2 Years After Studying Abroad in 3 Countries

Fun fact: in college, I won the class superlative for “Mostly Likely to Talk About her Study Abroad Experience”! As someone who has LOVED her study abroad experiences in college, I am proud to be able to talk about and share the good in studying abroad. In fact, I did study abroad in three different countries while in college: Italy in June 2018, England in July 2018, and Belize in June 2019. If you know me in real life and especially on my college’s campus when I was a student there, then you know that my study abroad experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today. My moments studying abroad remind me of who I was before I left to go abroad and the woman that I have become and will become.

If you follow me on my social media, then you probably know that I LOVED my travel experiences over the few years prior to COVID-19. Indeed, I loved those experiences OH SO MUCH that I shared some of my many memories from my study abroad and even travel abroad and stateside experiences on my Instagram Stories on that day that I was there just years later. Yes, my study abroad and travel and even stateside travel experiences have been formative experiences for me, but they also ignited my personal passion and lifelong investment in travel.

I am one to believe that travel does not have to be a trip where you hop in your car or on a plane and spend 1+ hour in travel mode. You can, indeed, check out the nearby park in your neighborhood or the next town over to get a great experience, too. For example, my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina is a much different city than my current hometown of Washington, DC. Raleigh has a warm, Southern culture, meanwhile, Washington, DC has a big city and a hustle and bustle feel to it. In the case of both of these cities, if you drive 30 minutes out, then you will get a totally new, fresh, and different feel in the cultures, looks of the towns, and things to do. Both of those cities allow for day trips that can bring about personal learning and growth without spending a fortune to go far away. This same idea goes for your own hometown, too! Trust me, I will say this and I will say it again: EXPLORE WHERE YOU LIVE!!!!

Now, you may be wondering, what did I do when I studied abroad and where exactly in Italy, England, and Belize did I reside?! Well, in Italy, I studied abroad in the small Tuscan town of Sansepolcro – it is about an hour outside of Arezzo and 90 minutes outside of Florence. As cliche as it sounds, while in England, I studied abroad in London – the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom. And, in Belize, I studied abroad in San Ignacio the capital of the rainforest region in Belize known as Cayo. It is a smaller sized town in relative to many many cities and towns that I have visited in the past, yet it is a mighty hub in Cayo and Belize as a whole. I also visited Scotland, The Vatican, and France as well as various cities in Italy, England, and Belize. Each of these places are very contrasting amongst one another, which makes it a great fit for learning, growing, and engaging within another culture.

Besides engaging with other cultures, study abroad brought me a whole new perspective onto life. I was pushed beyond my limits in several ways, which I think was a blessing in disguise. The only way that you grow and expand your limits is to push yourself, and study abroad presented me with that opportunity. Similarly, I was presented with the opportunity to utilize my problem-solving skills on the spot, which, in fact, help me in my everyday life in my job as a data scientist and in everyday situations. Case in point, a few weeks before I left for Italy, I was visiting my friend in Philadelphia and ended up putting my credit card into a machine to get a train ticket that ended up being broken. The card got stuck and I ended up in a panic crying outside of the train station for a good 15 minutes. I figured out a solution, but it took some time. However, in the past few days, I can problem solve literally on the spot. And, I can thank study abroad for those experiences and that newfound gift that I have.

I also experienced a newfound sense of pride and independence since studying abroad. I used to be afraid to do things alone. I was uncomfortable with the idea of doing things by myself. A lot of other people are and maybe some of y’all are too. Don’t worry – we ALL have been there! But, study abroad pushed me to be able to be comfortable doing things on my own and navigate a brand-new place on my own. It has been super rewarding to be able to have that comfort and peace of mind knowing that I can do it all on my own. Personally, I probably would not have made the move to Washington, DC if it wasn’t for study abroad!

Overall, study abroad has been able to open my mind up to this extraordinary world that we all live in. My experiences studying abroad help me to this day in my day to day life and I am grateful for that.

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XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s: Why I LOVE Being Single!

Calling ALLL my single ladies and gents and peeps, now, put your hands up! *Cues Beyonce* It can be a struggle to be single at times, but there are so many benefits to it that can sometimes overlook the cons. Since COVID-19 began back in March 2020, I truly started to embrace the benefits and enjoy being single. There are MANY reasons to love being single. Here, I am going to list some of the many many many reasons that I have loved being single and why you should, too!

