tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20384649523070772192024-02-07T01:18:11.769-08:00"Cyr"ious InsightA look at the life of a college and professional athlete Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-70136058069263386472014-03-14T07:04:00.001-07:002014-03-17T14:30:20.431-07:00PSA to Athletes and Non-Athletes Alike <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <u>The Misconception of Playing Overseas</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read several articles over the
past few weeks written by fellow athletes that are helpful and enjoyable
because of the ability to relate to the experiences shared. It is comforting to
know that I am not alone in the many ups and downs experienced while playing a
professional sport in a foreign country. However, I often find myself thinking
about the people out there who cannot relate to us as professional athletes.
Time and time again I find myself becoming frustrated with family and friends
when we have conversations about my professional volleyball career in Europe. I
know that many of them are proud of me but they often only want to hear about
the “good stuff.” They do not understand the reality of a professional athlete’s
life. I believe there is a misunderstanding of what it means to play a sport
professionally in a foreign country. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Playing overseas is not always
rainbows and butterflies. It is a day-to-day grind that requires just as much
out of one mentally as it does physically. Often, when I have conversations
with my “normal” friends or relatives I hear comments that sting and I take
offense to. I used to be able to brush the comments off but after being in
Europe for eight months, I feel the need to address the comments as they come.
For example: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“How is your trip going?” </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trip? I am sorry, I did not realize that I was on vacation. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“So, when are you going to join
the real world?” </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not know I was not living in the real world. Am I dreaming?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“How long are you going to put
off getting a real job?” </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello, this is my real job! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> “You are going to be in Europe? You need to go to the Eiffel
Tower and the beautiful city of Prague.” </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes I will be in Europe but my <b>work
</b>schedule requires me to be in a gym six or seven days of the week. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I saw you played in Berlin this
weekend! How was it? Did you see the Berlin Wall or take a tour of the city?</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, actually I went to Berlin on a business trip not for leisure. The
majority of my weekend was spent on a bus, in the gym or hotel. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are just a few of the many
comments I hear on a regular basis. I do understand that if one has not
experienced playing overseas for his or her self then one cannot fully
understand what it takes to be a professional athlete. I have to remind myself
that most of the time, these questions are not out of ignorance but simple
unawareness of the requirements of the job. It is also important to know that I
do not take this experience and job for granted. At the end of the day, I am
very fortunate to get to do something I love every day. I am truly blessed to be physically capable of playing sports for a living. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My goal is to share a
few reasons why playing professionally is harder than most people think. I want
to enlighten those who think athletes playing overseas are on a paid vacation
touring city after city. There are aspects to this job that are harder than
ever imagined but the outsiders do not always see those sides. Fans, family and friends often only see the finished product on game day. It becomes hard to empathize with athletes because one cannot see the everyday process. I would like to highlight a few reasons why I believe playing a professional sport overseas is difficult. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First and foremost, this job
requires an athlete to be oceans away from everyone and everything familiar and loved.
Sometimes the only place that feels like home is at the workplace. Which means
at the gym or on the playing field. Downtime and days off can be an extremely
lonely time where an athlete is looking at the clock waiting for the next time he or
she can be doing something familiar and time-consuming. Normally, coming home
from work and having days off are a release from the everyday stress of the
workplace. However, overseas the stress is often carried into every free day
because there are no distractions and nothing comforting to come home too. Having
teammates who are from the same country is helpful but that is not always the
case. For those athletes who are </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSunrSDRv6MxTC10vJ4XJ7M3qAsbJMguH8V8WUOxTSjxh66PFODknfUAlGuDj9hnYB6odHETvrBpCOG04_HTB28twpz9aPcCuv4NoKd4QinonzQjBgkGMNVLA4jszjKRGUJI1UHopWbpo/s1600/image_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSunrSDRv6MxTC10vJ4XJ7M3qAsbJMguH8V8WUOxTSjxh66PFODknfUAlGuDj9hnYB6odHETvrBpCOG04_HTB28twpz9aPcCuv4NoKd4QinonzQjBgkGMNVLA4jszjKRGUJI1UHopWbpo/s1600/image_1.png" height="200" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">surrounded by non-English speakers, it becomes
especially hard to be away from the gym. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, the body is put under
stress every day. Although there are far more dangerous professions, people
often forget the physicality of playing a professional sport. Day in and day
out, an athlete's body is pushed to the limits and by the end of the week the only
activity that sounds enjoyable is lying in bed. Athletes are prone to injuries
big and small and he or she never knows when it could be the last time they play their respective sport. Injuries are often the hardest times for
athletes, as they have to stay mentally engaged and maintain their confidence
throughout the recovery. Depending on where an athlete is playing and the
resources the team has will determine the amount of rehabilitation he or she
receives. Besides injuries, sickness is another topic. The majority of athletes
know that having a head cold or stomach ache is no excuse to stay at home.
