It feels surreal that I am even writing a blog on my Clemson experience, because I most definitely just moved into my place freshman year 2 weeks ago. I can’t even believe how fast this time has gone. I remember being SO freaked the night before I moved into college my freshman year. Not to mention, I didn’t know any of my roommates and I was such a home body! I even remember the exact playlist I was listening to as I waited in the line of cars into my apartment complex. So uncertain of the future. Now here I am 4 years later and it’s crazy how much has happened. Most of what I would have never expected sitting in my car that day ready to pull into my new home.
The month after I moved to college, my sister had my baby nephew, Dawson! Just 3 months after that, my mom was diagnosed with 3 rare lung diseases. The next month, Clemson won a National Championship and I got to hang the flag in Death Valley at midnight with my friends! Then I met some of my favorite people in an FCA small group, and that completely changed my freshman year!
Sophomore year I moved to Durham NC for my mom to get her double lung transplant. I became a full time student all online. I met one of my absolute best friends ever in Durham, who’s engagement photos I just got to take!
Junior year I moved from Greenville to Pawleys Island, came back to Clemson, changed my major to Graphic Communications, and my photography business took off. To no surprise, Clemson won another National Championship and I heard fireworks go off all around town. I got my first internship at Tigertown Graphics and licensed my business!
Senior year I rescued my dog, Pinky, celebrated my moms 2 year lungaversary, moved to Atlanta for an internship with WestRock, then finished my schooling during a pandemic. In fact I actually gave my final presentation for a class in a hospital waiting room!
Which perfectly explains my time in college. I learned to persevere no matter the trials, find the friends that are there for you, prioritize what matters most, and learned that there is so much more to life than school. If someone had told me that day in line what these next 4 years would have looked like. I would’ve NEVER believed you! But I can honestly say that I am so much stronger than I was 4 years ago.
Some of the absolute best memories of my life were made during these 4 years. There have been belly laughs, tears, triumphs, A+’s, F-‘s, best friends, Tillman bells, hospital visits, Cooper Library snacks, 1 am jam sessions with friends, spontaneous drives, immense growth, love, heartbreak, football chants, and a LOT of orange! If I could go back and tell 18 year old me what I knew now, I would say : hold on tight. I mean SUPER tight. Because these next 4 years are going to change you in ways you never imagined. But keep your eyes open, because it’s a beautiful ride.
I love you always Clemson.
The was taken a few minutes after I waited in that line in my car freshman year to get my apartment! 
My whole family (including my pregnant sister) helped me move in. They all cried when they left, but then I forgot my phone and they had to come back. Which made us all cry again! Then they went to eat my favorite food without me, wings! 
The very first picture I got with my roommates freshman year! 
My first Clemson game as a student. 
We got used to the whole winning thing. 
The first time I ever made sauce for all of the roommates! Family dinner! 
The night Clemson won the National Championship! We were all eating pizza in their dorm room for the most intense game! After we won, we went to go hang this flag in Death Valley without letting anyone know we had the keys to Death Valley! 
The first of many baseball games! 
My small group filled with the BEST people ever! 
This sunflower field became our tradition! The start to junior year. 
Natalie was always my game day buddy! Lots of tailgates, sunburn, frantic ticket searching, and Gatorade. 
This picture describes Clemson perfectly. 
Friendsgiving during my junior year! 
We won this one too. 
Fall in Clemson my junior year. 
We all went to Night to Shine my junior year! 
Over the summer before senior year, we got to go to Greenville Fashion week and act like we belonged! 
First day of senior year! 
Girls night out at a popular place in Clemson at sunset! 
The sunflower tradition continues! 
Senior year sunflower photos. 
Cassidy and I hiked up a mountain and camped out in the middle of no where. It was SO beautiful! We got trapped in a storm…in a tent, found the best toast in the world, almost caught the mountain on fire, saw 20 white squirrels, and danced like crazy people under the stars to every song we could think of. 
I sat next to Sam Junior year, but we stayed best friends! This pic was taken my senior year and we found the BEST crepes ever and a new love for Taylor Swift. 
This is my friend that I met in Durham! She is the strongest, most loyal friend I know! Also, she showed up at my door with flowers this day, so yeah she’s pretty great. 
Senior year I rescued my best friend. My friend Dylan fostered her, then gave her back!! He sent me a picture of her sad at the door of the humane society when he left her. I got the picture while sitting in Cooper Library, cried, called him, and told him I was picking him up to come with me to get her!! The rest is history! 
Halloween Senior Year 
We ordered our class rings!!! 
Senior year football games! I had a Clemson paw tan line after this game. 
I got to go to Dallas with my major and it was the best time ever! 
Another game day in the valley 🙂 
Pinky’s first vet visit! We like to annoy her haha! 
The day I got my ring at the ring ceremony! 
My graduation photos :’)
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