Saturday, January 26, 2013

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.  



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.    

Monday, January 7, 2013

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.

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.