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Busy Bee in NYC

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Although I feel more like an actual New Yorker the longer I’m in NYC, I’ve still done a decent job of hitting up tourist locations. Since I can’t share a lot about what I’m doing at work, here’s a sneak peak into my life outside of magazines!

First and foremost, I’m still a fitness guru at heart and it’s always been on my bucket list to go running in Central Park. I’m always so envious whenever I see people in their jogging pants and sneaks, just trucking around the reservoir like they do any other day. I realized that my time here was quickly running out, so I laced up my sneaks and hit the pavement in the cold 35-degree weather, looking just like any other local.

And let me tell you, the views were worth it.

While I wasn’t in NYC for it, I was lucky enough to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra live. My mom and step-dad bought tickets for my three brothers, sister and I for Christmas, so we were all able to experience some awesome musicianship together. The pyrotechnics they used throughout the show covered the price of the ticket alone.

Once I was back in NYC, my boyfriend, Dustin, came to visit, as did my ASME friends and future roommates, Libby and Victoria to celebrate the new year. We made sure to hit up plenty of restaurants along the way, including my favorite Mexican restaurant, La Esquina. If you’re ever in the city, I highly recommend you try it. Insider tip: It’s a big place for celebrity spottings, so you have to reserve two to three weeks in advance.

We also made sure to hit up Tom’s Restaurant, famous for it’s recurring presence in Seinfeld.

I walk by this retro-looking diner every day on my walk home from work as well, so I tested out an Italian meatball sub and french fries at the Metro Diner, too. It was my first time having fries in over six months, but these were delicious!

Dustin and I also ventured around Times Square and took advantage of the M&M factory because he had never been. After we were hopped up on sugar, we played in Toys R Us. I tried to ride the ferris wheel, but you had to pay, plus the line was really long and full of little kids. I settled for a huge lollipop from the Willy Wonka side of the store instead.

And to prove I do super-cool things for my job, I took Dustin to a Harlem Globetrotters game! We were able to go to the VIP party and eat dinner with the players before the game. The Globetrotters worked with us on an article to help make a girl’s dream come true — she always wanted to play with the wacky team, so we made her dreams a reality! Check out a spring issue of FITNESS to read all about it.

What fun things have you done over winter break? Are you ready to head back to school?

Times, they are ‘a changin’

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After a long absence of blogs I return with so much to tell. Since my last blog was in November, I’ll start with December. Classes came to a brutal finish with papers, finals, and of course the dreaded group presentations. In good news though, I passed everything (even German!!) This semester was very challenging for me, but thanks to my awesome support circle, I made it! One of the most helpful people in my life also had a very big semester. My best friend, and long term boyfriend became a proud Oswego Alum on December 18th! He graduated with a degree in Public Justice, and is hoping to soon become a Police Officer.

SUNY Oswego December 18th Graduation

Also in December APO came to  a finish with our end of the semester semi-formal banquet. Thanks to a lot of hard work from several members it was very successful and fun event. Not to mention a very fantastic end to the semester. I am very proud of all of our members who completed over 1500 hours of Service to our Chapter, Campus, Community and Country this semester. We have so many new and fantastic members who will continue to forge through with the success of APO.

APO Semi-Formal with my best friends (and most of the E-Board)

As December came to an end, I celebrated Christmas with my best friends, my housemates, my boyfriend, and of course my loving family! We also celebrated New Years eve and I threw a surprise for my parents 20th Anniversary! Yes, I was 6 months old when my parents were married. But, it means I can throw them awesome parties.  It was really nice to have family, and my parents friends whom I’ve known my entire life around. And it was super awesome to have Dave fly up to celebrate with everyone.

My Mom and Dad on New Years Eve for their 20th Anniversary!

As the new year turned over and January began, I left the country. Off to Mont Tremblant, Quebec Canada for a week with SUNY Oswego Downhill Ski and Snowboard Club. This was my third year attending the trip and Dave’s fifth. We stayed at The Village in Tremblant from January 2nd to the 7th and returned late that night. Tremblant was amazing! It was the nicest weather any of us had ever seen there, and the farthest we could ever see. I stayed in a 6 person suite at The Hilton Homewood Suites, and met some very fantastic people! While I was there we snowboarded, enjoyed the Village atmosphere, ate amazing French Onion soup, and of course devoured Casey’s Fiesta Nachos! Last year Dave and I made a vow that we would someday finish these massive nachos, and seeing as it was his last year, we had a mission. So on the last day we sat around a table eating my body weight in chips, cheese, chicken, sour cream, and all the fixings. And yes, this year we SUCCEEDED!

Yes, we really finished all of this.

