Hello

This is my first blog post!  I'm really excited to start this and I'm hoping I can keep it up!

     My name is Katie and I'm a student at William Woods University.  I absolutely love William Woods and everything about it.  It's a small campus where you can't help but feel welcomed.  The program that I am going for (Equestrian Science) is one of the top in the country.  I love the EQS program, especially the fact that is basically a student run barn.  Without the students, the barn with 150+ horses, would not run as easily. 
     People always ask me, "Horses?   You're majoring in horses?"  and the answer to that is Yes, and I love it!  I've heard it said that if you love what you do, then it isn't work.  Well I love everything about the horse industry.  The thing I love the most about the horse world is that there is always something more to learn and someone new to teach you.  Some people think they know everything (I won't name names) but it is impossible to know everything! I know people may not understand why I love it, but this is the best way I know how to explain it:
I Love
      The hard work that goes into making a horse comfortable, safe, and happy
      The on-your-toes thinking when an emergency could arise
     The precision that gets put into making a horse show ready, shiny, clean, and clipped
     The heart race of competition
     The knowledge shared with a student and knowing they will grow from it
     The feeling of a perfectly clean jump
     The hoof beats of a canter and the wind on your face
     The friends who share the same love and how it brings you together

The feeling I have right now is how I know this is what I am supposed to do.  Horses have brought me so much, helped me to grow.  And I cannot wait to share it with the world. 

     I had a teacher in high school who used to make us what he called 'practice for the real world' and 'dress for success.'  We had to wear business attire and sit at computers and do group projects and present them.  Once he had us go around the room and say what we wanted to do with our lives and then he told us how this class would help us.  When he got to me and I told him I wanted to be a horse trainer.  He was confused and told me it was an impractical career.  He said horses were a hobby, not a job.  In front of the entire class he tried to crush my dream.  I wasn't as strong then as I am now.  It really hurt my feelings then, but now it's fuel encouraging me to accomplish everything I can.  It's funny really, because he is the same teacher that ultimately brought me to William Woods.  I had a 3.4 GPA and I needed a 3.5 to get the scholarship to go to my dream school, Kansas State University (hello...purple everywhere, how could you not love it?!) His class was the only class I had a B in.  And an 87 at that! I got an A on my final and I was super excited!  But when our final grades came out it said I had a B.  I was really confused, so I talked to him.  He told me, so many people had done badly on the final that he reduced the amount of points it was worth so I ended with an 89.9 and he refused to round it up.  I was once again crushed by this teacher and I spent December getting over the fact that I would not be at K-State in the fall. 
     Although I was crushed by this, it also led me to find William Woods.  William Woods is one of the best decisions I have ever made and I wouldn't change it for the world.  I have met the most amazing friends, role models, teachers, and people at William Woods.  I am thankful everyday for the teacher who crushed my whole world, and led me to where I am now. Happy, healthy, and driven.  If I ever believe the saying "everything happens for a reason" it is right now.