The Bachelorette versus Iowa

As we all know, Chris went home on the Bachelorette.

Chris, our beloved Iowa boy with a heart of gold.

Obviously, it shows Andi wasn't good enough for our precious boy.

That's fine...kkkk byeeeee, Andi.

Of course, Chris is the campaign header for the bachelor.

I don't really agree with that because I think he's too innocent, and a girl might like him for a while, but the girls on the Bachelor aren't always the classiest... I'm really picky about who deserves this handsome creature. 

One thing that Chris' elimination really taught me (from Twitter) is that this country has no idea what Iowa is like at all. From the way we dress to live to anything, people are clueless. 

Here are some of the misconceptions the country is potentially thinking right now:

1. They think the typical female wears plaid and cowboy boots.

This is not true, not true at all. And the cowboy boots I can think of girls wearing are strictly reserved for scooping poo, square toed, and not the cute little things people think of. I secretly hate when girls wear cowboy boots to places like the fair, rodeos, country concerts...etc. I get it, it's "cute", but it's just strange to me. Sidetrack, but no. We wear regular clothes, and reserve our flannels for our waists or fall days.

What we are not:

If any of my friends starting dressing like this, I'd be honestly concerned. 

2. Iowa is an island in the Arctic Ocean.

Throughout the whole show, the big question was, "Yeah, but can you live in Iowa?" Andi is/was (was fired/quit her job) a lawyer, and yes, people in Iowa still do get divorced, murdered, etc. We need lawyers sometimes around here. Also, just people acted flabbergasted. "In Iowa?" 

No, she couldn't do that. 

Fun fact: Iowa is actually one of the 48 continental states. Very close to cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and the very home to Des Moines. One of the best growing cities in the country. 

3. We are all farmers like Chris.

Not everyone in Iowa is a farmer/grew up on a farm. None of my friends grew up on a farm. So, yeah I don't know what else to say about that one. We are more knowledgeable about the agriculture industry, but that's not a bad thing. All the benefits of living on a farm without having to scoop poop and sell poor animals to be slaughtered. 

4. We're not smart.

People made it sound like Iowans are a little dumb, pitiful. Iowa is actually an extremely intelligent state. Iowa has the highest literacy rate in the country. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is obviously developed in Iowa. We're pretty intelligent. We're pretty street smart too, because we're independent and stuff. 

5. There is nothing to do in Iowa.

I'll admit, Iowa isn't the state with the most attractions. But that doesn't mean we don't have things to do. We still have ways to be entertained, and we don't run through corn fields all day. Also, we can party in barns with real life pigs. Iowa teaches you to be creative and enjoy the little things. We don't need crazy places every day to be happy. 

6. Iowa is just a state.

Iowa is a way of life. I feel so much pride to be from Iowa. It's one of the greatest, friendliest states out there. Iowans spread joy far and wide in this country. It's an absolutely beautiful state in it's own right: the simplistic backbone of our country. Without Iowa, how would the world eat? Iowa does so much for this country, and we're just a really undermined state. We probably all know each other somehow. My mom knows a lady whose grandma lived next to Chris' great grandma. Pretty wild. If people came to Iowa, how could you not love it? So charming and sweet, just like the people who live in it. 

(Etsy Shop)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/115417370/iowa-state-digital-illustration-with-des

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Short post, but I was honestly shocked to see what people thought of Iowa! People are so ignorant to what they don't know. 

Instagram: lanlanbaby

Twitter: @alannajean2013

Advice for Fresh-mincemeat.

Happy weekend! Last weekend of high school basically for my lovelies at EGHS.
So with that...comes college. (Or perhaps you are going into the military, and thank you for your service.)

This post was inspired by:
My lovely little cousin, Alex McPhail.
She goes to school in Cedar Rapids, and will be a fellow Cyclone next year!

So with this post, comes advice for college.
It can be a rough terrain to navigate, especially when it's such a monstrous place like Iowa State.
So I have decided to make this list in a do/don't fashion.
Because some things you should do and some you shouldn't.

