College Life Archives - Page 3 of 5

Preppy Girl Budget-Friendly Graduation Gift Guide

Graduation is approaching us for the Class of 2021 which means that graduation gift shopping is in full swing! As a fellow member of the Class of 2021, I have been looking around and creating wishlists for my own graduation gifts. As a preppy fashion lover, I decided to share a list of all things preppy for the graduating preppy fashion lover in your life!!

*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.*

$15 & Under

The Redheaded Camel Personalized Name Sheets

Link to shop: https://www.theredheadedcamel.com/collections/gifts-under-20/products/personalized-decal-name-sheets?variant=32314916798499

All She Wrote Notes Car Magnet – Kindness Like Confetti

Link to shop: https://www.allshewrotenotes.com/collections/all/products/kindness-like-confetti-car-magnet

Cassie’s Designs Novelty Champagne Flutes

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+kgZ5WhgVJLjtsONHHnQAsg

The Redheaded Camel State Home Sweet Home 8×10 Handlettered Printable

Link to shop: https://www.theredheadedcamel.com/collections/gifts-under-20/products/virginia-home-sweet-home-hand-lettered-8-x-10-printable?variant=31867160723491

All She Wrote Notes Sanitizer Bottle Pocket

Link to shop: https://www.allshewrotenotes.com/collections/all/products/bottle-pocket

$25 & Under

Lilly Pulitzer Printed Initial Keychain

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+zAdV3v8zS6R8aIgG9fiLwg

Kate Spade New York Skinny Mini Bow Stud Earrings

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+-b11SdHzMTqpwdSyL16Slw

Evelyn Henson Washington DC (Any City) Map Tumbler

Link to shop: https://www.evelynhenson.com/products/washington-dc-map-tumbler?_pos=2&_sid=362a559b5&_ss=r

Lilly Pulitzer Daily List Pad

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+vYmxRFiuN8TDwhsEu1gN0w

The Redheaded Camel You’ll Never Regret Being Kind Canvas and Prints

Link to shop: https://www.theredheadedcamel.com/collections/congrats-grad/products/youll-never-regret-being-kind-canvas-and-prints?variant=8607380733988

$50 & Under

Kate Spade New York Square Stud Earrings

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+O5WE-psbdvatw19oud5DGw

Mark & Graham Acrylic Catchall Tray

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+s_YZXDSj2QGr3V5teHVR_Q

Vera Bradley Plush Throw Blanket

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+vVzt38WyS3onH5VNC9waZQ

Mark & Graham Acrylic Stemless Wine Glasses (Set of 4)

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+vhw9pzzcExLSfcisRpWLMQ

Kendra Scott Elisa Gold Pendant Necklace

Link to shop: https://rstyle.me/+yHWUntcIyyfrstHF31_4nA

Cheers to treating your favorite graduates!!!

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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Two Months of my Final Semester During Covid-19

It is hard to believe that my final semester has kicked off in the middle of a pandemic. On the flip side, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it is coming a lot quicker than any of us have ever imagined. The sadness of loosing a lot of what I had envisioned my Senior year of college would look like is hard, but knowing that my first months of post-graduate life will look a lot more normal than I would have ever anticipated makes it easier.

Meredith College is filled with several social events and traditions. It has been really weird to not have an extremely filled social calendar with numerous events, outings, and fundraisers. Covid-19 has taken over all of our lives, especially college life, but only for some time.

About a month ago, I was really struggling with the fact that Covid-19 was taking over all of our lives and the remainder of my college experience. It was in these days that it felt like Covid-19 was NEVER-ENDING, despite the vaccine rollout. On the contrary, this past month has allowed for a ton of changes in our world and across the United States with more and more people receiving the vaccine. Hearing the stories of others struggling with the impacts of Covid-19 made those times so much harder, too.

Hope is near and even my college experience and campus policymakers as it pertains to the coronavirus have made that clear. The other day, I learned that my college is having an in-person graduation. It will be held outdoors and on-campus. While I do not know much details yet besides its weekend and location, I am still very excited that I will be given the chance to walk across that stage. At the same time, the Class of 2020 is going to get their graduation two weeks before my class’s, too. This one email which my classmates and alumni of the Class of 2020 and I had received made each of our days. We also know that the light is near and our hard work and achievements WILL be honored and celebrated by those at Meredith College, our family, and our friends.

