My Car Shopping Experience + Tips!

These past few weeks have been a blast, especially since I purchased my first big girl purchase – my Volvo S60 T5 Momentum that I named Daisy! Daisy and I have been cruising around town ever since I purchased her, from a road trip to Charlottesville, Virginia to a bunch of drives of I-495 to my office about 45 minutes away from my house and *of course* to my nearby Metro station (Washington, DC’s subway transit system) to go into downtown Washington, DC. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably seen a peak into my adventures since purchasing Daisy. What people don’t know about my pre-purchasing journey to getting Daisy is that it took me around 6 months to make a car purchase. So, today, I will be sharing ALL the details into my car shopping process, what I learned, and tips – especially in this tough tough tough-to-buy current car market.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

So flashback to October 2021 and I went on my first-ever car shopping experience. My Papa and I went to a local Honda dealership to test drive some Honda’s. Initially, I wanted to go for an SUV and my two car models that I kept looking at were the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV-4. However, when Papa and I got to the dealership, I fell in love with a Sedan Honda model known as the Honda Insight. I loved loved loved the Honda Insight’s huge truck and its small, adorable look. Unfortunately, when we went to the Honda dealership, I wasn’t even able to test drive a car due to the lack of inventory and supply chain issues that still persist to this day (aka April 2022). I did, however, get to sit in that adorable 2022 Honda Insight! Even *yes, even* the car salesmen at the dealership were discouraged by the current supply chain issues. Papa and I left the dealership empty-handed and discouraged.

In October 2021, I was driving a family car which I shared with my step-siblings while they were away at college. I decided then to continue to drive my family car for the time being. I felt hopeless with the idea of purchasing a new car at that time and didn’t want to deal with that tough tough market. On the same token, car prices were skyrocketing. There was little room for negotiation and the prices seen on a car’s sticker at the dealership was the price that you would buy the car for. There was barely ANY room for negotiation or even wiggle room. You were indeed lucky if a couple hundred dollars or less was taken of the price of your new car. So, given these current car market failures and struggles, I felt fearful to even think about starting to buy a car. So, I decided to take a break from the car search.

Initially, for the time being, I decided to focus on a Honda and only a Honda to purchase. BUT, that all changed in March 2022 – a flash-forward y’all – when I started the car shopping process yet again. This time, my Mom and I went back to the same Honda dealership and got to test drive the Honda Accord (Honda Insight’s were REALLY hard to come by then even for a test drive). So, we can all assume that the car market’s supply chain issues persisted into March 2022 and still persist today. The test driving experience was super strange – we only drove a whopping 3 laps around the parking lot. That being said, we left the car dealership and went to another Honda dealership nearby. We test drove the Honda Civic and Honda Insight even on the highway and left empty-handed. I, then, went onto TruCar and started searching for Honda Accord’s since I enjoyed the Honda Accord even with the whopping 3 laps around the parking lot test drive of mine and got price quotes, BUT the prices were sky-high upwards of $40,000 for a new car. $40,000 was definitely out of reach for me when buying a brand-new car. The car prices for the Honda Civic and Honda Insight were ridiculously high, especially for the used models that I test drove yet didn’t fall in love with.

Later that week, my Mom and I started looking into used Volvo’s. For some context, my Mom purchased a used Volvo a few years back and LOVES hers. I also love that sweet white Volvo of hers, too. She has the Volvo S60 T5 Momentum 2017 or 2016. I looked online at cars that were used Volvo’s from 2019 or 2020. It was then that I found an adorable white Volvo S60 T5 Momentum 2019 at a nearby dealership that had been sitting at the lot for over 2 months. I ended up calling the dealership to test drive this car, not even thinking much except that I’ll test drive this car and see if I even like the idea of purchasing a Volvo. Well, when Papa and I showed up at the dealership to test drive this car, I fell head over heels with it. I found the test drive – which was on the highway and through windy roads – to be a great test drive and better than those of my Honda test drives. I sat on the idea of buying this car for a few days, but I knew that I would probably try to pursue purchasing it. A few days later, Papa test drove the car. Then, later that day, Papa and I went back and bought the car! That car is Daisy!!

Papa and I also had a great time at the dealership, too, the other dealerships we went to were trying to force a sale, unlike this dealership that wanted us to get a car that was a good fit for us and also get to know their clients beyond their perspective sale. We even got a few hundred dollars off of the sale price, which was nice, and purchased an extended warranty package aka my biggest concern with purchasing my new car. Since then, I have really enjoyed my brand-new white car. I have always wanted a white car and a week before purchasing my friends made fun of me for wanting a white car – HAHA!!

Car Shopping Tips

When car shopping and making that big, exciting purchase, make sure that you have ALL your ducks in a row when you do so. Trust me, there’s a lot of ducks that have to be put in a row when purchasing a brand-new (or used like myself) car. You want to make sure that you’re well-equipped both financially and safety-wise. These tips helped me when buying my car!

  • Get an auto insurance quote on the exact car model and/or VIN before purchasing it
  • Make sure you’re auto insured BEFORE you take your car off the lot
  • Choose an auto insurance company that you’re comfortable with using
  • Have a set budget in mind that you’re comfortable with (for both down payments and monthly payments)
  • If you don’t have much credit, consider having a cosigner on your car loan, to lower the interest rates
  • Shop around for auto loan interest rates to get the best rate for you
  • Make sure you test drive the exact model and year of the car you’re considering purchasing and DO NOT drive it for a whopping 3 laps around the parking lot before deciding that’s the one you’re going to buy
  • Be willing to negotiate on car purchases and perhaps bring someone who may be more experienced than yourself
  • Make sure your car has a decent warranty before purchasing it, even if that is an add-on purchase
  • Lastly, make sure that the car you purchase is the RIGHT CAR for YOU 🙂

In the meantime, I have linked the my outfit details below!

