PLANET SCD

I'm not sure where to even begin about this last weekend. Chronologically could work - maybe? The important point to bring out of this is that it was probably the best weekend of my life. It's not often that you are in a situation where you get to socialize and work with 800 other students who are all interested in the same things as you. 

Thursday morning we woke up around 4:30 to get to school at 5:30. Being the good teammate that I am, I made 2 batches of brownies for everyone for the trip up. We get there and chill waiting for Jeanne and Bob with the SUV's. Didn't get to sit in the cool car, but I can't really blame them. These guys are mostly seniors. We got to Atlanta, threw our stuff in the hotel rooms, and then headed to the workshops on the North Metro Tech campus. The sales workshop was REALLY boring. They just kind of talked at us and then let us go an hour and a half early. When I got out of that I snuck into the leadership workshop for the rest of the time with Amanda and Brad. That was a lot more interesting. At least there we got free t-shirts (Amanda and I got stuck with 2xl's because we're slow) and some people got hats. Lunch was very reminiscent of Tiger Band on-the-road lunch. Yay Chick-a-fila bags. I contemplated skipping the cost estimating workshop in favor of something more fun, but I was forced to go. Apparently it's our teams version of "paying your dues." 

Thursday night they had a reception for us. Then everyone but me got drunk. Let me just recap some events of the evening:

-Eat

-Inteview with "Snookie" leads to teammate #1 awkward "jersey shore" moment

-"I may be the oldest, but dammit I'm the most precious!" -Puckett

-Round 1 of balloons is stolen

-A trike race, old lady flirting, and round 2 of stolen balloons

-Helium sucking

-Smoke break where male teammates #2 and #3 meet "Snookie"

-Teamate #3 gets a "girlfriend"

... All of this = deleted camera footage...

Friday was an early morning for opening ceremonies, career day, and the cost estimation exam. The career day was eventful. We all accumulated far to much SWAG and then I had an interview with Villa&Sons in FL and PIKE Nurseries in the Atlanta/Charlotte area. They both went really well, my resume was strong, and I feel like I could potentially get a job at either company if I tried hard for it. I also talked to a nice man from Longwood Gardens about their graduate program. I'm potentially interested, but for the moment still leaning towards getting my MLA. Maybe I'm just trying to avoid living in the real world? 

That night was the Maintenance Cost Estimating exams. I took it (failed) but came out fast. Brad took it and did okay. I went to bed not long afterwards. 

Saturday was the full, intense day of competition. I didn't sleep Friday night at all because I had the jitters. I distinctly remember Amanda's alarm going off so she could go in the first car for the 8am events and laughing because I was still awake from the night before. We got to North Metro Tech and I went to the sales prep room. The girl before me didn't show, so even though I was there 45 minutes early to prep I had to jump in and give my presentation almost as soon as I got there. It was frustrating, and I didn't get my check or contract signed but I still did well considering. A 63.9/68 potential points is not too shabby especially since 32 points of the competition is getting your paperwork signed. Oh well, I'll get 'em next year! Then I watched the end of irrigation assembly, tree climbing, and paver installation. Then it was lunch (BBQ this time) and a quick re-organization before everyone scattered again. The interior plant ID event did not go well for me, but I didn't really expect it to. The whole afternoon ended with plant installation. 

After a long day of PLANET-ing we got to go back to the hotel and grab showers. Then we went to this wicked fancy, wicked awesome, seafood restaurant where we just enjoyed eating and talking with each other. 

Upon arrival at the hotel the fun began, and then people began to turn in soon after. We socialized with the UMass kids outside in the hall until we got fussed at, and then "Snookie" made an appearance and scared off a couple of people. Other's got tired. At some point I ended up making some not so perfect choices beverage wise. We met some kids from Minnesota, eh? I also had the pleasure of being hit on by a Mexican with corn rows and a pedophile mustache. Did Brad help me out? Of course not! I think it all evened out by the end of the night, though. I probably annoyed that poor boy the whole night. Whoops. I finally went to bed around 3:30am. 

Sunday was closing ceremonies. It wasn't really anything to write home about. There were a lot of scholarship recipients, and maybe I'll be one of them next year. I realized that I just want to be more involved with this event, and the workings of it next year. I've already started talking it up to kids (especially turf majors) to hopefully gather an awesome team for next year. 

After closing ceremonies we packed up the cars and went to lunch and then the botanical gardens in Atlanta. As we were walking around we realized how much this botanical garden was the equivalent of a zoo for us. The group I was with heard rumors of a variegated ginkgo, but never found it unfortunately. We played in the children's garden. We also got to go to the conservatory! There were little tropical birds, frogs, and more cool plants than you could look at at once. More than one of us complained about being dizzy by the time we got out of there. 

It wasp probably one of the best weekends of my life. I feel more assured now, that this is the industry for me. Industry employers don't totally hate me, I'm building a good resume, and I met some awesome people that I wish weren't graduating. I'm glad that I didn't chose SED over this, because then I would have just stayed in my box. Instead, I branched out and am definitely better for it.