Reasons Why I LOVE Being Single

  1. Freedom – guess what?! You have the freedom to do what YOU want to do with your life at this special time of being single. Whether it be spending a night on your couch watching Netflix with a bowl of popcorn and not worrying about having to share or online shopping til you drop with your own money and treating yourself, your freedom to do what your heart desires is yours, especially before settling down. You are able to plan your personal schedule around whatever you choose and your finances, too. When dating, your personal schedule drastically changes to include your partner and their needs and wants as well. The same idea goes for your finances, especially when it comes to dates for the two of you and gifts for anniversaries and holidays along with some surprises here and there. Want to plan that trip of your dreams to Peru?! Then GO! Want to save up for that handbag you’ve been eyeing for a while?! Then DO IT! Want to watch that show on Hulu all night long that no one else wants to do?! Then WATCH IT and enjoy your favorite snack as you do! Want to join that team?! Then JOIN! Whatever your heart desires, you have the freedom to do it and without worry of what someone else may think or how they will be impacted by it.
  2. A chance to save up – when you’re single, your financial demands are solely on yourself and only you. Although marriage does have its benefits when it comes to taxes and insurance amongst many others financially, it is nice to be able to use your money for your own personal benefit. Before dating anyone, you can have the chance to save up for what YOU want to save up for in your life. Whether that be travel, a house, a luxury handbag, a pet, an emergency fund, or something else. You don’t have to save it for a wedding, kids, or even a house if you do not want to, either. You get to choose what your money goes towards and that is an amazing thing. Moreover, your financial future will thank you when you have some extra cash saved for a rainy day.
  3. Travel – when you’re single, then it’s the time to travel and see the world! I studied abroad in three different countries while in college – something that I do not know if I would be able to do if I had been in a relationship throughout my college years. For the most part, once you choose to settle down, the opportunity to travel tends to get slimmer than it used to be. Now when you’re single is the time to travel, whether it be domestic or international. You also get to use all of your PTO anyway you want to and that can include your own personal travel, rather than travel demands as per your significant other like seeing their family and friends. You get to determine where YOU go on vacation – it can be independent, with friends, or family. Whatever and wherever you choose to travel to, then GO!
  4. Time to focus on personal goals and hobbies – when single, your time is 10000% YOURS! That being said, you can use your own time to focus on your own personal goals or hobbies. If I had been in a relationship in college, I probably would not have started my platform here and be the blogger that I am today. I never would have started getting into cooking and cooking for others if I were in a relationship and had been for many years before. At the same time, I was super involved throughout my college years and am starting to get involved in my recent post-grad years. My involvement has allowed me to meet many others and grow as a person. If it were not for being single, then I would not have been able to get involved to the capacity that I have been able to. My time is mine and it is all for me to use to explore my own interests and get involved in whatever I so choose.
  5. Career first – my time as a single lady can truly be used to get established and advance within my career without demands of a significant other. I can put my work first and truly grow within my career. At the same time, do not strive to be a workaholic, but have a strong work life balance. When not dating, you can focus on your career and allow it to take you wherever it lands you. Have a job offer in a different city?! Then take it – no one is slowing you down! Want to switch careers?! Then make that switch! Want to invest your time and finances in getting a degree or certification?! Then GO for it! As a single person, you have the time to invest in whatever you want to invest in for your own career advancement. Establishing your own career path is something that is important and when you’re single it’s a great thing to be able to do before settling down.
  6. No significant other commitments – let’s be honest here: it can be oh so stressful when it comes to commitments that come with having a significant other. Whether it be financial, time, emotional, or familial, relationships can take a toll on us all in a variety of different ways. When you’re single, it is great that you do not have ANY of these extra commitments to worry about! Your commitments revolve around YOU and your life and not someone else’s.
  7. Prioritize yourself – NOW is the time to prioritize you and only YOU! Career-wise, friendship-wise, family-wise, financially, or personally, you are able to make your own personal priorities without much worry of anyone else or theirs. Your personal demands are yours and only yours. No one else is involved. It is just you and your own priorities. Moreover, this is an important time to focus on your own self love and growth. Work on being the best YOU that YOU can be, especially for when your special someone does come along. Trust me, you’ll be thankful that you did.
  8. No additional commitments at the holidays – I love love love knowing as a single lady that the holidays are mine and mine to choose what I do. Let’s be real here, relationships with the in-law’s can be awkward and sometimes not the best. However, relationships with the in-law’s can be pretty great too. Whatever the case may be for you when the time comes along, it is pretty great not to have the worry about seeing the in-law’s at the holidays! It can also get complicated when you have to factor in seeing you family and your significant other’s at the holidays, too. It’s nice to know that you get to choose where you are at the holidays and who you are with for the time being.
  9. Truly evaluate what you want in a partner – when you’re single, you can know what you truly want in a partner. Personally, I have learned a lot of traits that I like and do not like in my future significant other from hearing my friends’ own experiences both good and bad from their own relationships. I can witness what has worked for them and what doesn’t and learn about what my work for me, based on their relationship experiences. Similarly, I have learned to pick up red flags even faster than before – surprisingly enough. Through it all, when you’re single, you get to learn more and more about yourself and take that time to fall head over heels in love with yourself. When you do just that, coincidentally, you also evaluate what you want in a partner, too. That way, you’ll be ready for the right person when they come along!
  10. Prioritize your friendships and familial relationships – through it all, your friendships and family are important and an integral part of our mental wellbeing. You can truly establish those friendships and familial relationships while single. Whether single or not, it is important to keep them close. However, when you’re single, you’re especially able to prioritize your friends and family. Knowing how to prioritize your friends and family is a skill that can be hard to come by, but an important one. At the same time, you always have your friends and family through the good times and the bad times – single or not. The experiences that you have made through friendships and family are ones that have shaped you. When you are single, you can truly focus on those relationships and maintain them pretty well once you do start dating.

Fellow single folks, there are several things to be grateful for about your single life. It can be tough at times to be single, but there are many extraordinary things about it. Remember to care for yourself and love yourself through thick and thin and one day someone will love you for who you are too. But, in the meantime, enjoy your single life for what it is and make the best of it.

Above all else, remember that you are single and FABULOUS!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Relationship Sunday’s – Why Now is the Time to be Single!

The other day, I read an article by The Knot who reports on the annual average age of marriage in the United States. Typically, the average age of marriage is in someone’s twenties for both men and women. However, to everyone’s surprise, including my own, the average age of marriage in the United States is 32. Since the average age of marriage has increased, so has the number of years that people have taken to enjoy being single and independent before settling down. That being said, when it comes to relationships, now and in one’s twenties is the time to be single!

Explanation speaking, people are choosing to get married in their 30’s nowadays due to a variety of different reasons. First, people are using their twenties as a time to get financially established and develop in their careers. They are also using this time to potentially pay off student loans and develop their own independence and sense of self. Moreover, people are using their twenties to be selfish and do what they want before being tied down to someone else or someone’s else. People are striving to also find a sense of self and strive to continue to develop who they are as a person and truly decide what they want in life before settling down. At the same time, life is getting more expensive. College costs are rising which means that student loan debts are rising. The housing market is in an extreme boom which comes with the high costs of rent, down payments, and mortgages. When it comes to marriage, the costs of weddings are also in a major boom. Most parents of the partners getting married either do not contribute at all to the cost of the wedding or contribute to part of the costs for it. Millennials and Gen-Zer’s are extremely into creating a wedding that is Instagrammable and perfect for the feed while fostering a down-to-earth experiences for their guests, all at a hefty price tag.

Personally, I was relieved at the increase of the average age of marriage in the United States. Coming from a college where it felt like everyone within the student body was getting married upon graduation, it’s refreshing to hear that most of the world is not that way. I know that my peers within the Washington, DC area are on a similar standpoint when it comes to getting married later on in their twenties and thirties. It’s nice to see that several people are taking their twenties to be single and simply enjoy it.

All throughout my college years, my Mom and other family members would tell me the significance of getting married once you have uncovered a sense of self first. According to my Mom’s research, you do not truly have a fully developed brain until you are 25 years of age. That being said, using ones twenties and more specifically their early twenties for solely being single is the way to go. Not only are you able to get to learn more about yourself, but you are able to do what YOU want to do without asking others. That being said, now is surely the time to be single and do things for YOU and no one else.

Dating can be TOUGH, but there is something to be said about being single and taking the time to do so. I feel that I am happily able to do what I want to do in life with no stress or worry about anyone else significant in my life. I am also able to work on discovering and loving myself and only me. That way, when I do get in a relationship, I am ready to be my best self for my soulmate wherever they may be!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Guest Write: Megan & Emily of Sundae Sisters Co!

