50 things to do for yourself

It is no surprise that I have learned quite a lot as a young female professional and recent college graduate who has only been let loose in the "real world," for a few months. There is a lot of growing up to be done when transitioning from being an undergraduate student to being a young professional and graduate student. Working two different, professional jobs, starting my MBA and having my own apartment has taught me a lot about what it takes to keep it together in the real world. 

I've learned that success starts with yourself. YOU are the key to success (has DJ Khaled brought up that one yet?)

It is important to respect yourself, be independent, rely on yourself and plan for the future. Only you can ensure your own path to your best self, and I think that all female 20-somethings who are trying to lead a successful life should start with themselves.

So here are 50 things that you can do for yourself:

1.  Have a budget 
2.  Create things - write, doodle, craft, whatever makes you happy!
3.  If you don't have a favorite book, find one 
4.  Take yourself out on a date
5.  Be quirky 
6.  Don't let criticism discourage you
7.  Find a routine that works for you 
8.  If you haven't gotten your driver's license yet, get it 
9.  Find a mantra 
10.  Be comfortable with yourself

Launching a University Snapchat Account: The Research

When I took a graduate assistant position at my university's office of communication, I knew that I would be working a lot with social media, as well as writing content for the website, taking photos and helping with various other projects... I never really thought that I would be the main social media person for my whole university!

Though my university is small (about 2,000 students), running all the social media accounts and keeping them updated on a day to day basis keeps me really busy! I never realized how much work it was to find, think up, create and post content that appeals to a wide audience, as well as keep up with my other work responsibilities. It has been a great learning experience. I regularly post on the university's official facebook, twitter and instagram accounts, and then we also post somewhat regularly on Tumblr, Flickr, and Pinterest.

When I began working over the summer, I thought it would be a good idea for my university to get a Snapchat account, since about 77% of college age students use Snapchat every day... which makes it a great tool for a university! It could appeal to both current students and prospective students, and help get the word out about events on campus as well as general campus life.

I began researching how other universities used their accounts. University of Michigan is usually a great place to start... I regard them as university social media gurus... especially since they have a whole social media team. 

Post grad life: month 2

The summer is winding down and a whole new phase of my life transition is almost upon me... I have been working at my University's communication office over the summer, but things are going to change a lot once undergrads start coming back to campus, university events start, and my own mba classes begin... But I still have a few weeks until then!

Here are a few things that I have learned during my second month of post grad life:

At the Office:

• Avoid office gossip at all times - Though it is way too easy to partake in, it is unprofessional and could get you in to trouble. 

The Good Old Days Begin Today

Dear current undergraduates/young people: 

I recently found out that a good friend of mine who just graduated with me was in a car accident. Apparently he was driving back from a day of work at his dream job as a director at a summer camp that teaches kids about outdoor adventures, when he swerved to hit a deer and ended up in a ditch. Although he had hit his head, he walked away from the car without a scratch on his body, but later blacked out and woke up without any memory of the last three years. The last memories that he has are from February 2012, of our freshman year.

The hunt: My first apartment

     I am both thrilled and relieved to announce that I have figured out a plan for myself after graduation in May! If you have been in my position of being a second-semester senior, about to graduate with a Bachelor's degree and no plans in sight, then you know just how much better I am feeling now that I know that I will be doing something.
     I have never felt more blessed than the moment I realized that I had a plan. It was a whole lot of "being in the right place, at the right time." I had decided to apply to do an internship during my final semester at my university's office of communication. After I got the internship and began working, I was offered a Grad Assistant position, which will be covering the cost for an MBA. I will also be working as a managing editor of a local newspaper.
     Although I do feel incredibly lucky and glad, this new stage in my life is coming up very quickly, and it is a teeny tiny bit overwhelming. Now, I have to really prepare myself for my latest transition, and a very intimidating part of the real world:

