holly s. hess autobiography

Well, in the midst of all these brainstorming ideas, here's my autobiography. I am a true southerner, born and raised in Augusta, Ga., the home of the Masters. And let me just go ahead and say, only a very small percentage of Augusta is as pretty as the Masters golf course. Anyways, at home, I lived with my brother, Drew, who is 25 and a blade engineer at Sikorksy (the company that makes the black hawk helicopter.) He's an awesome role model and we're really good friends that share many of the same passions. I also lived with my mom, a dental hygienist, and my dad, a medically retired engineer turned carpenter. Also with us, was a cat named Mooney, who has now passed, and a wonderful border collie named Lucky. She is brilliant, almost too brilliant.

Ok, so in high school I was a busy body, probably similar to most of my peers in this class- NHS, yearbook staffer, AP class taker, yada yada. I loved my high school days most because they were filled with sports and good friends. I ran cross-country, swam, and played soccer and tennis all four years while in high school. I was yearbook editor my senior year, but it was just more for fun than my love of journalism.

I came to UGA in 2007, before the massive student center was called the MLC, before Tate 2 existed, before we got new buses, before the economy sucked and before iphones and androids were popular. Yes, I feel old now.

I came to UGA thinking I'd like to study medicine, and went with that for a while. That thought stemmed from various medical mission trips to Spanish speaking countries, but turned out I liked the Spanish side of things more than the medicine. I struggled through my first semester in many ways. One positive thing I discovered during my first fall away from home, was my absolute love of photography. I started shooting macro (close-up) photos on a hiking trip to Panther Creek over fall break, and I was kind of good at it. From there, I started pursuing a career to do with photography. I weaseled my way into a film photography class in the art school and absolutely loved it.

At this point, I was pursuing a Spanish minor and an undecided major, which I stuck with until the Spring of my sophomore year. Then, really out of nowhere, I felt as if I was being led to get a degree in journalism, photojournalism specifically. Well, Grady doesn't offer that major, so I settled for a possible emphasis in photojournalism, applied to Grady, got in and started journalism classes the next fall. That summer though, I headed down to Argentina for two months to finish up my Spanish minor. I studied at the Universidad de Palermo en Buenos Aires for four week, three of which I was sick with the swine flu. Our classes got cut a week short and we were advised to return to the U.S. due to the swine flu outbreak. However, I had already planned to stay down there two extra weeks to tour the country with a friend. We made it three weeks and called it even. My adventures down there were absolutely amazing. If you want to hear some cool stories/see some neat pictures, just ask me.

SIDE NOTE: For most of freshman year, I dated a cute, witty and smart boy named Jim Gernatt. Then sophomore year, we took “a break.” When I came back from my summer in Argentina, I felt led to try dating Jim again (because we had both realized some important things while apart). This turned out to be a wonderful choice. We are still together today and have hopes of making things more permanent in the future. His is recent Terry alum, and is working in Vail, CO at Beaver Creek Resorts until April.

Ok, so back to fall of junior year: Grady classes started to enter my life and I liked it. I took an intro to horticulture class and liked it so much, I signed up for two more classes for the spring. I got way in over my head and loved it. Thus, my horticulture minor was born. Basically, I love plants, I love growing them and I love sharing them. I was so interested in being in the industry that I inquired about working at Trial Gardens on campus (behind Snelling). I was hired soon after and have been working there ever since.

This past summer, I spent my days laboring in the Trial Gardens over the perennials (plants that live on and on). It was a wonderful summer, hot, but great. This fall, I took over the Director of Marketing and Social Media position, which I wasn’t sure I could handle at first, but now I love it.

So here I am, in my final semester. Not exactly sure what I want to do with my life, but I know I want to “do what you like and like what you do,”-thank you Life is Good slogan. Here are a few vague thoughts though: I want to be a travel writer, photographer, farm/nursery/greenhouse owner, frequent surfer, and coffee connoisseur. Until the time comes to graduate and find a real job, I’ll keep doing what I do: thrift store shop, volunteer with YoungLife, train for triathlons, be outside as much as possible, and enjoy the small things in life. If you want to keep up with my journalism work, try reading my blog- hollyshess.wordpress.com. Or check out my new website, which is still under construction: www.hollyhessphotography.com.