While the past few months have felt like the ongoing pandemic would not ever end, I am starting to feel a lot of hope. With the news of an in-person graduation, my classmates are also feeling the same exact way. Knowing that we all feel the light coming onto us, especially with this amazing warm weather here in North Carolina, I am excited to see where this journey called life takes us all in a post-pandemic world!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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From Small Business Owner to Medical School: Interview with my Roommate Sophie

My roommate Sophie is one of my best friends and blessings that Meredith College has brought me. At the same time, Sophie has also restructured her life to aim for the stars in ways like never before. From an entrepreneur in high school to a med school bound college student, I bring to you an interview with my fabulous roommate!!!

Tell me a bit about yourself!

Current senior at Meredith College who is going to medical school in July!

What is your major at Meredith and what are you involved in on campus?

I am a double major in Biology and Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. I am an officer of both the Angels for Disability Advocacy and Meredith Advocates for Young Children as well as a member of other clubs on campus.

Did you ever anticipate that you would select the major that you did looking back at your high school years?

Not at all. I started out coming into college wanting to be an engineer. When I actually saw and learned about what an engineer does, I realized I wanted to do more medically. Also, I further my love for children when I took my first class at the Meredith Autism Program and absolutely loved it! So, I decided to also be a Psychology major!

So, in high school, you and your sister had a brand called PinkyGirl. Tell me a bit about PinkyGirl!

It was a monogramming company on Instagram. We were international!

What made you and your sister want to start PinkyGirl?

Honestly, we started it just by chance of setting up an Instagram page! It took off by word of mouth.

I know PinkyGirl took off when you were in high school! Tell me about life as a female entrepreneur!

I was definitely busy, but I loved meeting my customers and the people and scientists involved in Susan G. Komen– we developed a partnership with Susan G. Komen.

How did you balance your high school life with running PinkyGirl?

It was a lot, but I had help from my family (Mom and Dad and of course my sister) and a few employees. We got so large that we had to move into a manufacturing facility and hire employees!

There are many highs and lows when it comes to running a business. What were some of yours?

Lows were keeping up with monogram orders, especially during the holidays. Sometimes, it felt like we were drowning. Highs included meeting customers and building meaningful relationships!

What were some of your favorite memories from PinkyGirl?

I absolutely loved having a booth at A Shopping Spree for being awarded “Entrepreneur of the Year!”

I know you went to Washington, DC as a result of your hard work with PinkyGirl. Explain to me a bit about that awesome experience of yours!

I was flown to DC in order to be recognized for winning a young entrepreneur scholarship. I spoke with Thom Tillis and others about the importance of young entrepreneurship.

You do not run PinkyGirl anymore. Ultimately, you decided to pursue your dreams of becoming a doctor #FemalePower!!!! Tell me a bit about what made you decide to make that switch!

I have always had a passion for helping others, and I also loved learning, especially biology. At some point, I just realized that I wanted to do more with my life by directly helping people using my biology knowledge. The business route just wasn’t what I wanted to do with my life.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who is looking to start their own business?

Find a passion and stick with it, even if it is not the most popular at the time. Also, be unique!

I know you came in at Meredith wanting to pursue an engineering degree. What made you make the switch and realize that your dream is to become a doctor?

I knew engineering was not for me when I truly got to experience what engineering would be like. I have always loved helping others, and I just did not get that direct sense with engineering. I wanted to do more and make a larger impact in people’s lives.

What would be your dream area specialization as a doctor?

Pediatrics or Family Medicine

You also are a Psychology major and have spent a ton of time working in the Meredith Autism Program (MAP). Explain to me about that amazing experience of yours at MAP!

