My Junior Spring

Tonight I can finally catch my breath. Since coming back from France, every night has been hectic and stressful. Honestly I have been stressed out of my mind, and seeing all of the seniors getting into colleges has been both motivating and at the same time really freaky. Next year, I won't have any seniors to look up to, no older people at all. It's really strange to think about.

I have finally made up all of the things that were pushed back from my trip to France. HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders, but I also have two huge projects that are literally right around the corner. But I just have to keep working my hardest, and eventually it will all be finished!

Everyone in my school right now is deciding what courses to take next year. Its kind of stressful and kind of exciting at the same time. (I keep saying that. I feel like that is basically my life at this point) I can't decide which science I am going to take, but I am pretty sure that I will be in the highest level math that my school offers, because I was recommended for it and I trust my teacher's judgement pretty soundly.

Recently the little amount of free time I have had has been completely wasted. I really want to stop wasting my time scrolling through Facebook and tumblr and actually doing something a little bit more concrete, like working ahead, reading a good book, writing a blog post, or baking!

Oh and prom is in like 10 days or something. I am going with my best guy friend, and I am really happy about it all! I have honestly no idea what to expect going into this! I am wearing an "erin erin fetherson" dress that's not mind-blowing, but I like it! Not too showy or anything.

Another thing that has recently come to my attention is that I have barely any clothes for this spring! I need to get on this ASAP. Literally all of my dresses are too short which is bad considering that I am like 5'9" or something so that makes it even more noticeable. I have been looking online for weeks but I have not found many cute, affordable, and unique options. #constantstruggle

Plus, since coming back from France my style has changed yet again. I have such random outfits everyday people probably have a very hard time defining my style. One day its preppy, one day its literally "what is she wearing??" Sorry, I honestly need to decide what my style is and just stick to it!

I really want to buy some cute rompers for the summertime! Thats one thing that I keep seeing and I am getting so inspired! I have the cutest outfit ideas picked out for when I go to Italy and England this summer!

And on top of all that, I have early dismissals from school at least two days every week until mid May. So busy, but I can't wait for my birthday thats coming up and OMG SUMMER.

Oh and if you are in the mood for some really good music to listen to, check out this full set of "Of Monsters and Men" from Coachella last year. I wrote this blog post with it playing in the background. I love listening to concerts on youtube. So entertaining.

Later peeps,

Kelsey

What We Said in France

France seems like forever ago and just a few days ago at the same time it's actually really hard to describe. School has been not so fun, and I have been exhausted 24/7. But hey whats new.

Here is basically 99% of the words that we said in France:

• Oui
• I literally almost fell asleep on this tour
• OMG Taken 3
• I want a crepe
• I want a French boy
• That's like _____ in US dollars. I can't even.
• Un peu
• Is there WiFi here?
• Why is the toilet not in the bathroom...
• eco ecNo (long story short, this hostel we stayed at this hostel that had lights that went out every 2 minutes because they were trying to be eco-friendly. We got really mad becuase we had to run to the light switch every 2 minutes, so we said NO to eco. Therefore ecno was born.)
• Oui
• We're going to a cafe later
• Moi AUSSI
• I have the nicest corres
• I just want to go to sleep
• Can I just say I lost my passport so I don't have to go home

 Here are some random pictures from my trip! I had such a great time and I am so thankful for the opportunity to travel to France with my friends, stay with an amazing family, and have great weather!

It's kind of depressing to be back home but it's good to be playing lacrosse again and finally catching up with school work.

Prom is in less than a month. #askme? #pleez?

XOXOXO,
Kels

Washington & Lee

I said this was coming, and here it is! My visit to W&L recap.

Washington and Lee is a small liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia. Lexington is also home to Virginia Military Institute, or VMI. Many people on my mom's side have attended W&L, and many family members and family friends have attended VMI, as well. Last weekend my family and I spend three days in Lexington. We explored the town with my mom's close friend, who lives in Lexington, and ate at the Bistro, the Southern Inn, Nico's, and Primo. We went to the VMI football game (they won!) and hung out with our family friends who have a son who goes to VMI. Some of my cousins and family friends really want to go to VMI who are around my age, so it would be fun if we were all in Lexington together! I also spent the night at W&L with my friend who is a current freshman. I will be forever grateful for her hosting me, taking me to a party, and introducing me to tons of people. I really learned more about W&L than I would have otherwise.

I have actually spent quite a bit of time at W&L over the past few years, because they have this great lacrosse camp. Its a sleep-away camp where you get to sleep in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, play on their fields, and get instruction from their coaches, their players, and coaches from other nearby colleges. So, I knew the campus pretty well before I had even had a tour! I highly recommend the lacrosse camp if you play, and you are thinking about the school!

How does W&L stack up on my wish list?

1. Study Abroad: The best time to study abroad is during the "Spring Term". Spring term is this really interesting term where students on campus only take one class. Normally freshmen and seniors stay on campus for spring term, and sophomores and juniors either do internships or study abroad. This really sounds like an amazing thing, that obviously most colleges do not have.

2. Small Classes: Yes. Crazy small classes. A lot of them are smaller than the already small classes at my HS! Crazy low student to teacher ratio, as well. I love small classes personally it helps me create closer relationships with the other students in my class, and I become much more comfortable around my teacher as well.

3. Traditions: Apart from being a tradition to attend W&L for many of my family members, W&L is a school with a rich history and a historic campus. I love schools with older architecture (like W&L, Davidson, W&M). That is something that I would love to have at my HS, but unfortunately do not have. Washington and Lee used to be all male, so no female members of my family have ever attended!

4. Honor Code: Yes! This is honestly so important to me, its kind of hard to describe how much I love the respect that students have for each other under a honor system. Leaving things around campus is NOT the norm everywhere, and a big reason of why I love my favor

5. Liberal Arts Education: Yes! And they have a journalism school! It was the first journalism school in the country. I think that history is really special. They basically have every major I am possibly interested in: Journalism, Business, Poli Sci, and English!

6. College Town (with trees!): One of my mom's best friends lives in Lexington, and she really wants me to go here! Its a great little town! They have the best ice cream (check out "Sweet Things"), and tons of restaurants and stores for such a small town.

7. Greek Life: YES! W&L has over 80% participation in Greek life. Thats so amazing and their houses are beautiful as well. When I went to visit my friend, who is a freshman, I went to a frat party at the Kappa Sigma house (I think? ... Maybe a different "Kappa" house) and it was so much fun. Unfortunately, there is not a Delta Delta Delta  (my legacy) chapter at W&L, but there are lots of other great options. The sorority houses are really nice, normally sophomores live in them, and they're all in the same little section of campus!

Looking pretty rough, but it was a great night!

All in all, I love W&L, and it is definitely somewhere I am interested in attending. It is the perfect school for me!

Have you read my other college posts? I have also visited William and Mary, Davidson, and Wake Forest.

I really still need to visit a lot of schools, and because I am only a junior, by no means is anything set in stone. There are a lot of colleges that I like, but here are some of the ones I love:

My College List: Washington and Lee University, Davidson College, College of William and Mary, Wake Forest University, Vanderbilt University, Sewanee: University of the South, University of Virginia, Southern Methodist University, and Johns Hopkins University

XOXOXO,
Kels