The Future of Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing is constantly growing. The question is, however, will it last?

According to the Huffington Post, marketers allocate 7.6% of budgets to social media, and it is expected to reach 18.8% by 2019. Currently, marketers only spend 4 to 6 hours a week on social media, but social media is known to be the top contributor of relationship building. With this, 33% of consumers say social media is the top way to discover new brands and products.

Knowing this, social media marketing will only continue to grow. Throughout the last century, the way companies marketed to their audiences was through radio, television, and print media. However, with those media outlets, communication was limited. Today, the opportunity to spread awareness and controlled messages is much greater.

With social media, companies have the opportunity to communicate instantly with their target markets and respond to costumer complaints, creating open communication. This helps the brand build a voice and develop relationships with audiences.

I think ease and reliability will cause social media marketing to continue to increase, easily surpassing television. However, I do believe one day, something even faster and easier will come along, pushing social media to the waste side. Until then, I am eager to see where social media will take the marketing, advertising, and public relations industries.

What Makes a Video Go Viral

What makes a video go viral? With 100 hours of video being uploaded to YouTube every day, it's easy for your video to get lost in the shuffle. Forbes lists 6 qualities that define most viral videos today:

1. Be Short and Sweet.
2. Be Upbeat.
3. Be Timely.
4. Be Involved.
5. Be Informative.
6. Be Inspiring.

While I agree with the list provided, I think one major quality is missing: humor. My favorite viral videos are meant for entertainment. If you can make someone smile, laugh, and have fun, they are more likely to share it with their friends or on social media. One of my all-time favorite viral videos was made by the average Joe. They used music, humor, and a family aspect to connect with their audience, which made the video that much more enjoyable. I'd like to present "Baby Got Class"!

Besides humor, the other emotion to channel in your video is empathy. By pulling at heart-strings or tapping into your audience's emotions, it makes your video more memorable, and thus more sharable. In "World's Toughest Job", the audience is led to believe interviewees are hearing the most insane job requirements. At the end of this advertisement for American Greetings, the interviewer reveals the job's real title: Mom.

Overall, creating a video that will go viral is difficult. However, if done right, any video has the potential to be the next internet sensation.

The Super Bowl Isn't Just About Football

With the month of November almost half way over already, companies are already buying advertising space for the 2015 Super Bowl. This leads to the impending question: What creative campaigns can we expect to appear in the nation’s most watched program? First, let's look back. 

Brands seemed to adopt the use of the hashtag a lot in 2014, with 57% of Super Bowl commercials using them. Some of my personal favorites spun off in to full ongoing campaigns. Bud Light is always successful in the Super Bowl with #UpForWhatever in 2014 and #HereWeGo in 2013. Coca-Cola made a splash with their commercial, which prompted conversations online using #AmericaIsBeautiful. Esurance debuted a massive cash giveaway using only #EsuranceSave30, which I admit I even took part in. Why not? I could’ve used $1.5 million!

However, my favorite use of social media during last year’s Super Bowl was done by T-Mobile. The brand paired up with the contract-less Tim Tebow to promote #NoContract, paralleling their phone plans that do not require signing lengthy contracts. In my opinion, T-Mobile is being crushed by their competitors, so seeing some creativity from the brand come during the Super Bowl was a pleasant surprise.

Furthermore, in 2015 I imagine brands, seeing the success of 2014, will add more social media into their advertisements. The use of hashtags, websites, and short videos leading up to the big game will increase, as well as the debut of big campaigns during the actual game will rise. The more brands can engage their audience before, during, and after the event, the more successful the campaigns will be.

Overall, I’m excited to see what big plans companies have for their advertising, because after all, we know the Super Bowl isn’t just about football anymore.

My Favorite Social Media Campaign

It's no wonder Coca Cola is one of the biggest brand names. It constantly finds new ways to sell the same old products. The way it does it? Social media.

When it debuted its "Share a Coke" campaign this year, the message was to share a Coke with the people you love. It brought back the idea of Coke being a classic family drink that can be shared with younger generations. The campaign originated in Australia in 2011 and was just introduced in America this summer. Quickly, it seemed like everyone, young and old, was digging through stores to find "their" Coke, and they were talking about it. Soon, #ShareACoke was trending on Twitter, and it seemed like everyone was posting selfies with their personal bottles on Instagram. To take it one step further, Cokes were beginning to make appearances in baby and wedding announcements!