I work as a teacher for children with autism to enhance learning age-appropriate academic and social behaviors. My duties are to implement behavior plans, analyze behavior data, perform discrete trial training, and communicate results. I earned my NC license as a Registered Behavior Technician. My time in this role has been monumental for my clients and me. Spending several years working one-on-one with children with autism has allowed me to develop my passion for helping others, especially young children.

Along with your work and involvement at Meredith, you also babysit a ton. Has babysitting helped affirm your decision to become a doctor?

Most definitely! It has influenced my wanting to become a pediatrician because I love working with children.

Explain to me the process of medical school applications

It’s a complex one that goes over my head! It was a lot–glad it’s over! So, you begin applying about a year before you want to start medical school. Also, you have to make sure you get the prerequisites fulfilled by junior year if you plan to go straight into medical school without a gap year. With this, you also have to plan out when you will take the MCAT and how you will study for it. Once everything is complete, it is basically just a waiting game of hoping to get an interview and then an acceptance.

How have you successfully completed the medical school application process and what pieces of advice would you give to somebody who is wanting to or about to go through it themselves?

I would just say to start everything early and plan out! Have places in mind that you want to work at to gain clinical hours and also have some volunteering that you like to do and stick with it (even if it is just once a month for a few years).

As a fellow Woman in STEM, what is one thing that makes you proud of the STEM degree that you are about to accomplish?

I love knowing that I am able to use my STEM degree to make a true difference in the world!

What are the next steps in your journey to becoming a doctor?

Well, I still am waiting to hear from some other medical schools. Then, I will decide where I will be for the next phase of my life. Right now, I am really liking West Virginia where I just got accepted into!

Lastly, if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

To just know that everything will work out how it is supposed to. Don’t stress. (This is so hard to remember when you are in the midst of your busy, chaotic life!).

Through it all, Sophie has aimed for the stars and she will reach them in ways like never before moving forward!

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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How I Buy College Textbooks for Less

Tis the season to be shopping for textbooks for the upcoming college semester. While college life for the most part can be such a blast, the part of shopping for college textbooks totally is not. Well, at least for myself. College textbooks come at a hefty price tag, but there are most definitely ways to purchase your textbooks for the semester for less and maybe even make some cash off of some of your old one’s.

1 – Buy Used Instead of New

Unless the textbook that your professor requires for a specific course requires that you buy your textbooks brand new/a specific new edition of it or with a specific access code to them, then buy them used. Textbooks that are used are a whole lot cheaper than those that are new. Sites like Chegg and even Amazon have a variety of textbooks to offer to you at a steal of the cost. Typically, I purchase my textbooks from Amazon, as I have Amazon Prime and can get free shipping. From personal experience, I know that Amazon shows a selection of price ranges for each textbook with new versus used, etc. – sites like Chegg most likely do the same exact thing!

2 – Buy Online Versions Instead of Paperback

I have always been a sucker for paperback books – it just makes the fact of using a textbook a lot easier for myself. On the contrary, I do know that online versions of textbooks are a whole lot cheaper than the paperback versions. If you are willing to live with an online textbook and are not an oddball like myself, then definitely save your cash. You can always print out pages of the book if you truly desire, too!

3 – Ask Around!

Usually, you will become friends with those within your college major. If that is the case, then ask around within your circle of classmates to see if they have textbooks for the classes you are about to take that they already took and do not need anymore. Usually, they will sell you their book for a steal of the cost or lend it to you. Fun fact: one of my close friends who is also a Math major bought me Chinese takeout one night in return for renting out my Abstract Algebra textbook that costs upwards of $150+. Luckily, I had found that textbook at the right time on Amazon over the summer before I took the course for way under its original cost and brand-new. However, I felt really great to receive some free food and save my good friend a ton of cash!

4 – Join Facebook Groups!

Like Meredith College where I attend, several different schools have Buy-Sell-Trade groups on Facebook. These Facebook Groups are an EXCELLENT opportunity to both sell and buy your textbooks at a steal of the cost. The best part?! Shipping is usually NOT included, especially when you can meet up on campus (if applicable given the current situation with Covid-19) socially distanced to pick up the book. That way, you’ll save A TON of cash and perhaps make some yourself.