Unless he or she is in the hospital, attendance at practice is expected. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11qQBlWa4RvimFKpoDPJ5efvr3GNf21TXq85-GSYnf92OuwOhw1fhVAuZ94IeFh4uAuVt_L2lO2tqs7tPHlMOij252UaHKQwpGf7I3PcBgJzOEk6PkXIC7sEuxAVWejxXNnEyDmZgQMs/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11qQBlWa4RvimFKpoDPJ5efvr3GNf21TXq85-GSYnf92OuwOhw1fhVAuZ94IeFh4uAuVt_L2lO2tqs7tPHlMOij252UaHKQwpGf7I3PcBgJzOEk6PkXIC7sEuxAVWejxXNnEyDmZgQMs/s1600/image_2.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I often wonder if people
understand how much time athletes actually spend devoted to their sport in some
way, shape or form. Our work schedule is never consistent and is often times
unpredictable. Time off is never guaranteed and performance plays a huge role
in the schedule. Playing professionally is a 24-hour job that requires an athlete to
put in the same amount of effort at home as he or she would in the gym. A professional athlete is never off the job and living in a foreign country makes it near impossible to feel like he or she is not working. Although an athlete may be at his or her apartment, there is no way to escape the reality of being overseas alone. Also, professional athletes need to
be in the best possible condition to practice and ultimately perform come competition
time. If an athlete is not taking care of his or her self outside the workplace
then performance will be hindered and his or her job is in jeopardy. In
reality, there are no days off. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would not trade this job and
experience for the world. I am so grateful for the sport of volleyball and
everything it has given me in life. However, since arriving in Europe at the
end of August to play volleyball I have seen a whole new side of the sport. I
wish to share that side with those who may be unaware of what it takes to play in a
foreign country. I hope this enlightens those who believe playing a
professional sport is a walk through the park. Also, I hope it encourages all
athletes who have the opportunity to play overseas to go for it because as difficult as the job can be sometimes, the memories and experiences are invaluable.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-82496368092464913242012-12-06T19:32:00.001-08:002012-12-06T19:35:30.833-08:00Buffalo Roots Pt. 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now that I have left all the readers hanging for about two months, I think it is time I continue my real-life story as a collegiate athlete.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So here I am sitting against the wall with a freshly sprained ankle, icing my foot just wishing I could be out there playing again. I received very little sympathy from my coaches, if any at all. As I said in the previous post, I was out of practice for only two days until the coaches told the athletic trainer that she could clear me to play because the injury was all in my head. There was no way this injury was all in my head. I have never seen a sprained ankle like that in my life.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDTUFfgqN2AgXLdzyJoClRjMzDGK7wjPKubff8E51hMXueEVvzRAectW7yFXvmga0tpGiFs0d1QVUOsNjMRKGsN3lD9jGNJSQ1czYnC_duGYdH3dPOY_KIZsCwAMFi3KJ9mCbrCNQEXo/s1600/sprain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDTUFfgqN2AgXLdzyJoClRjMzDGK7wjPKubff8E51hMXueEVvzRAectW7yFXvmga0tpGiFs0d1QVUOsNjMRKGsN3lD9jGNJSQ1czYnC_duGYdH3dPOY_KIZsCwAMFi3KJ9mCbrCNQEXo/s320/sprain.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sprained ankle after about one week playing</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Against my will, I was put back into practice and as mentioned in <a href="http://cyrioussports.blogspot.com/2012/09/buffalo-roots.html">Buffalo Roots</a>. This is when my dream soon became my worst nightmare.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My first practice back I was very timid and a bit cautious when I was playing. I tried my best to play through the pain and just focus on getting better. Unfortunately, my coaches did not see my effort and simply focused on breaking me down little by little.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let me share with you some infamous quotes that are forever ingrained in my brain from our assistant coach:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Hey Megan! If you think like dog sh*t, you are going to play like dog sh*t."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Go back to the 8th grade, Megan!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Me: "Hey guys, two more points and we will tie it up!"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Assistant coach abruptly stops practice, "Wait, what did you just say Megan?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Me: "Umm... two more points and we will tie it up?