Dear High School Graduate

As the school year is coming to an end, many of us will be attending graduation ceremonies. This is one of my favorite times of the year as I love to watch students get recognized for their hard work. College was a great time in my life and while I did not have the traditional college life, I wouldn’t trade that experience for another as I believe it helped shape me into the adult that I am today. While graduates are usually told to expect become more responsible, learn independence, how to do laundry etc. There are some advice that I wish graduates would hear more often. Here are some of the advice I wished someone had told me (I discovered some of those on my own and fortunately took advantage):
– Select a major that you are passionate about – the worst thing that you can do is pursue a degree in a certain field because it is lucrative. While you may complete it (some students don’t and end up switching majors two to three years into the program), chances are you will become miserable once you enter the workforce. Every career has some requirements that are less desirable, however, if you are if you are passionate about your career, you will enjoy even the downfalls.
– Take advantage of all of the interest clubs and organizations – especially while in your first two years, it is the easiest time to participate in all types of organizations while still taking your general education courses. Clubs and organizations help you explore different careers and help you decide which path you want to take (if you are unsure) but they also provide you with further exposure in that field and hence increase your chances of obtaining internships and scholarships.
– It’s okay to attend a two year college first – choosing to attend a two year college after high school is the ideal choice, unless you have secured a full ride scholarship to a four year institution. Two year colleges not only facilitate the transition from high school into college, they eliminate having to sit in an auditorium where you are nothing but a number to the professor. Furthermore, they share plenty of the clubs and organizations present in a four year university and many of the times they also share faculty with nearby four year institutions. However, the best advantage of two year colleges is that they are less expensive! So if you (or your parents) are paying out of pocket: this should be a no brainer.
– Travel abroad – this is probably the cheapest method for you to travel around the world! Most of the time, travel abroad costs usually include airfare, lodging, and transportation. So this only leaves you to cover your with meals and even those are sometimes covered in the fees. So pack up that suitcase and take that trip, you are bound to have the experience of a lifetime and if you can do so with some friends, even better!
– It’s okay to have a goal – while in college, I was determined, I had waited a year after graduating high school to start and decided that it had been vacation enough and wanted to recuperate the time lost by attending school year round full time including the summer. Meanwhile, I had former classmates who decided to “enjoy the college life” and skip terms instead. Needless to say, by the time they graduated, I was already in my second semester of graduate school.
– Do not stop at your bachelor’s – the workforce is becoming more and more filled with individuals with degrees so the more specialties you can learn (certificates included), the more marketable you will be.
Remember, these four years will definitely change your life! You will grow and may even adopt a different lifestyle (hopefully in a positive way lol), however, they will forever leave an imprint in your life and will also shape you for the workforce. Be sure to enjoy yourself but remember to keep your eyes on your goal. Ultimately, there is only one person directly affected by your choices and that is you.
Congratulations graduate, the world is yours to conquer!!!
Reese

International Women’s Day

Hello Glam Girls!

Happy International Women’s Day! Whether it is an 8 year old girl who is starting to find interest in fashion or a 90 year old grandmother who now enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, we all share the common bond of being a woman and knowing how to overcome the hardships that come on our paths in life. Today I wanted to share my thoughts on what being a woman has always meant to me.

As women, we face the biggest challenges in our society and continually have to surmount them while being caretakers. We are daughters, friends, coworkers, mothers, wives and the list goes on… As women, we are usually our toughest critics as if society did not already set the bar to a surreal level! We are expected to be the exemplary role model but are the most neglected members of society and yet we still hold our heads high doing it all. We are never too tired to help a friend in need, help with homework, cook a warm meal, or finish a project that was assigned at the last minute. You name it, we handle it.

We multitask by nature! And we are climbing the steps in our society and becoming judges, doctors, fashion designers, governors, teachers, world leaders, and CEO’s while balancing these titles with our personal responsibilities and are still expected to excel at both. However as we climb in the ladders of the professional world, the criticism becomes louder and unfortunately many times it comes from other women. We must learn how to uplift each other better and recognize each other’s achievements without any source of envy and criticism. If we don’t do so, how do we expect the men who are still held back in the archaic age to ever view us as equals?

No one faces more criticism than the independent woman who works hard and does not rely on someone else to sustain her life. We get labeled as bitchy, bossy, difficult etc. However, as an independent woman who has heard it all and know many ladies who are living similar lives I can say that we are simply a mystery to those who have chosen a different path from us and to the opposite sex! We are a mystery because we have managed to fit into our day all of the responsibilities and still have time to look fabulous doing so! We are not bitchy or bossy, we simply know what we want and our time is precious so we do not waste it. We are not difficult, we just know our value and will not settle. Ladies, do not ever feel like you should apologize for knowing what you want in life! It is not about being nasty, and it is not about emasculating the men in our lives, being a woman is being able to build your life and follow your dreams while being able to uplift those present in it. In the end, we have dreams and goals in life just like a man, we just achieve them in stilettos!

Check out this amazing article that Cosmopolitan posted earlier last week: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/news/a37070/things-you-should-know-about-dating-a-woman-who-has-her-sht-together/

Keep reaching for your dreams ladies!

Reese

Staple pieces your career wardrobe

Whether you have a walking closet that rivals the celebrities or you are right out of college and are on a budget, there are staple items that the career glam girl’s wardrobe needs. From a job interview to an office presentation, these items are necessary for the glam girl to make her mark on the world.
1) Black pumps – these are to be a good pair of leather black pumps with a comfortable heel and no platform. These shoes are your formal wear shoes whether you are heading to job interview or to a formal work event, you can’t go wrong with these.
2) Pencil skirt – this skirt of a modest length (just above the knee), made out of quality material is a go to skirt just like the pumps for any formal event. To make it easy to pair, keep the color of this skirt dark and neutral such as grey, black, or navy.
3) White blouse – another quick go to item for any formal event, be sure to get a good quality so that the fabric does not deteriorate.
4) Cardigan – a quality cardigan of a solid color that can easily be thrown over camisoles and create a professional look.
5) Camisoles – these affordable items paired with different bottoms and with a cardigan or blazer over create a very polished and professional look.
6) Blazer – last minute meeting? No problem, you thrown on a neutral colored blazer over your top or dress and you instantly create a more business appropriate outfit. Be sure to get a well tailored blazer with an open collar.
I hope that these items will help you create a flexible wardrobe that is both glam and professional.