5 – Give Old Books To Those Who Need Them More Than Yourself

Times are tough right now with the current looming coronavirus pandemic. Although times are tough now, they will get better but some will still be struggling to make ends meet even after the pandemic’s effects are still with some of us. If there is a textbook that you will never use again in your life and you know someone who could not afford it any other way, then give it to them if you can and feel comfortable doing so. Trust me, you will make a difference in their life and it will bring a smile to both of your faces.

College textbooks are expensive. I remember when I sat down with my mother before my first semester at Meredith and we both panicked over the accumulating costs of my first semester books, especially in those introductory level courses that require those $200+ access codes along with the textbook. Trust me, it is scary to look at the roaring costs of college textbooks, but it does get better. Luckily, professors at my college have been great about trying to require the cheapest textbook that there is or none at all or even online resources that are free. You will be able to save some money this semester and your college semesters moving forward. Most importantly, an investment in college textbooks however significant it may be for a particular semester is an investment in yourself and your education.

XOXO – Katie

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The New way to sell your old Branded Gear!

**** This post is sponsored by Comeback Gear ****

Shop Comeback Gear here!

When I was in high school, I toured over 20 colleges/universities. Being the extra person that I am, I bought a branded item (typically a shirt or sweater) at practically every single school. Over my the course of my Junior and Senior years of high school, I began to get overwhelmed and even annoyed at all of the old branded college clothing that I had. Especially given that these branded college items were from schools that I ultimately decided not to attend and had no connections to beyond touring it, I became extremely annoyed with the lack of places to sell these items (most notably, Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, etc.). Luckily, there is a place where you can sell your old branded gear, whether it be college, high school, camp, or greek life. Do you have any old branded gear, from places such as camp, high school, college, or even greek life?! Well, look no further than Comeback Gear – the place that is essentially the Poshmark/eBay for your old gear!

Flash forward to Spring 2020 when we were all living in lockdown and in quarantine 24/7. Like many of us, Comeback Gear is a women-owned small business that started when people were going through their own closets and cleaning out the things that they did not need anymore, including children’s old camp gear. Like college and high school gear, camp gear struggles to sell on sites such as eBay and Poshmark. It is important to note that branded gear can be gear of all kinds sold on Comeback Gear – masks, shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, mugs, etc. Essentially, anything can be sold as long as the college/camp/team’s name is somewhere on the item. All items sold are also either brand new or gently used. So, Comeback Gear targets anyone who wants to represent a camp, college, or sports team as well as high school.

How to Buy/Sell on Comeback Gear!

If you want to either buy or sell, then you will need to sign up on the website with an email and a password. Upon confirming your email, you will be able to start listing your items and/or shop for items that you may want to buy. HOORAY!!!!

Similar to sites like Poshmark, Comeback Gear users can also promote their profile on the site on their social media pages, so that others can check out their old branded gear for their own closets! Users also have total control over the items that they sell, along with setting the price and cost of shipping.

Can Small Businesses Sell Too??

YES! Small businesses are in a great place to sell their goods to those at a particular college, camp, high school, or fraternity/sorority. Comeback Gear is an excellent place for a small business to sell old inventory that they want to sell, in order to make room for new items to be sold at a discount. Small businesses are also able to promote their business on their profile page, so that potential customers can get in touch with them. Additionally, small businesses can also use their social media pages to promote their goods being sold on Comeback Gear and bring their customers to the site.

What if my Camp/College/High School/Fraternity/Sorority/Sports Team isn’t featured on the Comeback Gear site?

If you cannot seem to find the name of the camp or college or any of the above listed in the previous question, then do not fret! Simply click the “Contact Us” button in the menu and send a message requesting that that place’s name get added to the menu – as easy as pie!