So here we goo...
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do. Work hard in your classes.
-sure the parties may be fun for a while, but the reason you are at school is to get an education. Remember that.

don't. use a map...ever.
-some campuses are big, but that does not mean you should whip out your map. Take a day before classes and go exploring with your schedule. Or use Google Maps on your phone, it'll look like you're just texting or something.

do. find friends outside of your dorm.
-having friends on your floor is convenient, but you will not be around those people for that portion of time ever again. branch out and meet different people in different places.

don't. always dress like a slob.
-yeah, it's college, but that does not give you an excuse to always look homeless. Not only will you feel better about yourself if you have actual clothes and makeup on, but the first impression you give people will be better. College is your step before the real world, and you should look appropriately sometimes.

do. cry if you need to.
-college is a transition, and transitions can be hard. it's okay to feel overwhelmed by all that is new, and sometimes ya just gotta cry

don't. trust boys (or girls) too freely.
-not everyone you meet is going to be a good person. you don't know the people you're meeting and sometimes you can't gauge their true colors right away. proceed with caution, and don't throw your heart around too recklessly.

do. keep in touch with people from back home.
-even though you're at a brand new place with brand new people, chances are you will probably go back home. with college, you get the choice to keep in touch with people you want to and say a big ol' FU to those who made life icky.

don't. be afraid to do things alone.
-i don't know how to tell you this, but at the end of the day, you're all alone. being comfortable with being alone is a huge accomplishment. you don't have to rely on anyone to go to breakfast...go alone. because what's more embarrassing...eating alone or being afraid to do so?

do. realize that the "freshmen 15" is a very real thing.
-in high school, you were probably involved in at least one thing. and that one thing was better than nothing. you had pe. but in college, you have an all you can eat buffet at every meal, the option to go to the gym if you do or don't want, lots of high caloric alcoholic drinks around...you're going to put on something. my jeans are a little snug/don't fit. make sure you watch what you eat, and go to the gym more often than I did. Also, don't fill your dorm room with loads of junk food.

don't. worry about being "popular."
-college is not a popularity contest...it might be to some people, but they have their priorities wrong. especially at a large university, maybe 300 people will know your name and about 30000 won't. so you're playing a losing game.

do. learn the bus routes.
-if you go to a large school, taking the bus is such a blessing. now, sometimes if it's nice, you should walk. but there will be 100 degree days and -30 degree days, and every single one of those days constitute taking the bus.

do. give everyone a fair chance.
-I know, there wasn't a don't between, but make sure you give everyone the benefit of the doubt. college is full of all different sorts of people, so don't judge a book by it's cover. but as said before, don't trust them until they have proven they deserve such.

don't. compare your college experience to anyone else's.
- everyone is going to have a different college experience, different goals, and if you are comparing your life to someone else's, how will yours be the best it can be?

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So, I guess that's my advice! I probably have more, but I don't want to bombard ya'll.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me in any form!
Twitter: @alannajean2013
Instagram: lanlanbaby
Ask: ask.fm/alannahill
Email: ahill1325@gmail.com

Also, please please please, share with your friends, etc. Also give me ideas for future posts and I'll be sure to mention you.

The "Finals" of the Year

As I sit in this hall eating Panda Express in between one final and the next, I'm stopping and thinking back on my first year of college. It has been very tumultuous, not always fun, but I will miss it dearly.

Next year, I won't be able to say "I don't know what's going on, but it's okay, I'm just a freshmen."
Next year, it will be "I'm a sophomore and I'm an idiot."

So that'll be awkward.

It's weird to think that we won't be the youngest little tikes on the playground anymore.
A new wave of fresh meat will come in; but in college, you'll never know.

Unless you show your ID on the orange route or try to get on the bus through the back doors.
(Don't do that.)

One of the things I am most sad about is leaving my little 208 Maple Forbes forever. That room and I have been through a lot of stuff.
Whether it be roommate problems, boy problems, Netflix marathons, nap time...

that room has been really good to me.
So I'm just trying to give him street cred.