Sophie Cox

It's snobby to start with this, but I'm gonna do it anyways. I'm from Atlanta and I mean really from Atlanta. I grew up in Little Five Points and yeah, I didn't know a single Republican under the age of 70 until coming to the University of Georgia. I attended Henry W. Grady High School. Yep, it's named after the same racist, white dude.

My dad was born and raised in France and my mother was born in Virginia and raised in California. My parents grew up in the 60s and smoked a lot of pot and did a little bit of acid, but they made it out fine. I think the only reason I'm worth anything today is because of their awesome parenting skills. I also have a really beautiful, talented sister, who is having a baby boy in March and getting married in May. I like her style!

I've been in a relationship for almost four years now. My boyfriend goes to Brown University (yeah he's smart...and rich...), but right now he's studying in Madrid. It's been pretty hard so far---we're taking long distance to new extremes. I don't know if we'll get married or what, mainly because I'm not even sure I'm interested in marriage. Or let's just say, I'm really not interested in getting a divorce.

Let's see... I really like sports, especially football and baseball. I love the Braves and Falcons, of course. I also like my Georgia Bulldogs, but unfortunately, my heart belongs to Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

This is my wonderful puppy, Bear.

I've got some great friends back home, and I'm meeting some awesome folks in Athens. Especially where I work. I miss Atlanta, though. Lord, sometimes Athens could stand a little diversity. I've never seen so many white, extremely privileged people in my life. If you don't know what I mean by privileged, do yourself and our society a favor and sign-up for a Women's Studies course. You won't regret it.

Emily Welker

I guess the only place to start an autobiography is from the beginning. I was born and raised in Marietta, GA (along with what seems like half of the UGA student body). My dad is a good 'ol southern boy from Kentucky, and my mom is from Pennsylvania. I've been raised in a very southern household, considering my father has always told me he had the "yankee blood" removed at the hospital before they brought me home. My dad said he knew I would be a strong, southern woman, a steel magnolia.

I have two older brothers, which made being girly somewhat difficult growing up. I wanted to wear tu-tus; they made me wear Umbros. I wanted to wear makeup; they made me wear pony tails. I wanted to be a dancer; I ended up a soccer player. You can see in the picture that I tried to wear a skirt but still ended up playing with swords. Now, thanks to them, I am extremely competitive and what most would call a sore loser. You have to be tough when you are smaller than the boys you fight with over who controls the remote control.


Eventually, I grew up and experienced what I like to call my "awkward stage" in middle school. When my frizzy hair and long limbs became too much for her to handle, my mom stepped in. (Thanks Mom!) With the help of my mother, I began to discover my love for fashion. I still played sports and considered myself tough, but I realized I could love both. Now, I am a fashion merchandising and magazines double major. I lived in London last summer and worked and lived in one of the fashion capitals of the world, discovering that my competitiveness will help me get ahead, my southern upbringing will keep me level-headed, and my style will show my individuality.

So now you all know about me and how I became me!

Today, I am just living in Athens enjoying my Junior year of college. I am a member of Kappa Delta, work at Private Gallery, and intern for the Athens Wedding Professionals.

Hey Y'all!

I'm Jordan Beaman and I'm a magazines major with an emphasis on photojournalism.

I was born in Milwaukee, WI but I was raised in the suburbs of Dallas, TX.

I have an amazing family that is slowly following me to Georgia. I have two older siblings who I look up to in every way. My dad is the foundation of our family and he takes care of me more than I could every imagine. I had the most amazing momma. Unfortunately, she passed away two years ago. She was in a para-sailing accident when I was a freshman and it has turned my world upside down. But I am proudly the spitting image of her.




I also have two dogs that are my babies and I absolutely adore them. I wish that I could keep them here in Athens but they would go insane in my apartment.

