Born and Bred.

Family and friends, most of you all know that I just started my senior year at UNC Chapel Hill. Most of you also might know it’s the same school my mom attended 30 years before me and my brother currently attends with me. Needless to say, the Rademakers were born and bred Tar Heels.

As I embark on my last year of education a lot is going through my mind. A lot of thoughts on how I grew up and how much growing up I still have to do. I love to write and thought I would revive the occasional blog post this year to reflect on where I’ve been that led me to four years at UNC, and where I’m headed after my time as a Tar Heel.

I have the best childhood memories (thanks mom and dad) and a lot of them include loving Carolina; driving down Stadium Drive in Chapel Hill before a Carolina Football game, “potty training” included the word “dookie,” white and light blue spirit pompoms making up half of my toy bin, and March Madness being the most important time of the year.

All this to say I never felt pressured to go to Carolina. My mom even went through a subtle phase telling me “how great she and I look in the color red.” Nevertheless, when I logged into my application on the elliptical at the Clemmons YMCA that late day in January 2016, I was very nervous. But I was accepted (we all know this) and I was ecstatic. One of the best journalism schools in the country? The teams I have loved since I was a child? A Public Ivy? Beautiful school colors? I would be crazy to say no after that moment. And now, here I am, a senior in the Southern Part of Heaven; A Priceless Gem.

Just a few weeks ago, I lined up at the Old Well with thousands of other Carolina Students for my last full school year FDOC (first day of class) and drank from the water fountain, still hoping for that 4.0 GPA, but more concerned about getting a job in less than a year. This year will be full of Tar Heel traditions that I can’t wait to share. So I’ll end with a thought that my senior button says so eloquently…I’M A SENIOR, WHO THE $#@! ARE YOU?