(I just dropped fried rice all over my keyboard.)

The year has seen its fair share of boys.
The ending of a summer fling.
2 athletes.
1 Frat boy.
And guess what, in the end, the ATHLETES are nicer than the FART boys.
(hehe see what I did there.)
If you need reference, you can read the post about what that stink in' frat boy did to me)
And guess what, I didn't find love once.
Those fairy tales about finding your husband in college...yeah, not seeing it.

I made the choice to not go out and drink.
Sometimes I regret it, most the time I don't.
Life is so much too precious to spend it under the influence or risk getting in trouble that could change your whole life.
Coming from genes of alcoholism, I don't want to risk that either.
And then there's meeting boys at parties...but do I really want some guy who has had too many shots and won't remember me tomorrow? No I'll pass.
I hope to go out more next year, but this year was the path I chose to walk.

And then I guess there's the school aspect of college.
Changed my idea for a major almost every day, didn't get all A's.
And that's hard going from valedictorian to not perfect..but do I care?
No.
People need to realize grades are not what make life.
When you go to your job interview, I PROMISE they won't ask you what your GPA was.
The real world isn't your Econ and Geology grade.
I studied one day for my midterms. WHO CARES PEOPLE.
take a chill pill...or ten.

Friends...am I sure I've made lifelong friends?
No.
I think it'll is to be seen.
Friends in dorms are there because you're all there.
It's when you go your separate ways and if you remain friends that matters.

So now is the time to pass the freshmen torch from the Class of 2017 to the Class of 2018.
You will get lost, you will cry, you will miss your mom, you will get a bad test grade...but it'll be fine.
And even though I don't know about 5000 people in my grade, I'm sure they're cool with me doing this.
Good luck little muffins!

(Sorry I rushed this...people started coming into the building and it stressed me out. Thinking about Vlogging this summer, who knows?)

Twitter: alannajean23
Instagram: lanlanbaby
Facebook: Alanna Jean Hill

First Year Fun Facts

Well, I just came back from lunch at the dining hall, and only two minutes before we left, I noticed...

my underwear was hanging out..

IN THE FRONT.

Like seriously, I've had a stressful week, I have food poisoning still not feeling so hot...but why not?

Underwear show. And that kid in my last post? Saw his roommate, so maybe they'll have a story now.

"Yeah, I talked to the girl who lets her underroos hang out like a sloot."

But anyways, I decided to compile a list of a few facts about my first year here.

1. I have never stepped foot in the library to study. The only time I went in there was to eat a sandwich. Because I was being attacked by a bitter colony of bees.

2. I went home waayyy too much. But college teaches you your mom is essentially the bomb.

3. One time, my mom took away my Netflix privileges because she thought I was watching it too much. But after I told her how I lonely I was without it...I got it back.

4. I have been battling back and forth and back and forth about trying out for the dance team this year, but...betttaaa nott.

5. I think I went to one football game? Go Cyclones...

6. I probably tried too hard to find like my biffle for the riffle but...I still don't think I've found like one of my people.

7. One time I got so lost inside of a building, I went to the bathroom and cried. And then I called my mom...

8. People I thought I would escape in high school...they're still everywhere.

9. I was called a "GID" so many times like it was an insult...like, could we come up with something more original?

10. I went to the gym enough times to count on my two hands. And most of my "gym time" consisted of staring at people.

11. And on that note, one time I was so immeasurably dead at the gym, this girl came up to me and was all like "Are you okay? Do you need anything? Water? Are you okay?"

12. The first weeks when it was 100 plus degrees... I refused to take the bus. I was scared. I was scared to take the bus because I didn't want to mess it up. I have to get on one bus right in front of my dorm to get to whatever class I need. 

13. The college desk has really helped me expand my makeup collection.

14. I went home on the weekend of non existent VEISHEA. I got way too scared...not my scene.

15. I proudly did not have an eat $#!% moment on the ice. Although the cold was pretty brutal...

16. I got a GPA of 3.73 first semester?

17. I switched my mind about my major every other day. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life besides pet cats and pin on Pinterest.