Happy car shopping/car shopping learning!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Importance of Mental Health when Moving

YAY! You have a new job and in a new city. Perhaps, your spouse may have a new job in a new city. OR you are going to achieve a degree in a new city. Whatever the case may be for you, you are moving. You are moving and you are excited. You may also be scared. You may also be sad. You may even be feeling all of the above feelings and emotions previously listed. Whatever the case may be, while chaotic, your mental health matters when moving.

When I was in college, I knew that I wanted to get out of the South. As someone who truly embraced and thrived off of diversity, I wanted to be in a city that was more diverse, embraced, and accepted the beauty of diversity. I have family in the Washington, DC area and friends, too. So, I knew that Washington, DC could just very well be the place for me. While I LOVED my time in North Carolina, I longed to live up North instead. Flash forward to March 2021, and I made the decision even without a job lined up then to move in with my Papa into his apartment-like space in the Washington, DC area. Just a few weeks later in then-April 2021, I got a job in the Washington, DC area. My ticket was essentially purchased and ready for me to roll on up to the Washington, DC area. I was *finally* moving back up North. Life is good.

Flash forward to May 15, 2021 and I graduated from my now alma mater, Meredith College. I now have to go through my entire apartment on my college campus and move out. It’s, then, May 16, 2021, and my apartment is empty. My entire contents of my belongings is in a U-Haul trailer and 3 different cars. Everything barely fit jam-packed into all of the vehicles and U-Haul trailer, but it works. We, then, make our way to the Washington, DC area. I am walking around my campus moments before. I am emotional. My friend Chandler stops by. We are both emotional. I, then, make my way up North and am barely looking back.

May 17, 2021 is a high day. I am high on pride and excitement that I recently graduated from college. I am filled with gratitude for the extraordinary friendships, family members, relationships made with fellow Meredith College staff and professors of mine, and excited for my upcoming job that I will start that July. My Papa and I go to Walmart and Giant – a local Washington, DC area and nearby states’ grocery store chain. I am enamored with ALL of the beautiful selections of items, when compared to the Food Lion and even Harris Teeter in Raleigh, North Carolina. I am more than excited and those high exciting and feelings of pride and gratitude remain in my heart all week.

Just a few weeks later, I start to miss the life that I used to have. The life where I was living right by my classmates and friends in my on-campus apartment. I didn’t have many friends nearby and since I hadn’t started my job yet, I didn’t have enough money to travel to go see others until I started working. I felt down and sad. At the same time, I was late to the game to learning how to drive and had yet to get my drivers license. I was pretty bummed. I couldn’t really explore my new town much, most of my friends were in North Carolina, and I pretty much had empty days filled with nothing to do. My mental health plummeted. Not to mention, I had TONS AND TONS of boxes to unpack and reorganize.

Moving is stressful to begin with. You’re going through several boxes that may or may not be organized based on its contents and location within your new place. You have lots of things to do and places to be and people to see. At the same time, you may miss your old home and are processing being away from your friends and former community. I dealt with all of it. I would hear my friends tell me about all of their exciting Summer and/or Fall plans – none of which I could attend due to my new home’s location being an hours’ drive away. It sucked. It was hard. My mental health plummeted. My life was filled with stress, sadness, anger, and uncertainty.

Once I started my job at the end of July, things got much better. My days were busy and I could utilize the skillset that I acquired from my Mathematics degree and minors in Data Science, Statistics, and Website Development. Soon after I started my job, I got my driver’s license and was able to go places on my own (needless to say, I shopped wayyyy too much at first haha!). I also got my first-ever paycheck, too. My hard work was paying off. But, still, I missed my old community at Meredith College and within the Raleigh, North Carolina area. It sucked. When you move you have to essentially build up your community yet again. Building up communities in new cities and homes can take multiple years. It felt and still feel elongated due to the lingering effects of COVID-19. It isn’t easy, but it’s reality.

Even almost a year after moving to the Washington, DC area, I still have yet to grow a community here. COVID-19 has made it much harder to build a network and community for everybody – NOT just me. When moving during COVID-19 it’s much harder. Mental health can take a toll on us all. Remember to take time for YOU, moving or not. And, most importantly, know that things WILL get better.

XOXO – Katie <3

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What I Learned from Overcommitment in College

So, if you know me from my college days, then you know that I was the QUEEN of overcommitment. YES, I did SO many things in college (read it all here!) and – trust me – I LOVED every minute of it all, too. Although I did love love love my overcommitment college years, it also had its pitfalls: I most definitely spent many nights up until 3am, worked nonstop, and some all-nighters in the mix. My life in college consisted of work, blogging, committee meetings, social outings, and coffee all in between it all. My life in college contains some of my best memories. BUT, since graduating from college, y’all, I have been TIRED now more than ever before – LOL! The affects of being a workaholic in college are not what I need in my postgraduate years, especially as my priorities will shift when I fulfill my hopeful aspirations of becoming a married working Mama. So, I’m going to be sharing some key takeaways from my years of overcommitting in college.

