Intro to Me

IT'S MY FIRST BLOG POST! 

Well that was sort of an interesting introduction into my blog. :) I've tried blogging before but found myself inconsistent with keeping up with it. So, here is my second attempt at keeping a blog where I wish to just have a safe place to vent my feelings, give advice, and other typical blog-like things.

All About Me

My name is Emily Claire Cooper. I'm from Arkansas and I am a sophomore at Ouachita Baptist University. My majors are Sociology and Spanish and I am a member of the band. I enjoy my time volunteering for the Peake Partnership, a tutoring program at one of the local elementary schools, and Big Brother, Big Sister. I have 5 siblings, two dogs, a cat, and a fish but I will make another post all about them. I love all things Disney. My favorite type of music is Alternative. My hobbies include scrapbooking, reading, watching YouTube videos, and playing my trumpet and piano. Throughout my posts I'm sure you'll learn much more about me! 

2015: The BIG Year 

Since it is now 2016, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my past year and let me tell you it was an EVENTFUL one! For starters, I was chosen to be the captain of my high school's cheerleading squad, which let me tell you is a huge responsibility and honor. I had to keep up with 14 teenage girls and 1 teenage boy, decide what to wear for games and performances, make up routines, mix music, the list could go on and on. But I was also a role model for each and every one of these people. I also overcame a major tumbling block in that cheer season. I achieved my roundoff tuck and roundoff back handspring tuck, which honestly I never thought I would be able to say that I could do. We had a very successful competitive season and I got the chance to lead my team to Nationals in Orlando, Florida (Yay! Disney!) where we placed 4th in the nation! I was chosen as a Squad Leader for my section in band and saw so much growth in my skill at trumpet through an amazing private lesson teacher. I made first band at All Region and qualified to audition for All State but was unable to because the times conflicted with Nationals. I received 1st divisions in both of my pieces for Solo and Ensemble and even got a 1st division placement at State Solo and Ensemble. I got to travel with my band to DisneyWorld (two times in one year, eeeppp!) to march in a parade, which was an awesome experience! I was chosen as my high school's Color's Day Queen, which for our school is basically Homecoming but during basketball season. I got to travel to Europe on Spring Break which was basically a dream-come-true. I was chosen to be a senior model for Melissa McCrotty, an amazing local photographer, where I got to model an outfit for a store in my hometown called Lavish and I got to model a beautiful Faviana prom dress for a formal store in my hometown called Formal Affairs. I turned 18, bought my first lottery ticket (because why not?), and got my first tattoo! I fell in love. I got to go to an awesome concert with three of my favorite bands playing. I graduated from high school with Highest Honors and survived my first semester of college! I discovered that because of all of the hours I earned in high school that transfer as dual-credit, I will be finished with college in 3 years instead of 4! However, I did face some challenges. I got to experience firsthand what it's like to have roommate drama (a story for another time) and my relationship ended just as the year did (also a story for another time.) Overall, I'd have to say that 2015 has so far been the best year of my life. I have been so blessed with the amazing opportunities that not very many other people can say that they've had. I am so thankful to have parents (and step-parents) who push me to reach for my goals and encourage me to get out of my comfort zone and experience wonders. 2015 is certainly a year that I will NEVER forget. 

2016: Goals and Plans

Now that I've made it through my first semester of college, I kind of know what to expect out of the rest! This semester I am taking two more hours than I did last semester and I am a member of the Wind Ensemble and Basketball Pep Band. Oh, and I am working on finding a job! So obviously I should be fairly busy! This year my New Years Resolution was to stop drinking sodas, unless I have a migraine because that and Excedrin are the only things that will make my awful headaches go away. So far so good! I haven't even thought about touching a soda. I am also going to make it a goal to make more friends! I am really shy when it comes to approaching new people and so I'm trying to break out of my shell a bit. The people I have become friends with at Ouachita already are so awesome and I can tell that our relationships are extremely valuable. I'm also going to attempt to get rid of some of my clothes because I must admit that I am horrible about hoarding them. I think that I still have some shirts in my closet from 7th or 8th grade and I just need to let go! This year I know of three things I'm going to do more of: 

1. Get more tattoos 
2. Go to more concerts
3. Do more yoga

My resolution for 2015 was to be more optimistic and it truly helped my life go by so much more easily. I used to be such a Debbie Downer but with an optimistic mind set I just became so much more satisfied and happy with the way everything happened. I plan to continue remembering to have a positive outlook on things and reminding myself that God has a plan that is so much bigger than any of us can see and I have to trust that things will work according to that plan and not how I think they should. 

Well, I suppose that is all for now and I will continue posting about a plethora of things in the day and life of Emily. Tata for now! 

~ Em