Known and loved as “Big Ruth,” this junior South Carolina native is LMU’s very own Southern Belle. A former dance major, Ruth knows how to put on the moves. Ask any of her Delta Gamma sisters, and they’ll tell you that Ruth owns the dance floor at exchanges and formals. Read more about Miss Ruth below, and learn about her summer internship, the biggest differences between Cali and the South, and how moving across the country allowed her to appreciate her roots.
{Ruth (left) with her “little,” Alyssa}
You moved to California for school all the way from South Carolina. What was the draw, and what are the biggest differences you’ve seen?
LA was always the place I wanted to live. It seemed so exotic compared to small-town South Carolina. Plus, in LA I could pursue a career in dance. When I first came to LMU, I was a dance major. Then after two semesters, I decided that I was burnt out and wanted to quit. I will always love dance, though. It was a huge part of my life for sixteen years, and it definitely shaped the person I am today. One of my dance idols, Joe Tremaine, taught that, “Dance training is life training.”
I’m not dancing anymore, but I love LA because it’s so diverse and fast paced. I feel like there are so many opportunities here. It would be hard to leave Southern California, especially because of the weather. The food in the South still puts the food here to shame, though.
You interned at a wedding planning company, Bright Blue Events, over the summer. How did you hear about it? What was your favorite event? What did you learn from your overall experience?
Event planning isn’t a typical internship, so it was really hard to find any postings on internship sites. Honestly, I just Googled “wedding and event planners in Los Angeles area.” I sent out my name and resume to ten companies that I thought look legit, asking if they needed summer interns. Bright Blue Events got right back to me, and I when I went downtown for my interview, I immediately fell in love with everyone who worked there. I got the feeling that they were truly interested in teaching me something and helping me transition into the working world.
My favorite event was a wedding where the ceremony was at Pepperdine, and the reception was at the Lowes Hotel in Santa Monica. I LOVE the chapel at Pepperdine. The view is stunning, and makes for great pictures. The reception was my favorite part, though. The bride wanted a beachy design: starfish, sea glass, and blue tea lights were on every table.
Working weddings really taught me the true meaning of hard work and that you can always make the impossible, possible. The couple knows what they want, and it’s your job to make it happen, at all costs. Even if that means working twelve hours strait and staple gunning every piece of fabric at the reception to ensure there are “NO SEAMS” in the linens.
You transferred to LMU in the spring semester of your freshman year. What was that like?
It was really hard, I felt like everyone had already made friends at that point. I was so far from home, and knew no one. I figured I had nothing to lose, and decided to try and meet as many people as could.
How has being in Delta Gamma/involvement in Greek Life shaped your college experience thus far?
The DG’s are my girls. I can’t imagine life without them. They just get me, I guess. In high school I never had a great group of girlfriends, so it’s nice to say that the DG’s are truly my best friends, and I know that they accept me for who I am. It’s also nice to be involved in something on campus, and part of something greater then myself.
What is something you would be willing to share with us that not many people know?
I feel like most people in college see me as someone who embraces my Southern culture. In high school, I was so ready to leave my town that I rejected it. I remember telling my mom to throw out all my preppy clothes, and hated when my mom would say “y’all” instead of you “you all” or “yella” instead of “yellow.” I even got voted “Most Likely to Never Come Back” for my senior class poll. I guess it was my way of rebelling. It wasn’t until I moved to LA that I realized how special of a place the South is; time moves slower there, and things never change. Now I’m so proud to say that I am Southern, and it took moving all the way across the country to realize that.
Quick Facts:
- Favorite Food: Chocolate, French Fries, Pizza… basically anything unhealthy
- Favorite Film: Gone With Wind
- Favorite TV Show: Family Guy
- Guilty Pleasure: Late night McDonalds (Quarter Pounder with cheese please!!!!!!)
- Dream Job: Owning a small boutique with my best girlfriends
- Celebrity Crush: Chris Pine