  1. Sleep is VITAL – When in college, I literally complained to my good friend Claire one night about how I hated sleep – LOL! Seriously, this ACTUALLY happened as I wanted more time to do everything that I had to do without being tired, I mean, same. BUT, as Claire said back to me, “sleep is good.” Yes, sleep is good and always will be. We ALL need sleep even if it is just for a few hours each night. Y’all I rarely listened to my body in college and we have to. Our self care, including SLEEP, is vital to our successes in our career, personal lives, and of course of our physical and mental health.
  2. Prioritize – Yep, when it comes to deciding what you want to get involved in, prioritizing is KEY. Yep – when choosing involvement I definitely learned that I need to pick and choose what I’m most passionate about and what will suit my strengths, MEANWHILE, at the same time, deciding what fits into my schedule given my own personal commitments. For me, nowadays, that is 2-3 things on a regular basis with events related to other interests spread out over the months/year. Personally, being overcommitted kept me going in college as it allowed me to utilize my strengths outside of the classroom in a way that I was also passionate about along with my academics. However, as I got out of college and being wayyy too overcommitted during those days, I have learned that there is only so much that I can do with my time.
  3. Mental Health MATTERS – You know that phrase, “you can’t pour from an empty glass”? Well, we ALL need that valuable time to recharge ourselves and focus on our mental health. Above all else, your mental health matters. I used to break down mentally quite a bit in college. Sadly, I never really knew how to prioritize myself much in college. BUT, as I get out into the real world and am working for a company that truly sees the importance of self care, I find it now more important to take care of myself now more than ever before. I have seen some of my coworkers even take mental health days off, as it is ENCOURAGED. It felt nothing but empowering and rewarding to be able to work at a company that so truly values their employees and their wellbeing. Meanwhile, I also feel now more than ever before that I have to put myself first – above ALL of my extracurriculars and activities and work that I do.
  4. Full Time Jobs are MORE Time Demanding than a Single College Course – While in college, I was in classes usually starting at 10am and ending at 3:30pm with SEVERAL breaks in between that whole mix. That being said, I probably spent 4 hours maybe 5 hours per day in classes while in college. In retrospect, that is NOT a lot of hours. I spent 15-18 hours maximum in a class each week. Nowadays, I do a 40 hour work week as a full time employee. There is a MAJOR difference between getting involved in many extracurriculars and having 18 hours spent in the classroom versus getting involved in many extracurriculars and having 40 hours spent in the classroom. I barely feel awake sometimes after a full day of hard work, yet those are the most rewarding days! So, try adding in 8+ extracurricular activities atop of it all. Well, I think not!
  5. Work comes FIRST – Not going to lie, there were times where I definitely prioritized my committees and extracurricular work over my own schoolwork. While my schoolwork was why I came to college, I also LOVED my activities which kept me overcommitted during those years. I most definitely put my college life and activities first. BUT, I have learned through overcommitment that you do have to put your work first above all else at times. When I say this, I am NOT by any means saying that if you need to take time for yourself, whether to have a mental health day, need a sick day, or even a family matter, then do so and please do it to take care of yourself. BUT there are times that you will not want to show up for a meeting for work, go into the office, or something else, but you need to for your job and for your commitments made. I have always been taught to honor my commitments when I make them. It shows value and true integrity. Remember that.

Above all else, being an overcommitted college student taught me A LOT. It taught me the value of a hard work’s day, to prioritize my work, to feel rewarded by my way, and to truly take care of me. Sometimes, me does come before anything else and that is OKAY. Remember that, y’all.

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Stay Connected to my College as a College Alumnae

They say that college is the best 4 years of your life. While that may be true for some (it felt that way to me at some points!), however your college experience was for you, I see staying connected to your sweet college alma mater is an important part of adulthood. Since graduating from college 8 months ago, I find it tough to keep connectivity with my sweet alma mater, especially when living in a different city. However, I have been able to maintain a strong connection with my sweet college and now alma mater – Meredith College – since graduation! So, I am listing some of the ways that I stayed connected and maintain my connection!