18. All the yummy places in Ames I liked closed...Aspen Leaf (they had the best lactose free flavors), Pita Pit (I travelled all the way there to find out it was closed), and Long John Silvers (but it's not like super yummy but it would have been nice on Fridays for Lent).

19. I puked in my dorm room too many times. And it was never pleasant. Being sick at college is probably the worst thing ever.\

20. I never drank here. I didn't give in to binge drinking, and a lot of people give me flack for it. I might not make friends because I don't go out, but I don't think I want to be friends with people who are drunk off their...butts. I don't judge people, but as a child of an alcoholic, I'm very proud of myself that I stuck to my morals!

Yay, I am so excited it's almost summer. I hope next year goes smoother, but I mostly hope I figure out what I want in life. I hope I find people who accept me for the odd ball I am!

The Pressures of Being a 21st Century Young Adult

Hi y'all. I know it's been a while since I wrote on my beloved blog...poor little guy. Just with the wifi issues in my dorm...it's almost impossible to get anything done, let alone a blog post. But here I am, so yeah, let's go.

I was watching the Iowa State Men's Basketball game today (Go Cyclones), and I really started thinking about the pressure our generation faces...so much. And it's not just college athletes...it's ALL of us starting extremely young.

Our parents were pressured and pushed...no doubt. But we face...that's pressure.
Starting off with education, college is just expected. Back in our parents day, college wasn't even always thought about. It wasn't just automatically assumed that someone was going to college. Nowadays, your freshman year of high school...it's all about "What college do you want to go to?" "What are you going to major in?" I was pressured so hard all through high school being the top of my class...and now it has caught up with me. I hate college, but that's where I had to go because everyone EXPECTED it from me.
And not to mention...we're expected to go to college more and more as tuition rises higher and higher. I am completely overwhelmed thinking about paying for college next year. So once we do (hopefully) get jobs, we start our lives off with tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt. It's actually very ironic if you think about it...

And then there's athletics...not that most of us are still in them, but we all were there. The world of sports has completely evolved, and I would argue not all for the better. Every season overlaps another season. When our parents were kids, there wasn't six open gyms on Sunday. There weren't 4 $250 camps every summer. 

And everyone is expected to be the best. If you make a mistake, damn you to hell. The bar is set higher and higher every single year. Kids are faster, stronger, jump higher, lift more, more flexible (dance world), then ever before. But they also have to be the best in every thing they're involved in. And if you're not the best...you're the worst. If you're not first, you're last. 

And then there's the issue of teen pregnancy. I'm not promoting people get pregnant when they're 15, 16... but how can adults look down upon it? When my mom talks about high school, half the girls ended up getting pregnant, dropping out, and living in a trailer with their husband.

I think the world is too demanding of young adults. If you don't go to college, you might as well go fill out an application at Mcdonald's and hope you make minimum wage. But kids are never allowed to actually FIND what they want to do. They are pressured into what they are expected to do, or forced to do something that will make ends meat. Our society is so expensive, and I think we have a lot of people in the country doing things they don't really enjoy. And that just sounds like an awful life..

We should all support each other as the kids of the 21st century. Because I don't think adults really understand what growing up now is like...

Bullies are Just Really Hurting Inside.

I decided to write this because I am being bullied yet again.
It's just a pathetic guy who is so full of himself, but it still hurts to an extent.

Bullies are going to be in our lives forever.
There will always be someone who is hurting so bad inside they feel the need to try and make you feel bad too.
They feel the need to bring you down to their level; critique you on everything you do, every decision you make. Make fun of the people you know and care about.

Guy bullies are the worse. Especially at this age. To girls.
Like do you have no self decency or worth to have some class?
They are like high school girls. I was sitting with this kid that is bullying me at lunch the other day and every person who passed, he had something to say.
"You see that girl, she's so big. Big girl."
"What color was he, black? Was he black?"
Racist, sexist, acting like he's some hot shot. well...