If you haven’t seen the most adorable sister duo, then look no further than Megan and Emily! Megan and Emily co-founded their own sticker line where they sell their stickers on Etsy and locally within the Raleigh-Cary area. Megan has become one of my good friends at Meredith College, she is also my best friend Laurie’s Lil Sis through Meredith’s Big Sis/Lil Sis program! I have also learned a lot about her sister Emily who has Down syndrome and is breaking barriers everyday as a person with the disability. Today, I am letting both Megan and Emily take the wheel as I will be interviewing them about their journey with Sundae Sisters Co, life as sisters, and future aspirations for their business.

Tell me a bit about yourselves!

We are Sundae Sisters Co! I (Megan) had the idea to change my old Etsy shop to better include Emily. With Covid, she did not get as much work experience through her school and was also having trouble finding a job. Individuals with special needs are already severely un-employed, but adding a global pandemic on top did not help. So I started designing stickers and Emily does all of the packaging. We started around Mid-May and have sold over 250 stickers!

Megan, I know you are currently in college. What school do you attend and what are you studying?

I am a rising Sophomore at Meredith College in Raleigh,NC and I am studying Child Development in hopes of becoming a teacher.

Emily, I know you recently just graduated from high school – congrats! What are your next steps?

I will continue packaging for Sundae Sisters Co, which I love doing. I check everyday to see if I have new orders to package. I was also recently hired as a volunteer for Esteamed Coffee in Downtown Cary,NC! I will start training this summer. I also love participating in Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh programs such as yoga, ballet, and social skills. I am also on a competitive cheer team at Inspire Athletics, we are called the Superstars.

Share a fun fact about each of y’all!

We share this fact because we are both huge Disney fans! If you ever are going to Disney World or Disneyland, contact us for tips! Megan’s favorite rides are Everest and Flight of Passage. Emily’s favorite rides are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Flight of Passage.

Tell me a bit about Sundae Sisters Co and the mission behind it!

Our mission is to spread happiness and kindness to others through our designs while also showing the importance of employing individuals with special needs. Many businesses don’t employ people with special needs because they don’t see all or their abilities, so we want to show people that they are valuable employees.

What made y’all choose to start Sundae Sisters Co?

I (Megan) have always loved being crafty. I already had an Etsy shop but kind of sold very random things. I also knew Emily was graduating soon and with Covid, she was going to have trouble finding a job. So I rebranded my Etsy to better include her with something she could easily ship, but also something I love to sell! It’s a win-win for both of us because we both have an outlet we enjoy within the business.

So, tell me about y’all’s design process – how do y’all brainstorm your super fun and adorable designs?!

 We get a lot of requests which we love getting, please send them in! We also get lots of inspiration from social media and pictures we take. We love taking pictures of plants and different landmarks.

Speaking of designs, please tell me both of your favorite designs!!!

Megan’s favorite design right now is the Retro Van Sticker because she loves the colors! Emily loves the Lucky Few sticker which is a symbol for Down Syndrome!

Stickers from the Vaccinated Line releasing this Tuesday July 13
Stickers from the Collegiate Line releasing on July 27

I know you both work together as a team to execute both designing and sending off stickers to their new homes. How do y’all make the magic happen?!

Megan handles designing the stickers, printing (which we do in house), listing each item, and keeping everything organized. Emily is in charge of all shipping which includes writing each thank you note by hand, gathering the stickers for each order, packaging, weighing, adding the stamp, and putting it in the mailbox! She also will sometimes prep things like envelopes or supplies for our vendor events.

You both have visited local farmers markets, such as in Cary, to showcase your business. Do y’all have any dream markets that y’all want to showcase at?

There are lots of different markets in the Triangle, it’s overwhelming sometimes. We loved being at Food and Flea in Downtown Cary in June, we hope to be back a few more times this fall just in time for the holidays! We would also love to have our stickers sold in local stores in boutiques, that is something we are working on now!

Megan & Emily selling stickers at Food and Flea in Cary, North Carolina

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that y’all donate some of your profits to a different charity each month. Giving back is SO important. How does charity play a role in Sundae Sisters Co’s mission?

So many charities have benefited our family, such as North Carolina Down Syndrome Alliance, Gigi’s Playhouse Raleigh, Miracle League, Esteemed Coffee and more! We think it is so important to give back to the community as they have given to us. We are trying to donate every month as well as have a sticker that donates profits to a specific charity each month.

I am so inspired by y’all’s business! What would y’all say to someone who is looking to start their own business someday?

 Just go for it! Take it slow and don’t over-invest so you don’t get in over your head. Then re-invest the money you make or a portion of it back into your business to help it grow.

Y’all are both strong advocates for inclusion and acceptance of everybody. Tell me about your experiences as advocates!

I think our parents have always instilled in us that it is important to fight for what is right and to be inclusive of everyone, no matter their walk of life. Everyone is different and that is what makes us unique individuals. Being apart of the disability community is fun and exciting, but it can also open doors to show the hard parts of having a disability. This has made us want to fight even more to share the message that everyone should be included and given the same opportunities. For example, I (Megan) was inspired by NC State’s Victory Day game that they did with Gigi’s Playhouse. It was an inclusive night where individuals with  Down Syndrome got to experience practice and a game of football with the NC State Football team. So, I created my own version of that at my High School. Inclusion events like these become a ripple effect to show others that individuals with special needs are just like everyone else, they just want to have fun and make friends!

What is in the oh-so exciting future of Sundae Sisters Co?

Well, we hope to get lots more orders. Just these past few weeks, our orders have quadrupled. We would love to do more markets and maybe have a few more friends with special needs help us. If we grow even more, we would love to have others help us with packaging so they can learn work skills too. We would also love to have our stickers available in stores, this way we could get our designs and mission out to a larger community!

Lastly, if you each could tell yourself one thing before you started Sundae Sisters Co, then what would it be?

I think we both would never have imagined it being as successful as we have been in our first month of being open. We are so thankful to each and every person who has supported us; whether it was just a like, comment, sharing us on social media, placing an order or visiting us at a market.

I cannot wait to see ALL that Megan and Emily do moving forward and I hope you do, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Guest Write: Ainsley on Holistic Living!

Hey y’all! Today, I have my first-ever guest writer on the blog – my good friend Ainsley! Ainsley and I met at Meredith College through social media and my blog of all things during my Senior year! She is a Sophomore at Meredith College studying Business and Theatre and a consultant at Arbonne who strives to share the importance of healthy living and empowerment for all. Today, Ainsley will be talking about her daily life holistic living experiences and how you can practice it, too. Let’s welcome Ainsley!!!

Hey everyone! I’m Ainsley- I met Katie through school and we’ve become good friends since! I’m so excited to share with you all today about something very dear to me and part of my daily life- holistic healthy living. 

8 years ago, my step-mom came into my life, and she had just started her own business as an Arbonne Independent Consultant. With that, she introduced me to this whole new way to take care of myself in body, mind and skin. Before I was introduced to Arbonne and their approach to living well, I had never given thought to taking care of the largest organ in my body or taking care of my gut to help my mental health and skin clarity.

