RJ’s Blog

When I sit back and think about it, these past four years have gone by almost way too fast. I’m in my final semester here at Austin Peay and graduation will be here sooner than I can imagine.

As I sit here and write this, I’m drowning in graduate school applications, study materials (GRE, senior exit exam, etc.), and my usual responsibilities. After my time here at The Peay, I’ll probably go off somewhere and do some more school. I’m just not sure where I want to go or what I want to study. My family is planning on taking a few road trips here in the coming weeks to visit some schools that I have in mind. We’ll make our way to the Midwest (Illinois), the east coast (South Carolina), and the deep south (Alabama). I’d usually be looking forward to trips like this, but they take on a whole new meaning when the whole time you are trying to make a decision that is going to affect the rest of your life. It’s like my Austin Peay transition all over again, but I’m a little bit more wise and experienced. APSU has had a lot to do with that. With all the training they’ve put me through and all of the orientations I’ve had the opportunity to assist with, I think I’m fully prepared to make the right decision.

You’ld think that the last semester of your college career would be the easiest. Four months that you can relax and look back on all that you’ve accomplished. Well that is truly the wrong assumption. Classes are still there and I took on a little extra burden of taking piano lessons for credit this semester. Seniors have to take all these tests. For me it was: 1)The LSAT- in case I wanted to go to law school; 2)The GRE- because I’m going to go to graduate school no matter what; 3)A Communications Department exam- to prove that I’ve learned all that I can learn about mass communications; and 4)A senior exit exam- to prove that I haven’t been sleeping through all of my classes the past four years. It’s crazy, but I guess like most things in life, it’ll end up being worth the pain and suffering.

Also, during this semester, I’m completing an internship at the Country Music Association in Nashville. It’s an awesome opportunity considering I’m planning on trying to get in some type of music business program in grad school. For me, it’s been a little overwhelming. My coworkers just throw around the names of all these big-time country music stars like they see them and talk to them everyday. It must come with the business. We have artists coming through the building almost daily and some even take a little time to put on a concert for the staff. This also means lots of free food, free cds, promotional material, and backstage passes to major events. It’s everything a music lover could ask for, but it’s also a job. That’s the hardest thing to remember…especially when you’re a little starstruck.

Everything else on campus is going pretty well. The men’s basketball team is first in the conference, meaning the games are exciting and the potential is unfathomable. We’re thinking NCAA upset come March. Baseball season is getting ready to start up, which is exciting considering their success last year. Student Government is steady pumping out legislation. We recently passed a resolution to make all residence halls completely wireless. This means that when we say the whole campus has wireless access…we really mean it. President Hall is constantly bringing new ideas to campus and is forever brainstorming ideas for traditions we can start. We’re singing the fight song at games again, after not using the words since I can remember. We’re getting ready to start construction on brand new apartment style residence halls. And the quality of guest speakers and visitors to the university is tremendous. I’m a little jealous I won’t be here to see his plans come to fruition.

Lastly, it’s Valentine’s Day today. I hope you’re able to cuddle up with that special someone and you got them the perfect gift to show that you care. Me…I’ve got to study for an ethics test and clean my room. But, hey…I’ll make the best of it.