And the people that laugh and go along with it...you're just as bad. We should not encourage bullies. Ever. Guys may do it to seem just as macho, and girls may do it to fit in with the "cool girls."

Those rude comments that you throw out and then say just kidding, that's bullying.
"You're annoying."
"What are you wearing?"
"You sound stupid."
"You're ugly."

And people who read this who think I'm being mean, I'm just sticking up for myself and all who were bullied.

I've been bullied about nearly everything. Me being "too skinny", too pale, who I've talked to, cyber harassed, a fake email made about me at another school (that I still think about taking legal action about), girl bullying, my dad being an alcoholic...I've ran the gamut of it.

And I admit, I used to be a bully and say mean things. But now in my life, I really try to make the most conscious effort to not ever bully or talk bad about people.

It's a major reason I wish to become a high school teacher...to be there for kids. I still have my days where it's too much for me, but I know I can be a light for kids in the situation.

You Can't Sit With Us

So, here I am just sitting on my couch in my cupcake pajamas, and something actually popped into my head.
I started thinking about the girls at ISU.
There's many categories, and honestly, I don't think I fit into any of them.
My mom told me not to offend anyone with these, I mean, I don't think this is necessarily offensive. It's just the truth.

So...to me at Iowa State, the categories of girls are: the granolas, the sorority girls, the athletes/spirt squad/etc, the crazies, the thirsties, the "yolos" ...the list could go on forever.

I just wrote about every single one, but decided to delete it, and just focus on the thirsties.

These girls...#icant. They are so stuck up. They are trying to claw their way to the top of the Iowa State "popularity" ladder. They think they are the prettiest, funniest, coolest, etc etc.

These girls are after an athlete or frat boy. Particularly the basketball players right now. I don't know if they think people don't notice or... If you throw yourself at a guy, he's not going to want you. Too easy of a conquest.

Anyone who is not their friend, in their sorority, parties with them, is not cool enough for them. They will look down upon you. You are not cool enough for them. After they got to college and realized how "cool" they were, they probably deleted you off Facebook and unfollowed you on Twitter. Because you're a peasant.

A lot of these girls are in sororities. They think they rule the campus. (Sorority friends, I love you. This part isn't about you.)
They also think they're really fashionable when they're just wearing what all us white girls are wearing: vest, leggings, boots, scarf... yeah, we all dress the same.

I just don't think these girls realize they're still living in HIGH SCHOOL. College is about meeting new, different kinds of people. But these girls are too focused on being "cool." Their "image." From the outside, the only image you're portraying is of a snot. A snob. Immature. Most guys at Iowa State have moved on from this...except the frat boys, of course. Frat boys are kind of the equivalent to high school girls...very rude. Only like sorority girls...that's fine. You girls can have them.

I'm still finding my niche at Iowa State. I have a few close friends, but that's about it. College is rough, because you think everyone will want the same thing as you. You think everyone will have grown up a little bit and see people for who they are. Not what they look like, what parties they're going to, what they're wearing, etc. But some people just can't do that...and they never will. These are the girls who want to be a Real Housewife someday.

Some of us are just a little bit more in touch with reality and trying to find true friends. Friends based on content and not appearance.

Also, I realize this is colleges everywhere. Not just Iowa State! And some of these girls might be really nice...but I just haven't seen it. This post isn't about anyone in particular. Just girls I see at Iowa State. A lot of my very good friends are in sororities, so nothing against them.  If you're easily offended, sorry. But maybe you shouldn't be like these girls then...

<a href="http://www.hypersmash.com">Hypersmash.com</a>

Freaking Finals

So after yesterday's post was kind of a success (thanks guys...you da best).. I decide to expand on my first semester experience..(this will be the last time..actually, no promises), but this time, it's all about...

FINALS.

I guess you could replace "boy" in there. (Pinterest)

I guess I figured, "It won't be that bad. Everyone is putting in all this hype, and it won't be half as bad as all these schmucks say."

It was, and it wasn't. The schmucks got it half right.

