The Family I Chose

In honor of National Friendship Day, I wanted to dedicate a post to my awesome belles -- Jamie and Sarah. I am so grateful to call them my friends and for them both being there for me throughout the years. (Still can't believe I can say years here, makes me think we are getting too old!)

Our origin story dates back to Spring Break of our senior year of high school. We had all known each other and hung out previously, but this was the trip that bonded us together -- mostly because none of us were interested in 'partying' with our other high school acquaintances and just wanted a chill vacation. There's one particular memory I have of the trip where we were cruizin' in my VW Beetle down the strip in PCB with Jamie in the backseat, Sarah in the passenger and me driving with the windows down. We were watching all the drunk people stumble down the street and past the cars and this one particular guy got really excited and ran through the middle of the cars screaming excitedly offering high fives -- so I stuck my hand out the window to give him one. It was hilarious until I realized his hand was wet with who knows what and my sudden germaphobe took over. I squeamishly asked if anyone had hand sanitizer in the car at just about the same time Jamie offered me some. As all three of us burst out into laughter, I knew then that we were meant to be lifelong friends.

There are so many similar funny memories I could share from college as well -- like a certain night involving Jolly Rancher vodka -- and even now, with me living 1,096 miles away, we still continue to make memories and share our lives together. These ladies are the family I chose, and I'm so glad we chose each other.

5 Things I Didn't Do Before 25 ⎯ and Why I'm Glad I Didn't

I've been twenty-five for almost a month now ⎯ and it still feels weird to say it. Since my birthday, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on what I thought twenty-five would bring me and why I'm glad I had so many misconceptions about where my life would lead so far. So here's a list of things I didn't do before turning the big two five:

1 | Get married 
When I was younger, I always believed that by twenty-five, I would be married and ready to start a family. The idea behind this was that everyone in their mid-twenties were adults and that's what adults do. Where I'm at now, marriage isn't something that is completely off the table, but it definitely couldn't be further from mine and my partner's mind. We already share our lives together in all the ways that matter.

2 | Stay at the same job
This is probably the most important thing I didn't do. I always imagined that the first job you were hired at after college would be something that you would stay at a while and grow into. While this is true for many people still, it isn't always the case. Sometimes there's no where for you to grow and sometimes the job just isn't the right fit. All in all, I'm glad that I had the chance to move states and explore new opportunities. I would highly recommend that approach!

3 | Travel
I list this not as a way of me saying that I don't travel, but to explain that travel isn't everything. I feel like the world today expects all young people to go on these great trips in far off places and learn great lessons. To me this is both impractical (how are these people paying for these things?!) and unreasonable with all the responsibilities given to newly minted college grads. That being said, I do believe in taking every opportunity available to travel and have been blessed with a job that allows me to travel West for business!

4 | Buy a house
I am about as far away from purchasing a house as one could possibly get at the moment. I'm not even sure how someone decides to purchase a house, but maybe that's because most of the housing market in my neighborhood runs upwards of half a million dollars(!).

5 | Act like I have my life together
The most shocking realization of turning twenty-five is that I didn't suddenly receive a book of knowledge on how to be an adult ⎯ I'm still winging it like everyone else I know! But no real surprise there as many of you know, I've been winging it since '92.

A Young Alumna's College Tips

With the fall semester in full swing for undergraduates all over the country, I thought I might share some words of advice regarding those 4 (or 5) years of your life spent pursuing higher education. I've been reflecting quite a bit recently, what with my second big move since graduating and I thought my experiences and thoughts since leaving Georgia Tech may be of help to someone out there -- whether you are just starting off your freshman year or are a seasoned senior about to step foot into the professional world.

Freshie me and Buzz circa 2010

1) Be social. I'm wondering how many Tech students will scoff at this piece of advice. But I'm going to give it anyway. Skip studying one night. Go out to that party, that bar, that concert. College is the easiest time in your life to be social. All of your friends are right there. They are your neighbors and your classmates and you deserve to have time to unwind and be social and live it up. You won't get many chances like that again, so don't let every moment pass you by because you are studying. BUT still make sure you study, because that's important too, which leads me to my next point...

2) Study smarter, not harder. The hours sitting in front of a book do not always directly correspond to what grades are made. Your studying style is different from everyone else's and you are going to need to figure out what your style is to really succeed in your classes. Try different things and see what works best. Use all of your resources at your disposal (professors giving access to old tests, tutors, study groups) but only use them if they are beneficial to you. For me, I started shining once I found a study group. For you... well I don't know! Go out there and find it out!

3) Your first industry job may be awful. This is mostly for seniors, but it's good to hear earlier on as well. Your first job is more than likely not going to be your dream job. The catch-22 that forms with needing experience to get a job but not being able to get experience because you can't get a job -- yea, that applies here. I'm not saying take whatever job gives you an offer first, but it's okay if you settle. It's okay if you're not exactly where you want to be when you start off your career. Just don't forget where you want to go. Once you forget where you want to be, that's when you are truly stuck.

4) You really do know best. This doesn't not mean not to take advice from anyone, this simply means that you are the one living your life. You know yourself better than anyone else can and you know what's best for you. Go ahead, ask everyone for advice. Solicit advice from mentors, parents, friends, labmates, classmates, sorority sisters, fraternity brothers, even this blog post (!), but ultimately the decision you make should be yours, and yours alone.

5) Don't sweat it. It is going to be okay. That grade, that class, that lab, that professor, that job interview -- it doesn't define you. If you get knocked down, it will be okay. Get back up, dust yourself off and keep going. All of us get knocked down. All of us had that one thing in college that felt like the end of the world. (If you were me, there were many times things felt like the end of the world.) But we all made it! You can do this. And if you ever feel otherwise, just remember that there is always help to those who seek it.