The day we arrived back in the U.S. also happened to be one of my best friend’s 21st birthdays. I joined her in her apartment but was so exhausted I just went home and went to sleep. Sorry Meg. The following day consisted of Dave and I laying on the couch watching a marathon of movies, and again going to sleep early. Finally yesterday, Dave and I drive to my house, then back to the airport, flew to JFK and finally arrived late last night in Wading River, NY. I’ll be staying on Long Island until the 18th. Tuesday I have an interview at Columbia University for a Summer Internship Program which I am so excited about!! Hopefully, I wont be as nervous as I am right now. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed!!

That’s all for now. Hope you guys are caught up and I promise I will be more on my game this semester!

Re-located to D.C.!

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So, it’s been very long since my last post, but life as a senior is hectic!

UPDATE:
I am now located in Friendship Heights in Washington D.C.! Woot. I’m on the Northwest border of “The District,” and I’m living with an associate pastor at a Presbyterian Church down here. It’s pretty exciting.

I live down the street from the Mazza Gallerie, where there are tons of shops like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus, New Balance, etc. Hoity toity stores that I can’t afford, unfortunately.

But, there is a Steinmart and TJMaxx where I just bought some business casual clothing for the start of my internship. Yay!

As to what I’ll be doing down here for the semester, I have an internship with Amnesty International USA with their Government Relations team. I will be working on passing this International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA), and other things dealing with women’s rights around the world.

I don’t have a LOT of experience with this, but I am interested in furthering the economic capacity of women! (i.e. making sure that all of the work they do is reaping some sort of economic recognition). So, all in all, this should be a wonderful experience.

Also, it’s AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL! Hello!!!!!! It’s pretty much the Harvard University of the world of NGOs (non-governmental organizations). Amnesty has the most pull out of every NGO in the country, arguably the world, to effect change and to get the UN to pass resolutions and work on foreign policy.

So, I’m VERY excited. I will keep you all posted!

The Secret: Daily Teachings Jan 05-Jan 09

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Jan 05: (Day 12) Beliefs about aging are all in our minds, so release those thoughts from your consciousness. Focus on health and eternal youth. ( For those who know me, I practice this teaching a lot. When people ask you how old you are, say you are ____ years YOUNG! BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE GETTING YOUNGER OR STAYING YOUNG AND NOT GETTING OLD! )

Jan 06: (Day 13) If you have held thoughts in the past that the only way money can come to you is through your job, then let that go immediately. Can you appreciate that as you continue to think that, it must be your experience? Such thoughts do not serve you.

Jan 07: (Day 14) Powerfully intend to attract something small. Starting with something small, like a cup of coffee or parking spaces, is an easy way to experience the law of attraction in action. As you experience the power you have to attract, you will move on to creating much bigger things.

Jan 08: ( Day 15) What you are thinking now is creating your life with your thoughts. Because you are always creating. What you think about the most or focus on the most, is what will appear as your life.

Jan 09: (Day 16) Many of us were taught to put ourselves last, and as a consequence we attracted feelings of being unworthy and undeserving. As those feelings lodged within us, we continued to attract more life situations that had us feel more unworthy and not enough. You must change that thinking.

First Semester Recap

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Jeez, no post since October 4th. How lazy can I get?

Well since my last two blogs, a lot had happened. I’m a proud brother of Zeta Beta Tau, I’m starting two new clubs on campus (which I hope will be up and running in the upcoming semester), became a member of WNYO, and took 5 classes. So I guess in a sense I had a lot to occupy my time. But onto my blog, so here I go.

Things I learned from this semester:

  • There is A LOT of snow in Oswego
  • Brotherhood means the world to me
  • You have to set goals and standards for myself
  • You need to be in something 100% to succeed at it
  • Planning ahead does so much more good than harm
  • If you believe in something enough, it can happen
  • Always be proud of your accomplishments, but always be humble about them
  • Two majors is more work than one, but more rewarding
  • Networking WORKS
  • Distance changes everything
  • Know what you want to major in (even if you don’t yet, school IS a work in progress)
  • When times are tough, always have faith in yourself and others
  • STAY POSITIVE

In those few bullet points, that literally can sum up my entire semester. This semester taught me to keep pushing myself in everything and don’t stop until you have finished what you started. I guess this can be my advice blog? I had such a meaningful experience this past semester and it renewed faith in myself and trust in others. I’m not one for lengthy blogs personally, I like to be short, sweet and to the point. But until next time, this song helped me get through the semester.

A Day To Remember- All I Want

Professor May I?

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This is so funny to me!

I actually had a professor just like that this past semester. I couldn’t believe it! In the beginning of the semester he gave that whole list of “rules” and blase. Said that we couldn’t use the bathroom unless it was an emergency. Right then and there I knew that I was going to break that rule, at the time though I thought it would be intentional.