  1. Join an Alumnae Facebook Group – This has been a groundbreaking way for me to stay connected to other Meredith College Alumnae of ALL ages. Meredith College has a private, Alumnae-only Facebook Group where Alumnae of all ages, backgrounds, and generations share job opportunities, photos of old and new Meredith College memories, and hear about the latest and greatest within the Meredith College world and Meredith College Alumnae world. Needless to say, I LOVE interacting with Alumnae of all ages and living all around the world who share their Meredith College Pride with me.
  2. Be sure to keep up to date with your college’s Alumnae email lists – One of the first things that I did when I graduated from Meredith was to add my email to the Meredith College Alumnae email list. I simply went to Meredith’s website and typed in “alumnae” in the search bar. I, then, found where I could sign up for email updates on ALL things Alumnae. Meredith even has an Alumnae-specific online shop called the Meredith Market owned by the Meredith College Alumnae House, where Alumnae can purchase some super adorable merchandise (new every season and certain events on campus, too!). At the same time, I get updates on current happenings and events on campus, Alumnae-specific events, and much more!
  3. Attend Alumnae Reunion Weekends – If you are able to, Alumnae Reunion Weekends are THE BEST! I find these a great way to get connected to people of all ages who happen to be alumnae at your college. They’re also an excellent way to revisit your college campus and relive some of the many amazing memories you may have made there. At the same time, you can reconnect and connect with people you knew during your college years and people you may have not, alike. Either way, you’ll probably make many many more memories on your sweet college campus!
  4. Connect with Alumnae in your area – Many college Alumnae Houses and Associations have Chapters specific to cities where their Alumnae may live. For instance, Meredith College has a Washington, DC Alumnae event that they host every year or more, to connect Alumnae within the Washington, DC area. The same goes for Charlotte, North Carolina and many more cities where Meredith College Alumnae may live. My Big Sis from Meredith actually lives not that far from me – also in the Washington, DC area so I’m glad I have one Meredith connection here and hope to make more as I attend more Meredith College Alumnae via events in Washington, DC!
  5. Make an effort to keep in touch and check in on your college friends every so often – THIS is VITAL to staying connected to your college alma mater. Making sure to stay connected to your friends from college is an important way to feel a connection to your alma mater. I ALWAYS try to reach out to my college friends every so often. Whether you call them, FaceTime them, grab some coffee or dinner, or simply shoot them a text, a nice check in with a good college friend is ALWAYS good for the soul. Life can and will get busy for us ALL, so a simple reaching out to your college friends is always nice – for you and for them. It most definitely is a two way street when coming to reaching out to your college friends or vice versa – both parties have to put in some effort. BUT, if you both make the effort, then that is a friendship that you will have for live!
  6. Support small businesses owned by Alumnae and current students at your alma mater – Personally, I am a sucker for small businesses! I know many of y’all are too. I think it’s fun to support small businesses run by current students and Alumnae of your alma mater, if you can somehow figure out where they went to school. BUT, I will say that simply searching for your college’s name on Etsy is a great place to start, since many small businesses house their sales on Etsy. Another way to search for small businesses run by people from your alma mater is to simply ask around, whether it be on social media or a basic Google search.
  7. Donate to your alma mater (if you’re financially able to!) – One way to make an impact on your alma mater is to give back. Though, I will say that this option is NOT for everyone, whether it be their financial priorities, where they choose to spend their money, or something else and that is all OKAY. Personally, I give back to Meredith College to a department within the college that made a strong impact on me monthly. I am apart of a donor society that’s based on how much many someone donates per month/year and get invited to specific donor events and all through that, too, which is fun. Giving back to Meredith College allows me to leave a mark on my sweet alma mater from afar while knowing that I’m doing something great and still feeling a piece of connection.
  8. Volunteer to help out at events with current students – There are ALWAYS ways for Alumnae to volunteer to help current students at your alma mater. I have helped out with Mock Interview Week at Meredith College and that was really rewarding, especially when I received some sweet notes including a handwritten card from a lovely student and now friend of mine. I also sit on the Honors Program Committee known as the Honors Committee at Meredith as an Alumnae Representative, where I get to interact with current Meredith College students and professors, even many that I knew while at Meredith! Each of these ways of volunteering have kept me connected to Meredith, especially as I have volunteered virtually and sitting right at my desk with my dog for them all.
  9. Attend other Alumnae-related events, especially one’s that may be in your area – Going off of the idea of connecting with other fellow alma mater Alumnae, attending Alumnae events especially in your area is a great thing to do. Not only will you stay connected to your alma mater, but you will also probably find others who share the same love for their college experience that you do too.
  10. Reach out to staff members and professors (if any) still at your alma mater and/or that you want to keep in touch with every so often – Just like reaching out to your college friends, reaching out to your fellow staff members and professors at your alma mater is an excellent way to still feel connected to your alma mater. Meredith College professors and staff LOVE to hear from Alumnae, especially those that they knew while at Meredith and I am pretty sure that other professors and staff at other schools feel the same exact way, too. Not only will you put a smile on those who impacted you while at college’s faces, but you will also put a smile on your own.
  11. Be PROUD of the education and experience that your alma mater provided you with! – Above all else, be PROUD of the time that you spent at your sweet sweet alma mater. Whether you like it or not, it shaped you into the person that you are today and that is something to be proud of. Having that pride for your alma mater will carry over into passion which will enlighten your connectivity to that special alma mater of yours, too.

Now, let’s get to some connecting!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Thoughts + Reflections on Graduating During COVID-19 6 Months Later 

When I started college, my world was filled with hope and excitement. Essentially, I was entering my first four years at Meredith College or my so-called “Wonderland” and I truly saw it as a Wonderland. I was meeting people all around, taking interesting classes, participating in several on-campus activities, exploring my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina, and savoring my first moments of freedom. I had four exciting years of college ahead of me and I was enjoying every single moment that I could. Indeed, I am glad I since did! Fast forward to March 2020 and my college experience turned upside down – the COVID-19 pandemic ensued and transformed our world as we knew it into something that none of us knew what to expect. It was the end of my Junior year of college and my Senior year was looking pretty uncertain and felt that way the entire time. Little did I know, my college career would be changed and I would be graduating within COVID-19 days.

March 2020 was a tough month for all of us. Social distancing was the name of the game and encouraged for all of us. Masks started to become the new normal come April 2020 and into May 2020. Maintaining a 6 foot distance from those not within our households was necessary. All of these precautions were put in place to keep us all safe. But, as we all know, COVID-19 precautions that we took to heart are the antithesis of the typical college experience that all of us knew of. There were no more parties, social gatherings, events, study sessions, and much more. Each and everything that I knew of and loved about my college experience was simply robbed of me. I watched my Class of 2020 classmates talk about their sadness and grief of their college experience essentially ending in the blink of an eye. It was taken away from them never to be seen again. During those uncertain and uncomfortable times, I worried for the rest of my college experience and others’s too.

