Guest Blog: A Clemson Graduation Story

I received my Masters degree from Clemson in 2010. I remember as an undergrad I didn’t care to walk the stage. It seemed a boring task for me. But I was first generation in my family to graduate from college and it was important for my parents to see me walk. With my Masters, it was different. I’m more mature now and I really put 110% into the program. I worked hard for two years, sacrificing many things, including my family, to graduate with a 3.88 out of 4.00. (dang statistics ruining my 4.0!!) I wanted to walk. I wanted to walk for quite a few reasons.

Youth Development Leadership Cohort 4 at graduation, December 2010

I wanted my daughter to see me walk across the stage. She was about two weeks shy of seven when I graduated. I wanted the image planted in her head. She knew the amount of work I put into school. There were many nights she cried asking me to put the computer down and read to her. The 20-page paper was due the next day, I couldn’t put the computer down. There were many nights I cried thinking I took on too much, I couldn’t possibly be successful. There were many fights with my husband as he had to pick up the slack while I did school work. I wanted her to see how the hard work paid off. I wanted her to have a feeling of pride as she watched her mother cross the stage. I wanted her to recognize the importance of education and life-long learning.

Ashton & I - on a chilly day outside Littlejohn after graduation

I was part of an online graduate program. My classmates and I had the opportunity to meet on campus twice throughout the program. I am still amazed at the mutual respect and collaboration built over the two years of the program. I made very good friends that are still a part of my life. We all worked so hard and while not all of us could make the December graduation, for those of us that did, it was an amazing experience. We worked really hard as a team and to share the moment with them was invaluable. It was important for us to be together and walk. 

I’ve been asked numerous times how it feels to be a graduate. I’ve thought about it many times starting when I presented my Masters Research Project and received such positive feedback from my committee. That is when it hit me - I did it. I made it. I was going to graduate. I can’t really explain how it feels to be a graduate. I try to put into words how I feel. I can’t find the words. Suddenly, I am quiet. 

Celebrating with my Parents & Ashton

I’m sitting in the middle of Littlejohn Coliseum. There are hundreds of students with black gowns and graduation caps on. I’m thinking about my life since I left Clemson 13 years earlier. I made a promise to myself at graduation in December 1997: I would get a Masters degree. I wanted a goal for myself. I wanted to know I could do it. I wanted to know I was smart enough. 

I started graduate school at USC straight out of undergrad. I didn’t really know what to do so why not? But the problem with starting graduate school with no real plan is it becomes a huge liability on your time and wallet. And, let’s face it, for someone whose blood runs orange, it was hard to imagine myself with a degree from USC. So, I stopped school and went on with my life. Always searching for the one program that would be the right one.

Franklin, my husband, & I at a Clemson Football game - 2012

I made the decision to leave my career at the top of my game. I had exceeded and maybe even shattered everyone’s expectations of what I could accomplish at the company. I made the decision because the career, while completely amazing and fun, took me away from home on a regular basis and my baby was suffering. It was during this time I found my graduate program. It was a perfect fit. I was very interested in the curriculum, it was family friendly, and it was through Clemson. Finally, 10 years after quitting graduate school, I began a new graduate program with a purpose and a plan. 

Here I sit, in the middle of the Coliseum, looking around me. While Clemson still has many of the great things I fell in love with, there is a shift on the campus. Classes are taught differently (for the better). There are new buildings on campus. The cafeteria food is actually good. Technology is an integral part of teaching. Collaboration and partnership are the norm. Ice cream is no longer served in Newman Hall.

Dusty, our dog, at his first tailgate - he was so tired from playing with all the kids!

At the same time, things are the same. Mac’s still has the best burgers in town. Bowman Field still fills with students on warm, Spring days. Judge Keller’s still has the distinct smell of a longtime downtown store. And, when I turn on Perimeter Road and pass Death Valley, I still get chills. I hear the crowd. I see the Hill. I feel the excitement. So, while many things seem different, the core is still here. Clemson is a family. I became a part of the family 13 years ago, and now, I feel even more pride. I feel an even closer connection to my Tigers. 

My excitement is boiling over. The realization that not only did I do it,I did it well. I look through the crowd till I find my parents. Then I spot Ashton and Franklin. It has come full circle. My little girl is in the crowd jumping up and down, waving to me. She sees me. She sees me. She sees me. It hits me.

When I spotted Ashton - before the ceremony began

Every feeling I have right at this minute (pride, accomplishment, relief, etc), is nothing compared to the pride I see in her face looking at me. She is proud of me. 

What does it feel like to be a graduate? I made a significant, positive impact on my daughter and it feels great!

Our family photo - 2012 - Clemson campus - Tillman Hall

Guest post written by Karen Bunch Franklin.

Bio: Karen Bunch Franklin is originally from Summerville, SC and currently lives in Lexington, SC. She holds two degrees from Clemson and is currently pursuing a second Masters Degree at Clemson in Agriculture Education. She is married to Kevin Franklin, whom she met while attending Clemson as an undergrad. They have one daughter, Ashton, whose blood runs ORANGE! The family puppy is also a Clemson fan and attended his first tailgate last football season. She currently works for Clemson University in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). When not working or studying, Karen enjoys boating, camping, reading (for fun!), and all CLEMSON sports!!