Holistic healthy living is about taking care of every part of your body to feel your best. Everything is all connected- what you put on your skin absorbs into your bloodstream; your gut health has a huge impact on your serotonin production and your skin clarity level. Living well this way allows you to take care of every aspect of yourself so that you can be your best self for others. It’s also about doing this self-care daily, and that’s where Arbonne comes in.

Arbonne has been around for 40+ years globally; we’ve been 100% vegan since we were founded, completely cruelty free because everything is scientifically tested on humans (the clinical trial results are available at arbonne.com), and we ban over 2,400 toxins and chemicals where the US only bans 11-15 and Europe only about 1,500. Arbonne is also a certified B Corporation meaning we are a force for good for people and the planet; not only are we committed to environmental sustainability in product packaging, but we also sustainably source the best ingredients from around the world. As a B Corp, we also have legal accountability, customer, and employee welfare programs. This company has continued to impress me with their products, service, and sustainability and accountability measures over the 8 years I’ve been around this. I love it so much because Arbonne provides pure, safe, and beneficial products as tools I need to help integrate healthy living into my daily routine.

For example, when I get up in the morning, I always do my skincare routine, and then I have a nutrient-dense smoothie as a part of my breakfast along with my B vitamins in the energy fizzies. To make my smoothie, I get 8oz of water and put in 2 scoops of the Arbonne FeelFit Pea Protein Chocolate Flavor, which not only has 20g vegan protein, but also has a blend of 24 vitamins and minerals that my body can easily absorb into my bloodstream. I also add a scoop of the BeWell Superfood greens because I struggle to get my greens in, and this has 37 different fruits and veggies all blended together! I then add a banana, peanut butter, and ice. It’s delicious!! So smooth and creamy and tasty 🙂 Having an EnergyFizz is also a morning essential for me. It only has 55 mg of caffeine from green tea and guarana, and only 2g organic cane sugar! The main ingredients are actually B6 and B12 vitamins to help my body generate natural, sustainable energy and help my brain function. My favorite is the Strawberry flavor!! I just mix it up in water and it’s delicious 🙂

After breakfast, I take care of my skin using the Re9 Prepwork skincare. This is my fav skincare because it’s super fast in the morning! Taking care of your skin is a really important part in holistic healthy living because what you put on your skin absorbs into your bloodstream; plus, it’s the largest organ in your body.

However, your skin clarity is only going to be as good as your gut health- which is why I also have the GutHealth digestion and microbiome support to give my gut an extra boost. It’s got prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to help your body break down the crap sitting in your intestines (yes, we all have it- usually anywhere from 6 to 21 pounds of it just sitting there! yuck!). If you’re just getting started with holistic healthy living, I would highly recommend the GutHealth as something to help your body get started in healing itself. Using that to help you along with tuning into the messages your body is sending, moving your body daily, and starting to take care of your skin will help you establish daily habits for taking care of yourself.

Ever since I started taking care of myself this way, I’ve seen a huge difference in how I look and feel- some people have told me I just glow differently in a good way! This has made such a difference in my life and been a huge gift to my family, friends, and everyone I’ve encountered that I now have my own business as an Arbonne Independent Consultant and District Manager.

I’m so grateful that Katie has invited me to come and share some tips for holistic healthy living with you all today! Taking care of your gut by fueling yourself properly, getting enough rest, tuning into the messages your body is sending, moving your body regularly, and surrounding yourself with good friends and a positive mindset will take you so far!

If you want to shop any of the products I mentioned to help you out as you get started on living well holistically, here is my website link: www.ainsleymengel.arbonne.com

Thank you, Ainsley for your wise words. Hopefully we can ALL learn a bit from Ainsley and her empowering holistic living experiences!

XOXO – Katie <3

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I Planned an Event During COVID-19

COVID-19 has transformed the ways that events are held. Unfortunately, my Senior year social calendar was taken over by Zoom. At the same time though, I got to enjoy some in-person events, including one event that I got to plan myself with some of my Meredith friends and Tri-Chairs Maggie and Miranda. The event was socially distanced and followed all of the safety measures put in place, in order to protect ourselves from COVID-19. Through it all, getting to plan an event during the pandemic was such a bittersweet and fun experience.

Meredith College is notorious for their Traditions also known as events that are put on each year for with specific one’s for each class based on their year. The Tradition that I got to help plan was Class Day. Class Day is a Tradition held for Sophomores and Seniors each year where the Sophomore Class honors the Senior Class who is their Big Sis class on graduating and reflecting on their four years at Meredith. The Sophomore (Lil Sis Class) creates a daisy chain in the shape of the numerals of their graduating Big Sis Class. It is such a sentimental event for both classes and it was super fun to plan!

In terms of COVID-19, Class Day obviously looked a bit different. Usually, Class Day is held in the courtyard at Meredith; however, due to COVID-19, my Tri-Chairs and I decided to hold it in our amphitheater, in order to accommodate more people who maintaining a social distance. Usually, the daisy chain is presented in the form of a processional, instead, we had the Lil’s procession out themselves without the daisy chain. And, obviously, everyone was seated 6 feet apart and no guests were allowed. Lastly, we held the event at 3 different time slots, which people could sign up for via SignUp Genius. The time slots were much shorter than the traditional 1-2 hour long event as they were 30 minutes each and everyone had to leave right after the event. Although Class Day did not look the way that it had in years past, my Tri-Chairs and I still made it look very beautiful and made it special for our classmates and ourselves.

In a typical year, most Class Day meetings are held in-person. This year, they were held over Zoom. After having an entire year of Zoom meetings, I still found them to be just as productive as in-person meetings if not even more. I was able to better multitask on Zoom than in-person and be able to snack better rather than not being able to while wearing a mask. It was also nice because I could meet from wherever, too!

My main duty for Class Day was to coordinate the fundraiser. As the Class of 2021 Fundraising Chair, I had coordinated several fundraisers throughout this past year before and knew how to successfully execute one yet again. Since the Class of 2020 and Class of 2022 missed out on their Class Day fundraiser due to the pandemic last year, I decided to hold the Class Day fundraiser to include the Classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. I had a friend of mine in my Lil Sis Class (Class of 2023) share with me an amazing shirt design in February that my Tri-Chairs and I loved it so much that we decided to use it. In the past, we have sold and designed a Class Day towel to sell as the Sophomores carry out the daisy chain. But, since the daisy chain could not be safely carried out with social distancing considered, we decided to sell a mask instead. One of my Tri-Chairs also made a mask design with a daisy on it. So, we sold both a mask and a shirt.