I work at the Office of Special Events on north campus. Basically, we plan all the events for the president of the University. Its a great job and it has made me more interested in event planning. I am also the secretary of Alpha Omega, the on campus organization for my campus ministry.

My greatest love in life is photography. I am absolutely obsessed and my friends make fun of me all the time for how many albums on facebook I have. They have all actually stopped taking their cameras anywhere. I also have a blog to display my photography, which you can check out if you feel so inclined.

Some other things I'm interested in are baking, football and movies. Here's why. If this whole journalism thing doesn't work out for me, I will most likely open up a bakery with my sister. Growing up in Texas, every one was obsessed with football, high school, college or pro. I can't remember a fall weekend that we didn't watch football. College football is my favorite to watch and I have been cheering on the Dawgs since I was born. Most of the conversations that we have in my family are consumed with movie quotes.

I had an amazing opportunity this summer to study abroad in Italy for ten weeks with the Lamar Dodd program in Cortona. I was able to take two photography classes. Here's my blog from my summer where you can read about my whole experience.

Arrivederci!

Hi, I'm Sarah

Hi, I'm Sarah Wormser and I am a junior from Tampa, Fla. My birthday is next week (the 27th) and I will treat it like a national holiday (feel free to observe it as well).

I am a magazines major and love nothing more than getting a new magazine, whether I get it in the mail or buy it with my groceries. I read every magazine the same way: front to back, back to front, then back again. I don't even think about this process any more, it just happens.

Along with my magazine major I am an English and Chinese minor. I started taking Chinese junior year of high school when I reached my Spanish limit. I love learning new languages with creative and challenging alphabets. I have been interested since elementary school since I took Hebrew (yay small jewish day school that had less students in the entire pre-k through 8th grade school than my intro to bio class had).

Here at UGA I am a Grady Ambassador, a UGA Tap Dawg, and Managing Editor of Little Red Book. Little Red Book, a student run fashion magazine out of the family and consumer sciences school, takes up the majority of my time. I came across the magazine at my fall freshman year activities fair and they haven't been able to get rid of me since. Working on LRB has solidified the fact that I want to work in magazines for the rest of my life.

I love being in Georgia, where seasons happen unlike Florida where there is a great range of rain, humidity, and sunshine. I also love my dog, Rory. She is a spitz poodle and just the cutest. I prefer having a constant soundtrack to my life, music was a major part of my childhood and just makes everything better. This week is all about Wilco, can't get it out of my head.

Alright, that's all for now.

Megan Graves

My name is Megan Graves and I love Georgia Football. This is my new gameday attire I got for $10. I couldn't pass it up! I grew up in Athens and love this town for the unique places to eat and shop. It is a great place to call home.

I took my first dance class at age three. From that day forward I spent most my time in a dance studio or onstage. I danced in college until a knee injury slowed me down. I have recently been able to start again, and I am currently learning to ballroom dance.

My highschool was brand new when I was a freshman, and my graduating class was the first class to go all four years in the school. It was quite an experience with lots of opportunities, but we didn't have a newspaper or magazine. Not to mention I spent most my time in the dance studio at the school anyway.

I decided on Journalism after reading all the majors the university offered before picking this one. I have always enjoyed writing, and so far I am really enjoying it. I am hoping to get more involved this semester!

One of my favorite things I get to do is spend Sunday mornings with a classroom full of two-year-olds at Sunday school at Watkinsville First Baptist Church. I learn so much from them, and love every minute.

During the week I spend a lot of my nights and afternoons babysitting. This is one of my little boys I have had at church since he was in the crib. Enough said I love kids.

My goal for the semester is to fly to Burbank, California to see the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Nothing brightens my day like an episode of Ellen.

