The Last First Day of School

Everyone has posted their "last first day of school" statuses on Facebook (including me), and it got me thinking.  I graduate in about 4 months.  I've cast some lines out to companies I want to work for, and I have interviews coming up in 2 months.  Life is about to get real.

Just a few cover letters

While job hunting is a stressful and scary process, I am simultaneously making an effort to enjoy my last semester at Baylor.  There is so much to look forward to this semester, and I know it is going to fly.

I think it is only appropriate that I give my thoughts on the upcoming semester after two weeks.

Let's talk about these classes.  Taking 13 hours should be a breeze, right?  Well, I thought it would be.  It might as well be 18 hours with the demands of some of these classes....aka Advanced Reporting and Writing.

I'm just going to shoot straight--this class is scary.  I've never been more intimidated of a class in my life.  The workload and orientation to the news room was overwhelming.  Two stories, four-six interviews and 50 plus pages of reading are all mandatory for each week.  My professor said, "Treat this class like a job."  

I stumbled.  My schedule is filled with sorority meetings, SING practice every night, other classes besides this one, life and soon, my internship starts up again.  Ahh!  It was hard to fit everything in and get everything done.  Basically, I don't stop.  I go from 8 a.m. to midnight on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. to midnight on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.  

FIRST PUBLISHED ARTICLE OF THE SEMESTER

It's been a learning experience and will continue to be until I get the hang of this.  

My other classes are Beginning Golf, Nineteenth Century Literature, Creative Writing and Media Design.

Let's start with Golf.  Ha, if you know me well, I bet you're wondering why I'm taking that.  I normally take a dance Human Performance class, but I wanted to be spontaneous.  (Plus, jazz didn't fit in with my schedule.)  We start putting on Monday.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Literature and Creative Writing are my last two classes I need to complete my English minor.  Well, you know how I feel about Literature classes, so not much to say there except lots of reading and analysis.  Creative Writing isn't too bad.  I can't remember the last time I wrote a piece of fiction, but I will be writing plenty of it now.  Approximately 60 pages to be exact.  

I bet you can guess my favorite class...Media Design!  Look out.  I've got some new business cards on the way!  I love learning more about InDesign and improving my graphic design skills (even if it's at 8 a.m.)

In other news, I survived recruitment 2013!  Being a Gamma Chi was such a blessing!  I loved every minute of it, and it was awesome to experience a completely different side of recruitment.  (Fun fact:  I don't wear my glasses a lot, but I do sometimes when I'm tired or have a long day ahead. I wore my glasses almost every day and became known as "the Gamma Chi with the glasses." Too funny.)  

I'm looking so official at 7 a.m. with the name tag, fleece and mandatory watch.

My chapter embraced me with welcoming arms on Bid Day.  It was like my own Bid Day all over again!  I'm really excited to be involved as an affiliated member this semester.

Bid Day with some of the best

New Alpha class

Our diamond family

I'm thankful for many things in life because God has truly blessed me.  These past two weeks have shown me what friendship, grace and peace that surpasses all understanding look and feel like.  Although, I'm still adjusting to the challenges of this semester, I am confident that God will take me by the hand every moment and show me the sunshine at the end of each day.  I will celebrate every day for what it is and live this semester as if it's my last.  Because it is.    

Brooke Bailey Photography

Brooke Bailey Photography officially opened for business December 4, 2012!  After taking several photography classes over the years, working as a staff photographer at Camp Ozark and interning with a top local photographer in Waco, I am taking clients.  During my last semester at Baylor, I will be specializing in senior sessions.  

I feel so blessed that I am realizing this dream.  All of my learning and photography experiences in the past years have culminated into this moment.

This past month has been amazing, and I am looking forward to all of the great photo sessions this semester.  I am proud of this business and cannot wait to see where it takes me in the coming years.

Let's take some pictures.

www.brookebaileyphotography.com

https://twitter.com/BBPhotography_

https://www.facebook.com/BrookeBaileyPhotography

Email me:  brookebaileyphoto@gmail.com

Snapshots of Snow and City Hall: Christmas Break 2013

Christmas break was a success.  I spent four long weeks in Little Rock with my family enjoying good food and quality time.