Throughout the entire planning process, there were many meetings, emails, and times to even meet up in-person. I cannot tell you how many email chains I have been apart of in the past 6 weeks! Some of the email chains were super fun to read, too. Although we had to make several changes to Class Day this year as compared to years past, it was still a super special event and I am glad I got to be apart of planning it. Moreover, there were many changes that my Tri-Chairs and I actually enjoyed that the staff members who advise the planning process with us all liked and want to keep as apart of Class Day moving forward. It was great to be able to make some changes that are going to be in place for years to come.

Overall, I am oh so blessed that I was able to be apart of planning an amazing Tradition, such as Class Day. Class Day is a bittersweet event for both the Sophomore and Senior classes. I was happy I could be a major part of making it happen, even during COVID-19!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Georgetown Cupcakes Delivery Review

My favorite dessert is cupcakes! Remember the show DC Cupcakes?! Well, you’re in luck because the cupcake shop that is featured on the show, Georgetown Cupcakes, delivers their cupcakes nationwide. Over the years, I have received a dozen Georgetown Cupcakes shipped to me from my Dad as a birthday gift. Today, I am sharing an *unsponsored* review of my experiences receiving a delivered dozen of Georgetown Cupcakes.

Where do they deliver?

Georgetown Cupcakes delivers to all states in the United States, with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii.

When should I place my order?

You must place an order at 5pm the day before your delivery date, in order to receive it.

How do the cupcakes stay cool and collect when shipping?

Each package of cupcakes comes wrapped in bubble wrap with ice packs on the top, in order keep them cool in shipment. They are also covered in plastic to keep them from moving so they stay real pretty when they arrive.

What flavors can you choose from?

All of Georgetown Cupcakes’ regular cupcake flavors and monthly specials are up for grabs when you order.

What are your thoughts?

I have loved receiving Georgetown Cupcakes every year as a birthday gift. Personally, I never was a big fan of cake and always preferred cupcakes. Also, I attend college out of state and wanted a cake from my family to celebrate with friends when I could not see them. So, it worked out perfectly for me!

Georgetown Cupcakes has always been my favorite cupcakery. It is always nice to be able to receive my favorite cupcakes that I can usually only get in Washington, DC while in North Carolina. The cupcakes arrive just as delicious as they do in the shop and are in great quality and condition. That being said, I highly suggest ordering them yourself if you want them for an occasion and are not living near any of their shops. They are definitely worth the delivery fees and great quality service!

Want to order yourself?! Place your order today using this link: https://www.georgetowncupcake.com/OrderType.aspx

XOXO – Katie <3

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22 Things I Have Learned in the Past Year

I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22! Today is my 22nd Birthday, and I am more than ready to celebrate after having experienced a rough past year like everyone else due to COVID-19. So, in honor of my Taylor Swift year, I will be sharing 22 things that I learned this past year!

  1. It is OKAY to not attend or be at everything. Your fearing of missing out (FOMO) is real, but it does not define you. You WILL miss out on some things and that is OKAY.
  2. Search for jobs and start out where you want to start out, but follow the jobs and the opportunities not where others want you to follow them. You will end up where you’re meant to be in the end – NOT where others think you should be.
  3. Be careful with what you post on social media. There has been so much conflict in the past year and we need to come together now more than ever before. And, yes, celebrity gossip is a lot more fun to read than the latest political news!
  4. When in doubt, wear that cute outfit. Even if you have no one to see in-person on a given day, if you feel great, then you look great and that is what counts.
  5. You do not have to live with others to be happy. You also don’t have to be around others 24/7. You CAN live alone and be happy, too.
  6. Your past relationships do not define you and neither do your past partners’ actions towards you.
  7. Being single is liberating and a blast! It is what you make of it. Love being single and embrace it while you can – you will be married and in a committed relationship starting a family someday but not now – be selfish while you CAN!!!
  8. Dogs are great, dogs are amazing, and you do not need one right now. Take care of yourself now and only you. Adopt your corgi when you know you can care for it, however, prioritize yourself and only yourself right now.
  9. Take every opportunity that comes your way that you possibly can. You only live once so make the best of it!
  10. Be excited and comfortable with doing things by yourself, whether that be going for some coffee, a walk, or attending an event.
  11. There is nothing and I mean NOTHING that coffee cannot stop you from conquering. Girl, that Keurig was the best purchase you made in 2020!
  12. Continue to have your outlet to rant with close friends and family. Do it all in private and keep it confidential. It is important – you’re a hard working lady who deserves to get the things that could keep her from being successful off her chest!
  13. Reality television is the best – it will show you the 99+ problems that you do not have and give you an extra needed confidence booster every time you turn it on. That Hulu subscription was a great purchase, honey!
  14. When in doubt, drink that glass of wine, but keep it classy.
  15. Wear what you want to wear. At the end of the day, you’re the one whose wearing it. However, be sure to conform to the dress codes of others when it is deemed appropriate (such as in a professional setting), but be sure to wear something that you love and feel comfortable in. That way, you will shine oh so bright!
  16. Give back to others and do it more often. Continue to uplift those who need it. Empowered women empower women and others, too. ALWAYS be that friend that your friends look to for advice and to help them out. You feel great when you do it. Never stop giving back to your friends, family, and community – be their shoulder!!!!
  17. Your time to get married will come when the time is right. You thought you wanted that commitment before you reached the age of 22, but you realized that there is more out there for you. Explore the world, learn how to navigate this beautiful world as an adult, grow in your career, befriend everybody, join every committee that you possibly can, be selfish, and love yourself. Your lucky person will come when the time is right. Don’t rush it! No one in Grey’s Anatomy does – well, except for George and Callie in Las Vegas.
  18. Reconnect with others – whether in your community from high school or college or someone you met all in between this thing called life. You never know what friendships or connections may be rekindled.
  19. You have imposter syndrome, but it does not define you. Let yourself shine and do not be afraid to show off your full potential. Some people will make you feel weary about your talents and feel as if you don’t have the potential that you truly do, but you do. Don’t ever let it hold you back ever again.
  20. People think you’re a fashion major in college, but surprise them and impress them by telling them you’re a math major. You’re destined for so much that you don’t even see or know yet!
  21. Keep in touch with your friends and check in on them regularly/when you can. You both will be grateful that you did!
  22. Remember to love yourself through it all. You only live once, so make it the best. Treat yourself with kindness and care. Remember to laugh and make it great. It’s your life, so hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

XOXO – Katie <3

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It’s Been 13 Months Since COVID-19 Began

It’s early March 2020 and I am driving up to the Washington, DC area with my friend Lexie. We are visiting the city for our Spring Break. My biggest worry is not hitting the Washington, DC traffic – one of the worst traffic areas in the country. At that time, life appeared to be carefree, fun, and filled with things that were ordinary in our pre-pandemic world. Flash forward to April 2021 and we are 13 months into the coronavirus pandemic and the precautions that come with living in it. Life has become much more uncertain than we thought we could ever imagine and many of us have learned to cope with it. At the same time, life has been filled with grief and sadness over missing things that we enjoyed and could easily do in the pre-pandemic world. Most importantly, we have come together and united to support one another, as we all are going through the same things during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have discovered the silver linings and the good that has come out of the pandemic rather than focusing on the bad. We miss our pre-pandemic world, yet there is hope on the horizons and it will come again before we know it.