Where they were wrong:
Everyone always makes it seem like you will be up until three in the morning studying..no. No, you won't. It's not only unnecessary, I think you're an idiot if you did (yeah, I said it.). You have absolutely no classes, so why would you need to be up until the wee hours of the morning studying?

Like it's just not necessary.

and...that's about all they were wrong about.

Here's the detes (like details, for those who are not in with the hip lingo):

Finals suck. They just suck.
And for those of you who had final projects and group tests, you don't count. You have no idea what real finals are yet.
Some of my finals literally mentally raped me. I should press charges because I was mentally raped.

Some finals, I rocked them out. Accounting..piece a cake. 94%.
So...I guess one final I rocked out.
The rest made me their..b-i-t-c...you can fill in the ending.

Philosophy.. I knew the best I could get was a B. Because that's all the professor gives out.
"You get a B! You get a B! You all get B's!"         Oprah, if you didn't know that...google it or something.

Math 150.. got like a 74%. For me, I just wanted out of math alive. And somehow my grade was salvaged...I don't know, maybe a Christmas miracle.

Econ...I had economics with the worst professor in the entire world. (I don't care what you say, he was my nemesis). He's a state senator, and he's all hoity toity. If you don't know what that means, click the link right here. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hoity-toity
He was just SO mean. And I didn't even study because it couldn't save me. I just made my two sheets of notes and hunkered down. I got 108/200, so that explains my life.

And then Anthropology, this is one that killed me the most. I studied the completely wrong things. I'm still infuriated at the teacher; she led to do this. I went in the testing center and knew I was toast. I knew maybe 5 of the 95 questions. Luckily, I got a 64%. And ended up with about as low of an A- as you could get.

This was literally me in the testing center. (Pinterest)

High school, I remember when I thought semester tests were hard.
"I have to study or I won't pass."
Yeah, I would have passed all over the place in comparison to college finals.
High school students...don't take this in offense. Just realize, you have another thing coming...and that thing sucks.

And in the end, this meme is really true.

Or is this one?

Please comment any thoughts, experiences, whatever! Follow me if you have a blogger. I might try to find another blogging site, and I'm thinking about starting up a beauty blog for the ladies! Thank you so much for reading!

C is the New F

As a first semester college student finisher (can I get an amen?), I have learned a few basic things.

1. You will miss your mom a whole heck of a lot. You miss having a private spot to cry in too, now that I think about it.

2. Big universities really don't give a darn about you no matter what they say (My mom tried to tell me my Econ teacher gave me a good grade because he knew who I was and saw I came to class every day..yeah in a lecture hall of 200 kids, I don't think so)

Courtesy of Break .com

3. When you live on the second floor of a residence hall, nobody likes you on the elevator.
(But in my defense, the stairs do go all the way up to the eighth floor too and no, I will not give you an excuse for why I'm using the elevator. I pay it for it just like you, honey boo.)

Courtesy of quickmeme

4. There will still be girls who don't like you just because of your face, voice, ears, freckle on your face...you get it. They just won't like you because you're too awesomely awesome for them.
(at Iowa State, it may or may not be a certain girl's athletic team, and they may or may not bully you in the lunch hall, and they may or may not laugh at you for no reason, but it doesn't matter. They suck anyways.)

AND

5. In college, there are three grades. Don't let anyone tell you differently. It's an A, B, or C. D and F...no. They don't count. For majors, you can't get either of those for some classes, because if you do, that class doesn't count (except for on your GPA, it counts there (; )
An A, that's an A. An A-, that's kind of like a B.
B+, that's kind of like a B. B-...eh you're border line.

And C....C is the new F.

Now, I've never gotten anything less than a B- in any of my classes ever (Algebra 2 really stung me..owwzer). But the margin for error is like ()  <------- that big. MINISCULE. It's terrifying. A C can't even be a C anymore..it suddenly is the bottom of the barrel.

courtesy of Pinterest..idk.

Now I squeaked by with a 3.73 GPA first semester, so I'm not complaining. But, for anyone who didn't or for those of us who may not do so prosperously in the future...

C's GET DEGREES. Happy New Year (: