I didn’t realize that my business classes were going to be this difficult. I should’ve known it wasn’t easy but I sure knew that it was easier than Bio-med. I am currently enrolled in Accounting 2, Business Communications, Business Law, Marketing, and Management. They all sound easy but I assure you they are not.

Marketing and Management are the easiest classes I am taking out of the load I have this semester. They still aren’t easy but they are easier than the other 3. These classes are lower level business courses and they just teach the fundamentals. My Accounting 2 class is online through Wallace Community College and it is just hard because its hard to learn that online. I wish I would have taken it in a class room.

Business Law is by far the hardest class I have ever taken. I believe it is harder than my chemistry 2 class was. My brain does not comprehend the law well because it has so many rules. I have to study very hard for that class just because I get very confused.

I know my classes next semester will be even tougher because I am taking Finance and an upper level marketing elective. I know it will all pay off and I will be super happy with my degree once I finish but it will be difficult getting there.

Alpha Gamma Delta

There are many expenses that go into Homecoming for sororities and fraternities. They must make banners, floats, dance costumes, and food for the tailgate on game day. An abundance of time and money goes into homecoming and it is a very stressful week for most people. I can speak for Alpha Gam because I can see it first hand. Hundreds of dollars go into float and usually takes about 30 hours to finish it all. Float committee gets together weeks before homecoming and starts to tackle tasks. Banner usually takes about 15 hours and the budget for that isn’t very expensive but it usually takes around $75. Dance costumes usually run around a $150 because we have to buy costumes for approximately 20 girls. Tailgate food is very expensive because they provide food and drinks for about 300 people. As you can see, homecoming for alpha gam is very expensive and just take into consideration for every single fraternity and sorority.

It is expensive for students as well. Especially for girls that are running for homecoming queen/ Maid/ Junior court. These girls must buy clothes for interviews and as well as to wear out on the field at half time of the game. Homecoming is a great week of the year and brings out many fun events, but not many people realize how much money goes into this week.

Troy vs South

Yesterday was a busy day. I had class at 11:30 and left Troy around 2. It took around 3 hours to get to Mobile. When we arrived in Mobile, we went to a friends house in Springhill. We got ready at her house and ordered a pizza. The pizza was the best pizza I have ever bitten into. We got 4 boxes of cheese and we ate every ingle piece. Around 6 we called an Uber to come get us. Our Uber driver’s name was Andy and he was from India. He played India music for us and told us all about his culture. Andy dropped us off at the front gate of Ladd Peoples Stadium and we said goodbye and made our way to the game. I bought a ticket for $5 from someone outside the stadium because I had not had a ticket at that point. We went into the game and up the stands to the student section. Troy was kicking butt and it was a good game. The stadium was a lot less filled than I thought it would be. We left at half time because we were winning and we didn’t want to get stuck in traffic. We ordered another Uber back to her house and we made it safely. We watched the rest of the game in the den at her house. After the game we went outside in her courtyard and talked for a couple of hours. It was a great trip that I will never forget.

Some people believe that if you do not have a college degree in the world today, you will not be successful. Research shows that college graduates with a bachelors degree makes 84% more than high school graduates. I do believe education is very important but it is not required to be successful. Steve Jobs (Apple), Walt Disney (Disney), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and Milton Hershey (Hershey Bars) never graduated college. Some of these famous people didn’t even attend a semester at college.

My dad and my brother did not go to college. My dad owns a Jewelry Store and my brother is a lineman. I know they both do pretty well for not having a degree. A family friend of ours makes well over $100,000 a year and never attended college. He owns a pest control business and he also is a firefighter just for the benefits. It is easier for men to be successful in this world without a degree. Men can go to trade school and learn something hands on and women will be shamed upon for doing that.

In the 25-34 age group, 37.5% of women have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while only 29.5% of men do. I believe that this proves that it is easier to be successful if you are a male. Who knew that some of the most successful people in the world never attended college.

Panama City, Florida

The devastation in Florida is something unreal. It’s so weird seeing pictures of buildings and towns where you went every weekend for vacation. You never think something like this will happen to you. I am so sorry for the houses and things lost in the city but for once we were a lucky one. My family has a beach house about a mile from Pier Park and luckily no damage happened to the house. The only thing we know of is the fence blew down. As bad as a situation like this is, it brings unity and friendships to a broken place.

Dothan, Alabama

Our house in Dothan suffered more damage than our house in Florida did. Many shingle were ripped off the roof, shutters blown off, and leakage in my parents bedroom. Some people near us had trees coming through their house and trees crushing it. Once again we were lucky and nothing major happened directly. 81% of residents in Houston County were without power. It is said that it could be multiple days until the power is restored here.

Troy, Alabama

On my way back to Troy, I counted over 200 bucket trucks headed towards damage. It amazes me how many people are willing to help others in a time of need like this. It is such a sad situation and I’m just glad most people are okay. Things can be replaced but people can’t!