On March 11, 2020, I remember being on my Spring Break and flying from Washington, DC to Johnson City, Tennessee. I had a layover in Charlotte, North Carolina. I boarded a packed flight from Washington, DC to Charlotte and brought my wipes out of worry but didn’t wear a mask *it feels so weird at this point not to wear a mask in public especially on a plane*. I was nervous, but I knew I would be fine. As I boarded a much smaller yet still packed flight from Charlotte to Johnson City, I remember reading on the news that the coronavirus was declared as a pandemic and having to Google the word “pandemic”. As I sat on the flight, I did my typical plane ride activity of napping as I admire the airplane views of the Appalachian Mountains from up above. When I woke up, I heard the woman in front of me emphasize the importance of staying at home and not leaving the house – that was the first time that I had ever heard of that concept. I was going on vacation to visit a friend and hit Tennessee for the first-time ever. There was no way that I was even thinking of the idea of practically staying at home for an unforeseeable future.

As I got to Tennessee, I remember hearing that all of the colleges around me in North Carolina were closing for the next 2 weeks. NC State University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and East Carolina University were some of the many schools that were canceling classes for the coming weeks. As someone who had had a not so great semester that Spring 2020 semester, I was hoping that Meredith College would, too. I was so nervous hoping that Meredith would yet they did not. However, the next day it was announced that we were getting an extended Spring Break. Even though there was so much worry about COVID-19, I was still going about my days and enjoying my Tennessee adventure with my friend and her family. Many others were doing the same thing.

With the number of days that I was spending in Tennessee increasing, the number of coronavirus fears and precautions that we would take soon were also coming into play. Social distancing was becoming a growingly popular term along with the idea of simply staying at home. I still enjoyed my Tennessee trip mask-less and without maintaining social distance, but my worries were beginning to grow. It was, then, decided that my parents would come get me from Tennessee a few days later and I would be driving back home with them to Virginia. We made a pit stop at Meredith College to grab some of my things. I remember my mind being filled with a huge cloud full of sadness and worry. While I was hoping I would come back by the end of the Spring 2020 semester, I knew that there was a strong possibility that I would not.

When I made it home, I went INSANE. I wanted to know how long this new and temporary normal would last. I immediately disliked the idea of staying at home 24/7 – it was stressful and it kept me restless. With the growing number of stay at home orders across the United States, I began to be filled with anger at the idea of missing out on things due to the pandemic. I hated the idea of social distancing – I am a very social person – and not being able to go anywhere and have fun like I used to. But, COVID-19 had its ways. During this time, events at Meredith College for the coming Fall 2020 semester were being moved to an all virtual format. As a Club President for an organization on my college campus, I was asked along with other Club Presidents to move all of our events and meetings to an all virtual platform for the Fall 2020 semester. My anger and frustrations only began to worsen. Overtime, I learned to adapt to the changes of the pandemic and not let my sadness and grief and anger define my days. My focus changed and I started to thrive, even during the pandemic and stay at home orders.

As the summer months approached, I started to see others again and do things which made me happy. I started to go out to eat again with friends and family, take trips to the beach, and go on hikes. I got to explore a lot of my local area and it super great to be able to do so. The summer months allowed us all to do things and feel some sort of normalcy again despite COVID-19. I was happy and I enjoyed feeling even a small dose of normalcy in these crazy times.

August 2020 was the month that I moved back to Meredith College to finish up my Senior year. Although my Senior year has looked very different than all of my other college years, I am still very grateful to be able to have 3.5 great years filled with memories and great moments in what is known as the “typical college experience”. When I got back to Meredith, I was simply just happy to be there again. It had been a good 5 months since I was living there and it was really nice to be back. I did not realize how much I missed my apartment, campus, cooking my own meals, and the simple life of living in Raleigh at Meredith until I was there again.

Classes have looked very different since COVID-19 began. Everyone is required to wear a mask and the classrooms are laid out to allow for us all to maintain our social distance. With Senior year looking so different, it has been sad. I have also felt grateful that I am still able to simply be there at Meredith and in Raleigh, rather than at home. Even though I do not see as many people on a given day as I used to thanks to Zoom classes and safety precautions, I am still extremely grateful to see those that I get to see, whether in passing, chatting, or in the classroom. Consequentially, I have felt sad about missing out on the social aspect of my Senior year of college. I have missed being able to simply go to a restaurant without any worries and the same goes for pretty much every social event. My classmates have too. It has been hard for us all – we have all grieved a ton and have felt all the feels. But, we have done it together, in-person and in-spirit.

While times have been tough due to COVID-19, I have appreciated the bond that I share with others through this time. Every other college student has had to spend 13 months of their college career on Zoom for the majority of it – not just myself. In fact, my friends in the Class of 2020 had to graduate through Zoom. Although Meredith College is hosting an in-person graduation for the Class of 2020, I know many other schools that are not, which breaks my heart for them. Everyone has had to loss a lot from the coronavirus pandemic, whether or not we realize it. For myself, it has been the 21st Birthday of my dreams with a massive dinner and party which had to be done over Zoom along with the remainder of my “typical college experience”. Even though it is sad to lose a lot from COVID-19, we all have and we can all go through the grief of it all together.

There are so many silver linings with the pandemic. I feel that we are able to come together like never before. Even though Zoom really sucks at times, it has been a great benefit in many ways. If I am sick, I can Zoom into class or work and not stress about missing it, if I want to watch a speaker who lives in a city that is different than my own then I can from the comfort of my own couch, and I have access to virtual networks via social media to connect with people from practically everywhere. If it was not for COVID-19, I would not have been able to connect with others like I have been.

Most importantly, I feel very lucky compared to many others over the past 13 months. I have a family that has been able to maintain financial stability throughout this time frame. I have been able to have access to an education and had it financed. I am also going into a career field that is growing, despite many industries that are not. I have also not gotten sick during this time. I have been vaccinated, too. So many others have not had all of that. It is important to remember the blessings that we have and be thankful for them.