Come August 2020, I ended up moving back into my college apartment. I lived alone since my roommate did not come back – something I was dreading but actually to my surprise learned to LOVE. In August 2020, masks roamed the campus making it hard to detect who our classmates we hadn’t seen for 6 months really were. Guest policies were strict. Classrooms were set apart, in order to maintain the 6 foot social distancing protocols. My hugger persona learned to embrace the air hug when I saw those friends and classmates and community members whom I love again for the very first time in a long while. All of our lives were changed at that point. Everything was uncertain. We did know that our college experience was going to look remarkably different this coming year. However, we had each other through it all.

The entire year was very different. Everything was done at a distance. I became a club President for my college’s Canaday Math and Computer Science Club and was hopeful to do in-person events, but since had to operate all club functions on a virtual front. The same virtual front went for my fundraisers for my Class of 2021, since I was the Fundraising Chair. I only had one class each semester that was held in-person along with a class that I assisted every Friday afternoon in the Fall semester. It was weird. All events were virtually held or cancelled. Needless to say it was not the same. My classmates and I all missed out that year, but so many people are continuing to miss out on what they thought their college experience would look like. But, things are changing even with COVID-19. They are changing and it is good. In fact, that change occurred during my Senior year of college as well.

I attended multiple in-person events upon graduating from Meredith College. One of those events I even got to chair with planning, which was super bittersweet! I even received an in-person graduation along with the Class of 2020 who had theirs two weeks prior, which I helped Marshall at. Although I had to miss out on a lot, having a string of in-person events was like wrapping the bow on a box at Christmas. In fact, my event advisor and my Tri-chairs and I saw a lot of benefits to hosting COVID-19 friendly events, too, that we hoped would remain true for years to come. It was indeed the best way to end my college experience.

From March 2020-May 2021, the process of moving on from my Meredith College days began. I started to focus more on this platform and my blog here and getting to know y’all – my readers! My good friend from the Class of 2020 was telling me months after graduating during the pandemic that she was already beyond her college years and got the closure she needed. I was beginning to feel similarly, despite my college graduation on-campus being the icing on top of the cake that was my college experience!

You could say that graduating COVID-19 will define me and my whole generation. Although graduating during COVID-19 can be seen to some as a sorrow fest – it is not for me and many others. I grew stronger from these experiences, I learned to love myself, I began putting ME first, I learned what I wanted, and I went for it. I became employed, started and expanded my blog platform, and I made the move up to the nation’s Capital. If I were to not have graduated during COVID-19, who knows what would’ve happened?

XOXO – Katie <3

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Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

Whether it be a club officer position, being a member of a club on campus, or in a leadership position within another capacity, college extracurricular activities are an excellent way to show yourself off. In college, I was personally victimized by overcommitment. I served in SO many leadership roles within my college years – read them all here – that it definitely has helped me in the workforce, too. Today, I will be sharing ways to use your college extracurricular activities within the professional world.

Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

  1. You know how to work with people of all kinds – when serving in a leadership position, you learn how to collaborate and work with people of all kinds. Not everyone has the same way of working, personality type, and so much more than ourselves. Needless to say, everyone is unique and working in a leadership role provides you the lens to work with people who are different from ourselves – something that is seen everyday within the work world.
  2. You can work better under pressure – A lot of the times, when working, others are relying on you to get the job done. The same goes for serving in a leadership capacity in college. When others are relying on you, that can bring about a whole extra level of pressure on your end. But, you learn to work under that pressure and that will help you to succeed at your finest professionally.
  3. You Gain Fundamental Communication Skills – When working, communication is vital to success on everyone’s part. College leadership and extracurriculars teach you how to communicate with others in a way similar to that of the work world and further connects the bridge into the work world. As basic as this skill is, it is one that is acquired over time and one that will serve you so well in the long run.
  4. You Learned Something New – Extracurriculars teach us A LOT about not only ourselves but as a leader too. We learn so much from serving others in a leadership position. What you learn from those extracurriculars can ALWAYS be used in future experiences too, especially in the workforce. The skills that we acquire will help us in SO many ways, even in roles that are very different than our previous one’s.
  5. You are Innovative – Have an idea?! Share it if and when you can! Extracurriculars allow us to be innovative on a regular basis – something that can set you apart within the workforce. Some of the best ideas can help get the job done professionally in the best way possible. Your voice can help so many others, simply from developing an innovative spirit back in your undergraduate days.
  6. You Get Plugged in within Your Company – For the most part, companies offer times for you to get together and know some of your coworkers beyond the working day to day life. My company has Affinity Groups such as the Women’s Forum and LGBTQ+ Alliance and Communities of Practice such as Women in Data and Accessibility Matters that allow for employees to be a leader in an extracurricular front. Not to mention, my company also offers several professional development opportunities and events that allow for me to have extracurriculars within the working world, too. Many other companies have similar extracurriculars, too!

Through it all, every single experience teaches us something whether we realize it or not. The ways that we channel our experiences into our future successes is what matters. Most importantly, none of us are perfect. Personally, I struggle with this concept within the professional world constantly, especially as a newer employee at my company. BUT, that is OKAY – none of us are alone either! How we take our experiences and run like the wind with them is what matters.

XOXO – Katie <3

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My First Time Visiting My College Campus as an Alum

They always say: “when one door closes, another one opens.” On occasion, we revisit former chapters of our lives. It can be great, not so great, or a little bit of both when we do look back at our former times in life. For me, one of the best times of my life was being a college student at Meredith College – an all-women’s college down in Raleigh, North Carolina. And, last weekend, I was very lucky to be able to make a visit down to Meredith College to see campus for the very very very first time since I graduated. Although I was very happy to be back on campus, I am also happy to be beyond my college years *believe it or not*.