Devin Webb

i'm devin webb. i really hate capitalizing letters. i prefer the computer to capitalize them for me.

i'm from albany, georgia. it's a pretty small place with some pretty amazing people.

i went to a really small private school with a graduating class of 71 people. now i've had college classes with 300. talk about culture shock.

i'm the kind of person who believes in stupid sayings. "everything happens for a reason." "love at first sight." "home is where the heart is."

i'm obsessed with tv. i have way too many "favorite" shows. but my real favorite is top chef. i wish i could cook as well as they all do.

i have a french bulldog. she'll turn 2 this september. her name's darcy. yep, she's named after the pride and prejudice character. not mr. darcy, but his younger sister, georgiana.

i love astrology. i'm a virgo (i don't care if there's a "new" zodiac sign, i'm a virgo for life).

a few months ago i started doing crossfit. i've never worked out harder in my life. i've also never been able to deadlift 225 lbs. i'm obsessed.

obviously i'm a journalism major. but it's crazy to think about it. especially when i consider that my dad's a farmer.

oh, and hopefully my first published articles will appear in this site's magazine soon. ag writing was kind of cool.

that's a big reason why i'm a journalism major--i love to learn. i wanted to do something that would allow me to learn something new every single day.

i really have no problem admitting that i'm a big nerd. i always get excited about a new semester with new classes and new teachers.

i hated the "snowpocalypse."

i'm ready to take 2011 by storm. not snowstorm, my own storm.

They call me Hubbs

 

(I wanted to spare yall from having to look at my awful pix from class)

So, I heard this one time and thought that I might give fair warning before I begin.  

"I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a word of what I'm saying" 

...this happens a lot.

Okay well hello!  These biography things are always quite awkward for me because I mean how can you bundle someone up into a few sentences.  I know I for sure am quite too out of the box that it's kind of an impossible task.  So instead I'll introduce some random facts about me because that's pretty much the summary of who I am. rANdOm

I was born in Hollywood.  Which would make me seem like some make-up wearing, glamorous girl who knows all about celebrities and whatnot.  But lets be for real, that's like the exact opposite of me.  Just recently I had to write a fashion editorial for the up-and-coming 2011 spring fads for Southern Distinction, and it had to be the hardest thing I've ever done.  

I have a problem.  It's called "I can't listen to music without dancing" 

(I've been diagnosed)

It's caused quite some embarrassing stories in my time.  I mean who doesn't introduce themselves on national television as the girl who likes to 

"BUST A MOVE" 

(I'm gonna be honest, I didn't have much pre-thought in that decision)

Ha. Ya.  After that there's not much else for me to say.  
I like to write, I don't think I'm particularly good at it.  But figured I didn't want to be stuck doing something for the rest of my life that I would just tolerate.  My dream job is to travel the world, meet people of all different cultures, immerse myself in their life, share the beautiful word of God with them... and all-the-while take pictures and write about it for a magazine back in the states.  I think it's a pretty realistic dream.  Oh, and if I could have a superpower I would want to be able to speak all languages.

The end. 

However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all... 

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy

 in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, 

but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 

Ecclesiastes 11: 8-9

Sarah Osbourne

My name is Sarah Osbourne and I am from Roswell, GA and went to Centennial High School. Just going to go ahead and say I have two major issues with this class...
A. my mugshot... don't judge.
B. Calling Professor Dennis "Joe". Growing up in the South I think my parents hard wired me to have a problem with this. I may have to ease into it with Mr. Joe? Or maybe make up a cool nickname?
Other than these two things I am so excited for the class which seems very challenging but also very interesting!

My school didn't have any sort of newspaper or magazine, which I found embarrassing after I heard so many schools that did. However, they did have an extensive photography program which I became involved in early on. I chose my major when I heard about the photojournalism program, but I came to enjoy writing as well.

I am also an art history minor which became a passion of mine that in high school. I am a very visual learner so art history comes easily to me. Going along with that if I don't remember your name I apologize ahead of time. For some reason I am terrible with names but will remember everything we talked about and your face so please don't take it personally!

I am involved at UGA with Tri Delta sorority. I am also president of the Magazine club which I would LOVE everyone to come to. We hold meetings biweekly and hear professionals in the field speak about their experience and give advice. It is a great way to introduce yourself and make connections for future internships or jobs! Email me if you want to be added to the Google group at Sarahkoz2@gmail.com.