Since boarding a flight to Tennessee, my life has flipped upside down and been spun around quite a few times. However, my life would not have been the same if it wasn’t. I have consistently wondered what my life would have been like if COVID-19 did not transform our world like it has. Would we have the networks in place that we already have? Would we be on a path to bridging a more diverse and inclusive society in our beautiful world? Would I have worked on myself as much as I did and do now? Would we grow in the ways that we have since March 2020? Would we be the people that we are today and will be the people that we are to be tomorrow? Who knows.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Interview with Blogger Macy of Behind the Disability

Today on the blog, I am interviewing a very special friend of mine – one of my Big Sis’s Macy! Macy has always been a great friend of mine and in recent times she has also started her own blog – Behind The Disability. I have loved getting to know Macy over the years and be apart of her journey called life and I’m SO excited to give y’all a peek into the world of Macy Messer!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

Hi my name is Macy Messer and I am a sixth year student here at Meredith! I identify with the Class of 2019 but will graduate with the Class of 2022! I have been dancing for over twelve years and I have my own blog titled Behind The Disability! I have Cerebral Palsy and that has never stopped me from being as “normal” as possible!

What made you choose to go to Meredith College and what has been your favorite part of your college experience beyond dance?

Meredith was the first and only school I applied and got accepted to – ironically – because of the dance program; I wrote about dance in my application essay, which should’ve been a huge sign for my parents. I came to Meredith for the first time when I was 14 (ten years ago) to watch my big sister in the pageant world dance in their spring showcase, and she always spoke so highly of the head and the program itself.

My favorite part of my six year journey here so far will always be the four years I got with 2019, I have so many memories and I will always treasure them because you never get the four initial years back and those were the years that I loved

What else are you involved in at Meredith besides dance?

When 2019 was here I was involved more heavily, and I was involved with events and selling T-shirts and Corn packages; all those fun things. One of my really good friends and I made the slideshow for our Fire & Water ceremony, she and I also did our Guardian Angel and Tea for Two slideshows! My parents hosted props for our senior corn, we painted for HOURS and it was a lot of fun! So I was involved a lot more then, but I would love to get involved again in the last year and a half that I have!

Beyond Meredith and dance, you have a blog called Behind The Disability, tell me a bit about that!

I was a junior when I started my blog, and I’ve had such a fun time writing on it and just being unapologetically me! The name is so special because nobody looks at someone who’s disabled and thinks about what’s behind that, you know? What does this person love to do? What is it that drives them? They don’t think about those things because they only see a disability and not a person.

When did you start dancing?

I broke both bones in my dominant forearm in May 2008…and just three months later in August 2008 I started ballet! It’s funny now, wasn’t too funny then, but it is now!

What made you get into dancing?

I had the same nurse for eleven years and I was in 5th grade at the time, and if you’ve read my life story blog (highly recommend: Defining the Disability – This is Me) you’ll know that I had a really rough time with this nurse; it was bullying and a lot of manipulation so this instance was right before everything started. She suggested that I start dancing at our local studio where her daughter and my sister both danced, to this day I will swear that was the one and only good thing she ever did for me!!!

What types of dance have you done and what is your favorite type of dance?

I’ve done everything; I took a class in the beginning of my sophomore year of college where we did a week of each genre, like a week of ballet, then a week of improvisation etc.

My favorite genre of dance is a mix of lyrical, jazz, and contemporary. Tap is a recent favorite of mine as well which I never thought I would love tap like I do!

How were you involved in dance growing up?

From age eleven to age eighteen I was heavy, heavy ballet trained. It is the foundation of everything else and my parents wouldn’t let me do anything else because they were scared. From age nineteen onward I’ve been trained in ballet, modern, jazz, improv, and tap so far; I was supposed to take my first contemporary class last semester but I was injured and could not dance! My studio was a competitive studio but I wasn’t in the classes that went to competitions, my sister was!

How are/have you been involved in dance at Meredith?

I’ve been involved with Meredith Dance for five years; this is my fourth year as a performer and my third year as a choreographer. I haven’t had it easy but I wouldn’t have had it any other way; my journey made me who I am today, and I’m so thankful!

You switched your major to dance while at Meredith. Tell me about your journey to becoming a dance major!

My freshman and sophomore years I was working towards a BFA in Graphic Design because it was practical and I did enjoy it; about six weeks into my second semester of college I met Carol Finley! There’s a saying that goes “you know when you know” and I knew as soon as I met her! A couple days later I declared my minor in dance studies, and started my minor the following semester! Well, let’s fast forward a year; I’m a junior and the initial fangirl in me subsided and Carol and I have started to develop the most beautiful relationship. I go to her office one day and I just start texting her (that’s literally how we communicate when we do advising or whenever I’m in her office for whatever reason, it’s precious) and I’m like “I want to declare my major in dance and I know that’s going to get me in trouble but I do not care” and she looks at me with such a proud expression because I guess she knew deep down that I wanted to declare in dance but I was too scared, and she fought for me. I mean she FOUGHT like absolute hell, pure tooth and nail, for someone she had only known a year – someone she believed in – and a year of meetings and tears and fighting with my parents later, in 2018 – as a senior in college – I could finally call myself a dance major and say that I was getting my BA in Dance Studies. What YOU want, it is NEVER an easy journey but I promise when you find the person who is willing to fight like absolute hell for you while believing in you, it becomes a lot easier!

So, Meredith has a tradition called Cornhuskin’ that involves A TON of dancing! What has been one of your most memorable Cornhuskin’dances?

Oh gosh this is SO hard, but if I had to pick just one I would pick the last dance in my sophomore Corn; the last song in that dance was For Good from Wicked and we sang it to our Bigs (class of 2017) and I got to stand in front of my class and sign the portion of the song we were singing in ASL (my Big cried, it was so sweet), and on the last “for good” all my classmates signed with me. That just shows you how inclusive the Class of 2019 is and why I love being a part of them!

I know you have choreographed some dances at Meredith, tell me a bit about those!

Of the two pieces I have choreographed, I always gush about the duet because of just how special and memorable that piece will always be! Nola Grace Brown is my favorite human on this earth to dance with, and we both look back on this piece with such fondness and love! We were able to show how our friendship is centered around Christ and how much love was at the center of the piece itself! We surprised each other at our tech rehearsal three days prior to performing it live, we got each other SO good with our voiceovers; mine was a surprise to her and hers was a surprise to me, completely shocked, neither one of us knew, made for one of the best memories of that whole process! Our duet also made the gala concert, and I might’ve screamed like a banshee when I got the email and scrolled through; that was such a HUGE moment for me as a choreographer because I never thought my work would be good enough for the gala! The best memories came from that experience and I will forever cherish all of it!