To us Meredith students and alums, Meredith College is known to us dearly as “Wonderland.” It is for good reason, too. Like myself, Meredith College is the wonderland where our best memories ever have taken place. There is something so special to my Meredith College sisters and I about our times at Meredith, however long they were for us.

My years at Meredith College, like I said, were some of the best of my life. At Meredith, I served as a student leader within my class and organizations school wide (you can see a list of all of the things that I was involved in in this blog post here), pursued a Mathematics degree with minors in Data Science, Statistics, and Website Development within the BEST Mathematics and Computer Science Department EVER (you can also read about all of the college classes that I took here), and met some of my best friends and now Meredith College sisters along the way. The memories that I made are memories that will last a lifetime and am eternally grateful that I was able to make, despite all of the things that occurred during my college years most notably being COVID-19. Through it all, Meredith College is the home of many of my most special memories. Truly, a Wonderland and my Wonderland these past four years and the several more years to come!

Over the course of my first few months in the post-graduation world I have learned to adapt and move beyond my college years. Looking back in my last few weeks of my undergraduate days, I was extremely drained from it all. I lived for the college life hustle and bustle – exams, homework assignments, long late study sessions, projects, and meetings around the clock. Not to mention, all of the gossip and toxicity – yes, the less-talked about things that are the prime center of any women’s college experience – that occurs, too. While gossip and toxicity occurs EVERYWHERE, at a women’s college, it takes on a different feel that at a coed school, such as my high school. When I graduated from Meredith College, I was drained and tired and ready for something new. Even though it is tough at times transitioning into the post-college way of life, it has shaped me into the woman that I am today and will shape me into the woman that I am to become moving forward. Although I proudly consider Meredith College to be a Wonderland, my sweet and beloved Wonderland is not perfect and neither are we as humans either.

When I stepped foot on Meredith’s campus, I was happy to be there. Meredith College recently filled its trademark Meredith Lake on campus that remained dry for decades before, including when I was a student there. However, I was also relieved to not be a student anymore. I was relieved that I could visit this chapter of my life again and again but not actually re-enter it. I could remember and reminisce about my sweet sweet sweet Wonderland as beautiful as it is, despite my current stage of life as a post-grad.

Whatever life may bring me, I know that Meredith College will always be there for me to step foot on as the most magical Wonderland that I know it to be.

XOXO – Katie <3

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What They Don’t Tell You About the Post-Graduation Transition