I have to admit, although I am not normally a Coke drinker, I too was scanning the Cokes at the checkout counter any time I went to the store hoping to find my name. If I had, I probably would have bought "my" Coke. In the end, isn't that the whole point? Kuddos to you, Coca Cola!

Long term, I'm not sure if "Share A Coke" will stick around. I know Coke will be riding the wave of success for a little while longer, but once excitement dies down, I see the campaign ending. However, that's not to say Coke can't relaunch the campaign again down the road hoping to mimic its earlier success.

Decoding a Killer through Social Media

The death of a young child is one of the most heart-wrenching for people to cope with. This becomes even more difficult when the death is because of violence, especially by his or her own peers.

School shootings are happening more and more often in America. This type of violence is heartbreaking and incredibly difficult for people to understand. The most logical way to begin to understand is by asking, "Why?" However, the reasons anyone decides to kill, especially children, will never be fully understood.

When school shootings are carried out by children themselves, the media often turns immediately to social media. The generation of children in middle school and high school today post everything on social media, including every thought, feeling, and action. This helps tap into that lingering question of "why?".

For the recent school shooting in Seattle, Washington, shooter Jaylen Fryberg's social media accounts were blasted all over the news. By utilizing social media, the media was able to see that Fryberg was depressed and had a distorted outlook on his recent breakup. This helped answer the "why" in choosing his targets.

While social media can be a useful tool in looking into the mindset of a killer, it prompts a terrifying realization. Since the shooting, Fryberg's final Tweets have been retweeted thousands of times, spreading his messages of anger and hate.

By giving these hateful people attention, almost glorifying them, it shows other people with similar thoughts and feelings that killing is the answer to their problems. The only solution I see in this problem is by focusing the media's attention in memorializing those lost instead of trying to decode the motives of a killer.

Apple Pay: A Wallet in Your Hand

Apple just released their newest innovation. With Apple Pay, iPhone users can link their credit cards to their phone and pay quickly and easily.

The most enticing aspect of this idea is the security. If a user's phone is lost or stolen, the "Find My iPhone" feature can help them locate it. Even better than that, the phone can be locked down or swiped clean from anywhere, so thieves won't obtain the user's information.

Like any new idea, the reactions have varied.

My opinion is that Apple Pay is a great idea. Will it take awhile to really take off? Yes. Will it eventually take off? Yes. Society is always looking for new ways to make things easier, faster, and more convenient. Apple Pay is the solution.

Yik Yak: A Bully's Platform

When it comes to the internet, everyone knows nothing is ever deleted. This makes it very easy for anyone's most embarrassing moments, pictures, and mistakes to be forever archived for the world to see. At the time, that drunken picture or angry Tweet may have seemed like a good idea, but as time goes on, the regret usually sets in. But what if your social media image isn't in your own hands but someone else's?

The University of South Dakota has already faced something similar to this. With the Facebook site "USD Confessions", people submit their anonymous posts, which are later posted on the page for anyone to view. However, the administrator for the site is able to reject posts that are too over-the-top or shorten the names of mean or crude ones to somewhat protect the victim of the post.

The newest craze is an app called "Yik Yak". This app is created so anyone in a certain geographical location can post anything to a public wall. These topics could include someone's best pickup lines or discussions on the weather... Or worse.

The problem that immediately arose was the abuse of the anonymity. What was originally supposed to be a fun and innocent way for college students to communicate has become a public forum for bullies to take out their aggression. Anyone can use this site to completely destroy someone's reputation or credibility. To remind everyone, once something is online, it's there forever. One simple post can seriously damage someone's future. Luckily, I have not been a victim of Yik Yak yet, but it's popularity is still on the rise.

Two more unknown problems have come from the site's creation. First, instead of being used solely by college students, the site has trickled down into high schools and middle schools. As many of us remember, middle school is full of enough bullies. Adding an aspect of anonymity will only add fuel to the fire. Secondly, the safety of campuses all across the nation is being tested through the site. Already in its short life, the site has been used for death threats against students and bomb threats against schools as stated in this website.

What's the solution? Ridding the internet and phones of these anonymous sites is a first step. Someone with strong opinions should not be able to hide behind an app. The world is full of enough bullies. By giving bullies such a convenient platform to unleash their ridicule, we are only inviting more negativity and peer pressure into our society.

