Today was my last day being a UAB Golden Girl! The season is finally over. I am somewhat relieved because it was such a stressor to my first year of college, but being on the football field this morning in the blazin' heat made me realize how much I will miss it. This year is my 12th year of dance and I can't believe I'm already retiring. I can't say I've loved every minute of it, but there is nothing like standing of the sidelines cheering on my favorite team with all of my best friends. All I have left to say is... GO BLAZERS!

I am in the process of reading this amazing National Bestseller novel called The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. It is an autobiography of Randy's life, but he also includes his bits of wisdom and favorite sayings. He was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon that was diagnosed with terminal cancer. It is a very inspirational story and gave me a new outlook on the importance of overcoming obstacles. But what I love most about Randy's book is the sayings that are almost so simple that we forget how relevant they can be.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God." Philippians 4:6

I love when I stumble upon a verse that describes so perfectly the situation that I am in.

I am the worst about worrying about things that I have no control over. When I get overwhelmed with school work, family issues, work drama, and relationship problems, I so easily forget that I am not in control. My biggest problem is that I love to plan. I have my Lily Pulitzer planner with me at all times and it is ALWAYS up to date with each days detailed plans and to-do lists. I highlight each task as I finish it and white out events when plans change. It is a serious problem. Although, it is good to be organized and get things accomplished, its not good to let my life become my planner. When you spend time worrying about how much you have to get done and what little time you have to do it in, we forget to enjoy the things that we get to do while we're doing it.

 I came to this realization yesterday while I was on my run after being completely stressed out with everything that happened that day. I was so completely oblivious to the fact that I was supposed to be relieving my stress (by going on the run), but I couldn't even enjoy it because I was racing through my to do lists with every step. I needed to slow down and take a deep breath. I sat down on a dock by the lake and tried to clear my head and just enjoy the sunshine. 

Sometimes we just need to find a quiet place, stretch out our legs, and breath. Remember that God is in control and there is no need to worry!

To gain understanding that wisdom may be vouchsafed to me.

To develop and prize health and vigor of body. 

To cultivate acquaintance with many whom I meet. 

To cherish friendships with but a chosen few and to study the perfecting of those friendships. 

To welcome the opportunity of contributing to the world's work in the community where I am placed because of the joy of service thereby bestowed and the talent of leadership multiplied. 

To honor my home, my country, my religious faith. 

To hold truth inviolable, sincerity essential, kindness invaluable. 

To covet beauty in environment, manner, word and thought. 

To possess high ideals and to attain somewhat unto them. 

This shall be my purpose that those who know me may esteem Alpha Gamma Delta for her attainments, revere her for her purposes and love her for her Womanhood.

This is the Alpha Gamma Delta purpose. I felt like it is such a great choice for a first post because it is truly one of the biggest influences on why I decided to start a blog in the first place. So many people decide, "Hey! I'm going to start a blog to make money or become famous." But I really just felt like it was something that I needed to do for myself. 

I went through rush last semester and with there only being four sororities at UAB, I thought, "Man, choices are limited..." But as soon as I walked through the glittered and glammed out Alpha Gam doors I knew it was the place for me. Not because we are the best sorority on campus (which we are), but because I felt the love and sisterhood as soon as I started talking to the first Gam. 

After hearing the purpose on Pref Day, I was instantly reassured that Alpha Gam was the only organization that I was interested in being in. And since that day, I have used it as a map to bettering myself as a sister and as a woman.

Much Love,
Taylor Lee