University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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Above: Dara Gurman happily poses in front of her uninoo birthday surprise, Many students wished Ihoir friends a Happy Birthday by painting on tho 34th stroot graffiti wall- Photo by Dura Gorman, Right: After being treated to dinner at Amelia’s restaurant in downtown Gainesville, junior Suo No continues celebrating by Mowing out her candles. Friends made her a cake, organized a dinner, and planned a night out—all in honor of her very special 21 st birthday. Photo by Sue No Tiffany Beckel displays her 21st Birthday To-Do’ List. These lists (which were similar to a scavenger hunt list) were usually made by friends and included fun tasks for the birthday girl to complete. Photo by Tiffany Beckel. tlflPPT NPTtlDflTS 15

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Best friends Alexandra Sarpoolaki and Atyssa Gelormini were both born in March, so they decided to celebrate their 21st together. Their party, held at the Hilton Hotel, had a bright and colorful for- mal theme with music for dancing and a guest list comprised of their closest friends. Photo courtesy of Alexandra Sarpoolaki. When you turn 40, your family and friends wear black and throw you over-the-hiir parties. They send greeting cards exclaiming, ‘You’re how old?!' and give you an assortment of embarrassing gag-gifts. When you turn 13. you're finally a teenager. Somehow, that one day between when you were twelve and the day of your thirteenth birthday makes all the difference. Many anxiously await their sweet sixteen, practicing three-point turns and parallel parking in an effort to free themselves of driving under the supervision of their parents. But the most memorable, and often, the most anticipated birthday milestones are the 18 and 21“ birthday. Some incoming freshman had not yet turned 18 when entering college. They were the babies of their class and jealously watched their of- age friends buy lottery tickets and cigarettes, get their noses pierced, and gain entrance to 18-and-up clubs. They also missed out on the increased legal responsibility; they had to wait to sign contracts without their parent and they couldn't register to vote or open a checking account. But by a few months into freshman year, almost every student was 18 and relished these added freedoms and responsibilities. Then came the next milestone to look forward to—the 21“ birthday. Many students literally counted off their calendar days until their 21“ birthday. After all. once you turn 21, hardly any age restrictions could be enforced. Admittance into certain bars and clubs, the ability to buy alcohol, or just the freedom to smugly say. Yes. I'm 21' if someone asks, were all things to look forward to. That being said, the 21“ birthday was a full-blown celebration for most. Some extended their birth 'day' to a birth 'weekend,' with planned dinner reservations with friends, fun outings out-of-town, or just a night out at all the bars that wouldn't let them in before. Boys were more inclined to throw parties or hit the nightlife scene with friends; girls enjoyed being the 'princess' of the evening, as friends bought them crowns to wear and made scavenger-hunt-like checklists to be completed by the end of the night. Pictures were taken and memories were made; the 21 “ birthday was a milestone that few forgot. -Christina Blood 14 cftnpus uff

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Carla Rubio spent the spring semester in China as part of a study abroad program through the school of Adverising. Five months immersed in another country really helped her learn the language. Photo by Carlo Rubio 16 CftAPUS Uff “The University of Florida is in Gainesville. The Gator Nation is everywhere. Our school motto is not lying. No matter where a Gator goes in this world, there will be another Gator along the way. Whether it is riding the metro in London or touring the pyramids in Egypt, if a Gator wears their gear, someone else will say Go Gators. A common adventure for UF students is to study abroad. Most students embark on this adventure through the University of Florida International Center. There, counselors help students decide what they want to study, where they want to go and if there are any scholarships available. The UFIC gives out $1,000 scholarships for any program if you meet the qualifications, but some programs have their own awards that could constitute an all-expense paid experience. Some programs require a certain language skill, but most only require an interest. Studying abroad is an enriching experience that is only given once in a lifetime, so it is something that college students find worthy of their time and money. Other Gator travels include family trips and Gator games. Family trips can be anywhere from a miserable, 18-hour car ride with your family and dog, to a Disney cruise with all-you- can-eat filet mignon. Popula- family destinations include Stone Mountain, Georgia; Gatlinburg Tennessee; and New York City New York. The Florida Gators athletics teams did not leave much to want as far as away gamej either. To see the Gators footbai team win the SEC title, man) traveled to Atlanta, Georgia. Fo the national title. Gators traveled all the way to Tempe, Arizona fc the Tostitos Bowl. The basketbal team also played in Atlanta Georgia for the SEC tournament All in all, it was quite a year for Gators and traveling. -Ashley P