Break Through the Clutter

What makes good advertising? According to Forbes, the best advertising is what captures the reader's attention. Most of the time, this means using humor, having a memorable character, or writing a catchy tagline.

Advertisers today are beginning to use technology to enhance their consumers' experiences. An example of this is Showtime's use of an app that vibrates during the most intense moments of their shows. So, is this a move in the right direction?

I think utilizing technology to advertise is an amazing use of resources. This brings us back to the original purpose of advertising: to capture the reader's attention. By using technology instead of the typical print or television advertisement, companies would definitely "break through the clutter" and leave a lasting impression on their audience.

Is Dressing for Success a Dying Art?

In the past, workwear always meant dressing for success. Today, less and less professionals feel the need to dress up for their day-to-day jobs, which is discussed in this article.

However, I am a firm believer in all the cheesy cliches. I am one of those people who says if you dress well, you feel well, so you do well. Why shouldn't the same apply to your career?

Of course there are always exceptions to this rule. There are three major types of careers in my opinion, similarly to the article linked above, where the way you dress should differ:

1. Secluded desk jobs: For them, most of their day involves working with the same people, without much contact to others outside the office. Therefore, what they wear to work should be comfortable, and is not necessarily as much about appearance.

2. Office workers: By working with others, these people should dress up for work, looking like they put some thought and care into their appearance. After all, if you care about your appearance, others will take you more seriously.

3. Public faces: Dressing for success is most important in this group of people. People who are directly related to the public should always look as professional as possible. The main reason for this is because they are not only representing themselves but also representing their company as a whole.

Like this article from Forbes explains, the way you dress is just another way to communicate with your audience, and since we are in Public Relations, these littlest forms of communication our the foundation of our career field.

Is Social Media Worth the Cost?

While social media became a hit with brands because of free publicity, advertisers are beginning to notice that nothing comes for free. To get their message out to large audiences, brands are having to put more money into social media advertising, as stated in an article.

Therefore, is social media worth the high costs?

My answer is yes. Currently, only 10% of advertising from companies goes into social media platforms. This percentage is staggering to me, considering the popularity of social media is increasing more and more every day.

Take the history of television, for example. When the television set was first introduced, people were unsure how to use it. Overtime, companies began to add commercials into regular programming to promote their brand. Today, a single 30-second SuperBowl advertisement can cost companies millions of dollars.

The same is true for social media. As time goes on, we as a society will learn how to use it in better, faster, and more efficient ways. As this trend continues, companies need to be able to dish out high costs to keep up with the times.

However, this trend also has it's exceptions. Companies need to look at their target market and the relationship that market has with social media. For companies like Apple or H&M, their products are very popular among young adults. Young adults, in return, tend to be very involved with social media. These brands need to be ready to shift their marketing toward social media. In contrast, brands like AARP do not need to invest in social media marketing for many more years, until their audience moves toward social media as well.

CEOs and Their Role in Social Media

We all know companies, whether large or small, should utilize social media... But what about those companies' CEOs?

CEOs hold a lot of power when it comes to the future of an organization. Besides running the logistics of their company, they also are the public face behind said company. When you think of Facebook, you think of Mark Zuckerberg. When you think of Apple, you still think of Steve Jobs. So why do we identify with these people so much?

The answer is this: When consumers think about companies, they (or at least I do) think about a giant machine that runs itself. There's no connection, no emotion, and no care or concern. These CEOs give the company a name, and face, and a personality. A living human being gives the consumers someone to connect themselves to the faceless company name.

When it comes to social media, CEOs should take advantage of this connection. According to a study from Ragan.com, 68% of Fortune 500 CEOs have no social media presence. In my opinion, this statistic is appalling. With so much potential to create interpersonal communication through social media, CEOs have a lot of ability to positively promote their company. If what I've learned in my classes is true, people put the most trust in the highest source, and consumers are more likely to develop brand loyalty if they feel personally connected to the company.

Take a look at the top CEOs on Twitter. What do these people have in common? They engage their followers, tweet both professionally and personally, and are active in their use. By using social media themselves, CEOs seem more creative, innovative, and modern, which in turn reflects back positively on the company as a whole.

If I was advising a CEO, I would suggest using social media daily, while showing caution. You want to show your own personality without damaging the image of the company. I would advise using Twitter daily to promote new products and events, while using Instagram to give behind-the-scenes views of the company. Used in the right way, social media can make a company's image while creating lasting relationships with customers.