     Apartment Hunting 

     My university and future place of employment are located in a tiny town, almost in the middle of nowhere. I recently found out that it is almost impossible to find open apartments for rent online... there are virtually none listed. Most of these kinds of transactions happen by word of mouth around here.
     I was lucky enough to know someone who will be moving out of a two-bedroom apartment at the end of this semester, so I visited with a friend/potential roommate last week. We were not completely sold on the apartment, and we also may be having a third roommate, so we are not sure if this will work out. Now, I have moved on to looking for town houses/bigger apartments in the area. I am also considering a larger town that is relatively close by. We shall see what happens.
     Before I actually started looking for apartments, I thought the process would be relatively painless and I would find a cute, quaint, cheap apartment for rent in no time. Unfortunately, these kinds of things take a lot of patience and I have come to terms with the fact that I will not likely be able to buy my dream apartment just yet.
     Luckily, I feel very supported by friends, the people in my office, and those who I know in the community. Through them, I have been able to be in contact with around four possible places for next year, and I am now working on talking to my potential roommates to see how they feel about these places. I really feel like a grown up now, and the whole idea of living in the "real world" is becoming more and more real by the minute.
     Honestly, I am most excited to decorate my future apartment... even though my budget is very small. I have already started listing some tips and decoration ideas on my "Living Little" Pinterest board.
     Do you have any tips for me about looking for my first apartment? 

My Newest Read: Tracks

     Just a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to happen upon a gorgeous movie called Tracks, with Mia Waskikowska playing the lead role of Robyn Davidson. This film follows Robyn, her dog Diggity, and her four camels as she crosses 1,700 miles of the Australian Outback.
     The film is based on a true story and Davidson actually wrote a novel about her journey, which shares the same title. After watching the movie, I realized that the novel would be perfect for me, since I like stories about adventures best. I have just begun to read the novel, and I am really enjoying it so far. Davidson is a strong, independent female lead, which I really love.
     After spending time on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and the Adirondack Trail, I have wanted to go on another hiking adventure, so this novel kind of lets me to do that without leaving my comfy chair. I have also realized just how little I know about Australia through reading this novel. It was news to me that there are thousands of wild camels roaming the Australian desert, and I also did not know very much about the Aboriginals or their relationships with white Australians. It is a very interesting story, and I recommend both the novel and film!
     Do you have any other novels that are similar to this that you would recommend?

Final semester whirlwind

As a second semester senior, I can attest to the fact that things do not get any easier as you get to be an upperclassman. I have been doing so much running around and intricate balancing that, some days, I have to actually schedule what time I want to shower... as in, I have to make a mental note to shower at a certain half hour time block. So even though the beginning of this semester has been pretty hectic for me, I have been able to do some pretty incredible things. 

• Since I am interning with my University's Communication Office, I have been able to take photos with a really nice camera at events like our Homecoming games and a big dance that we have every year. I wear an official name tag and sometimes even a polo with an official logo on it. So far, I have learned a lot about photography in a different context. Taking photos is something that I have always loved to do, but this internship has taught me about taking portrait-style photos and covering events. 
• Also through my internship, I get to be in charge of some of my University's social media accounts. When I cover events like the Homecoming game, I also get to post some photos on Instagram and link that with Tumblr and Twitter. The whole process is interesting and usually pretty fun for me. 
• I was able to sign up for classes that I am actually interested in this semester, one being a social media class. I love learning about how to maximize post reach depending on which social media platform is being used. Hopefully, what I learn can help me with my blog!
• I have gotten my resume in order and have begun to apply to some jobs. This is an exciting time for me and my peers, but there is a lot of stress, fear, and anxiety that goes into the job searching process. I have felt all of the above emotions, all at the same time about a million times. But there is also hope that my undergraduate career and experience will lead me to some kind of career by the end of the summer. 
• And finally, I was able to hit up my local thrift shop this weekend and I scored an awesome pair of purple roller blades for $7. I cannot wait to use them when the weather gets nicer. 

I am making the most of my final semester of undergrad and I cannot wait to see what my future holds. 

My first post on Buzzfeed

My newest aspiration in life is to write for BuzzFeed, so I have decided to begin publishing community posts on the website in the hopes that I will get better and better at mastering the laid back- best friend- conversation style that the site uses. I am sure I will get better at this with time.

