I love YouTube.

Not much has happened since my last update, but I thought I'd spend some of my free time writing a little blog post. Cool? Cool.

I haven't started working yet, nor have I moved into my new house. Instead, I've been spending a lot of time reading and enjoying the abundant talent that YouTube has to offer. I've actually been a closeted YouTube nerd for several years now. I made an account in 2008, but I've never commented or favorited, let alone posted a video. However, in my years on YouTube, I've come across a lot of talented and interesting people, and it all pretty much stemmed from one channel: fiveawesomegirls. Along with Julia Nunes, the girls' channel was one of the first I ever subscribed to. I came in a little less than a year into their progress and after catching up on their videos, I was hooked. Each of the five girls were (and still are) super smart, witty, endearing, and definitely entertaining. From there, I subscribed to each of their personal channels and the channels for the projects they would pursue later years (Job Hunters, Answerly, Hayley's short-lived advice blog, each of their personal blogs... the list goes on). And through the 5AG, I was introduced to many of my current favorite YouTubers like the Vlog Brothers, Alex Day, Luke Conard, Meekakitty, Tyler Oakley, and SO MANY MORE. And then, of course, the process continued and I found even more YouTubers through the YouTubers that I found through the fiveaweseomgirls. YouTube is seriously amazing... which is why I think I'm actually going to post a video...?

I recently discovered the YouTube musician and vlogger Landon Austin. If you haven't heard of him and you've somehow stumbled across this blog and have actually read this far, go check him out! You won't be sorry! He does covers and originals, and created amazing songs with his band ColorFire. But anyway, he posted a voice-over vlog yesterday called "Today Was a Really Good Day". It had an overwhelmingly positive response, and he has challenged his viewers to create a vlog in the same style. I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for me to try my first vlog because 1.) It's voice-over, and my crappy old camera doesn't record sound. So there's that. 2.) I know that if I post it, Landon will watch it and it will have at least one view, with the possibility that his viewers might be interested in checking out the other video responses. 3.) I don't have to think of something interesting or entertaining to talk about. All I have to do is narrate my own life. Anyway, I loved his video and am actually really excited about the possibility of creating something similar. Let's see if I actually go through with it... I might chicken out. :P

That's really all I wanted to talk about right now. Enjoy the abundance of links I provided for you and have a lovely day. (I say that, but no one reads this, as far as I'm aware. If you read this, comment? It makes writing blogs that much more fun!) :D

Growing up...

I finished my sophomore year of college ready to transfer to a new school with a new major, preparing to move out of my parents' house and live on my own (with a roommate). It all seemed kind of distant in the future, and all of a sudden, my roommate is moving into our house and we're transporting furniture and I'm applying for jobs in the new area and... AH! I don't feel old enough to be making such adult-like changes. It's a strange feeling.

What makes that strange feeling intensified is that I'm moving back into the area where I went to high school. It's cool because I'm more familiar with that town and everything, but it's kind of strange to be seeing my old classmates and other familiar faces at the gas station and the grocery store after not experiencing that for a few years. I haven't decided if it's an occurrence that I like or not yet.

All of these changes are super exciting, but also nerve wracking. If I'm being honest with myself, I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to afford living on my own. Paying bills and rent, affording groceries and household necessities, anticipating my first legitimate job, searching for a car.... I'm a little scared. Excited and scared. I'm a person with inconsistent opinions regarding change, and this much change, especially all at once, is a bit of a challenge to handle. I think the process has already earned me a few gray hairs, and I'm only in the beginning stages of everything! All I can do is hope and pray that everything will work out and that I made decisions that will be positive in my life. Time will tell, but I'm feeling (more or less) good about this. *Crosses fingers.*

Consequences to Exciting Decisions

Since my last post, I have made some important decisions and taken action! Huzzah!

I applied to another university as an English major. Yep, I'm returning to my true passion: Words. Books. ENGLISH. It just feels right. :) I'm still waiting to hear back from the school I applied to, but I feel pretty confident about my chances.

If I'm being honest, I have to say that my friends were a bit of an influencing factor. The new school is much closer to my best friends and is in the area I grew up in. In fact... two of my best friends attend the very same university. But I swear, they weren't the reason I chose the school! I moved away from the area after my senior year of high school, so even when I go home, I'm not any closer to my friends. I think the changes of school and location will help me feel more connected to my friendships in addition to furthering my education in the academic area I've always enjoyed the most.

The downside to the decision is money. So. Much. Money. If all goes as planned, I won't be living on campus, but in a townhouse with a friend, whose parents are the landlords of the space. However, affording rent, food, utilities, tuition, and all of the other standard costs of living is a little bit daunting when you're unemployed. Needless to say, I'm a little bit stressed out about it. In addition to all that, I don't have a car to transport myself from home to work/school, so there's yet another expense. Welcome to the real world, Beth.

Regardless, I've been checking the status of my application on the school's website rather obsessively and enjoying the rest of my time here at my current university. Hopefully things will work out well! :)

New Year, Same Problems

Well, happy 2012, nonexistent readers!

I had a wonderful Christmas! I spent it with my loving family and was able to get together with my closest group of friends a few days later... and ate lots of delicious food on both occasions. :) I hope anyone who stumbles across this had an excellent holiday and enjoyed their New Year's festivities!

While it's a brand new year and it's been months since my last post, not a lot has changed. At least not in my personal life. I'm still just as career-confused as ever. I am not only considering changing my major (again), but also changing schools.

My newest possible major/career is diagnostic medical sonography... a fancy way of saying that I'm considering studying to become an ultrasound technician. This isn't as completely out of the blue as it may seem. All through junior high and high school, my best friend encouraged me to look into becoming an ultrasound tech or something similar, assuring me the job would cater to several of my talents and interests. While I didn't take her too seriously at the time, I realized a few months ago that she's right. However, I'm still not totally convinced that it's what I want to do, so here I am again... on the fence between sticking with my current major, or changing to something completely new and different. Except this time, the decision is a little more loaded. If I make the switch to sonography, I would have to transfer to a different school. This school does not provide on-campus housing for its students, but a housing opportunity presented itself in the form of living in a townhouse with one of my best friends. Yes, initially, it sounds pretty great... but there are several additional factors: Number 1 is MONEY. Not only is the rent an obvious expense, but I would also need to purchase a car, furnish the house, pay for food and other miscellaneous home supplies, and everything else that comes with living on your own. And in order to do that (Here comes Factor Number 2), I would need to secure myself a job in the area.

I know I'm not confident about my current major and I'm not completely happy with my current college, but I'm not exactly 100% about being an ultrasound technician either. I'm at as much of a loss as I was last year and it sucks. Like, really, really sucks. It makes me feel as though I haven't made any progress; I'm stuck in the same rut I've been flailing around in for the past several years

Everyone will tell you, "Follow your heart!" or "Pursue your passion!" but I don't know what my passions and talents are. There are several things that I enjoy doing, but nothing stands out as being something that I want to do as a job for the rest of my life. There's nothing that stands out as being my true passion. So until I figure it out or simply step out on a limb... I'm kind of stuck.

Basically, growing up is hard. And life sometimes sucks.

So... yep, that's where I'm at. Yay, right?