This month I resigned from my job in the Registrar’s Office to pursue my travels, academic studies and to finish my book. It was rather bittersweet because I love my entire staff and truly helping the students. My travels took me again to yet another university, Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, for the 2008 Social Change Workshop. For an entire week 120 graduate and Phd bound students studied the economic and global markets of some of the world’s most developing countries. I made tons of new friends and found it so hard to leave! After returning from Brown, I immerged myself into completing my book.

This month kicked off with my photo shot with SHAPE Magazine for the August Edition. It was a blast! Tamara Reynolds is a great photographer! Vacation time! This month I spent Memorial Day weekend in Sacremento, California for some much needed R&R time and needed QT time with my friends, Tiffany, Mehwish and Brian. We traveled to the Golden Gate Bridge, shopped and slept in!

It’s my first none travel month and I’m really excited! However, my focus went strictly to studying for Praxis Exams, finals, and sleep! I also found out that my fitness and weight lost story will be featured in the SHAPE Magazine August Edition. I am very excited! We only have three weeks to plan a photo shoot though! Only three more months until Ireland!

This month I had the privilege of attending a Social Change Conference in beautiful California at the University of California at Berkeley and spent time as a judge at the Tennessee HOSA State Leadership Conference in Chattanooga. It has been about five years since I last attended a state leadership conference so I was pretty excited to attend with my friend Shelonda and rekindle some fond memories. I was also awarded the Congressional Bronze Medal of Service for Youth. I’m really appreciative!

Before I journeyed off to New York I competed in the Miss Memphis Pageant and scored two scholarships! Yay! After which I celebrated my 24th birthday with my family and friends in Memphis, TN. At the end of the month, I ventured to New York City, which was full of snow! New York City was a blast! I had an awesome time at the Students for Liberty Conference. At the end of the conference, Students for Liberty was founded as an organization. I had a great time as a lecturer and even spent time with my friend, Heather! By the end of the month I received an invite to the 2008 World Youth Congress in Quebec City, Canada! I’m so excited. I also received news that I was a top ten finalist for the Harris Wofford Award for Outstanding Youth Service. I owe my 4-H agent Sharon Tubbs and professor, Dr. Goldstone so much for their support and nomination.

Most of this month was spent competing in Miss TN (MAO) preliminaries, studying and preparing for my lecture at Columbia University for the first Students for Liberty Conference. However, I am extremely excited about traveling to New York City to present! I just hope all goes well!