Overview

A couple of blogs ago I talked about starting an Instagram page for thrift store finds and eventually put the up for sale. Yesterday I drove up to Montgomery to look at a Plato’s Closet (consignment shop), Goodwill, and Dirt Cheap. I scored big at Dirt Cheap and Plato’s Closet. Let me just tell you what deals I found!!!

Dirt Cheap

Dirt Cheap is a discount store that is located everywhere in the United States. I found a cute fall turtleneck for $3. How the heck did I get so lucky? I also found a pair of Steve Madden sandals for $15. Those same shoes would be sold at Dillard’s for $80 bucks! That is ridiculous. The last thing I found here was a cute black sweater from the Target brand Mossino. This exact sweater online at Target is $20 and I paid a whole $5.

Plato’s Closet

I originally went to here to drop off a bag of clothes that have been riding around in the trunk of my car. I took it in just to see if they would buy any of it because after they went through it, I was going to take it to the Goodwill. I ended up shopping at Plato’s Closet and found a maroon skirt from a boutique for $8. Another thing I bought was an outfit for our date party next weekend. I didn’t really see a point in spending $40 on an outfit to wear 1 time. I found a neon pink dress for $4. The best thing I found here was a Free People sweater for $12 and it originally would cost $90. To make this trip even better, they bought $26 worth of my clothes that I took them. Basically I got all of my new clothes for free and got back $0.86 back:)

I encourage everyone to go out of their comfort zone and shop in these cheaper stores. You never know what you will find.

“It’s just money. I’ll make more tomorrow!” How many times have you heard someone say this? I hear this all the time and it makes me cringe. Yes it is just money and you will make more tomorrow, but why spend your whole paycheck and be stressed just cause you can. You never know when you will need extra money, have an emergency, or plan a vacation. I promise you if you spend every dollar of every paycheck, you will not be happy in the long run. Here are a few tips on how to save money..

1. Create a budget for every thing you absolutely need and must have.. (this does not mean you budget $1100 for the new iPhone coming out)
2. Pay ALL bills at the beginning of the month (avoid any late fees for bills)
3. Put everything not budgeted in a savings account (this should be at least 20 percent of your income)

It is very hard for college students to save money because most have low paying jobs and high expectations (especially girls). Girls think they have to have a new outfit for every time they go out or to a football game. No body wants to wear the same thing twice. Another thing that college students waste a bunch of money on is bars/alcohol. After a long week you want to go out. Well before you know it you have spent $30-$50. Most people go out more than 1 time a week. Lets just say you go out 1 time a week. (Let’s be real.. you go out more than that). BUT.. $30 a week for 52 weeks is $1,560. It is a win win situation. Save the money and save the sickness. (But thats no fun!!) Have fun but save accordingly.

I have always enjoyed going to thrift stores and other major discounted retail stores to see what kind of deals I can find. Some of my favorite stores to do this in is TJMAXX, Marshalls, and Dirt Cheap. Recently I have bought 3 swimsuits from Dirt Cheap for a total of $3!!!! Thats only .50 cents a piece!! You can not beat that deal.

I follow many closet pages on Instagram. These people go to thrift stores and buy trendy clothes a resell them for way more than they pay. I would really like to get into this business. It is super easy and super fun! I would probably only lean towards women clothes because lets be real…. mostly girls are the only people that care about being trendy. I would post a product on a model and set like a 24 hour period to bid on the item and the person with the highest bid after 24 hours will buy the product. One specific account I follow, they make atleast $500 a month! That is CRAZY!

I have already done this theory a little bit just on my Facebook page. I would really like to just start an Instagram page and do this on the side so I can have extra money. Lets be real.. ALL college students could use more money for fun, clothes, and food. Okay, signing off! Im about to get started making my Instagram page.

Semester at Sea

Study Abroad Program

Overview

My whole life I have always wanted to study abroad. I have always dreamed of going to South Africa and Japan. My dreams MAY come true next semester through a study abroad program called Semester at Sea. Semester at Sea is a 4 month long journey across the world on a ship with 600 college students from around the world. Students vary from  Afghanistan to right here in Troy, Alabama. The voyage is 106 days and the ship stops in 11 countries, 15 cities, and 4 continents.

Classes

So… This is the worst part about this program. Who wants to take classes while you are traveling? NOT ME! But, it is not as bad as it seems. You only go to class on the days that the ship is moving. When it is docked, you will not attend class. Every country that the ship stops at is at least docked for 5 days. I planned on taking business classes on the ship but I have not had some of the prerequisites so I may have to change up my classes.

Explorin’

THIS IS THE BEST PART! How often do you get the opportunity to travel the world with 600 people your age? Not very often! Shark Cage Diving, Skydiving, Wine tours, Bungee Jumping, Taj Mahal, Hot Air Balloon Rides, and everything else is just a few things that I look forward to doing with people that will become my best friends! Sometimes I overthink and think about how dangerous this journey will be but then, I always come back to the thought of ‘You won’t accomplish anything if you never get out of your comfort zone!’.

Check out the link below for more information!

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