Anyway the semester is rolling by and at times I would have to use the bathroom but I would hold it and do the infamous leg jiggle. Not this day though! For what ever reason I had to use the bathroom really bad and so class starts at 2:20 and finishes at 3:40 . I looked at my phone and saw that it was 3. I said aight I’m going [bump] that.

So I get up to leave the classroom and so as to not be rude I start walking behind him. He then turns to me and goes “uh where do you think your going” . I replied that I was going to the bathroom. He says” you cant go its a class rule you know that” , to which I then state buttt I have to use the bathroom he tells me to hold it. Despite his better efforts of telling me how people distract him from his lecture when we get up to use bathroom and how he only condones it if your ill , I walked pass the old man and went to the bathroom.

Kwame: 1

Old Man Prof: 0

p.s. : to the girl who sat in the front row. WHY would you agree with him and state that it is a classroom rule. WHY!

Changing Your Life

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I was perusing some of my favorite blogs the other day and while I was on She’s a Fit Chick, I read this post about an article that questions where you are in life and where you want to be. Like Jennifer, I decided to answer the questions. This gets a bit long, but hopefully you enjoy it anyway.

1. Where do you want to be in life right now and in the future?

I’m in a really good place in my life, so there isn’t much that I would change. I’m in my senior year at an amazing college, where I’ve met so many fantastic people and learned more than I imagined. I’ve been involved in various organizations that I’m passionate about, started a club that will hopefully continue to grow and help other students who are interested in the magazine industry, and had a fantastic job at the fitness centers where I’ve discovered passions I never knew I had. Not to mention I’ve been lucky enough to live in New York City twice in a year and work at a magazine I absolutely love and 100 percent support.

But that’s only the work and education side. I’m also in a very loving relationship with my boyfriend of practically two years (13 days away) and I’ve never felt more sure of myself than I do when I’m with him. He listens to my worries, basks in my successes and encourages me to keep pushing even though I doubt myself at times and want to give up. He makes me laugh, I never (ok, maybe sometimes) get sick of him and he’s not too shabby on the eyes, either. What else could you ask for in a boyfriend?

I also have fantastic friends that I’ve kept in touch with throughout life and I can’t wait to see these friendships grow. My roommates in Oswego, Kayleigh and Meghan, are phenomenal; I love my good friends from back home and I can’t wait to be reunited with my ASME friends from NYC! I’m so blessed to know this many amazing people.

So yeah, I’m pretty content right now.

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop moving forward. My college career is ending in four months, which means a new part of my life is beginning. The adult part. The no-relying-on-anyone-else part. The make-it-or-break-it part. I’m moving to NYC with two of my ASME friends, Libby and Victoria, and I couldn’t be more excited. Or scared. I’m nervous about getting a job in the magazine industry. You never know if the timing will play out and in magazine world you can’t start looking for a job until two months before graduation (So if I’m a stress ball the last few months of college, you’ll know why). However, I’ll be positive and hope for the best! This time next year, I want to be living in NYC and working at a magazine I love. Hopefully I’ll be able to do it without living on Spaghetti O’s, too!

2. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t?

I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise. Since I was little, I’ve dreamed of traveling on a huge ship to some exotic and warm location with my friends. I don’t care if it’s with my family, a girls’ getaway, a mix of guys and gals, or a vacation with Dustin — as long as I’m with people who are ready to relax and have fun in the sun! This year, I’m determined to go on a cruise, possibly to the Bahamas, to celebrate my graduation!

3. What’s something you would regret never having done in life?

Applying for the ASME summer internship, hands down. I remember looking at the application, talking with my professor about it and wondering whether or not I should apply because all of the students who were accepted last year were from big-name schools. I mean, I went to a SUNY school — did I really have a shot of getting in? Turns out I did. I had no idea how ASME determined who got in, but I later found out it’s based completely on what you’ve done to get ahead. Nobody cared that I went to a state school. If I had let my fears get the best of me, I never would have gone to NYC and worked at FITNESS, met great people from all over the country and had the best summer of my life.

4. What are you doing to make yourself available to new opportunities?

Networking like a mad woman. I try to meet someone new every day and learn about who they are and what they do in life. I’ve learned not to be shy around new people and just say hi. I’ve been meeting with a lot of different magazine editors as well, just to learn about how they got to where they are. The mag industry is very much about paying it forward, so making that initial contact, and then preserving it, opens a whole new world of opportunity every time.

5. What do you like/dislike about your life?

  • I love my friends, family and boyfriend.
  • I like that I’m graduating in four months.
  • I like that I’m living with two fantastic people in NYC in a few months.
  • I like that I’m studying to become a nationally certified personal trainer.
  • I dislike that I’m going to be six hours away from my family and best friend.
  • I dislike that my college friends and I are going separate ways (except for Tom!)
  • I dislike that one of my closest friends and I no longer talk because of what he thinks are irreconcilable differences.