With sites like eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari in full swing, it is oh so exciting that there is finally a similar version just for college/camp/high school/Greek life items in the form of Comeback Gear! If you know me, you know that I love shopping, especially secondhand and at a great price. Most definitely check out Comeback Gear for yourself – you truly will not be disappointed!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Fall 2020 Semester Reflections

Fall 2020 will be a semester for the books, not just because of Covid-19’s occurrence but because of the great memories that I made. Yes, this sentence that I just said may sound like a joke. However, it is all very very true. Fall 2020 was one of my best semesters at Meredith. Despite everything that has all happened and been cancelled this semester and year, I am still very grateful for the experiences that I have had and the opportunities that have and are to come. Fall 2020 may have “sucked” in some regards, but it is what it is and as humans we have to continuously adapt and make it work for us.

Flashback to Spring 2020. I was anxious, sad, angry, and mourning the loss of my remaining “normal” college semester. When I say “normal,” I mean a semester that is filled with all of the typical things that college students do, such as outings with friends, large scale gatherings, and in-person classes on a regular basis. I thrived off of the social aspect of college as well as the academic aspect – they went hand in hand with my successes at Meredith. I became depressed and spent my days looking at old pictures and wishing for the happy memories that I had had in early 2020 and before to come back again. I wanted to make more memories just the way they were before. In fact, I majorly desired for it to occur.

As we all know, life is meant to change – it is our only consistency. With the changes that come with the coronavirus pandemic come adaptation. And adaptation takes time – it is not an overnight thing. Nothing happens overnight, especially coping with and dealing with change. Summer 2020 was a summer filled with self growth, knowing my self worth, and making the best of all of the harsh changes since March 2020. At the same time, I used my platform here on The Pink Chickadee to connect with others who are also fellow preppy fashion and Lilly Pulitzer lovers. The network that I have made has since grown into such a great blessing in my life. The Pink Chickadee truly helped me break out of my shell and adapt to the continuing changes in our world that have occurred throughout 2020 along with discovering to love my own self.

As I got into my Fall 2020 semester, I was nervous for what was to come. Nothing was going to look the same at the sweet college that I call my second home – Meredith. Meredith College is filled with a ton of large scale events known as Traditions that are unique to it. Each of these Traditions is super special to me and to my classmates. To watch the social aspect of Meredith that I saw before March 2020 disappear before my eyes made me sad and sometimes even cry.

Although I love the Traditions that truly make Meredith College Meredith College, my shift and energy has changed on what Meredith College means to me. With the current Black Lives Matter movement and momentum for inclusion of everyone, the ways that Meredith has run pre-Covid have not been the most inclusive for students of all races, sexualities, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. While I love Meredith Traditions and the memories that they have brought me, they have hurt so many of my classmates in the past. Knowing this information now helps me to realize that while I loved Traditions, they are not the best thing to have right now and that is okay. Currently, I am working to help my Class as Fundraising Chair, my Math and Computer Science Department as Canaday Math & Computer Science Club (CMCS) President, and Angels for Disability Advocacy (ADA) Vice President by providing all students with inclusive virtual opportunities to be present and involved on campus.

This semester, I have really been able to shine inside and outside of the classroom. The Pink Chickadee has not only flourished, but it has grown in ways like never before this semester. If I had been uber engaged in Meredith College social life, then I would not have had time to progress on my platform as much as I did. At the same time, I have truly been able to succeed inside the classroom. My interests within my Data Science, Statistics, and Website Development courses have ignited and shined now more than ever before. I am also working on my Honors Thesis this year and really enjoying working on my own research project independently while applying my skillset from within the classroom to grow as a future Data Scientist even more. At the same time, I also made the Dean’s List – a symbol of all of my hardwork and passion this semester from the classroom and The Pink Chickadee.

The biggest consistency in my Fall 2020 semester life, before, and after it has been my friends. Each of my friends and I have all gone through the same things this year and, while none of us like it, we are all in this together. My friends are the people that I can count on to be safe and for me to do the same for them. We truly have had each others’ backs since before the coronavirus pandemic hit and during. They have truly been such a blessing in my life, and the bond that I have with each of my friends is something that I will never ever take for granted.