The first week got off to a rocky start, though because half of my family got sick.  Consequently, my sister and I were quarantined to our house and couldn't visit our grandparents or uncle.  Although that was a bummer, I accomplished a lot of work on my photography business.

Christmas rush came the following week, which is always one of my favorite times of year.  I love watching Christmas movies, wrapping gifts, cooking delicious treats and going to a candlelight Christmas Eve service.

Can you believe it?  Little Rock had a white Christmas!  Not freezing rain or messy sleet...heavy-duty, thick snow.  It was truly a winter wonderland outside.  Unfortunately, this winter storm resulted in long power outages and treacherous streets.  As you can imagine, the cabin fever started to mask the beauty of the snow after about 24 hours.

New Year's was incredible, too.  My family and I attended the swearing in of my granddaddy, Gene Fortson.  He is a Little Rock City Board Director for another term.  I am so proud of him.  After the ceremony, our family enjoyed a delicious brunch of baked bananas and sausage casserole.  Later that afternoon, I took pictures of the lovely Alyvia.  We had so much fun, and the pictures turned out great!

The rest of my time at home consisted of cover letter writing, converting VHS tapes to DVDs, four-wheeling in Humnoke and managing Brooke Bailey Photography.

One of My Favorite Traditions

No where else can you experience a massive bonfire, pep rally, the largest collegiate parade, and great football--all in the same weekend.

What I love most about Baylor Homecoming is the long, rich history of tradition.  To date, Baylor has celebrated Bears coming home for 103 years.

It's my senior year, and I can't help but to get a little emotional when I think about the past four homecomings I've experienced.  Freshman year, I went to Freshman Mass Meeting.  I learned about the  significance of the Immortal 10 and stayed up way too late dancing to Michael Jackson music, while building the bonfire with some of the girls in my dorm.  I was a little sleep deprived the next morning in Scriptures class.

Immortal Ten Ceremony
Freshman year

Freshman Mass Meeting
Freshman year

Building the bonfire with my roommate, Stormy
Freshman year

Building the bonfire
Freshman year 

Bonfire
Freshman year

Bonfire with my friend Lauren. We both lived in NORO.
Freshman year

100 year celebration
Freshman year 

At the Homecoming parade with Corrin and Lauren
Freshman year 

Running the line
Freshman year

Corrin and I with Bruiser
Sophomore year

Meagan and I at the parade
Sophomore year

At the bonfire with Momal, Hannah, and Mom
Junior year

ADPi's float:  The Mad Tea Party
Junior year 

ADPi's float with Lauren and Kaitlyn
Junior year

ADPi's Float with Hannah
Junior year

Every year is different in its own way, but the homecoming celebrations remain constant.  At the pep rally, Patt Neff shines bright green as shimmery fireworks explode from the side of the building.  The bonfire's heat is strong and visible as orange and yellow flames reach to scary heights.

Fireworks at the pep rally
Freshman year

The family at the bonfire
Senior year

The bonfire
Senior year

The next morning, the cool crisp early air hits your face, as you leave your apartment in pitch black to reserve front row spots on the curb for your family and friends.  Then there's the rush of excitement and anticipation of waiting for your float to come sauntering down 5th street.

 Memories of messy paper mache, monotonous "pomping" of bright colored tissue paper, and tireless cutting of cardboard leafs all culminate to this one rush.  I'm snapping all the pictures I can from the sidelines, trying to take it all in, and making sure my family gets a good look at it, too.  I'm also sizing up the other floats...they get credit, but ours is always the best to me.  After looking up at all the floats for a couple of hours, it's time to go the game.

ADPi's float:  Baylor in Paradise
Senior year 

The family at Floyd Casey Stadium
Senior year

A Bear Dog with mustard and relish, accompanied by a Diet Dr. Pepper serves for lunch.  Then it's sic 'em bears and a beautiful performance from the band.  After we win, we go scout out more food.  George's is always a game day favorite; you can order a Big 'O everything.  Another Baylor homecoming has passed. 

The family at Floyd Casey Stadium
Senior year

When I go to Baylor Homecoming next year, I will be an alumnae.  The year 2013 will be very different, but I'll come back home to Baylor, and it will all be the same.  Sic 'em.

