Senioritis has hit in full force and I'm surprised that it waited this long to rear its head. Only eight more weeks of tests, chapter readings and class projects. After 16.5 years behind a desk, it's strange to think that I will never have to answer multiple choice questions or work hard not to leave stray marks on a Scantron test ever again. Because let's face it, unless the odds are in my favor and grad school in Europe is an option, my higher education career is done. Finito. Fait.

I'm working on several projects outside the classroom and now whenever I crack open a textbook I realize that I'm past the stage of learning theoretical principles anymore. Classroom lectures and "what if" scenarios won't help me once I move my grad cap tassel from the left to the right (or is it right to left?).

I've decided that I love working on varying projects at once. Compartmentalizing my time and juggling multiple deadlines is a rush, but I wouldn't have this semester any other way. The downside is that I sometimes go three days without seeing my roommates, but I knew I wasn't getting into a 9-5 industry. The upside to the hectic schedule is I get to spend the majority of my time working with one of my best friends. We have come full circle: starting out as the freshman dynamic duo yearbook section editors who didn't have a clue what was going on the first few months to working together again as seniors. Thankfully this time around we know what we're doing. Or at least like to pretend we do.

My future may be vague and confusing, but at least there will be no vocabulary quizzes or memorization tests in it. And for that, I am thankful, but also a little sad because I'm an ace at memorization.

On a semi-unrelated note...be on the lookout for some exciting changes on the blog in the next few weeks! If that's not the height of cryptic, I don't know what is.

I have taken to referring to the dining room table as command central or headquarters. 

It's the perfect size to set up shop for a night of homework. I haven't moved from this spot

in five hours. You should congratulate me on my determination and perseverance. Because if you

looked them up in the dictionary, I'm sure this is what they had in mind. It is times like these

that I am excited I only have 82 days left in the land of highlighters and flashcards.

Day 2: Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at.

I'd like to pride myself on knowing a little about a lot of things. Teenage television dramas, the quadratic formula, the French Revolution; I could tell you a small amount about all of them. However, if we're being honest, I could talk for days hours about teenage television dramas; my expertise is in The OC, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and The Hills.

So what am I going to educate you on, you may ask? Spelling and grammar. Before you stop reading, just let me explain. I see this as a public service because, if you're like me, nothing makes you stop reading more than incorrect capitalization and the dreaded Oxford comma. Oh, That doesn't bother you? Well I don't know if we can be friends then. Just kidding. But please, next time you type something, at least go through and correct all of the words spell check catches. The world and myself will thank you.

Here are a few reminders: 

1. Alot is not a word. 

2. "I" is always capitalized when referring to yourself. Always. Now if you are one of those writers who doesn't capitalize anything, then I will give you a slide on this one because at least you are consistent. But for the rest of you, i'm watching. 

3. Ellipses should not be used to represent a period. The president may pause every few words during his speeches hoping they will be filled with applause, but that does not mean you need to include ellipses every few words in your writing. I'll tell you right now, unless you are J.K. Rowling writing "Harry Potter Book Eight," no one is going to be cheering after every sentence.

And finally, I am going to put the ongoing "who vs. whom" debate to rest with a simple trick. 

4. Who vs. Whom. Until a few months ago, I vowed to ignore "whom" because I thought that surely it was soon to be removed from the English language. Since that has not happened, and most likely won't happen any time soon, I needed to learn the correct usage. As a child, I thought you only used "whom" when you wanted to sound fancy or extremely educated. (Surprisingly, I was wrong.) TIP: Turn the question into a statement. Who/whom does he love? He loves me. If you answer the question with "me" use whom. If you answer the question with "I", use who. Make sense? 

For those of you who have read this far, thank you. Especially those who are not communications majors. I will reward you dedication with a few tips on "How to not look and sound like an uncultured American when in Paris."

1. Speak softly (or not at all) and don't make eye contact with other passengers when on the metro. The French are seen as rude and unkind because they don't talk a lot in public. While they are by no means as friendly as the Italians, the French are not rude. They are just reserved. If you don't want to stand out as American (as if your Northface jacket or Kavu backpack didn't give you away), then pull out your white Apple earbuds and enjoy the view out of the window as you ride through town.

2. Stand on the right side of the escalator; walk on the left side. While this is supposed to be a universal rule of etiquette, most American ignore it when at home and abroad.

3. Always attempt to speak French at first. Your Southern twang or Boston accent will most likely give you away, but the French appreciate your effort. Who knows, your pronunciation may even get a smile or chuckle from the shopkeeper.

So there's all this talk about the end of Google Friend Connect and Google Reader. 
While this may be just like the Mayans swore the world would end in 2012,
I'll cover my bases and find another avenue to follow my daily reads,

I mean, when Stamp in My Passport began in October

there were rumblings of GFC becoming antiquated,

but I never paid them any mind.

Have no fear, because you can still follow me on Bloglovin!

(and Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest, 

if your heart so desires, and I sure hope it does.)

I'm also participating in a Bloglovin link-up here

.........

And on an unrelated note

Samantha and I have decided to move to Austin after graduation. 

And since this plan is now forever on the Internet,

that makes it as official as these plans can ever be. 

I've known that I wouldn't move back to Valdosta after graduation. 

There are only probably three (maybe four) entry level PR jobs in this town 

and I know or know of all of the people in those jobs...

and they aren't leaving within the next six months.

So relocation is in order.

This Georgia/Arkansas student may become a Texas girl after all.

And what better place than a city with 

"a mixture of cowboys and hipsters" (Sam's words)?

I've done some research, and it looks like Austin has an 

excellent  food/restaurant scene. 

And let's be honest, that's at the top of my "must have" list. 

(Case in point: The NYC Foodcation of 2013)

Anyways, more on this plan in December. 

I should probably make sure that I don't get a more severe case 

of senioritis and fail to walk across the stage with my diploma.

You know how at the beginning of every school year you tell yourself that it's going to be different, that you're not going to procrastinate anymore? Totally did that this year. 

And I nailed it. I worked on things before they were due, I read chapters before we discussed them in class, I took online quizzes days before they needed to be turned in.

My desk right now. Full of homework & snacks.

Unfortunately, this only lasted for about the first two weeks of classes... Whoops. So here we are at the end. I successfully put off doing any type of school work over Thanksgiving break (it seemed like a good idea at the time), and now I'm definitely paying the price for doing nothing for a whole week. I blame this on the fact that I've been in school for 15 years of my life. And I've got senioritis soooo bad, but I feel like this is justified because there's only 53 weeks until I graduate. 

The bane of my existence.

Somehow, I've got to find a way to buckle down these last 2 weeks and become motivated to finish this semester. However, this is much easier said than done. Wish Emily, Jess, and I good luck!

*sidenote- I stress-ate an entire bag of baby carrots last night. I mean, at least it wasn't Oreos...

Happy Finals, y'all!

-Samantha