6. What are you doing in your life right now to make it better?

I’m working in my desired career field at a magazine I love, growing a networking organization at Oswego State to help future journalism students, launching an online magazine, meeting amazing people through blogging, and training to run my first half-marathon and complete my first triathlon!

7. Are you comfortable with yourself?

More and more every day. There are things I don’t like about myself, but movements like Operation Beautiful are teaching me that I’m an amazing person despite my flaws.

8. What’s holding you back from what you want in life?

A fear of failing. Which I guess segues into confidence. I’ve been successful at a lot of things because I push myself to the limit and because I’m afraid of what it will be like if I fail at something. I need to learn to forget fear and just go for it. I know life is lived to the fullest when fear isn’t a part of the equation.

What suggestions do you have for fighting fear? I encourage you to answer these questions about yourself and if you blog about it, send it my way!

Let’s Watch Californication of Life!

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Tomorrow!!!! WOOT WOOT

Man, I love this show. I remember I used to always see this Ad for it at the train station. I would wonder what the hell is that show about? Then one day over a break I decided to watch the show. It instantly became my favorite show. I would be doing it a real injustice to sit here and try and give you the story plot if you dont already know; it but I am also doing you a huge favor by putting you on if you dont know about it. Trust me its worth it . I have a huge success rate with getting people to like this show. This girl I used to talk to , I introduced her to the show and she loved it so much she finished all of the episodes before me! Funny thing is even though we don’t talk anymore I know we both “gonna” be tuned in(scary ..mary)

This ad to me is so true though because by the time you get to episode 4 of the first season you realize this dude really lives his head below water. He can never get his act together . The funniest thing is that Terrell after awhile this semester would go welp! You said you loved Hank and thought his life was so captivating now look at you. The first time he said that we laughed so hard. Now when he or I say it I’m susceptible to letting out a heavy sigh or whimper.

Anway the point is and remains that January 9th, Sunday at 9 pm(tomorrow) the show returns. If you’ve never watched before then I suggest you go to surfthechannel.com first and get caught up . For the rest of us Californicationers CHEERs. The real Hank is back!

The Day Grades Came In…

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Yup thats Me! HAHa after a semester where I was stuck in a glass box of emotion , I made it. Not only did I survive the semester and make it out alive but I put up them high grades baby. I might as well cut right to the chase and answer what you want to know from last time. I did pass Chemistry and I did marginally well at that. Not bad for someone who was in fear of failing a class right? Welp you know what they say. What DO they say? They say “hard work pays off” and mine did. I put my heart into those last weeks of school more specifically chemistry and I made it out of the fire.

I actually went a little broke in the process of my celebration. During finals week I told Tumbo that I would buy him and our team 3 rounds to signify the 3.wtv GPA if I got it. This was big for me because I’m on my own streak of academic GPA success and it was so important for me to get stay in the 3. club for this first semester. For obvious reasons ANYONE would want to be in the 3’s but this being the first semester I didn’t want to find myself having to dig out of a hole and put in twice the work just to get my head above water. Thing is when I told Tumbo ,although I was being serious about my bet. I didn’t always feel I would be able to get there , I just didn’t see it. None the less I’ve learned that the best thing to do is just put your head down and work..just work. So now with those grades I found myself having to live up to my end of the deal. Hard work had done its part. Three rounds for 4 other people is a lot of bread though no? Suffice to say I most likely won’t be making that offer again…but then again who knows Finals week does something to ya man.

Obviously this post is weeks after the actual release of grades, but I really wanted to take some time. See during this semester time was never on my side. This was a really trying semester on me , emotionally more than mentally. So I decided to just give myself that quiet time , just to take deep breaths, moments of nothingness and just to truly appreciate the success that I experienced in a semester that didn’t always look good.

Although these people already know I do want to say thank you. Thank you to my sister: I truly love you, and you are my rock , my shoulder , my guide , your everything in my life…Everything. I also want to thank my niece Gemma although your only 2 months old and can’t even keep your eyes open unless they are on that bottle you’ve become an indescribable source of love in me and your birth was the trip that helped me get my semester back on track. To my Team C**Ns/ NYR I already paid yall in rounds and I’m on a self imposed word count limit so *salute* . My parents (financially and  love wise the support is to much to pay back…esp the money part i don’t plan to give that back lol). Lastly to myself. I promised I would never leave myself out of ANY thank you’s cause my life has been for the better ever since I took full control and responsibility . Keep up the good work make yourself proud .. Affirmation is something huh?