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Assistant coach: "Wow, that was the smartest thing you have ever said in your entire life."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lets just say that I held back my tears the entire practice with a huge lump in my throat. The moment we got let out of that torturous four-hour practice and I headed to the locker room, I broke down completely and did not stop crying till around midnight that night.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From that practice forward I was never treated with respect or appreciation again. Slowly, the coaching staff tore me down mentally and physically.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Between the mental abuse and excruciating practices which ran well over NCAA mandated time, I completely lost confidence in myself and my love for volleyball was dwindling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The sport that I fell in love with at a young age now became a part of my day that I feared from the moment I woke up. There was only a small portion of the day where I could be at peace and that was those couple hours after practice. As soon as bedtime came around, I was immediately dreading what was to come the next day.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The season seemed to last forever. Every practice I prayed that I would not be ridiculed, every game I hoped that they did not put me in so I could not them a reason to hate me and every time I saw them I tried to suck up to them, knowing that there was nothing I could do to be respected by them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The new coaches came into the program with an agenda. They wanted to break all the players down and make them hate volleyball. They wanted every player to quit so they would not have to get rid of them. They wanted all of us to leave the program so they could use our scholarships to bring in their own players.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although things did not go as smoothly as they had planned, they succeeded in their quest for a new team. By the end of the season they had kicked one girl off and made two girls quit midway through the season. In our year end meetings, all of the scholarship players except for one were accused of misrepresenting the program on Facebook and were told that our scholarships were on the line.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Without any proof, a week after our meetings all but one scholarship player were told we would not be coming back on the team and that our scholarships were being striped from us.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think what tells this tale the best is that two girls that were paying for their schooling and were not on athletic scholarship were offered full-ride scholarships at the end of the season if they would stay on the team.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They declined.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I can write this story knowing that I am in a better place and only became stronger from it. However, it took some time. I debated getting a lawyer and fighting for my scholarship because I knew it was a battle I could win. It simply was not worth it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am happy to say that I completed my final three years of eligibility at a school I have fell in love with. I have amazing coaches that brought me to NC State and gave me back my confidence. The NC State Women's Volleyball program has meant so much more to me than most people know.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can finally say that my dreams came true.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-39650305566935213272012-10-28T19:14:00.000-07:002012-11-05T08:01:58.231-08:00A Smoking Good Time<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As fairgoers wait in line for their favorite ride, anticipation turns to curiosity as a dark cloud of smoke fills the air and the obnoxious sounds of an engine revving come from the nearby Grandstand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every year at the annual N.C. State fair, fairgoers participate in traditions and events that have become staples in the lives of North Carolinians. From deep fried Oreos to the Ferris wheel, fairgoers can choose from a variety of things to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An annual event that has recently made news in a not so positive light is the tractor pull event. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTY62_zqnBTdnxf7gk1TiCJrs5ZCnT6yObQkd30CW-w7XPxfaOdoOfnz2LX2qyBt-Icw8FrBK86969cp0OedBE74_vAzud4acqu5GVQfFVvcah96HpZA9bpIVVMc4Fwc_H29oc1_Hlsg/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTY62_zqnBTdnxf7gk1TiCJrs5ZCnT6yObQkd30CW-w7XPxfaOdoOfnz2LX2qyBt-Icw8FrBK86969cp0OedBE74_vAzud4acqu5GVQfFVvcah96HpZA9bpIVVMc4Fwc_H29oc1_Hlsg/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">N.C. State Fair: Tractor pull</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"I did not actually watch the event but I knew it was going on from the loud engine sounds every ten minutes or so," said N.C. State senior, Jelani Allen. "Every time I would hear the engine revving it wouldn't take long for the sky above me to be filled with dark smoke.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That cloud of smoke that frequently filled the air at this year's fair proved to be troublesome last year for some fairgoers. According to the News & Observer, a couple of young teenage girls experienced irritation in their lungs and noses and had to visit Urgent Care clinic for lung issues caused by tractor fumes that blew over the sky to the ride area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"We're looking at things we can do," said Brian Long, an agriculture department spokesman told. "We have a limited amount of space, but we do our best to arrange everything in such a way that makes (rides) accessible to the visitors and operators as well."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Agricultural officials explored possible solutions to deviate the smoke from the general ride area and from being inhaled by ride-goers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The smoke was not bothersome for me but I did see a lot of younger kids asking their parents what the smoke was or if there was a fire," said Allen. "It was obvious when the event was going on because the tractor smoke was thick and blew over from the wind" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fair officials had a lot to deal with this year as they combated the E.coli outbreak that happened at last year's fair. They tried their best to keep the diesel smoke in the Grandstand area. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">According to the Charlotte Observer, Long said that the tractors that generate the most smoke will be the tractors ran earlier in the day because of the air conditions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The earlier in the day, the less conducive the air will be for lingering smoke. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As stated in the Charlotte Observers, Long said that the fair was going to monitor air and smoke conditions during the tractor pull events and have EMS and first aid staff close by in case of an emergency. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although there were precautions taken, the tractor pull is a staple event at the N.C. State fair and officials were not willing to eliminate the event all together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZoPyXgBlhyphenhyphenWX4j-_9m_ZtO6nG0YLVW3Rcl4t7QpzvSPou2tZaQzeeynuNcbH1wqelNkTgFfvfNqtLkDamJFN7o0uMk76m117WAPk1kovhzxvTHyDQZShb5eI-RNckP9D1LWVr4-XWgk/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZoPyXgBlhyphenhyphenWX4j-_9m_ZtO6nG0YLVW3Rcl4t7QpzvSPou2tZaQzeeynuNcbH1wqelNkTgFfvfNqtLkDamJFN7o0uMk76m117WAPk1kovhzxvTHyDQZShb5eI-RNckP9D1LWVr4-XWgk/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTY62_zqnBTdnxf7gk1TiCJrs5ZCnT6yObQkd30CW-w7XPxfaOdoOfnz2LX2qyBt-Icw8FrBK86969cp0OedBE74_vAzud4acqu5GVQfFVvcah96HpZA9bpIVVMc4Fwc_H29oc1_Hlsg/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjTY62_zqnBTdnxf7gk1TiCJrs5ZCnT6yObQkd30CW-w7XPxfaOdoOfnz2LX2qyBt-Icw8FrBK86969cp0OedBE74_vAzud4acqu5GVQfFVvcah96HpZA9bpIVVMc4Fwc_H29oc1_Hlsg/s1600/tractorpull.jpeg" /></a></div>
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/04/3573177/state-fair-to-monitor-smoke-from.html#storylin</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-46172057707175210462012-10-03T05:19:00.001-07:002012-10-03T05:59:45.501-07:00Stuff About Acuff<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lWx8jscjjbSPkHnpqqj9AiTbB2uw_ZbD4TV8r66CVE3LQPhYY16hNkLbnmH_yLOHPDhM71iLq3A5bo41pdpiSJ9l57tRA2P_72yJraFDIrTZ43OZveZWlsAdlVc_f1XnHcw1Z-BFSj4/s1600/jillian1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lWx8jscjjbSPkHnpqqj9AiTbB2uw_ZbD4TV8r66CVE3LQPhYY16hNkLbnmH_yLOHPDhM71iLq3A5bo41pdpiSJ9l57tRA2P_72yJraFDIrTZ43OZveZWlsAdlVc_f1XnHcw1Z-BFSj4/s400/jillian1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the spirit of Halloween, Jillian Acuff is pictured with her twin brother, Zachary.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Daughter of a retired naval
officer, Jillian Acuff is no stranger to travel. This is what makes the
holidays that much more important to this aspiring celebrity representative. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Acuff, born in Spain, has
lived in four states and is planning to move to New York following graduation.