Pros and Cons of Social Media

Social media is an amazing tool. It gives the average person the ability to reach a large amount of people in a small amount of time. However, with so much ease comes lot of possible negative outcomes. 

First, the pros. Social media is easy to use, and therefore anyone can use it. Social media is also free, not including any advertising a company buys. Social media gives companies the ability to build brand loyalty with their customers. Customers feel they are building relationships through interpersonal communication, and therefore feel their opinion is heard and matters. 

Next, the cons. Like I mentioned, anyone can use social media. With that, it can be very easy to Tweet something accidentally. Companies need to create their own voice and decide their relationships with their customers. Whether a company decides to be witty with their responses or factual, they have to be careful as to not offend anyone, which could create a serious public relations crisis. On the individual level, social media accounts represent the person as a whole, meaning people need to be careful in how they present themselves online.

While social media is a great tool for individuals and companies to promote themselves, there are the negative possibilities that come with it. Once people know how to properly use these tools, people can better build their brand awareness.

5 Tips to Becoming a Better PR Student

As this semester comes to an end, I'd like to share the things I've learned while in the Contemporary Media and Journalism department as USD and give a few tips on how to be successful:

1. Start your online portfolio early!- I know this one only applies to USD students, but I REALLY wish I knew about the graduation portfolios when I took my first few CMJ classes. If I knew I would need my material from MCOM 151, I would have been a little more organized throughout college! Haha! Also, the online portfolios are so important in your internship and job search. It helps set you apart and really gives that extra edge over the competition.

2. Develop your own voice.- Yes, writing press releases can feel tedious at times. However, even though the material might seem dull, it's important to put your own creative spin on things. Develop a voice. Who are you as a writer? What messages do you want to portray? What do you want your audience to feel while reading your material? Anyone can write a press release. Only you can make it amazing.

3. Network.- Like any career path, networking is key. Take advantage of any opportunity to meet professionals in your field. You never know when you might need a favor. Plus, networking helps you stay up-to-date with what is going on in your field.

4. Accept failure.- Harsh? Yes. True? Yes. You WILL experience failure. But your losses are what make you appreciate the wins. If everything was handed to you, would you feel compelled to work hard? Probably not. You might not get an internship you wanted. You might not do as well on an assignment as you thought you would. But, when you do get a great internship or rock an assignment, that feeling of pride and joy propels you forward.

5. Don't worry about others.- As Teddi mentioned, you can't compare yourself to other people. This is one I've struggled with a lot in my time in the CMJ department. I constantly would compare myself to the other people in my major. Everyone seemed to have more experience, a better portfolio, or a better internship. However, comparing yourself to other people WILL drive you crazy. Finally, I realized my dreams in Public Relations are so different from theirs. How is it even logical to try and compare myself to them? Worry about yourself and do what you love. Success will follow.

Visualizing My Future

To follow up from the last post, I created a video to better show all of you my dream PR job!

I apologize for the blurry video/ photos. I was working with limited materials! :)

Live It. Love It. Bus2alps.

What's your dream PR job? When I think of my future career, I think of not only what I want to do but where I want to be.

Europe. First off, I hope I haven't totally bored you all with my endless stories of Italy. The way I think of it, the more an experience changes your life, the more you talk about it.

Before last year, PR was my major. I had no real plans, no real direction. Now, PR is my passion. I have a plan to do big things and a direction... Leading me across the pond once again.

Bus2alps is a travel company that works with American students studying abroad. Based out of Interlaken, Switzerland, it has departure cities all over Europe.

Check out the company's website!

Bus2alps made my study abroad experience so wonderful with its sense of family and fun and exciting guides. Being a Bus2alps employee, I would love the opportunity to connect with students all over the world, create events in each of the departure cities to promote the brand, and continue the sense of community that made me feel so welcome on my trips. Plus, the destinations they travel to aren't half bad either!

As the PR representative for the company, I would help run the social media sites, create videos to promote the trips, and host events around the area. I think it would be really fun and a great promotional idea to create a video contest. Students who create the best study abroad video would win a free trip. Also, hosting events like bar hops and walking tours in the host cities would help raise awareness and give guides the opportunity to make connections with traveling students.

Check out some of the promotional videos for current Bus2alps trips!