Covid-19 has changed our world and how we perform to others, how have you coped with the changes in our world and shared your love and talent for dance during these times?

Covid…covid’s been a hard (but temporary) adjustment, but here’s the weird thing about it, I’m thankful for it. I was able to take a leave of absence when complications arose after my c-spine laminectomy (couldn’t dance because of the injury to my spine, so I had surgery so I would be better by now, short gist of it) and so I didn’t put any dance works out in the fall nor did I participate, but this semester I’m choreographing and performing. It’s literally the best feeling to be back and able to do what I love for the first time since early March, nothing quite like it

Who are some of your biggest inspirations in the dance world?

Carol, and I know that sounds so cliché to have your advisor and second mom be one of the biggest inspirations in your life, but it’s so so so true! Her name was mentioned to me at 14, and I never forgot how influential she was to my pageant sister. So when I finally got to dance under her I was such a fangirl for the first year; I was dancing under someone my big sister looked up to, and now I was under her wing and…I will never be able to thank her in the way she deserves to be thanked. I’m not her fan now, I’m her student and she’s my mentor, that just means more, you know?

Who are some of your biggest inspirations beyond the dance world?

My mom, and my sister; they struggle with invisible disabilities like OCD and ADHD and anxiety, I know it’s not easy even if they make it look that way and that’s why I look up to them so much! My Granny was a huge inspiration to me as well, she was such a light and never had a negative thing to say about anything or anyone, and she was a much better Christian than I could’ve ever been which inspired me to be better

You have overcome a ton of barriers throughout your dance journey, what is one thing that keeps you going through it all?

If you’re reading this and you know me at all, you know I’ve loved to break barriers all my life; the dance ones have been the most fun – and the most challenging – to break! Remembering the day I started twelve and a half years ago, I seriously didn’t think it would work out for me, but looking at where I am versus where I was then, I’m incredibly grateful that this is what God had planned for me even if it hasn’t been easy! As for the thing that keeps me going, or the person if you will, is 100% Carol Finley! I’ve been through a lot while in college: I’ve auditioned for one of the dance companies three times, I’ve had three majors in the span of a year, and just last semester I had to have surgery in the middle of the semester…through all of that Carol has been such a light, and I’m continuously blessed by the light – as well as the unconditional love – that she carries!

Here’s a bonus story: during my hospital stay after surgery, I obviously had to take a leave and my mom emailed Carol about it after I had texted her because my mom could explain the medical side better than I could. Well I had to forward myself the email conversation to get the Zoom link for the meeting to talk over the LOA, and I’m a big snoop so I read their email conversation and it turns out Carol asked my mom if it would be helpful if she came to WakeMed to visit, so that my mom could go home or go to work for a few hours, but Covid restrictions only allowed my parents and occasionally my sister! Y’all, if that doesn’t speak VOLUMES on our relationship – her really considering coming to Wake to sit with me for a few hours during a global pandemic – I really really don’t know what will! I would have 100% sobbed if she had been able to do that for me – and I know she would have – because it isn’t every day you meet someone who cares about you like that! 

You have also overcome and broken lots of barriers throughout your life. You’re truly an inspiration! What would you say to someone who is going through a tough time or feels as if they cannot do something?

Awww Katie, that’s so sweet! Overcoming what I have, it wasn’t easy in the slightest but I had a support system like five miles long, and I kept my faith even when it got tested! If i could say something to someone who feels the way that i did with dance or my life in general, if someone tells you you can’t, Prove. Them. Wrong. Make them eat their own words; post a picture of yourself doing what they said you never would! They will not underestimate you ever again; prove them wrong!

For someone that is inexperienced in dance (like myself), what are ways that those who want to get into dance can?

So I had a friend who was a sophomore, literally had one dance class under her belt, and auditioned for our spring showcase in 2018! She was in my dance and another choreographers dance, and she was so good; she became my roommate the following year and we’ve been close since! She had practically no experience and yet she still went for it! So if you want to dance or even just take classes, you can 100% do so! You do not have to be a dance major or minor to take a dance class! I love that about Meredith’s dance program, you don’t have to be a “dancer” to dance here!

What is your dream job and where do you hope to go in this world beyond your time at Meredith?

I want to teach, that’s been my dream job since I was first starting dance! My choreography style is so similar to Carol’s so I get to carry a piece of her with me wherever I end up after my time at Meredith ends; I don’t love talking about leaving because of who I’m leaving behind. I know that when all of my “lasts” with her line up and are happening, I know I’ll be a big baby because Carol is literally all that I have known for basically all of college; all that I have been able to do and achieve and learn, it’s all because she believed in me enough for the both of us…and that’s all I needed in the end! I’m one of the lucky ones, I have someone who makes saying goodbye literally impossible, I am so incredibly lucky to have the relationship that I have with her!!!

Lastly, what has been your favorite or favorites songs to dance to?

I have danced to so many different songs, oh my goodness wow!

  • Time In Between – Francesca Battestelli, freshman year of high school, first dance I was able to remember on my own, still kinda remember it now.
  • I Won’t Let Go – Rascal Flatts, senior year of high school, I literally remember this one so vividly because it was such a sweet duet and I surprised one of my good friends with a slideshow of memories from our time together and it was only like eleven in the morning and we had all day to be sad about my departure from my home studio, yeah that was a very hard day!
  • My Heart Will Go On from The Titanic played by Vitamin String Quartet, also senior year of high school, two in the afternoon and I really wanted to cry but I still had senior presentation that night, luckily I saved my tears for that because it was awful!
  • People Help the People – Birdy, sophomore year of college, first time back on stage after a year off and my first college showcase, I really remember this one because I did the show and I had to run to my dorm and change, go eat, then run back to campus for my (at the time) best friend’s senior vocal recital; I also remember it because it was one of the ones that made the gala concert and it also made me want to choreograph the following year, and the rest of college.
  • When I Look At You – Miley Cyrus + Rescue – Lauren Daigle, senior year of college, I will never forget the three performances of this duet for as long as I live; we took a beloved song and combined it with a song from an album that had dropped in September 2018 and the end result was so perfect in its own way. I’m so so fond of these two because they gave me my choreographic style and I spent the entire year planning it! Just something that’ll stick with me forever!
  • Fix You – Coldplay, we do this all the time in the dance program, Carol choreographed a warm up for it and we use it for like all the shows!!

From the minute I met Macy, she has always had this can do attitude. Macy is breaking barriers in this world, and she serves as a shining light for so many, including myself. Most importantly, she has been a great friend and continues to be one along with one of my Big’s at Meredith, like she has for so many others too.

XOXO – Katie <3

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