Currently, she is a junior at N.C. State studying Public Relations. Acuff plans
on using this degree to work as a celebrity representative. Although she never
stays in the same place for long, nothing reminds her of the importance of
family more than the holidays. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
"My favorite holiday is Christmas,”
she said. “I am a big holiday person. I like being with my family so much and
it is the only holiday I get to go home.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acuff</td></tr>
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Acuff has an older sister who attends N.C.
State and a younger foster brother who is two years old. She also has a twin
brother who she considers to be her best friend, despite the fact that he goes
to UNC. In fact, almost every other picture on Facebook is of her and her
brother. Having a tight-knit family has made traveling throughout her life and
living in multiple states an easy task. She knows that no matter where she
travels to in the future, she always has her family to rely on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
“I want to move to New York
as soon as I graduate,” she said. “It has always been a dream of mine to work
there as a celebrity representative.” But when “The Big Apple” becomes too much
for this southern girl, she knows that every holiday will bring her right back
to where she belongs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Acuff has a busy schedule as
a full-time student and bridal consultant at “Victorian Rose Bridals” in
Cameron Village. When she finds spare time, she loves to catch up on the latest
celebrity gossip. Her blog, <i><a href="http://acuffstuff.blogspot.com/">Take A Jill Pill</a></i>, is a small glimpse at her bright future in the world of celebrities.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
No matter where Acuff is,
you can find her celebrating everything from Independence Day to Christmas with
the utmost joy. “For me, the holidays are all about being with the people I
love,” she said. “Whether it’s cuddling up on the couch with my little brother
watching ‘Elf’ or picking up last minute stocking stuffers with my mom, just
the fact that I’m with my family makes me happy.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-14860198574574215022012-09-18T17:21:00.000-07:002012-10-03T06:01:13.600-07:00Get The Facts Straight <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As an athlete, nothing frustrates me more than bad sports writing. I understand that grammatical errors and typos happen. What I do not understand is how a writer can publish a story without getting the facts correct. Volleyball is simple, and to write about it should be even simpler. However, after reading the article published in Sunday's </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Technician, I may just be naive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The NC State Volleyball team is off to one of their best starts in program history. Being the captain of the team, I take a lot of pride in what we have accomplished and what people are saying about us. This past weekend we upset UNC in a 4-set match and continued our momentum into Sunday's game against Ohio. We beat Ohio in three sets and impressed a lot of people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was excited to get a hold of the school newspaper on Monday to see what kind of publicity our team would receive. Not only was I disappointed with the placement of our story, I could not help but cringe when I read numerous errors throughout the story. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Let's begin with the first error.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The first error is when our middle blocker, Brie Merriwether is referred to as an outside hitter. That is like writing about football and mistaking the running back for a wide receiver. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The second error occurs when our coach is quoted. Anyone who knows volleyball knows that there is no such thing as an "outside back set". There is an outside hitter, outside set, back set, but no outside back set. When I read that Coach Bunn had said that I knew there must of been some kind of misunderstanding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The third error goes back to volleyball positions. Brie Merriwether is not an outside hitter but now a middle back. In volleyball, middle back is a position on the court in which players play defence. This is like mistaking a running back for a member of the offensive line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, this is not the worst coverage that I have read about volleyball but it is frustrating nonetheless. I appreciate Technician for all the coverage that we as the volleyball team receive but I just hope in the future errors like this can be avoided. I have posted the article below and you can find the errors throughout. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can find the article here: <a href="http://www.technicianonline.com/sports/carolina-crushed-1.2763893#.UFkXtqTyZ6M" target="_blank">Carolina Crushed</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-64982862140819693422012-09-13T10:55:00.002-07:002012-09-13T10:56:53.511-07:00Aspiring Olympian<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The profile story that I am going to recommend this week is going to be one written about myself. Since my blog is fairly new, I want to give readers more knowledge about myself. This article was featured in my hometown newspaper on May 31, 2012. This summer I played with the Canadian National Volleyball team and trained with them for the month of June before coming back to Raleigh. This story not only provides information about my summer with the National team, it also highlights my volleyball career from high school until now. This remains one of the longest and most accurate articles ever written about myself. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-r52oqpVV2Ch6DLPyAgad5Wy1M8QqEAWwh9eqcWjUKO1T6XRYuktgDb5Rh9WdJaaBVBn1n7y8iTEbICZhuqiU6pIoNDZaNAhhX17BkRBWtuVE4RqbgRMD7iwMT1vrc6oXJ5smNxn4kw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-09-13+at+1.54.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-r52oqpVV2Ch6DLPyAgad5Wy1M8QqEAWwh9eqcWjUKO1T6XRYuktgDb5Rh9WdJaaBVBn1n7y8iTEbICZhuqiU6pIoNDZaNAhhX17BkRBWtuVE4RqbgRMD7iwMT1vrc6oXJ5smNxn4kw/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-09-13+at+1.54.53+PM.png" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-57641945880437358942012-09-04T20:09:00.000-07:002012-09-11T20:37:55.525-07:00When It Sucks To Be An Athlete<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let's face it, a lot of people like to see athletes fail. Not only at their sport but at life in general.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Athletes are constantly being watched under a microscope as the whole world waits for them to slip up and be made an example of. This is when it sucks to be an athlete. Does not matter if you are the world's best athlete or a non-starter for a college team. The media are going to take any opportunity available to expose athletes for mistakes that they made on and off the field.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our society has a fascination with gossip. Whether it be good or bad news, people enjoy being the first ones to know things and knowing it fast. Today's mediums provide the world with fast access to the latest controversy surrounding Chad Johnson and ex-wife Evelyn Lozado or the academic scandal involving UNC athletes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whether these athlete's wanted their business to be known or not, the world is going to find out. They are going to find out because they are not ordinary. By being an athlete at a college or professional level, you somewhat sign an invisible pledge stating that your life is no longer private. Any minor mistake could be blown up for the whole world to see. Simply because you are an athlete.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">About a month ago I could not scroll through my Twitter timeline without reading every other tweet about "Tyrann Mathieu" or "LSU: Honey Badger" being kicked off the LSU football team. Although you can virtually find an article anywhere on the Internet, I am recommending </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8255988/lsu-tyrann-mathieu-kicked-team-violating-rules" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">LSU's Tyrann Mathieu kicked off team</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. Along with the video, the article provides details into a high-profile college athlete's dismissal from one of the top football programs in the nation.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I do not condone the use of drugs or violating team rules. However, the publicity that this young man received was intense. He received this attention because of his athletic status. If he were an ordinary man who failed a drug test at his ordinary job, I can there guarantee would be no news of it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is when it sucks to be an athlete.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">References:</span><br />
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8255988/lsu-tyrann-mathieu-kicked-team-violating-rules" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8255988/lsu-tyrann-mathieu-kicked-team-violating-rules</span></a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-42886042861710566872012-09-04T16:26:00.000-07:002012-09-04T16:31:42.121-07:00Buffalo RootsLet me begin by taking you back to 2008.<br />
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I was a young, scared, and eager freshmen ready to continue my successful high school volleyball career at the University of Colorado at Boulder. At the time, the team was coming off a losing season and I was hoping to come in and help turn the program around. After finishing my first college preseason I was eager to play in the first tournament. However, as I was warming up in my first game, my coach pulled me aside and said that he would like to redshirt me. I was confused but agreed with him and decided to redshirt my freshmen year.<br />
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Going from being on the Youth and Junior Canadian National team to not playing in a single match my first year as a Buff was a let down. However, I loved my coaches and my teammates. Although the season was the second losing season in a row, I had a great year and was ready to come back after winter break and be able to compete for a spot on the court.<br />
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My excitement soon turned to devastation when my teammates and I returned from winter break and our coaching staff called an unexpected meeting with us. We gathered in our gym and they told us that they had been fired. Tears filled my eyes and I panicked. So many thoughts filled my head and I debated transferring throughout the spring semester.<br />
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About halfway through the spring semester and after countless interviews with new coaches, a new head coach was hired. Little did I know that this was going to the beginning of very difficult chapter in my life. At first, my teammates and I were very optimistic about the new head coach. She was a strong, independent, Samoan lady who knew what she wanted and how to get it. The spring semester was full of adjustments, the biggest being the hiring of her assistant coach.<br />
