So I Gave In

Ok, ok. So after seeing how many people have these, I decided to give in to the blogging world and start my own.

I guess I should start by introducing myself. I'm Marci. I'm 21, almost 22 years old (Aug. 13) and I live in Dayton, OH. I attend the University of Dayton and will be a senior this year. I am studying Journalism/PR and photography.

Photography is my passion and have been involved with it since high school. My sophomore year at Fairmont, I took my first photography class and it was history from then on out. I took all the photo classes offered there and even joined The Flyer newspaper staff and became Chief Photographer my senior year.

I then applied for a scholarship through 808 Studios Photography and not only did I receive the scholarship, but I was offered a job. I have been working with Nick, Lauren and Blake since June 2008. Working there has been such a fantastic experience and I wouldn't change anything about it! Check out our website: http://www.shootingforthesoul.com

From left to right: Me, Blake, Lauren (Yep! On her wedding day!), Nick

At UD, I have decided to join the newspaper staff, also conveniently named The Flyer, and have worked my way up on the photography staff. My freshman and sophomore years, I was just a part-time staff photographer, junior year, I was the lead photographer and for my senior year, I am the head photographer.

At school, I am also a part of the UD Club Softball team. Softball has always been a huge part of my life (I've been playing since I can remember) and this team is amazing. I played on Varsity all four years at Fairmont and played for the Miami Valley Xpress for 5 years and was considering playing in college, but when it came time to pick a school, I was getting to the point of burn out and didn't think playing in college was the best idea. After my first semester, a friend informed me that UD was starting a club team and I should try out, so I did and made it. This is such a great group of girls and I've made so many friends from the team and my college experience wouldn't be the same without them!

So by now, you might be wondering if I am dating anyone. I am! I met Benjamin Franklin Rinklin during Memorial Day weekend 2009. It was the summer after my freshman year at UD and I went to a Cincinnati Reds game with a few friends I had made during the year and my friend Joe invited his friend Nate that he had gone to high school (St. Xavier) with. Nate was having a party the next night and decided to invite us all. It was there that my friend Caroline and I first met Ben. It was kind of funny because we actually made a bet to see who could talk to him first. Unfortunately, Caroline won that bet, but I can't be mad at her because she was the one that ended up setting us up in the long run! They kind of hit it off first, but she kept telling me that she thought he might like me. It only took a year before it finally became public that I had a crush on him and he on me as well. I somehow talked him to come home for Easter (Oh, I forgot to mention that he goes to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, so getting to come home is a little harder for him). On April 2, 2009, I drove to the Columbus Airport and picked him up :) We stayed in my dorm room that night and that's when he asked me to be his girlfriend...now, the funny thing was, I actually didn't give him an answer for two more days, despite him asking me twice. I had never been in a long distance relationship, let alone a long distance MILITARY relationship. However, after thinking about it, I had had a crush on this guy for almost a year and I was questioning if I wanted to be with him!?!? What was wrong with me!? Of course I did! So when his mom, his sister and he picked me up on April 4, I had a letter written for him saying of course I wanted to be his girlfriend. When recalling that day, my mom says it was like a dream, seeing this adorable guy walking up to meet her in his Navy whites (which he looks super hot in, but I might be biased!). Now almost 15 months later, we're still together and I couldn't be happier. :D :D

Ben and I during Parent's Weekend at the Navy football game!

Well I guess that's enough for my first post. Hopefully you'll enjoy following my crazy life!