Although Fall 2020 looked nothing like I had envisioned it to, I am still oh so grateful and blessed for the memories and bonds that I have made. Without this semester, I would not have been able to genuinely grow my platform on The Pink Chickadee and as a human being in the ways that I have. Here’s to a great but very different semester and one left to come!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Friend Shivani Speaks on Adjusting to Post-Graduate Life During Covid-19

From what my parents and friends have told me, adjusting to post-graduate life is not an easy transition. But, imagine that you are graduating college in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic? This has become the reality for several Class of 2020 and potentially Class of 2021 college students/recent graduates like myself. As I embark on this journey myself like many others around and before me, I decided to sit down with my good friend Shivani (a Class of 2020 college graduate) about her transition into the post-graduate world in the midst of Covid-19.

Tell me a bit about yourself!

So I was born in Boston,MA in the late 90’s and I lived in Delaware for most of my cognitive development years and life, then moved to Ohio and I’ve been in NC since 2014. My main interests are reading, dancing, working out, journaling, watching TV, and doing a whole bunch of nothing. I really enjoy now more than ever doing a whole bunch of nothing because I have a job now and I look forward to the time where I can relax. I went to two different high schools, and enjoyed both of them very much. And I graduated from Meredith College with a B.S. Public Health. I would love to have two Siberian Huskies one day and move back up north– North East area and settle down with my future husband and future kids!

So, I know you are also an influencer! What content do you like to share with others (drop your handle here too if you so choose!)?

I am all about mind, body and soul. So currently it’s a lot of selfies as I take social distancing and Coronavirus very seriously and I want everyone to understand the severity of our pandemic. Other interests include makeup and fashion! My handle for instagram is @shivanideva2020.

Where did you go to college and what was your degree?

I graduated from Meredith College in 2020 with my Bachelors of Science in Public Health with Minors in Biology and Chemistry.

How were you involved at Meredith?

I was heavily involved in Meredith in clubs and took up leadership positions. I wasn’t always this involved. My freshman year I took it quite easy and participated in clubs and made sure that my presence was known to the board members of the clubs. It’s because I did this that I was able to land a position on the MHPS board and move my way upward. Other clubs I was a part of were ISPE, SCUR, Tri-Beta.

So, you graduated in May 2020, what did Meredith do to commemorate you and your classmates’ achievements?

So since I graduated in the middle of the Pandemic I didn’t get a proper graduation. However most of us were able to get Graduation Pictures and I for sure certainly took mine!

Is there anything you wish Meredith could have done differently?

Honestly no, because at this point in time most of us have gotten the closure we needed and have moved on.

How did you cope with completing your degree from your house rather than at Meredith?

At first I was in denial because all I wanted was an extended spring break– senioritis in college is very real as well, hehe! But then it slowly sunk in that i wasn’t going to be ableto see my friends or socialize with anyone due to the pandemic and that doing my best to stay home and be socially distant was the only option I had. It allowed me to have to myself and really focus on my studies and finish it out strong and surprisingly my GPA was the highest its ever been!

Knowing that you graduated from college during a pandemic, how did you move beyond those college years into your post-graduation years all while mainly staying at home?

So for me looking for jobs was really hard because my initial plan was to go to graduate school within a year. After much consideration i realized that right now is not the time for more academia as I was really burnt out from undergrad. I took a SAS Programming course 2 months post and I was working towards a certification. And now I am employed at CCNC as a Case Investigator for COVID-19 and am working remotely!

What is one high of the past 6 months since graduating from Meredith?

Getting a job! Because it finally gave me the break I needed to get back up on the horse and start my career as well as use my degree.

What is one low of the past 6 months since graduating from Meredith?

Well this is a heavy question but I have had to face the loss of a dear family friend alone compounded with the burden and fear that if I went out anywhere that I would get the virus and jeopardize my parents who are both at high risk for contracting the virus.

How have you stayed connected to your friends from Meredith since March? What suggestions do you have for others who struggle to remain connected to their college life?

Technology and Facetime are a GODSEND!!!!! Use that phone for something else other than watching the same YouTube Video over and over again. I kept in contact with all of those who are near and dear to me and they did the same as well! My advice for those who are struggling is keep making the effort and showing that you care about the other person; if you are meant to be in their lives and they yours then things will work out. Use your social media and constantly check in on one another, use your email to stay in touch with your professors–they still care and want to know what’s going on.