I decided to write a short post on some famous recluses, since that type of lifestyle has always appealed to me. 

What is more romantic than being a writer who lives on her own in a cozy wooden cabin in a snow-covered forest? 

Some of these writers and artists became reclusive in order to focus on their creative endeavors, while others took to solitude only after their works had become popular. 

Check it out and let me know what you think: http://www.buzzfeed.com/angelamariasmith78/6-famous-recluses-who-have-taught-us-that-it-is-ok-19w9t

The trials and tribulations of a college senior:

     As I have stated in a previous blog post, whoever told me that my senior year of university would be my easiest yet was a liar, and I resent him or her for getting my hopes up. Anyways, as my last first-semester comes to a close, and finals draw nearer and nearer, I cannot help but to freak out at the stark realization that I still do not know what I am doing after graduation.
     Luckily, I am not alone.
     Actually, I only know of a handful of people who are either really on top of their game or incredibly lucky, who know exactly where they will be working or studying after we get handed our diplomas. Honestly, I am kind of jealous of them... and I wonder how they are even human...

      If you are in my same situation, I am sure you can relate to this list of what makes your last year of college the most difficult yet: 

1. Senior year is a whole lotta work- Even if you are not taking a full schedule, there are still a million places to be and a million things to be working on.
2. You are on your own- In high school, I had a guidance counselor that helped me sort out where I wanted to study for undergrad. Although she did not hold my hand during the process, she was always open to me stopping by to ask questions, and she seemed to know me well enough to let me know of programs and schools that would be a proper fit for me. In college, professors and advisers are too busy to actually help you that much. I know that my adviser wants to help me with my future plans and that she wants to see me grow, but she also teaches 100+ other students and leaves campus at 5pm most days. 
3. Insecurity- YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE... I do not even know what I will be eating for dinner for the next week, let alone where I will be or what I will be doing in six short months. I just pray that I will be happy and have something to eat for dinner by then.
4. So many questions- Throwback to senior year of high school when every family member/friend would ask you what you are doing after graduation and you literally just have to answer "not sure" and stuff your face with Tostitos, to stop this conversation from happening for the seventh time in one afternoon.
5. Something has to suffer- The very beginning of this semester was mass chaos for me, and I realized that I just had too much on my plate. Although I did not want to drop anything, I ended up having to give up on a fellowship scholarship and project that I really wanted to work on. It was the only thing that was not necessary for me to spend my time on. Hopefully I will be able to take this back up in the near future.
6. ALL OF MY MONEY IS GONE- Okay, the GRE is like $200; Grad school applications can cost from $45 to $75; Business attire is usually expensive; textbooks are expensive; gas is pricy; groceries are a weekly expense; I could go on for days about all the money I no longer have... let's move on...
7. Being a student leader is stressful (But still totally worth it)- Senior year makes you a big shot on campus: you are experienced, you know your campus and the student population really well, and you now have the passion and power to accomplish the visions you have for your club or organization. Personally, I spend just as much time on my executive board positions as I do on work for my other classes. It is all about balance.
8. All of my senior projects/capstones are due in the same week-You will not sleep for a full week and even though you look like death, nobody will take pity on your soul or give you an extension.
9. Senioritis is incurable- That lack of motivation and early onset of procrastination that you felt at the end of junior year? Yeah, it only gets worse. 
10. This is your last year of undergrad EVER- Saying goodbye to your friends and university is always at the back of your mind at the end of every great night. No matter what happens, there is always a little reminder that this formative part of your life is coming to an end. Every time someone raises their glass or soda-pop can to toast to your graduating class, you know that it just hit them.

     Underclassmen, ye be warned.
     Do not get me wrong, senior year is still pretty great; It just is not the breeze that I was told it would be, which is okay. I know that I have grown as a person throughout these past few months, since so much responsibility, power, and stress have been poured out onto me. I also feel a lot of support from friends and family and an overwhelming sensation that, even though I still do not know what I am doing with my life, things are going to work out and that I will be okay. I just have to work through the applications and projects while continuing to enjoy myself with all the best people.