To the class of 2018...

My first semester of college here at USC has already changed my life. I have seen more life in the last four months than I ever have before. I have seen one of my closest friend's life completely change in an instant, I have seen that boys actually do use pick up lines like, 'Hey, do you know where else I can find a tall blonde girl? Or is she standing in front of me?' and I have seen so much love for me, my friend, and for future goals.
I would say in order to survive your first semester of college, be prepared for ANYTHING to come your way. No matter how crazy or how out of nowhere it may seem, I know first hand it is possible for a situation to be thrown your way that you may never expect. Become friends with your professors, learn who they are. It will make class work much more exciting to complete. Also, join student organizations. Don't just sit around in your dorm room and eat pizza and gain the freshman 15(It's real, y'all!), make a name for yourself on campus. You won't be in high school anymore. Take opportunities, as well as create them.

The List

We all have one, a list. A list of things we want to accomplish before we graduate. Here's mine:

1. Graduate (Duh, that's why I'm here!)
2. Intern for Broadcasting Firm for a summer, or a semester.
3. Be on Exec for Phi Mu.
4. Make the President's List AT LEAST one semester I'm in college.
5. Perform the National Anthem at a football game.
6. Compete for the title of Miss South Carolina.
7. Stay up for 24 hours at Dance Marathon.
8. Study Abroad in England, my second home.
9. Join SGTV.
10. Graduate (Duh, that's why I'm here!)

In order to accomplish everything on this list, I will continue to stay positive throughout my years here, and do my best to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.

I'M GOING HOME

My sister studied abroad for two semesters and was almost given the opportunity to travel abroad for graduate school when she was a finalist for the Fulbright Scholarship. It is not that I want to follow in my sister's footsteps, per-say, I just saw how much it changed her life for the better to see the world. I have traveled before because I am fortunate enough to have dual citizenship of America and England, so I have traveled to Europe twice.
Even with all of my travels, I was very young both times I went to England and saw what I guess is one of my "homelands." I traveled there when I was 4 and 15. During those times, I was not really interested in fully taking in the atmosphere, one because during one trip I was only months out of being a toddler, and the second time I was going through my freshman year of high school that was not the best year for me. Now I am older, wiser, and just a TINY bit more confident in myself. (; Therefore, I want to study abroad in London, England and hopefully work BBC America, their biggest broadcasting company.
I believe that if I go back to study abroad in England, I will truly be open to learn during my studies, and also all about myself. My whole entire family is over there, so I would be surrounded by culture and hopefully, I would be able to figure out even more about where my mum came from.
I have done much thought about studying abroad, and I think I will either go the end of sophomore year next year or during the summer for a Maymester. I know most people study during their junior years, but it is my goal to hold a leadership position in my sorority and that would require me to live in the house my junior year.
I am so happy to attend a school that offers such wonderful opportunities, and I hope to take advantage of them very soon!

Career Research

Broadcast Journalism has been my career goal since I was in the tenth grade. After interviewing Garrett Bedenbaugh from WACH Fox, I really saw that this job is possible for me. Garrett is the weatherman on the Channel 57 newscast, but I know him as the Devil. When I was in middle school, Garrett was Clinton High School's mascot for football games. He was very involved with the journalism classes at CHS, as well. He was yearbook editor his senior year, and so was I. Everyone always doubted him when he said he wanted to become a weatherman, but now at 23 years old, he is on Fox Carolina every morning of the week, showing off his meteorology knowledge. To see him on television now, knowing he is from my town, I truly know this is something possible. Anyone who works hard can be successful in this career.
From my other research, I now know so much goes into this career. Many have to give up their social life in order to reach their goals. In the end though, I believe it to be worth it. In order to settle down and have a personal life, one has to be secure with themselves and with their career.

Wait, I Have Adjusted to College Life?