  1. You WILL Feel Grief and that is OKAY! – Graduating from college is a loss. It is a loss of a robust social life, living with and near all of your friends and classmates, attending lectures right after rolling out of bed, and less adulting on your end. Moving from college to the real world is quite a challenge, and it is a loss to leave it. It’s a loss of a possibly exciting time in your life, and it is OKAY to feel grief about it. Grief is a normal emotion and it does not just apply to losing loved one’s. Grieving can also apply to times in our lives or things that we enjoyed that we don’t have that we may have had once before. College IS one of those times in our lives.
  2. Less Social Outings – In college, we live right by all of our friends and classmates, if you choose to live on or near campus. With on or near campus housing comes the many many many social outings which come along with everyone living right by each other. At the same time, college comes with a lot of social outings and such – it is exciting, too! When you move and graduate from college, the college social life stays behind. That being said, you will experience a lot less social outings than you did during your college days. As an extrovert, this has been tough for me, even having lived through college during the COVID-19 pandemic during my Junior and Senior years. But, it is a right a passage into adulthood.
  3. Having A LOT More Free Time – Not only does the postgraduate lifestyle bring about a less than ideal social life with a lot less social outings, it also brings about barely any homework! With working full time, there comes the benefit of not having to do much work outside of work. However, before I elaborate a bit more on this point, I do think it is important to mention and honor our extraordinary teachers and others in fields who do spend countless hours outside of their job prepping for their day to day activities at work. So, that being said, depending on your job, you may have to do some work outside of work and sometimes on the weekends in any job, too. In college, having a lot of free time was a luxury. But, nowadays in the postgraduate world, it is coming to you all at once and there’s no shortage of it. One of my coworkers said that he loved that when he finished work and signed off, he had the freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. Indeed, he was right!
  4. More Grocery Store Runs than Ever Before – This one rings true to me more than I thought it ever would – hah! I have always been one to stock up on groceries, but when I graduated from college and had a lot more free time on my hands, I saw myself buying and needing a lot more groceries than ever before. Needless to say, I will 9 times out of 10 see myself needing more coffee creamer after running out in the middle of the week or suddenly needing to simply admire the halls of the grocery store. I have most definitely gotten much more excited about new product releases in stores near me too!
  5. Needing a Budget – In college, we definitely need to stay on a budget. Once we get out into the real world, sticking with a budget is vital and more important than ever before. Putting on our big kid caps means that we don’t have the luxury of student discounts or college student freebies anymore – sad face – and having a budget is super important when it comes to our financial well-being. A few months ago, I wrote a post about budgeting and creating a budget when starting out, and you can read this blog post here.
  6. No, You Don’t Live Right By All Your Friends Anymore – Going off of my points from earlier on, sadly, you don’t live right by all of your friends anymore. *we know, we know* Trust me, it SUCKS! There are many times where I miss walking right out of my door and there are all of my friends right then and there. Post-graduation life means that when you do see your friends it does take quite a bit more planning on both of your ends to simply meet up and perhaps some travel too. Though, in the end, it will all be 10000% worth it and much more meaningful!
  7. Having to Say NO Sometimes – Just like during your college years, there will be times post-college that you’ll have to put your foot down and say NO. Saying no is a vital part of adulthood and a huge accomplishment for any person both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Us humans are not meant to do everything in this world – we can only do so much. As hard as it is to sometimes swallow, we as humans are only capable of doing so much. That being said, we have to listen to ourselves, our bodies, and our minds and ensure that we are doing what we need to do that’s best for ourselves. Sometimes that means saying no to an additional task in or out of work, a social outing or trip due to finances, or a family thing that would hurt you mentally more than help you to go. Through it all, saying no is OKAY. It does not make you a weak person either. Rather, it makes you strong and resilient and more than ever ready to take on this world!
  8. Changes in Your Friendships – The post-graduation transition brings about a lot of changes. One of the most significant changes can be with our own friends. This may be a hard pill to swallow, but not all of your friends will stick around – some may fade away over time, some may depart from your life instantly, and some may stick around and you both will grow closer than ever before. Whatever the situation may be with each of your respective friends, know that the changes occurring are NORMAL and not out of the ordinary. It is OKAY to drift apart from friends given the trajectories of your lives after college. It is also amazing to have a one or a few friends that you will maintain through this transition as well. All throughout this transition, there are changes, but once you pop out of it all, you will see who your true friends from college are and you’ll be oh so thankful they are still in your life and they will be that you’re in theirs. On the same token, definitely be thankful for the friendships you have made in college, even if they may not be as strong of a friendship once you both graduate.
  9. The Working 9-5 Adjustment – Working 9-5 is HARD! A straight shot of work all day 5+ days a week with some breaks sprinkled in isn’t an easy task for anybody. It’s definitely not easy going from college where you have 1-4 classes a day with many breaks in between. It’s definitely not the typical 40 hour work week, so it is hard to get used to. It can be tiring and it’s an adjustment for sure. Also, no pajamas and rolling out of bed in the work world like we used to take for granted in college can be a struggle bus at times. However, work is an essential task and can be pretty great if we let it be. Our jobs are a vital part of our wellbeing and we definitely all want to succeed in them too. If we let our job be an enjoyable part of our day, then we can adjust a lot easier to our work lives as well!
  10. This Transition is ROUGH for EVERYBODY! – Through and through, the post-college graduation transition is HARD. It’s hard for everybody. It’s easy to think that it is not. Nowadays, social media makes us think that everyone has it great and everyone is thriving. When in reality, everyone is not thriving. Some folks may be doing great, but others may not be no matter how they paint a picture of their lives on social media. Just know, graduating from college is hard and the months and even a few years after it will be. That’s okay – I’m in this transition too and it is a struggle bus and there’s a lot I feel like I need to figure out about how I want to proceed with things in my life moving forward into my 20’s while not in school anymore. But, I will get through it and make it out okay and be stronger than ever before. And guess what?! So will YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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What The Moving to a New City Transition ACTUALLY Entails!

Moving can be daunting y’all, especially when you have NO CLUE as to what you may be getting into! If you know me, then you know that I currently live in the Washington, DC area after attending college and living in Raleigh, North Carolina for four years. I most definitely called Raleigh home for these past four years, and it always will be. However, I knew that I needed a change in my life in terms of where I lived. So, when the right job opportunity for me popped up in the Washington, DC area, I took a leap of faith and decided to make the big move to the nation’s capital. Once I got here, my preconceived notions were drastically different and that is OKAY. I know that my assumptions about my move were not what they turned out to be and that it is the same for many. That being said, today, I will be breaking down what the moving to a brand-new city transition ACTUALLY entails!