Guest Blog: Living in a House Divided

I live in a house divided in its truest form in respect to the Palmetto State Rivalry. My blood runs orange and I’m passionate about my Tigers, but my husband loves the Gamecocks. My dad is a Clemson graduate, so naturally he and my mom raised us kids to be solid orange. When I met Mike, I had to get used to seeing garnet and black all the time, but I would not let it outshine my orange and purple!

Our garden flag out front one year when it snowed.

People always ask us is if we pull for the other team when we aren’t playing each other. In our case, the answer is a resounding no! You can bet when Clemson plays Florida State that my husband will be chanting along with the ‘Noles. You can also guarantee that when South Carolina plays Florida, I will be doing the Gator chomp. Somehow we manage not to throw chips and salsa across the room, but it does get rather spirited in our house on Saturday afternoons during football season!

My husband Mike and I (note the bunny ears).

In our house, we have house divided political correctness so to speak. For every Tiger Paw there is a Gamecock, and for every Gamecock there is a Tiger Paw. From towels to Duck Tape® we make sure to keep it even.

In the utility room in the backyard –
we cover every square inch.

Even the bath towels.

At Christmas time too!

Even the fold-out chairs are divided.

Of course the biggest ordeal in any house that is divided by orange and garnet is the much anticipated game during Thanksgiving weekend. We always make it fun and make the most of it no matter who wins. I love to decorate for any and every occasion, and the Clemson vs. South Carolina game is no exception. We have plenty of merchandise around the house from both teams, so all I have to do is use a little creativity.

My dining room table decorated for the Clemson vs. South Carolina game.

I put candy canes in these and set them out around the food.

Collage I made using some photos I found online.

I made these little jerseys from scratch.

Although my husband has had the bragging rights the past few years, I hope that will change this November. I support my Tigers no matter what, and I get chills every time I hear the Tiger Rag, which is every time I get a text message since that is my ring tone. : ) Amidst the rivalry in our house, my husband and I have a lot of love, a lot of laughs, and a lot of fun. Go Tigers!

Guest post written by Kelli Brannen.

Author Bio: Kelli Brannen is a life-long resident of Florence, South Carolina. She is a graduate of Francis Marion University and works as a Technical Writer at ACS Technologies. She is married to the love of her life Mike Brannen, and they have a cat named Morris who keeps them on their toes. She loves God, music, Clemson, and all things Disney; especially The Haunted Mansion.

Guest Blog: Cute Plus Size Clemson Gameday Options!

Hey fellow Clemson Girls! My name is Ashley Harvell and I’m a HUGE Clemson fan! I’m actually not an alumni of Clemson but my grandfather was back in the 40’s. I absolutely love Clemson and my favorite season is football season. My husband and I are such huge Clemson fans that we had our wedding in March because we didn’t want to miss a Clemson game! We even had a Clemson themed wedding! But enough about me, this guest blog is about plus size, cute options to wear to Clemson games!

I’m your typical girly-girl/tomboy. I love to dress up and do my makeup and hair and get really pretty, but on the other hand, nothing is better than curling up in a ratty pair of jeans and an oversized t-shirt with no makeup and hair up in baseball cap.

Normally when I go to games, I’m in blue jeans or shorts and a Clemson t-shirt with my hair hidden by a hat. I admit I used to make fun of the girls who were dressed up with the makeup and hair done. Deep down though, I know it was because I was jealous. I’m a curvy girl. I’m like the majority of the country and not a size 0 or 2. I’m a healthy size 18, a 16 on a good day! I love cute stuff, girly stuff but a lot of the stuff that most of the Clemson girls wear I can’t. So I went on a mission to find cute purple and orange dresses and shirts that would look cute on gameday. Lo and behold, there are a lot of great Web sites that have cute stuff for girls like us! I’m with Clemson Girl on this; there are a lot of companies that are closet Clemson fans!

While doing a Google search for orange dresses, the first one I found was this one from Figuresque.com. Its color is listed as tangerine but the picture looks pretty close to the orange we would need.

With the way it’s cut, you could put a long sleeve shirt under it with some brown boots for the cooler games. They also have a very cute purple shirt with a slight cowl neckline. With the necklaces “built” into the shirt, accessorizing would be easy!


One of my favorite stores for curvy girls’ clothes is Old Navy. Their clothes are actually cut very well for us. I wear their jeans and their plus size options are great. The thing I like about them, that puts them #1 on my list, is the fact that their regular women’s collection goes up to size 18/20. Here are two options actually from their women’s collection:

The orange babydoll is on sale for $9.99 and the purple babydoll is on sale for $7.99. How awesome is that?? They go up to size XXL. These are actually shirts and will hit below the hip so they could be paired with a great pair of shorts for the warm games and with leggings and boots for the colder games! These are great gameday options!

Another Old Navy option is this Women’s Plus Belted Kimono Sleeve Dress. It’s a faux wrap with an empire waist so it will hide the stomach if you eat too much tailgating food!

Alright Curvy Clemson Girls!! Here are some starter options for us to look as cute and as confident as our skinnier counterparts! I’ll definitely be sporting some of these with cute accessories and my fave Clemson purse!

Clemson Girl: Thanks Ashley for the awesome post! Ashley is getting a free Clemson Tiger Rag courtesy of clemsontigerrags.com for her contribution. Would you like to be a Guest Blogger for Clemson Girl? Know of a perfect topic for this blog? Email us and let us know!

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