As lame as it sounds, I sometimes feel like I am dreaming. My whole life I have wondered where I would be for college, what I would be studying, who I would become friends with, and now that this time of my life is actually here, everything feels so surreal. Along with me finally starting my life's ambitions here at USC, there have been many stresses.
I have often mentioned in my journals that my french class was very stressful. I recently decided to withdraw from the class because I have scholarships to keep and grades to maintain in order to stay in my sorority. I wasn't doing horribly in the section, but I just knew that I wouldn't have as much time to focus on my other classes, which I am doing very well in. Because I was spending so much time on it I was missing important study time for my other classes, so since I was stressed out about the work and time was being taken away from other important classes, dropping it seemed to be the best option for me.
I have declared PoliSci as my minor, so I am getting prepared for next semester to officially start taking more Journalism classes and PoliSci classes. I always knew I would take the political route. CNN has always been a very big source of news for me. However, I still could change my mind, but I have two 100s on Poli101 quizzes, so as of right now, CNN is my goal!
Yes, school is stressful, but in order to succeed I have to do what's best for me. I think I have learned how to manage my time and take care of myself. I have anxiety over many things, and one of the results of that is stress eating. Knowing I have to stay in shape for my preliminary pageant coming up, I had to cut out many foods in my diet. Before I dropped French, I was NOT eating healthily, and was on the verge of the freshman 15! I usually do well with sticking to a plan, so now I am better and back on the right track. I have been told it takes the first semester to fully get the hang of this whole college thing, sometimes longer, so I would say I am doing just fine.
Like I said if I stick to all of my plans: never giving up on myself, knowing my limits, and working as hard as I can, my time here at USC will be everything I have ever hoped for, maybe even more.

Live Life...

"Live life like you are at the bottom, even if you are at the top." 

Everyone knows I am madly in love with Nick Jonas, and if you didn't know that, now you do. I have been a fan of the Jonas Brothers since I was 13 years old, well really I have been a fan of NICK since I was 13 years old. As a true Jonas fan, I would watch every single interview, every Oprah special, and try and go to every concert I could. The Jonas Brothers when I was younger were people I looked up to morally. I remember watching an interview with their mother one time and she said that her sons started off in a one room apartment doing their best to live out their dreams. She said the motto in their apartment became the quote above, "Live life like you are at the bottom, even if you are at the top." 

I remember hearing that statement and immediately saying I wanted to live like that. The Jonas Brothers, even when they were living at the bottom of the bottom, $100,000 in debt in a one room apartment, still had a great set of values and chose to live their lives like they were at the top. They gave back to the community, thanked God for letting them see another day, and kept on pursuing their dreams. Then when they finally did reach the top, they stayed the same, kept their values and stayed humble. 

The one thing I can hope for, especially with my career aspirations is to have an affect on people just as the Jonas Brothers did on me. I want to be known for my humility and honor. I want to be someone who others can relate to and be genuine. In the public eye, without those qualities, one simply can never reach the top.

Next Saturday Night, We're Sending You Back to the Future!

Dear Sophie,

Now that you are thirty, flirty, and thriving, I have to say that I could not be happier with how far you have come. Many obstacles were faced earlier in your life, but you overcame them. Your dream was to make it to Washington, DC, and you did that. With your liberal mindset and love of the news, where else could you live anyway?! Throughout your college life, you knew what you had to do to be successful. You didn't go to the parties, instead you decided on movie nights in your dorm room or studying. You would read your PoliSci book up to five hours every weekend freshman year, and it definitely paid off. Look where you are now, you are a reporter covering the events you have always wanted to. I remember when you were growing up your mum would always say you were the type of girl who if she set her mind to something was unstoppable. I believe most of your confidence and success came from the help of the Miss South Carolina organization. After you competed in your first pageant when you were 17, your life was changed for the better. You finally became that girl that set her mind to something and succeeded. You became you. You weren't afraid of anything - you said what you wanted to say, and did what you wanted to do. You are thirty and not married yet because you have solely focused on your career for the last ten years. Now that you are "secure" and have a job (though in the world of Journalism, nothing is ever secure), I think it is okay for you to get involved with someone. You are the kind of person who loves people's attention, so why not settle down? You have worked hard, it is time for you to celebrate with someone whom you care about. Nick Jonas is still single, maybe he'll run for president and you can interview him. It would be a match made in heaven! (;

Remember you are beautifully and perfectly made. Love you… because if you can't love yourself, who can?

Love, 
Sophie Keyes to Your Heart(Age 18)