In 2014 I was blessed to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Hampton University with a degree in Public Relations/Marketing. I will never forget the feeling of walking through that grass at the commencement ceremony and looking out into the bleachers of family and friends screaming with excitement for all the graduates. The day before graduation I took my parents to meet some of my professors in the School of Journalism and Communications for the first time..(a building I spent a lot of my time in) and I was so taken aback by all the nice things that they had to say. It was actually the first time I've seen my Father cry. It was so weird. Next thing you know, my Mom's crying and I'm crying...my Professor looked like he had no idea what to do! lol. My Dad shared that he had gotten so emotional because he was justing thinking of how proud my Grandfather would have been of me. That beautiful moment is something that I'll forever cherish. I've always held my parents' opinions very high, so just knowing that I've made them proud this year means everything to me.
Of course graduation time also had me doing a lot of reflecting on my experience in college. Of course just like in anything, there are some shoulda, coulda, wouldas. However, I would never take back my experience at Hampton. Over the course of 4 years, I learned SO much about myself. I fell even more in love with fashion. I also learned a lot about other people and relationships..each person that held some type of importance during my time there definitely taught me a lesson. In 2014 I began to see who would most likely still be apart of my life after graduation...even got my heart bruised a bit when I realized someone who was very special to me all 4 years wouldn't be. College in general was a huge test of my strength...in so many different ways. Being halfway across the country and a 15 hour drive away...I couldn't run home on tough days and cry to my mom like I wanted to so badly. However, the good times always outweighed the bad... and I also can't help but miss the fun and carefree lifestyle of being a college student.
Though I knew that life after graduation wouldn't be easy, I honestly thought that if you go to college, complete internships, earn a degree....securing a job is just what happens next. NAH.
After graduation, it was already established that I would move back home so that I could really focus on building my savings once I found a full time job. I directly began a summer internship at a communications firm and as that was quickly coming to an end, I really started getting nervous. Everyone around me seemed to be posting on Instagram and Twitter about their amazing careers and I still didn't know what I was doing. Why are these jobs that I'm applying for not contacting me back? Did I really even want to do PR? After the internship ended, I still hadn't found a full time job. I began working at a golf reservation golf center, because being broke isn't fun. I was miserable. I knew that wasn't where I wanted or needed to be..so I quit...preparing myself for an angry lecture from my dad. I just wasn't ready to give up on what I really wanted. I eventually started working part time at a marketing research firm as a content writer. However, I was still feeling so discouraged and it seemed like every time a door to my future dream career opened even a little bit...it suddenly slammed right back in my face. I had always really prided myself for always having things figured out..always had my future perfectly mapped out. For once...I didn't have it all together. My Mom was really my rock during this time...praying with me every single day. I wasn't giving up and I applied to sometimes 15 jobs a day. Finally, I noticed a job posting for a Marketing Coordinator position at a non profit and even though it required 2-3 years experience, I just knew that I could do the job and applied anyway. I really didn't want to get my hopes up too high because of all the previous let downs...but I'll tell you that when I got that offer letter....all of the previous NO's suddenly made sense. This YES had been perfectly created for me. I honestly believe that God will block things that are not for you until your blessing has been fully prepared and you are ready for it. Your journey will be like no one else's and it is unfair to yourself to compare. “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” Trust in his timing...you may be surprised with something even bigger than you could have ever dreamed up on your own.
I have a lot of exciting goals for 2015....but I wouldn't be anywhere near this point in my life if it wasn't for 2014. I feel so blessed and humbled...and I'm in a really good place right now. This year is dedicated to becoming the absolute best version of myself...physically, mentally, and spiritually. I'm also more excited than ever about this site. Here's to 2015!
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