This semester I have grown and experienced so much.

As a transfer student I did not know what to expect coming to Southern Miss.

I was not sure if I would make friends easily or if I would be home sick all the time. I was not sure if I would love the major I had chosen or if I would change my mind a thousand more times.

Even though my expectations were unknown, I came to USM this fall and I have enjoyed every second here.

It has flown by so quickly and I cannot believe the semester is coming to a close.

The friends and memories I have made have been more than I ever anticipating and more than I ever deserved.

As far as my major goes, I could not feel more at home. I love every concept and aspect of what I am studying. I enjoy going to class and learning about this stuff. I feel like when you experience this, there are only great things to come in the future. When you love your job (school) you never work a day in your life. And I love what I am studying to do.

I have discovered parts of myself that I did not know existed. I formed new beliefs and opinions based on my expansion of knowledge.

I have truly enjoyed my first semester here and I am looking forward to the rest of my time at the University of Southern Mississippi.

During the holiday season people tend to spend more money than usual on items they wouldn’t purchase on any given day.

It is not uncommon to see name brand items plastered across Christmas wish lists all across the nation.

The question I often find myself asking is: what exactly are we as consumers paying for when we buy that name brand product with that tiny little emblem stitched onto the chest setting it apart from similar (much cheaper) items?

Granted, some name brand products make their products more durable and of better quality than the competition, however a lot of times consumers can find the same product without that tiny emblem stitched across it for a much cheaper price.

I would like to reiterate that during the holidays we find ourselves spending more than usual and more often than not do not mind spending that extra cash for specific name brand products.

Is it really worth it?

Is it truly worth it or is this just another way for corporate companies to take advantage of us little people for the simple fact that we will pay the price (even if it is not worth it).

These big-name companies take advantage of people and have manipulated budgets and what people see as reasonably priced items over time.

These company’s products are manufactured in China for very cheap and then shipped overseas and they double or even triple the price. These brands are making back double what they put into these products.

Although I feel taken advantage of when it comes to these products, I, like everyone else will continue to purchase these name brands and will continue to be taken advantage of because it is the way it works. It is sad but money makes the world go around.

Every single area of life revolves around some sort of connection to money.

Former Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen has taken the position as head coach for the University of Florida.

After the most successful tenure that Mississippi State football has ever seen, Mullen will not be returning for a 10th season.

Students, fans, alumni and athletes alike were in complete disbelief when the news broke Sunday just hours after the bulldogs lost to Ole Miss in the rivalry Egg Bowl game.

Mullen built a competitive program. His first big win at MSU was the 2009 Egg Bowl. Then in 2010, when MSU beat Florida and then Michigan in the Gator Bowl. And then in 2014 MSU jumped to No. 1 in the country for the first time and were able to hold that place for five weeks. Mullen was 69-46 as the Bulldogs’ head coach. He guided MSU to unprecedented heights.

It is no secret that Mullen’s strong suit is offense. He has molded some of the best in college football over the years such as Alex Smith, Chris Leak, Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald.

It is no wonder that the Florida Gators, who have not had the best year offensively, found it necessary to hire Mullen.

Mullen was Florida’s offensive coordinator from 2005-2008 before taking the head coach position at Mississippi State and after nine years he will be returning to the swamp.

“I don’t like to speculate on that stuff,” Mullen said earlier this month. “I’ve been here long enough, everybody knows that as the year goes on it gets into that silly season of who’s going where and what’s going to happen. … And I’m very happy with what we’re building here. We’re building a great future at Mississippi State.”

I guess he found that he needed to build a great future else where.

Through the heartbreak and shock , Mississippi State is left wondering, along with all of college football, who will fill the big shoes Dan (no longer) the man Mullen is leaving as head coach in the seasons to come.

His daughter is feeling how every Mississippi State fan is feeling…. and that is not a new found love for the Florida Gators.

A parade of A-List celebrities are rallying behind convicted murderer Cyntoia Brown after 13 years in prison for a crime she committed in her adolescence.

Cyntoia Brown has been serving a life sentence since 2004 after killing a Nashville man who paid her for sex at the age of 16-years old.

According to Brown, after a childhood stained by abuse and drugs, she was raped and forced into prostitution by a pimp, and killed one of her clients out of self defense at 16-years old.

Despite her youth, Brown was tried as an adult and given a life sentence. The earliest she is eligible for parole is 69-years old.

The reason behind the sudden celebrity interest is still unknown, however the case struck interest in some pretty big names.

Kim Kardashian West tweeted, “The system has failed. It’s heart breaking to see a young girl sex trafficked then when she has the courage to fight back is jailed for life! We have to do better & do what’s right. I’ve called my attorneys yesterday to see what can be done to fix this. #FreeCyntoiaBrown ”

A text post describing Brown’s history and trial also appeared to pick up serious steam amongst followers when it was shared by singer Rihanna on Instagram.

These celebrities along with a few others have spoken out about the situation and ways that they can spread awareness and help Brown receive justice.

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

Each year, around this time, I like to take inventory of all the things in my life I am thankful for.

Each year the list is usually pretty similar.. family, friends, food, shelter, ect.

This year, my life encountered what I like to call “the curve”.

A curve is defined as a line or outline that gradually deviates from being straight for some or all of its length.

The curve my life recently experienced was and is a positive turn of events that gradually deviated from what I thought I wanted.

Things this time last year could not have been more different. If you told me I would be where I am right now, enjoying life the way that I am, I would not have believed you. I am hard headed, and I had convinced myself that the life I was living was my best life (crazy what love will do to the adolescent brain.. LOL).

For as long as I can remember I have been an extraordinary dreamer. I have always chased these incredibly extreme dreams. However, about three years ago my outlook on these dreams changed. My dreams changed from me and my to we and ours. I chased a different dream, a dream that derailed my life and the plans I had made for myself.

I experienced “the curve” at the end of July. I never thought I would be able to walk away from the life I had created for the one that I deserve.

As I began to take inventory on all the things I am thankful for this year, I realized that this curve and all of the amazing things it brought along with it is what I am most thankful for.

This year I am thankful for the decision that I thought would be the hardest thing I would ever have to lose being the easiest thing I have ever said goodbye to.

This year I am thankful for redemption and second chances at life.

This year I am thankful for an overabundance of happiness and joy.

This year I am thankful for friends who are there any day, any time, any place.

This year I am thankful for the prayers that were as equally unanswered as they were answered in the end.

This year I am thankful for independence, experience, and adventure.

This year I am thankful for the curve.

My friends and family often comment on how extremely happy I look in my photos and whenever they see me in person. The best thing about hearing that statement is that I am truly the happiest I have ever been and this noticeable happiness is not just a “look” on social media. It is true happiness that literally radiates from my bones to the surface of my skin.

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

Processed with VSCO with m3 preset

We can all agree that President Donald Trump @realdonaldtrump  really loves his access to Twitter . The man tweets, on average, 11 times a day (on a good day), however on November 2 there was an unexpected silence from Trump’s normally expressive twitter fingers.

Many of the president’s supporters were enraged saying that the incident showed disregard for the freedom of speech. His opponents, were taking to their news feeds to share their excitement about the mishap.

During that short lived 11 minutes of silence, the president was unable to tweet insults, boasts, odd syntax, or talk about his outrageously “high IQ”.

People were into it.

One of my favorite tweets was from @nycsouthpaw “Those few precious minutes were like when Andy played the opera record over the Shawshank PA system.”

The Twitter Government later issued a statement giving way to the facts that Trump’s account had been deactivated due to “human error” by a Twitter employee on their last day there.

The president also issued his own statement, of course in his own obnoxious, boastful Donald J. Trump way, claiming it to be the works of a “rouge employee” while also adding that his twitter must be making an impact.

Although there was a comical out pour of excitement towards this “rouge employee” and their actions, the president really does use this medium to his advantage. He allows the citizens of the United States direct access to his thoughts.

We all should know. He tweets, literally, his every thought it seems.

However, we as citizens get to hear it straight from the horses mouth rather than through the news or as he would call it “fake news”.. It gives him the power to share what he wants American’s to believe. Now, whether that is good or bad for we the people.. well that is up to you to decide.

We live in a world full of media. It is everywhere we turn. It is in our hands at all times. Our social status depends on media, how many followers we have, how many likes we get, how many people interact with us through the face of a computer.

With this constant access to the entire world at our fingertips,  the way we communicate has been greatly affected.

How often do you go to someone’s house without calling or texting first?

How often do you get dressed without comparing your outfit to your friends via snapchat or group text?

How often to you get on social media and plot out a photo you’re going to take in aims to get that satisfaction of beating out your current highest number of likes?

How often do you log into Facebook only to see everyone has suddenly become a politician, a doctor, a lawyer, maybe even a little more bold than usual?

The point is, our communication skills are greatly impacted by the digital age. We don’t move without letting someone know what we about to do. We don’t dress without making sure we will fit into our crowd. We are all guilty of judging our social status and maybe even our existence based on the amount of likes or gratitude we receive on a post. Everyone feels their opinion will change the world through Facebook.

This is the way we live. Is this a positive way to communicate and thrive in a society? I believe there are both pros and cons. I do not think it is something we should completely change, however I do believe there are ways to improve it.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians celebrated their 10-year anniversary? Say Bible.

On September 24, 2017 the reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired its 10-year anniversary special. Hard to believe for some, I’m sure.

I have been watching KUWTK for the majority of its reign in the reality television world. This reality television show began in 2007 and has stayed on top since. The family has successfully allowed us into their world for 10 years [and counting].

This show has thrived on transparency and all-inclusiveness. I feel as though I know this family. I have traveled with them across the globe, been a part of their weddings, their child births, their break ups, their family issues, and so many other trials (even extremely fabulous humans face the reality of life sometimes).

A lot of people find this family, dominated by powerful women, to be talentless, egotistical, materialistic spoiled brats, however I love them. I find them to be driven, successful business women who aren’t afraid to achieve their goals no matter what people say or think of them. These women have been given a negative name by so many, however how often do you encounter 20 year-old self-made millionaires?

Kylie Jenner, the youngest of the clan, is worth over $450 million. That does not scream no talent to me. Sure, they can’t sing or act but their talents are in other areas.

I look forward to watching their lives unfold over the next 10 years and maybe even longer!

My name is Hannah Mizell. I am from a small town in south Mississippi.

I am currently attending The University of Southern Mississippi in aims of obtaining a BA in public relations and a minor in marketing. I am a member of Kappa Delta sorority.

In the little free time that I have, I enjoy keeping up with the Kardashians, binge watching Grey’s Anatomy, and stocking my Pinterest boards full of the most dreamy future homes and inspirational quotes.

I love to laugh and enjoy life. If you are planning an adventure of some sort you can count me in, but be prepared to stand in front of the camera! If you ask my friends they will quickly tell you how attached I am to my camera. I love being able to capture life’s beautiful moments.

I cannot wait to see what this year holds for me. If you would like to keep up with me outside of my blog, follow me on Twitter @HannahMizell and Instagram @hannahraeann_ . I am so excited to share with you my testimonials as I journey through my last years of college and enter into the “adult” world.

Welcome to my life unfiltered.