It looks like fun, huh? :)

Accomplishments are More Than Awards

What is your greatest accomplishment? Is it an award you received? A milestone you reached? Or is it the little things you do every day?

For me, my greatest accomplishment to date came in high school. I know what you may be thinking... How can something from three years ago be so impacting on your life? Well, let me explain.

In high school, I was nerdy. I was weird. I was the kid people ignored but were nice to when they had to be. I tried blending into the crowd and was content with my small group of friends. My idea of fun was baking at friends' houses and attending show choir competitions on the weekend. Now, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, because there's not. However, I wanted more. This outgoing, loud girl inside me wanted to leave an impression on my school.

Senior year came, and I was ready for change. I broke up with my long-time boyfriend and considered transferring schools. For me though, I knew I needed to face this monster that was called "high school" and make it the final year I always wanted.

I remember walking into the first day of senior year, my head was held high, walking with confidence, ready for whatever life could throw at me.

At the end of September, auditions for the fall musical "All Shook Up" were announced. I thought, "Why not?" I've never done anything with theater before and being in the ensemble would be a great time! Although I had a lot of anxiety singing in front of a large group during auditions, I knew I needed to do it. To make matters worse, my 14-year-old dog was being put to sleep the same night.

Being the emotional wreck I was, I walked on stage in front of everyone else auditioning, and sang my heart out. By the end of the song, I was in tears. My emotions had overtaken me. When I was finished, the room was silent. Suddenly, everyone burst into applause.

The next day, the cast list was posted. I got one of the lead roles.

I was terrified. Not only was I going to have to sing multiple solos in front of large audiences, but it put me at the forefront. It made me stand out.

The next two months were a whirlwind. I was at practice all the time. Some of my biggest challenges included running across stage in 6-inch heels, standing on a 6-foot high moving platform (in those same heels), and kissing my best friend's boyfriend. (Awkward!)

But, I transformed on stage. I didn't think about who was in the crowd, what they were doing, or how I sounded. I became Miss Sandra, a sassy young woman who doesn't need to impress anyone. She is nothing but herself.

And during that final pose during the final show, I was so overwhelmed with pride. I had faced so many fears and squished them. After that, I owned high school. I took on every challenge I could face and became a more confident woman. I was finally the person I wanted to be.

And THAT is my greatest accomplishment.

PS- I also won the senior superlative "Most Changed", which I thought was one last little accomplishment in my high school career!

The Wonders of YouTube

YouTube is one of those horribly amazing websites. You start out completely innocent looking up a video on how to French braid hair, and before you know it, you're watching videos entitled "Dog gets tongue stuck to pole" and "Ten ten best bone breaks EVER"... Two hours later.

I personally love YouTube. What's not to love? It gives average people the possibilities to share their talents, knowledge, and experiences with the world. The things that matter to them could become the next internet sensation.

Three videos stand out to me right now that I found on YouTube. By looking at them, it's easy to see why I like them:

1. KIDS- Kids can be so cute. Or so evil... Or both. As the aunt to a very rambunctious 4 year old boy, I've learned how true that really is. In this video, I absolutely love how the little boy calls his mother by her first name. This is something that my nephew likes to do to his mother, just because he knows it gets her blood boiling. I, however, just have to laugh.

2. DISNEY- Who doesn't love Disney?! If you're one of those crazy people, you can stop reading right about now. I LOVE Disney! The songs, the imagery, the life lessons, and of course, the love stories. As cheesy as they are, they are beloved.

The newest Disney phenomenon is "Frozen". It's exciting, heartwarming, and fun. However, sometimes I get caught up in the awe of the story and forget how truly unrealistic it is. A few people on YouTube decided to use their creativity to remind us all of that.

3. SPORTS- What's that big thing happening right now with a lot of really tall guys and a orange bouncy-thing? THE NCAA TOURNAMENT!!! Even if you're not a basketball fan, you have to admit the excitement of March Madness is kind of awesome.

My team made it this year! As a 3 seed led by Ethan Wragge and Doug "McBuckets", I had a lot of hope that the Creighton BlueJays could go to the Final Four. That hope was shattered when they played Baylor. Yes, it was a tough game to watch. (And that's all I'm going to say about it.)

But, the video that popped up on YouTube was the very inspirational post-game locker room speech by head couch, Greg McDermott. Not only did the players need to hear it, but I think a lot of fans did too. (I may or may not have cried a little, but I'll never tell.)