How do you stay involved at Meredith as an alumni? How can others get involved at their own alma maters?

think having connections with professors and staying in contact with other alumna helps. Also have friends who are younger and are underclassmen and can get you on panels to talk to students!

What strategies did you use to cope with going into adulthood virtually?

Yoga, working out a lot, and not lashing out at everyone and everything. It was hard at first, bit a good thing that came out of journaling was that I journaled everyday and didn’t cluster together days or weeks. I also used my zoom classes as a way to see friends and looked forward to those meetings!

How did you process the fact that you missed out on the last weeks of your college experience?

This is again a very hard question to answer because truthfully I was in denial, and then I was angry. The anger lasted for about 3 months and I realized that I was fighting a battle alone that just had no end result or goal really. I couldn’t fight the pandemic on my own, the population of the GLOBE had to get it into their head that the situation is serious and it shouldn’t be ignored. But later i was able to reflect and honestly the pandemic gave me time to think. Most of my life has always been go-go-go, like running a race of some sort. So it was very nice to see how I had this time where there was no pressure on me to meet a deadline or attend a conference.

How did you move beyond college life during Covid-19 into your post-graduation life?

Again the time from graduation to getting a job for me was 6 months and during that time I kept myself busy. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop! So keep yourself busy and also think about life in the bigger picture and make plans for what your purpose is and how to go about fulfilling it! And I look at everything as a stage or phase of life. High School was a phase, College is one as well. Each and every step teaches you something so learn and learn honestly and take those lessons and move forward in life implementing them.

What are the major differences between college life and post-graduation life from your experiences?

So academia is a process and a progression whereas working a job is very boxed in and has a time frame. For example in college if you didn’t get to study for the material for an exam on a monday you still had time to do it the whole week before the exam–meaning you have to work outside of classroom hours. With work, all of your knowledge and work ethic have to be displayed and put to use during that 8 hour time frame, but afterwards you are free to do whatever you want to do.

For those who struggle with knowing what they want to do post-graduation, what would you say to them?

You are the creator of your own timeline. I listen to a lot of Jay Shetty and he has incredible wisdom so I recommend his podcasts to begin with. But with that being said as Jay stated, be in control of your own timeline but make sure it is fulfilling and busy for you. I wouldn’t not recommend sitting idle and doing nothing. Make vision boards, pick up a job, find a new hobby and see if you can make an interest of yours a passion and a career.

Our world is changing and has changed so much. What are some tips that you have for soon to be or recent college graduates with adapting to these new changes as they enter the workforce?

Looking for a job starts before you graduate. The job market is hard and so make sure you are going to networking events and make sure you stay in contact with those contacts. After a certain point it’s not what you know it’s who you know that gets you your job.

The Class of 2021 (including myself) is graduating in May and even December with mainly virtual college since March 2020. What is one piece of advice that you have for students graduating in December 2020 or May 2021 as they make this transition?

Take it in stride. This is not your karma or the universe trying to get back at you because you can’t graduate like the classes before you. Remember that you are and always will be strong to get through this. You just have to keep repeating it and believe in it and yourself.

Last but not least, what is one thing that you would say to yourself a year ago from today knowing what was about to come?

Reach out to those people who you were shy to reach out to or afraid to reach out to. More than likely chances are that they will remember you and want to say hi as well. Break the ice. And also don’t take for granted what you have before time makes you realize how precious it was what you had.

As Shivani has shared, remember to make the best of every moment even if that moment looks a bit different due to Covid-19. Chances are, you will not have that time ever in your life again. Most importantly, pandemic or not, the best is yet to come!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Meredith Angel-Owned Small Businesses to Support this Holiday Season

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE my sweet Meredith College. My experience so far at Meredith has been one of the best that I could ever ask for. As I started The Pink Chickadee and grew my platform, I watched my Meredith sisters around me grow their own small businesses. There is so much beauty in seeing my Meredith sisters and I’s successes grow. I LOVE supporting small businesses and especially those that are connected to Meredith students or alumni. Today, I have rounded up several of many small businesses that are run by Meredith women!

