50 things before 25 | 06

One of the items on my list of 50 things to do before I turn 25 is to become a member of a club at my university.

The purpose of putting this on the list was to actively force myself to become more active on campus. I was wholeheartedly active while in high school, participating in everything from science club to art club to show choir, cross country, scholastic bowl, and journalism. I rarely had a day free from the multitude of activities I threw myself at, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Since coming to college, however, I haven’t taken advantage of the many opportunities the campus presents to its students. I feel that joining a club was important not only to bolster my resume, but also to get me out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and gain important skills for after college.

I had never heard of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) until Stacey Howard’s (http://mycauserie.wordpress.com/) Introduction to Public Relations class, in which she mentioned it as a unique career-boosting tool. Well, I’m all about career-boosting, so I went to the first meeting, in which I met some of the members and found out what being a member was all about, while eating delicious desserts. Since the first meeting, I have joined their Relay for Life team, attended a LinkedIn workshop, spoke with previous PRSSA members who now have careers in the communications field, attended a social media meeting, and learned about various volunteer opportunities in the area. This coming Wednesday is a resume workshop which would cost $100 for any non-member of PRSSA.

I couldn’t be happier that I joined the club that I did, rather than an unorganized one that meets “every once in awhile,” is just a filler for my resume, and doesn’t give me invaluable networking and organizational skills.

If you are interested in joining PRSSA, check out prssa.org to find information for the one at your school!

50 Things Before 25 | 21

I did not wear make-up for the entire month of February. 

In high school, during my years of never-ending pressure to look absolutely presentable at all times, I never went a single day without wearing my full “face,” never went swimming without re-doing my make-up immediately after, never went to track practice without being concerned if it was getting messed up. I was completely dependent on this look I had created for myself, and I wasn’t willing to let myself be seen any other way.

Upon coming to college, my personal discipline pertaining to beauty and vanity became more lax; I sometimes only wore mascara and cover-up for unfortunate blemishes. My life became too busy to care while juggling work, school, homework, family, friends, a long-distance relationship, and sleep somewhere in my free time. For this reason, and my boyfriend preferring me make-up free, it had become more common for me to bare my skin. 

When I noticed the new trend of #freshfacefebruary, I couldn’t help but see it as an excellent opportunity to “force” myself to go without make-up for a month and see what kind of impact it made on me. While I never posted a picture of myself during that time, I did feel very confident in what my face looked like without make-up. I began to pick out other girls and women who regularly went fresh-faced, and I saw the beauty in their confidence. Why had our culture insisted we cover up our natural attributes? While it is now March, and I have allowed myself to slip back into somewhat of a routine of wearing cosmetics, I keep thinking: what do all these beautiful women look like uncovered? Would we all feel better about ourselves if we just went without make-up? How would it better impact teenage girls if they had role models who were comfortable in their own skin? 

I hate that the pressure to wear rather than not exists. I am wearing it now because I enjoy it, and my plan is to never feel pressured on an off day to look more presentable than I feel like being. 

 

50 things before 25 | 08

It is my plan to continue blogging even after this semester and class ends. This blog may not continue in the same format or under the same name, but I think having an online portfolio of ideas and writing is invaluable, especially in today’s job market.

Going All In

To do this, I needed a camera to document my writings, using original material. I’ve always been interested in photography, taking a class in high school, borrowing others’ cameras when possible, and dabbling in photo editing and modeling. I just never thought I have the skill set to need a nice camera, so I didn’t consider investing in one.

However, I recently told my mom about this list that I’m trying to accomplish and that I’m planning on saving up to purchase a camera of my own, and she offered me hers! I couldn’t believe it. I had borrowed her camera during my time studying abroad in London last summer, and it was everything I wanted out of a camera.

I will edit this post soon, to include an image with, or of, the camera. I’m so happy to have already checked one of the items off my 50!

50 things before 25

Photo Courtesy of Steve Adkisson

For the past few years, I’ve noticed my own decline in the search for a more inspiring life. I can’t say every aspect of my life has represented this, but I don’t see the world through the same open eyes that I did when I was in high school. To combat this, I’ve compiled a list of things that I want to accomplish before my 25th birthday. At that point, three and half years from now, I hope to be living a creative, professional life. Along the way, I want to photograph, and post about, the following:

1. Go to Europe again
2. Buy weather-proof shoes
3. Invest in professional “adult” clothes
4. Bake a from-scratch cake or cupcakes
5. Learn calligraphy
6. Join a college club [done]
7. Submit my writing for publication
8. Get a camera [done]
9. Keep a consistent blog
10. Learn cooking basics & master a few dishes
11. Sort through all of my emails/subscriptions
12. Try yoga
13. Throw a “Finer Things” party
14. Visit Springfield, MO.
15. Finish my 365 Day journal
16. Buy a coffee maker
17. Embroider/knit/sew something
18. Volunteer [done]
19. Try good sushi
20. Write to “Dear Abby”
21. Don’t wear make-up for a month [done]
22. Don’t drink pop for a month
23. Don’t eat meat for a month
24. Don’t drive to class for a month
25. Wake up at 5am everyday for a month
26. Read “Emma” by Jane Austen
27. Read every book I own, and donate all the ones I don’t hold dear
28. Take a college art class
29. Figure out what wine I like
30. Go on a juice cleanse
31. Make a collection of handmade cards
32. Make a “London” scrapbook
33. Make a “Miguel + I” scrapbook
34. Make a high school memories scrapbook
35. Visit Mrs. Van Natta
36. Photograph my parents
37. Photograph my grandparents
38. Photograph my hometowns
39. Move all of my (non-storage) belongings out of my parents’ house
40. Move into a non-student housing apartment
41. Have my own business cards
42. Keep a plant alive
43. Go to Mexico
44. Go to Canada
45. Write up a solid resume
46. Buy decent cooking utensils
47. Make my internet presence my portfolio/brand image
48. Try 10 new (to me) restaurants/businesses/places in the surrounding area
49. Obtain an internship (or two)
50. Graduate college