Oh, YouTube. You suck me in to your sick game every time...

Traditions

Traditions help define families. Those special moments between people make the greatest memories. My family doesn't have very many traditions that we practice regularly, but the ones we do have will continue when I have a family of my own.

Even though we were soaking wet, we're still smiling! :)

Dinner Time: When my parents started having kids, they realized how crazy life could get. Everyone is going in different directions, doing different things. So, they decided dinner time was family time. It was our chance to all sit down together without television or phones and actually talk to each other about our day. Without this tradition, I know I would not be as close with my family, because we are rarely all together outside of this time. While we normally eat dinner at home every night, Fridays became our day to eat out. Because of this, Fridays became extra special family time.

Christmas Cookies: Everyone has holiday traditions. I'm sure my family's traditions are similar to most families, but they hold a little place in my heart. My favorite tradition growing up was making Christmas cookies. The women on my mom's side of the family (grandma, aunt, cousin, mom, sister, and me) would get together and make cookies. But this wasn't a two-hour deal. This lasted ALL DAY LONG. And that's why it was so fun. We'd make 6 or 7 different types of cookies from scratch and deliver them to friends and neighbors. My favorite cookies were my great-grandma's sugar cookies. For some reason, they tasted like heaven, but maybe that's because I can vaguely remember my great-grandma making them when I was very young. I loved this tradition. However, about five years ago, this tradition became too difficult for my grandma, so it ended. Even though we don't do cookie day anymore, I know it will be something I do with my own kids.

Beginner's Luck: Since I am newly 21 years old, while I was home, my dad took me to the casino to teach me the "evil of gambling". We played blackjack for almost 3 hours and BOTH came out ahead! We had the best time laughing and making new friends, and and it meant a lot to share that day with my dad since we rarely get time to just be together. Even though neither of us are big gamblers, I wouldn't mind if a casino trip became a birthday tradition!

Words I Live By

What words motivate me to do better, be better, and achieve greatness? Well, I've never actually had a quote that has specifically inspired me. There are a lot of great quotes out there but none that have moved me...

Until about 3 months ago. While in Rome, the realization hit me that my study abroad experience was quickly coming to an end. This amazing, incredible experience that I had been planning for a year was over in a blink of an eye. I became sad, really sad.

Then one day, my roommate Jo found this really intriguing book. When she opened it up, she read the first line to me. It was a quote by Mark Twain, and as she read it, I felt incredibly moved. It said, "Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mr. Samuel Clemens himself.

Mark Twain was right.

You really do only live once. Why not make the most of it? That's how I am choosing to live the rest of my life.

The world is mine!
(At the top of Mt. Vesuvius)

I generally consider myself a pretty selfless person, or at least I try to be. However, I think there are certain times in life where you have to be selfish. For me, traveling and experiencing the world is one way I will always be selfish. Traveling makes me truly happy, and I refuse to let my life become boring. I love adventure, excitement, new opportunities, and the chance to grow.

My Day in Photos

My Sunday was extra interesting this weekend. First, both Saturday and Sunday, we had Admitted Students Days for incoming freshmen. As the president of Student Ambassadors, I was required to be there both days, so this was my view for 4 hours...

Admissions counselors and Student Ambassadors... Look how excited they all look!

With the snow outside, most families left early without getting a campus tour, so our day was pretty uneventful. However, the one thing that really helped us all get through the boredom was...

ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF COOKIES! 

For lunch, I killed some time by wandering around the MUC. I got lunch at my favorite new food venue on campus, Einstein's Bros Bagels...

I got my usual but added a mixed berry smoothie to the lineup. 

Unfortunately, they forgot to make my smoothie. After ten or so very patient minutes, I finally said something, and they upgraded me to a large. Score! My stomach was very satisfied.

Then, after lunch, I finished out my day and got a phone call from a friend. He said he was on his way to Vermillion at that very minute just to see me! I was very surprised. We stopped in during my sorority's dinner to hear some announcements before we headed out to our own dinner...

Jenny and Rachel listening to our visitors. (PS- They hate this picture!)

Finally, my friend and I went out to Mexico Viejo for dinner. (He refused to have his picture taken, so that explains the lack of visuals.) We spent the rest of the night watching The Bachelor, doing homework, and hanging out with my friends.

It was a very exciting day, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!