From prints to stickers that are all Meredith-themed, check out MH Paper Goods. The lovely lady behind the business, Maria, and I did a giveaway in August and she is also a Woman in STEM with a sweet and creative spirit!
Customization from monograms to even Ruth Bader Ginsburg ornaments/key chains, look no further than Greetings of Magic! Megan, the shop owner, is one of my best friends’ Lil’s and friends of mine and she is the sweetest thing! You can also use my code thepinkchickadee for 10% off your purchase (offer valid until December 31, 2020).
If you’re looking for all-things handlettering and the most fun designs connected to your favorite shows, movies, and even Enneagram type, shop at Lettering By Miranda! The lovely Miranda designed The Pink Chickadee‘s logo and she did an amazing job!!!
For the cutest masks, wine glasses, ornaments, and the funniest apparel, check out Cassie’s Designs! Cassie is also one of my best friends and she is OH SO TALENTED!!!
Who doesn’t love a cute mug and especially a Meredith mug?! The sweetest Anna Haddock of The Coffee Table Goods has the cutest Meredith-themed mugs as well as an adorable Christmas-themed mug in her shop!
Whether it be Meredith, NC State, love stories, or all North Carolina destinations, shop everything North Carolina-oriented at Pamlico Paper Company. Liz the shop owner is the sweetest and is always showing up at local North Carolina art/craft fairs to show off her talents!
If you want some of the most adorable prints that you will find, then definitely check out J Hall Designs! Along with her Etsy shop which I have linked, J Hall Designs is carried at The Local Squirrel, For Your Convenience Raleigh, Southern Home & Kitchen, and Katherine Beck Gifts. I studied abroad with the shop owner Julia Hall in London back in July 2018, and she is such a sweet soul!!!
For the cutest Meredith-oriented stickers among other things, definitely check out Laney Logan Design Co. The shop owner Laney is super sweet!!
Whether it be Meredith-oriented stickers, metal prints, or even a painting, Mountain Top Photos has it all for you. The shop owner Brittney was one of my Lil’s teammates!
To get the most adorable pet designs from stickers to prints to even paintings, then definitely check out Ashlyn’s Art. Ashlyn’s Art is run by my sweet Lil Sis Ashlyn! To place your order, then follow her Instagram page @ashlyns_artwc.
Rachel Norris Art has the most beautiful handlettering and graphic designs that are North Carolina-themed, spiritual, and *of course* Meredith-themed. The shop owner Rachel was a classmate of mine and she is oh so sweet!
If you LOVE hand lettering like myself, then definitely follow @_letteringbylauren on Instagram to see my Meredith sister Lauren’s hand lettering projects! While this endeavor of Lauren’s is not necessarily a small business, Lauren is extremely talented just like the other ladies mentioned in this post.
Two of my favorite things are Meredith College and Christmas! Liza’s Lettering Co definitely embodies two of my favorite things. The shop owner Eliza is also the sweetest thing!
The Local Squirrel is the cutest boutique! Located in Raleigh’s vibrant Cameron Village, this sweet boutique is owned by a Meredith alumni who loves supporting small businesses. Every time I visit The Local Squirrel, I end up having a great experience and cannot wait to go back!
For such unique and stunning pieces of jewelry, then definitely check out Raleighwood Beads; I am OBSESSED with the nutcracker necklace I recently got from there. I actually collaborated with the shop owner Carolyne on a fundraiser and social with our classes and it was super fun!
To get all of your custom print and sticker needs, then check out @claireannedesign on Instagram. The shop owner Claire and I are in the same class and have done Cornhuskin’ together over the years. Like Claire, I have shared so many special memories with all of the ladies in my class!

Shopping small has always been a favorite thing of mine, specifically when it involves ladies connected to sweet Meredith College. Whether or not you attend Meredith or have any connection to the school, these lovely ladies’ businesses are definitely worth it to check out. Not only are their talents shining at Meredith College and within the Meredith community, but they are also shining beyond Meredith College.

XOXO – Katie <3

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