Pep Rally
Senior year

Reasons I've Had a Good Month:

I haven't blogged in a month.  If I were to give excuses they would all be summed up with one word:  busy.  Like most students, it's that time of year where everything seems to hit you at once: tests, papers, presentations, etc.  That's what I'll be working on the next 9 days before I head home for Thanksgiving.

To recap the past month, I've been overwhelmed by God's provision and grace.  Here's a glimpse of some positive things that have been going on in my life:

1.  The website that I've been working on for my sorority since January went live on Tuesday, October 9, 2012.  I'm so excited to finally see it come to life and share it with everyone!  Check it out: www.bayloradpi.com.

2.  I love my internship.  I'm so thankful that God brought this opportunity into my life.  I've learned so much and really enjoy what I do.  My job is always a highlight of my week.  My passion for photography has only grown.

3.  Generosity.  I received a couple of surprises from some people that absolutely made my day.  I'm inspired and reminded to do kind things for people.

4.  I got a card in the mail from my mom the other week.  It's the little things.

5.  We had a Parents' Weekend tailgate, which was so fun!  Shout out to Lauren and Kaitlyn for doing such a wonderful job!

6.  I've had really great conversations with my roommate.  She is such an encourager!  We are silly because we have dance parties all the time and always find reasons to laugh; we are daring because we made plans to be.  (And we might have carried some of those plans out...)

7.  I went to a shower for one of my good friends!  It was great to share some of those fun moments with her.

8.  I got a new lens!  It takes beautiful pictures.

9.  I auditioned for SING 2013 and made specialty dance!  I love dancing and performing, and it will be such a blessing to perform with my sisters in Waco Hall again.

10.  Homecoming was such a blast!  My family came down, and I had so much fun sharing Baylor traditions with them. 

Basically, I'm just a really happy girl.  Can't praise God enough for such a wonderful life.

A Blessed, Blustery Day

I am so thankful for today.  My attire consists of boots, jeans, and my Patagonia....and I'm completely comfortable.  I've got hot expresso in my Baylor Tervis Tumbler that I brewed this afternoon, and although I'm writing an eight page paper that's due at midnight, this is the most relaxing thing I've experienced in two weeks.

 In the last 14 days, my immune system has succumbed to the stomach flu, a sinus infection, and bronchitis.  On top of it, I've been a busy girl with school work, photo sessions, float, and p.r. stuff.  My body has been screaming for rest.  Today is the day that I give in and take it easy.  Stressing about a big paper doesn't sound like an easy day, but considering what I've been up to lately, it totally is.  Plus I'm not stressing too much because I'm too relaxed, and I'm determined to knock this thing out as quickly as possible.

Today is chill, and I'm so thankful and happy for that.  Praise God.

The Week of Espresso!

This week has been a blessed blur.  My time has been dominated by studying, reading, working and other random requirements and meetings.  Espresso has been essential.  Ever since my grandmother loaned me her two-cup coffee maker, I've been an addict.

When I was studying in Italy, I adopted a taste for Italian espresso.  Back in the states, I find myself taking my coffee stronger than I used to (espresso, some creamer, and a little Sweet n' Low).  It's funny.  I've never brewed coffee on my own until this year...I've always relied on Starbucks or Common Grounds for that.  Making my own cup of espresso somehow makes me feel all grown up.  I get a sense of achievement when I start my coffee maker at 8:30 most mornings.  I know it's silly, confirmed by my Dad's laughter, "Yeah, it's real complicated to make coffee isn't it?"  Well, I feel like a big girl with my coffee.

To get through this week, I've relied on my espresso to keep me energized and focused.  Thank goodness it's Friday.  After a Journalism law test and a Jazz quiz on choreographers and contributions, I can finally breathe.

Blessings of this caffeinated week have included some awesome photo sessions.  I had my first newborn session yesterday, and today I get to go to a three-month session.  I am absolutely loving all the things I'm learning in my internship and all of the experiences I get to have.  I also had my first Gamma Chi meeting this week, and I'm still so excited to serve as a Gamma Chi!  Sic 'em greek life!