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March Madness

March 23, 2009

When I was younger, my parents would take me and my siblings to Disney World, where we would spend our day hugging Pluto and eating Mickey Mouse shaped ice cream. However, one of my favorite things to do was to go on the Mad Tea Party spinning tea cups. No line was ever too long to wait in for those spinning cups and saucers. One by one, my family and I would take turns manipulating the speed of our cup until finally we could all let go and just sit back in our oversized cup. I remember the feeling exactly. The world was spinning around me. My mind was swirling with pictures, sounds and colors. I felt outside of myself. I felt numb and empty and yet so alive. It was like a breath of fresh air rushing through me. I remembered thinking how I wanted to stay like this- lost in the incredible rush forever.

From R-Journal 3

Photo: Yoni and I pose for a picture with the two mayoral candidates, Ken Bradley and David Strong, as well as Micki Meyers and Meredith Hein from the Office of Community and Professor Folglesong, who was the moderator of the evening.
Fifteen years later, I am still feeling that rush. Every week at Rollins has its own new adventure. Every day has its own breath of fresh air. The month of March started with a new project. The Office of Community Engagement planned to bring the Winter Park mayoral candidates to Rollins, and they wanted the support of theWTF Rollins organization to help make the event a student-oriented success. Several phone calls, e-mails, and small meetings later, the “Mayoral Meet & Greet” and “Town Hall Discussion” was ready to go. The event took place on Monday, March 2nd and proved to be a successful evening for all involved. Winter Park mayoral candidates, Ken Bradley and David Strong, mingled with students and staff during the Meet & Greet and then took turns discussing issues affecting the Winter Park community during the Town Hall Discussion. Fellow WTF Rollins member Yoni Binstock and I also had the opportunity to talk with the candidates and their wives during the event as well as address the crowd with opening and closing remarks. It was thrilling to play such an active role in the local election.

From R-Journal 3

Photo: My Rollins girls Libby, Katie, Alli, and Jackie came to support me at the Miss Gainesville Scholarship Pageant.
A few days later, I found myself gliding across the stage in a pair of red high heels and bedazzled jeans. I was competing in the local Miss Gainesville Scholarship Pageant as a part of the Miss America Organization. Hoping to win a title and proceed to the Miss Florida pageant, I spent the day with sixteen beautiful, witty, and talented girls. In between rehearsals, we would all sit backstage and chat about school, work, and boys while waiting for the night to arrive and the show to begin. Little did I know that at 10:00 that night I would be crowned onstage and given the title of Miss Alachua County. Shock stiffened my body as I heard my name being called and saw my family and friends jumping from their seats in the audience. In that moment, I was so overwhelmed at the blessing that had just been bestowed upon me that all I could only think about how thankful I was. My family and friends rushed to the stage at the end of the pageant. I was so happy that my mom, dad, grandparents, roommates, friends, and boyfriend were all there to embrace me and share the memory of that night.

The next day my spring break really began. Not wanting to spend our spring break apart, my Rollins friends and I decided that we would make our memories on a road trip around Florida. So we spent our week traveling all across Florida: from Ocala to Vero Beach and then down to Naples. The driving was long and somewhat tedious; luckily, Katie (my driving buddy) and I both have infinitely good taste in music as well as an infatuation with playing random billboard games. After spending the first night with my family in Ocala, we made our way to Libby’s home in Vero, where we relaxed on the beach, enjoyed long dinners on the waterfront, and spent our nights enjoying all that Vero has to offer.

On the third day, we dragged ourselves out of bed at 6:45 a.m. in order to be at the beach at 7:30 a.m. to see the sunrise. Although I complained initially about the early hour and chilly weather, the sight of the sun rising above the horizon and reflecting across the water was breathtakingly incredible. I watched in awe as the sky changed colors, and the sun took its place above us. I looked around at the faces of my friends. Libby leaned playfully against Alli, who stood steadily gazing at the sun rising across the water. Ever the photographer, Katie had her camera out, taking pictures of the crashing waves and rising sun, and I just stood there smiling to myself. How could I be so lucky? How did I find a group of girls who were so passionate about life, so secure in themselves, so full of zeal, and yet so down to earth and understanding of who I am? How did I find myself a group of girls who would carry me through the hard times and stand with me when life is just beautiful, such as in that moment?

We spent that afternoon driving across southern Florida to Alli’s home in Naples. Soon after arriving, we made our way to the beach and arrived just in time to see the sun set. Our goal had been to see the sun rise in the East and then set in the West in one day, and we did it. Proudly, we stood side by side watching the waves lap against shore and the last of the sun’s rays flicker gently against the water. We didn’t say much. But as we all stood closely together, I’m pretty certain we were thinking the same thing: This is life. This is happiness. This is beauty. No matter what has happened before, and no matter what will happen in the future. We will always have this, and we will always have each other.

When I think back about those two weeks, I am reminded of sitting in that over-sized teacup. The world is spinning around me. My mind is swirling with mental pictures and memories. I feel outside of myself, yet I feel completely within myself. I can feel the breath of fresh air rushing through me and the rush of happiness taking over me. I feel alive.

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