  1. You WILL NOT know people and that is OKAY – Whether you come from a big city or a small town or something of sorts in between, moving to someplace brand-new means that *yes* you are in the newbie in town. I know some people who move to a brand-new place and know only a handful of people or even next to none. On the other hand, I know some folks who have moved to a new city to have their family and some friends there (case in point: myself) or make the move with a significant other and/or their children. Whoever or wherever you are moving to, you will not know everyone in your new area. Even if you are moving to a place that you lived years prior, you probably still won’t know everyone like you did when you left. Cities, towns, and places in general do change over the years – people for the most part are moving in and out of places. So, that being said, there will be lots of new people around and that can be a great thing as it sets the stage for plenty of opportunities to mingle within your own backyard like you may never have before!
  2. Establishment within your community – Going off of the idea of not knowing everyone or enough people to make yourself feel as if you’re apart of your new community, others that are in your community have probably placed down their roots already, even if it’s only been recently. Case in point: when I moved to the Washington, DC area, my family and friends in the area had already established their roots here. That, however, did not mean that they didn’t make time for me. It simply just meant that they already have a footing that is long than my own in this area, which is NORMAL. It WILL take time for you to develop your own footing within your new hometown and that is OKAY. I think of it this way: when I went off to college, it took me and my friends a few months-a year or even more to fully adjust to life there and get a grip on it all. This SAME concept of adjusting to college life goes to life in your new city – it is only normal. Above all else, remember that you WILL thrive in your new city, yet it just may take some time for you to just that!
  3. Things will change in your former city and so may your friend circle – Ah, the dreaded things will change sentiment. *I know, I know*, it may be a challenge to hear this as it is a hard pill to swallow. BUT, as we all know, change is inevitable. It is for all of us. Friend groups change as we move cities, graduate from high school, college, and even switch jobs. Change is bound to happen, and, although we may not enjoy it, it is meant to happen and we must take it with a grain of salt. At times, it can be tough to see your friends and family in your previous hometown simply going about their lives there on the daily, but it is not the end of the world. Your friends and family will have those adjustment periods in their lives, too. In fact, they are 9 times out of 10 adjusting to the fact that you’re not living near them anymore, too. It goes both ways. Above all else, be sure to keep in touch with your friends and family in your own hometown and make time for them, whether it be sending them a letter in the mail, a text message, calling them, or planning a visit to see them. On the same token, you can also use your move as an opportunity to invite your friends and family to come and stay with you, as they will: 1 – have a free place to stay and 2 – be able to check out your new digs!
  4. Lots of alone time – Alone time can be dreadful for some, but it can also be a time of self growth and courage. Being alone was one of my biggest fears in my high school and early college years. However, when I lived by myself my Senior year of college during the COVID-19 pandemic, that fear went away over time and I began to embrace it and actually grow from it all. Depending on where you are moving to and who you are moving with if anyone, you are bound to have some more alone time as you set foot in your new city. It’s the name of the game y’all! For some, this may be a challenge as you may have never actually had to spend time alone and that is OKAY. Finding hobbies, new activities to try, and checking out trails and restaurants near your new home are a great way to actually enjoy being alone. In fact, one of my college professors once said that everyone must do something alone such as travel, go see a movie, or shop. Indeed, she was right!
  5. Getting lost A LOT – Going to a new city in general will involve getting lost a bit along the way. I am most definitely someone who WILL get lost and I’m not afraid to admit it! Getting lost or not knowing your way, whether it be learning a new transit system, navigating a new job, or making your way down the streets of your new town, can be scary. But, DO NOT be afraid to ask for help! In fact, not knowing your way at first will pave the way for you learning the way. It’s all about the process.
  6. Homesickness – Whether or not you felt at home in your previous home base, you will probably feel homesick and miss it once you move. Even if you were ready to leave, there will still be many aspects of your old hometown that you will miss once you’re not there. You know that one thing that was annoying at the time? Well, you may miss that, too! Sometimes, things about your old hometown that you thought you would not miss you’ll actually miss. The same concept can go for the things that you knew you would miss, as well. It is OKAY to miss things from back at your old home. The best part, though, is that when you go back to visit, they will probably be there waiting for your arrival!
  7. You will LOVE your new town! – The best part of it all?! You will fall in LOVE with your new town and you will thrive!!! Moving can be difficult and has its hardships, but at the end of the day, you will fall in love again and again with your new city and make it your own while at it. Although it may take some time to get to that point, you will and it will be great, too!

Moving can be daunting and very difficult at times, but I have seen that the rewards most definitely outweigh the risks. There is so much to be said for getting out of your comfort zone and taking a leap of faith, especially if it means moving to a brand-new city. In the end, it will ALL be worth it – just wait!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Got Involved in College

Getting involved is a GREAT way to stay in the know and connected to others when in college! Throughout my four years at Meredith College, I got involved in a ton of different ways (you read more about them here). As a recent college grad, I definitely have experienced the in’s and out’s of getting involved at college and staying connected throughout your four years (or more or less) of college, even with COVID-19 (I also wrote a guide on that, too – read it here!). There are a variety of ways that one can get connected within their college campus, which I am happily here to share!

How To: Get Involved at College

  1. Attend club fairs – colleges have a variety of different organizations. Club fairs are an opportunity to go learn more about all of the clubs and organizations that you can get involved in on your campus. You can easily acquire a lot of information on several different organizations. Most of these organizations also have opportunities for you to connect with them such as signing up for email lists, connecting on social media, etc. The best part?! You get to learn about them all all at once!
  2. Facebook Groups and other social media pages – the majority of colleges have Facebook Groups of sorts. I know that Meredith College has a Facebook Group for each class which is an excellent way to meet all accepted students and students who eventually will become official members of your college class. Not only can you meet potential roommates and suite mates from these groups, but you can also connect with folks in various other ways. Meredith is a much smaller college than others, so, personally, I am not as aware of if other colleges have other Facebook Groups beyond theirs classes. But, whatever your school does have, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM!!!
  3. Introduce yourself to a friendly face – whether in in the classroom, dining hall, or around campus, if you see a friendly face then introduce yourself! Bit the bullet and create ties with someone new. For instance, in the classroom, it is always super nice to have study buddies. As you dig into your major-related classes, it is super great to have created bonds with those within your major and major-related classes. Some of the best bonds that I have created are with those from within my major and truly connected with them. My fellow Math major friends and I would get together every so often and have dinners together along with attending events on-campus. Moreover, you can also connect and get involved with folks in your academic area of interest, too, in college events, clubs, and much more!
  4. Attend club/organization functions of your interest – attending a club’s/organization’s meetings is an excellent way to meet others that may be on the same wavelength as yourself when it comes to that area of interest that can be offered there. Many clubs/organizations provide others with the opportunity to attend events and get involved on their campus within several ways.
  5. Know that it TAKES TIME – one of the things that I needed to realize but didn’t right away is that your involvement and friendships in college do not come to you right away. Trust me, it ALL TAKES TIME! Just be open to whatever comes your way and establish as many connections as you can and, trust me, it will all unfold the way it is meant to and when you least expect it.

Getting involved in college can be daunting, but it is so rewarding in the end. The relationships that you will establish could last a lifetime and some, if not many, will. The same goes for the memories that you will make, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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