This semester I am also interning with BLVD. BLVD is a magazine in Athens that discusses culture, fashion, music, events and tons of other cool stuff. I am a photography intern and can't wait to learn more about the video and audio to go along with my photo experience in this class. BLVD put on lots of cool events around Athens so I will let everyone know when those come up, but you can also find out by following BLVD on Facebook and Twitter.

Another random love of mine is animals, especially dogs. I probably have close to 80 pictures in my phone of my family's yellow lab named Belle and my family's 90 lb blue Itlaian mastiff puppy (puppy being the key word) named Steel. Steel will eventually grow to be 150 pounds and I cannot wait since I love big dogs! I also live with my roommate's boxer named Emma who is quite possibly the goofiest dog ever. I have included pictures below and if anyone shares my obsession with dogs or any animals I would be glad to exchange photos anytime! Unfortunately this somehow happens a lot with people I meet at parties or downtown... :/














I also love sports, mainly college football and basketball. I have a blast every fall and attend as many away games as I can and every home game. I have concluded that if we don't beat Florida in football next year I will simply have no other option but to stay and be a fifth year. My parents don't support this.

Those are pretty much the basics but I can't wait to get to know everyone and thanks for reading!

I Am Me.

So. I’m Adam. And this is my autobiography:

I grew up in Hiram—which is a small town southwest of Marietta. A small piece of Remember the Titans was shot there and the town has pretty much never gotten over it.

I also have a twin brother, Sam. The joke is that we look absolutely nothing alike. He's 6'2, short blonde hair and pale; played high school basketball; the whole thing.

The downside is, besides the fact that he goes to GSU, we can't switch clothes and pretend to be each other, a la the Olsens. Which can be a real bummer.

I’ve always been a writer, but I never thought, “Watch out, Katie Couric, I’m coming for you.” (One, because that’s kind of creepy; and two, because journalism has never been my dream.)

I ended up writing on my high school’s yearbook for two years, and when I came to the university, I saw the degree as the only viable way to make money post-graduation. So I stuck with it and here I am, almost three years later: writer extraordinaire. Or something.

Film was—and is—much more my thing, which is why I’m double-majoring in it.

I have two favorite films: Legally Blonde and A History of Violence. I feel like they balance.

(I’m also minoring in Spanish, but it’s absurdly difficult for me so I choose to pretend I’m not.)

I’ve been writing with The Red & Black since my first semester, which has been an experience: there was that time I interviewed a movie star, which was fun. And there was that other time I libeled a collegiate athlete, which was less so.

…And now I’m officially out of things to say about myself, except that the mug shot of me that’s sitting on top of all this is terrible. Just awful.

(And the Ashley Simpson song I stole this title from is worse.)

Drew Davis

My life consists of a series of contradictions...

My mother was raised as an Orthodox Jew, and my father was raised as a hardcore Catholic.

Apparently two very religious spouses make three very unreligious children.

My sister loved school so much that she now teaches at OSU, and my brother loathed school so much that he didn't make it through his first year at a university.

The only semi-recent photo I have of all three of us is one in which he is appearing to be academic.

All I really wanted from the academic world was an opportunity to ditch the U.S.

I refuse to learn a foreign language.

Born and raised in Ohio, my favorite type of environment has always been one surrounded with open-minded, intelligent, free-thinking people.

I willingly chose to go to school in Georgia.

I am working so hard at UGA that I have taken on another major.

I would drop out of school and be a traveling musician faster than it will take you to read this blog post.

I hate talking about myself.

I want to be famous.

I walk everywhere to keep my body healthy.

I eat an average of five meals a day (each almost always followed by something chocolate).

I am on UGA's executive board for Relay For Life.

Being around people who are dying makes me extremely uncomfortable.

By day, I am carefree and fearless - ready to take on the world and live on the edge.

I have nightmares almost every night.

Having a lot to do stresses me out.

I hate sitting still.

I hate blogs.

This is the second class I have decided to take (so far) that involves a blog.