My Sister

My sister is many things.
First and foremost, she’s not even biologically my sister. But, when I was 16 years old, she walked into my life and I was forever changed. I remember the day, it was fall because I was home from volleyball practice and had gone to the barn in my flip flops. Mom came through giving her a tour and fussed at me for wearing flip flops in the barn saying that if Tucker stepped on my foot and broke bones, my volleyball career would be over. My response? “Whatever Mom, it’s Tucker.” She stayed, moving into the house I currently occupy. She lived here for 3 years, and I have lived here for 3 years since she left, moving to PA to go to Penn State. In just over a week she will be moving back home. I could not be more thrilled.

My sister is many things.
She is a huge part of the person I am today. An influence of what I believe in, the music I listen too, my outtake on life. She taught me the art of appreciating a good tattoo. She taught me the art of telling someone to fuck off without ever really telling them. She introduced me to my all-time favorite book that changed my life. She is a large part of the reason I decided to not only be straightedge, but a vegetarian too. She helped my parents come around to the idea of tattoos and piercings so when I got them, they didn’t freak out as badly, knowing I would make sure my artist was the best. I could go on and on about all the ways she has been an amazing influence on my life.

My sister is many things.
Lover. Fighter. Strong. Compassionate. Quiet. Spontaneous. Adenturous. Well-read. Well-spoken. Vegetarian. Straightedge. Outspoken. Courageous. Fearless. Taylor Swift lover. Metal listener. Wise beyond her years. Beautiful.

My sister is many things.
But, most of all, she’s one of my best friends and I love her very much.

100 Songs To Save Your Life

“All Been Said Before” - Matt Nathanson
“With A Little Help From My Friends” - The Beatles
“World Spins Madly On” - The Weepies
“Loose Threads” - Jonas Sees In Color
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” - Simon and Garfunkel
“How Lucky We Are” - Meiko
“Notion” - Kings of Leon
“Paranoia In B Major” - The Avett Brothers
“Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band” - The Beatles
“Salina” -The Avett Brothers
“Water On The Rise” - Jonas Sees In Color
“Raining On Sunday” - Keith Urban
“In The Curve” - The Avett Brothers
“Kick Drum Heart” - The Avett Brothers
“Laundry Room” - The Avett Brothers
“No One’s Gonna Love You” - Band of Horses
“All Your Life” - The Band Perry
“Vinyl Memories” -SHEL
“Come Together” - The Beatles
“If I Die Young” - The Band Perry
“For The Fences” -Jonas Sees In Color
“Let Your Love Flow” - The Bellamy Brothers
“100 Miles” - Blake Shelton
“Footloose” -Kenny Loggins
“Whiskey Lullaby” - Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss
“The Store” - Brenn Hill
“Charmer” -Kings of Leon
“Fans” - Kings of Leon
“Someday” - Bryan Greenberg
“Where You Lead I Will Follow” - Carole King
“London Calling” - The Clash
“Roped and Tied” - Codeseven
“Stand Tall” - Jonas Sees In Color
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow” - Jewel
“Pictures of You” - The Cure
“Grey Room” - Damien Rice
“I Believe In A Thing Called Love” - The Darkness
“Lie In Our Graves” - Dave Matthews Band
“Monument” - A Day To Remember
“My Last Name” - Dierks Bentley
“Free and Easy (Down The Road I Go)” - Dierks Bentley
“Up On The Ridge” - Dierks Bentley
“Wide Open Spaces” - The Dixie Chicks
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” - Elvis Presley
“Longer Gone” - Eric Church
“Your Hand In Mine” - Explosions In The Sky
“Lift Me Up” - Kate Voegele
“Extraordinary Machine” - Fiona Apple
“Home” -Foo Fighters
“Outside These Walls” -Jonas Sees In Color
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” - Frank Sinatra
“I Cross My Heart” - George Strait
“Somewhere Down In Texas” - George Strait
“In The Mood” - Glenn Miller
“Johnny and June” - Heidi Newfield
“Far More” - The Honorary Title
“There, There Katie” - Jack’s Mannequin
“Dark Blue” - Jack’s Mannequin
“Into The Airwaves” - Jack’s Mannequin
“Carolina In My Mind” - James Taylor
“Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” - Jeff Buckley
“Goodbye Alice In Wonderland” -Jewel
“Hear You Me” - Jimmy Eat World
“Stupid Boy” - Keith Urban
“Closer” -Kings of Leon
“Sex On Fire” -Kings of Leon
“Revelry” - Kings of Leon
“I And Love And You” - The Avett Brothers
“Can’t You See” - The Marshall Tucker Band
“Answering Machine” - Matt Nathanson
“Still” - Matt Nathanson
“Wedding Dress”- Matt Nathanson
“The House That Built Me” - Miranda Lambert
“More Time” -Needtobreathe
“When You Come Back Down” - Nickel Creek
“When In Rome” - Nickel Creek
“The Lighthouse’s Tale” - Nickel Creek
“Dear Mr. President” - Pink
“Bohemian Rhapsody” -Queen
“Where My Line Is” -Rachel Williams
“Blitzkrieg Bop” -The Ramones
“Here Comes A Regular” - The Replacements
“Happy Trails” - Roy Rogers
“The Sound of Silence” - Simon and Garfunkel
“Cavanaugh Park” - Something Corporate
“Keep On Lovin’ You” - Steel Magnolia
“Love” -Sugarland
“Baby Girl” - Sugarland
“16th Avenue” - Sunny Sweeney
“Breathe” -Taylor Swift
“You Don’t Know How It Feels” -Tom Petty
“I’ll Love You Anyway” - Trent Wilmon
“Here” -Trent Wilmon
“Buddy Holly” - Weezer
“The End” - The Doors
“Leave The Pieces” - The Wreckers
“Missing You” -Tyler Hilton
“What’s Up” - 4 Non Blondes
“Look At You Girl” - Chris LeDoux
“Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)” - Garth Brooks