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This is where I believe the program took a turn for the worse. Our head coach hired a manipulative, arrogant, rude and disrespectful male assistant coach who knew what he wanted from the moment he was hired: a new team.<br />
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When I went home for the summer I was still very optimistic and felt that I was on the "good-side" of the coaching staff. I believed that they wanted me to be on the team and I worked hard that summer to impress them when I returned. When I arrived back for my true freshmen year, preseason proved to be one of the hardest preseasons I have ever experienced. NCAA Women's Volleyball preseasons are notorious for the long hours of physically demanding work, many hours spent in the cold tub, and virtually no contact with anyone but your team. This preseason was no different.<br />
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Everything appeared to be going great, it looked like I had chance to play that season. Suddenly the day before season officially started, I rolled my ankle. This injury was the beginning of what I would consider "hell". I sat out of practice for approximately two days when I probably should of been out for a couple weeks. There was swelling all the way from my toes to my shin. My skin was purple, blue and black and I could barely walk without pain. However, the new coaching staff believed that injuries were "all in your head."<br />
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This was the moment when I realized that these coaches were heartless and had ulterior motives. Things did not get better from here but rather worsened with every practice, every game, and every tournament. I will continue this story throughout the next couple weeks and shed light on what I would consider the "dark side" to athletics.<br />
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My high school dream of being an NCAA Volleyball player soon became my biggest nightmare.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-38794602185998836512012-08-28T18:42:00.002-07:002012-09-07T05:29:04.737-07:00The Uncelebrated<i><a href="http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/story/_/id/8133052/athletes-spill-details-dirty-secrets-olympic-village-espn-magazine" target="_blank">"Will you still medal in the morning"</a></i> written by Sam Alipour, appearing in ESPN The Magazine, gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in the Olympic Athlete Village. This article seemed quite fitting, as my blog's goal is to provide readers with an inside look into the lives of college athletes. I want to give my readers the same reaction that I had when I first read Alipour's article.<br />
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When I stumbled across the ESPN article I was very intrigued and curious. After reading the entire article my mind was blown. I could not believe the details that were revealed and how many athlete's spilled the dirt on the sex and parties in the Olympic Village. I was taken by surprise and had a hard time watching the 2012 London Olympics without being reminded of what might take place after the athlete's events.<br />
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As an aspiring Olympic athlete for the Canadian National Volleyball team I thoroughly enjoyed this article and recommend to all who watch the Olympics and want to be exposed to a whole new side of the games.<br />
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Reference:<br />
<a href="http://espn.go.com/olympics/summer/2012/story/_/id/8133052/athletes-spill-details-dirty-secrets-olympic-village-espn-magazine">ESPN - Sex in the Olympic Village</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038464952307077219.post-55303848305385204672012-08-27T05:39:00.001-07:002012-08-28T19:39:51.228-07:00Small Towns and Big Dreams Megan Cyr, a senior studying Public and Interpersonal Communication at N.C. State University, grew up in a small town outside of Winnipeg, MB. From an early age she always had dreams of breaking away from tradition and leaving the town of Selkirk to see what the world had to offer. Throughout high school she knew that her ticket out of the small town was going to be through her athletics.<br />
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After graduating high school, Megan earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Colorado at Boulder where she spent two years studying Communication. The two years spent there were some of her most memorable yet horrifying years of her life. She made lifelong friends, travelled to new states, experienced the college atmosphere, and excelled in school. However, her volleyball career drastically changed when a new coaching staff was hired after her freshmen year. After a gruelling and horrible sophomore volleyball season, Megan found a new home in N.C. State University.<br />
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Entering her fifth and final season as a collegiate volleyball player, Megan is looking to go out with a bang not only on the court but in the classroom as well. She is the captain of the volleyball team and works hard to maintain a 3.4 GPA. Her experiences in Colorado and North Carolina have taught her many life lessons and exposed her to a new and exciting world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08322536613318275994noreply@blogger.com0