thought to talk about my adult friends, Taylor is the first person I thought of. She cares for her people, she has the most infectious laugh, and she is such a hard worker. I am so thankful that the friendship has lasted the distance, age gap, and closing of our beloved South Moon Under. 

I am not totally sure how to describe Johnny, but we are friends. I recently met him at my current hostess job, and he is a server. I have gotten to know him over the past 6 months, yet every new thing I learn about him doesn’t necessarily give me a clearer picture. He studied physical education for a bit, went to culinary school for a bit, and likes to swim. He says the things that you might not expect anyone to say, ever. No matter the path life takes you, stay true to yourself. 

My friend Anna makes me smile. She’s also an only child, she also likes to shop, and she’s also very organized. She also is one of the craziest athletes I’ve ever met (I’ve met a lot of athletes). We like to drink coffee and chat about the menial things. She is Wisconsin through and through. I’m always reminded of that when she says “ope”. That makes me smile. She stays very true to herself, her values, her priorities no matter what curveball is thrown her way. One of my friends recently told me “I want to be like Anna when I grow up”, and I think that exemplifies exactly the type of person she is. 

My aux

If I had a playlist to my life it would probably be this. But this is also pretty similar to the vibe change whenever I get aux, which explains why I never really get aux. Here is a collection of songs that brings me back to a certain memory, or just mean a lot to me.

Burn (Ellie Golding)- when I’m listening to the Hot Seat with Sydney and Reagan at the kitchen table

Big Tonka (Yeat)- at all times.

The Devil Went down to Georgia- As soon as I enter Athens, Georgia

Come N Go(Yeat)- In 546

You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile(Annie Soundtrack) – first thing in the morning

Work Work Work Work (Donnay Soldier& 3DMA)- on the way to a workout class (or when it hits midnight on your birthday)

Betty (Taylor Swift) – with Rachel at the Eras tour

Fahrrad fahr’n (Max Rabe)- German camp

From Tallinn with love (Chanel Show version, planningtorock)- in South Moon Under

Appaloosa Bones(Gregory Allan Isakov)- with a live orchestra behind it

Mountain song(Flatland Calvary) – on repeat with Eleanor on the floor of my dorm room

I’m every Woman (Whitney Houston) – with the girls

Goodbye Earl (The Chicks)- reflecting on my southern upbringing

FU2X (Lil Baby)- when you feel pushed to run (something horrible has just happened)

Multi-Family Garage Sale (Bargain-Bin Mix)- recent fav, thanks Reagan

Tear off the Roof (Brandon Lake) – Passion 2024

Sleepless (Bblaisian) – 16th birthday on 30A, need I say more

Watch (Billie Eilish)- I’ve seen Billie 3 times, the first time I at music midtown 2017, by myself. The second at Variety Playhouse, a very small venue in Atlanta, and the third at Chastain, in which I asked my mom if we could come home early from our Germany trip just so I could see her.

Peace (Taylor Swift) – my favorite Taylor song

Smokin’ In the Boys Room (Motley Crue)- I listened to this a lot in middle school?

How Bad Can I Be? (Lorax soundtrack)- SPAC Orlando training trip

ICY GRL(Saweetie)- wrote a college essay about this song

MDMA (Ken Carson & Destroy Lonely) – fond memories all around

Cotton Eye Joe- Dance parties in 1157

Pitch perfect 2 Riff Off- best movie of all time

Fear is a Liar (Zach Williams) – one of my favorite worship songs

The View Between Villages extended version (Noah Kahan)- I moved out of my hometown, but I loved it for what it was worth. I’m so much happier now

So Much Wine (Phoebe Bridgers)- enjoying my time outside with Lexi on the balcony

Linger (The Cranberries)- duh, also randomly TSITP

Mia Wallace(ilyTOMMY) – another duh

i was very religious in high school

When I was 15 I signed a contract that said I wouldn’t drink alcohol, wouldn’t engage in homosexual activities, and would be celibate until marriage. A couple of those things will give you pink eye. All jokes aside, I don’t think I should have had to sign that contract at such a young age, not knowing who I was or not yet having the skills to discern whether those choices actually aligned with my life. But this mindset has taken me almost three years to break down.

Jesus saved my life. When I was in seventh grade, I accepted my Lord and savior Jesus Christ into my heart. Now, the Holy Spirit lives within me. From the ages of 12-18 I attended church every Sunday, albeit some for swimming purposes. My junior and senior year of high school I was attending church up to 3 times a week. I led a small group in the morning, went to my high school ministry at night, and Bible study on Wednesdays. As I got deeper into the word, my faith grew. I learned so many valuable lessons and led my life in such a way that reflected the Lord. I also had a group of equally yoked friends that I was in fellowship with. My love for the Lord was deep, he was my closest friend and redirected my mind when I fell astray.

Leading a small group has been one of the best experiences of my life. I led a group of middle school girls throughout their entire middle school careers. They trusted in me in such a way that will probably never be replicated until I have kids of my own. We grew to love each other over very formative periods in our lives. As much knowledge as I shared with them, I gained back tenfold in learning how to lead and love people in unique ways. Even though I may see them only once a year, I still reminisce on the pictures, memories, and notes they gave me. I even baptized a couple of them.

My freshman year roommate said the most southern thing about me is that I brought my Bible to college.

I didn’t realize how greatly southern culture was influenced by Christianity and vice versa until I moved out of the south. It was not until I moved out of the south that I became separating the ideas of culture and religion. Due to my experiences, they were convoluted in my mind.

I tried going to church in college, it did not hold a candle to the resources and messages I received at my home church. So much so that I tried watching church online from a church that I liked. I enjoyed it, but a big part of church for me was the community. It’s not the same here-this is where culture and religion needed to overlap for me.

All of this to say. I’m not totally sure where I stand with religion, but I know the contract was not a good place to start.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-4