GTCC

GTCC,
You've made a smart girl who loves this business and loves music more than life, want to give up. You've made me want to quit. When I feel like I am constantly beating my head against a brick wall to graduate from a 2 year program, something is wrong. I have done 2 internships with an amazing label in Nashville. I have gone above and beyond any other student in that aspect. I was asked BACK to that label not once, but TWICE.
I have gone above and beyond for my department. I have put together Open Mic nights, brought in bands, tried to create a unity and a community among my department. I have exhausted myself trying to give back to a program who initially gave me so much.
I try and get my hand's on any kind of experience and exposure I can; shows, benefit concerts, organizing, planning, promoting, fundraising. I want this, I want this more than anyone. And, you have once again slammed me to the ground. You've made a girl who LOVES to learn hate 90% of her school. Are you proud?
Tonight, I was the recipient of one of the NASTIEST, most derogatory emails I have ever received in my life. It came from one of my teachers, a man who has never met me but refuses to cooperate with me post-op and in a nutshell, bullied me, spoke down to me in a derogatory fashion, and called me a liar. Not only will I be withdrawing from his class but, I am reporting him to the school board and meeting with the President of GTCC on the matter.
I give and I give and I give and I make Dean's List every semester, and this is how I'm treated. I've been in an emotionally abusive relationship before and NO ONE will EVER be allowed to speak to me in that manner again, much less one of my teachers. A TEACHER, a person who is there to encourage me and to help me learn and become the very best version of myself so I can tackle the world head on. A TEACHER, just spoke to me like I was trash. That is completely inexcusable in my book, and it will be dealt with.
What's even worse about all of this? I don't feel like any of my other teachers or the head of my department would go to the mat for me on this one. In fact, I'm sure they wouldn't. I'm going to have to do it alone, which I'm perfectly used too. It takes one person to stand up and make a voice heard and guess what, that person is going to be me. I have exhausted myself for a program that won't fight for me, talk about feeling like you've been taken advantage of.
Change is going to happen. UNCG or somewhere else, something is going to give. I do not plan on walking at my graduation for GTCC, nor would I recommend it to anyone else. I'm ready to find a teacher and a school that lights a fire inside of me again. I have the friends and the support system, now I just need to finish my education.

Shapes

"The rest of your life is a long time and whether you know it or not it's being shaped right now. You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate or bad luck or bad choices or you can fight back. Things aren't always going to be fair in the real world, that's just the way it is but for the most part you get what you give. Let me ask you all a question. What's worse: not getting everything you wished for or getting it but finding out it's not enough? The rest of your life is being shaped right now with the dreams you chase, the choices you make and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time and the rest of your life starts right now."