Since graduating on the 12th of May, I have been feverishly searching for job openings and updating every social media outlet I own in order to keep myself relevant and in the spotlight of my networks.  All the while, people have been congratulating me and asking me, "What are your plans for the summer?"  Most of the time I reply with a smile, a thank you, and a swift "looking for a real job".  This question is growing tired on me but the reply is easy and I appreciate the well wishes.  However, since the job market is slow and I am still holding out for my dream job before settling for something less related, I have been thinking of ways to get creative and boost my personal selling points.  I have considered getting a waitressing job to ease my itch for something productive to do, thought about re-designing my resume and portfolio pages (which I will probably still do at some point in the next few months), and have even been networking with friends and passing out my new business cards to everyone who may know someone in the biz.

Seemingly un-relatedly, as fate would have it, the other day I reconnected with an old friend.  We got to catching up and he told me about a business he owns in Arizona, proofing houses for rattlesnakes.  I thought it was really strange but I guess it makes more sense in those areas... Anyway, we continued talking and one thing lead to another and now I actually have started doing some freelance copywriting and brand management for his business!  More updates to come, but I do believe that this is the the first freelance assignment I have ever gotten as a professional in the real world.

Forget summer vacation... I'm starting the rest of my life!

Start out as a freelance copywriter? CHECK!

Hello! Things have been busy since graduating, but I have a been crossing things off my "To-done" list like crazy!  While there is not enough time in the world to write a post for each of these things, I'd like to highlight the biggest one so far... 

This past weekend, I drove 477 miles with my father to Ohio University from my hometown to watch my best friend graduate with a degree in Athletic Training! I felt like one proud momma as she walked across the stage and I bawled like a baby through the whole thing.  I am so proud of her, but it was also my first experience with a larger university like that at an official ceremony.  In short, the ceremony was HUGE and overwhelmingly long as they read every name off.  However, the differences between OU and Bradley were very apparent.  First, there were two ceremonies in that day, divided by the colleges.  Next, there were so many students in each, that they had to be seated in some parts of the arena above the floor. And the final biggest difference was that after having their name called, they walked right out of the arena and left.  (p.s. their speaker was Nancy Cartwright voice of Bart Simpson!) 

It was different, but worth it just to hear her name called in person.  Congrats Michelle!!! 

Attend a larger university's graduation? CHECK! 

Holy smokes.  A LOT has happened since my last post... and a lot of them were definitely firsts to be scratched off my To-Done list.  First and foremost, I GRADUATED!!!

I cannot express fully my elation for being the first woman in in my family to fully graduate college.  In summation, it was a bittersweet day overall and I am happy to say that I was able to share it with my best friend, my grandmother, and my parents.  When I took the big walk up the arena, I was so nervous and was mainly focused on not tripping but when I hugged the president of our university, I took a sigh of relief and felt unbelievably accomplished.  Back in my seat, I finally let a few tears of joy roll down my cheeks with my friends as we hugged our pseudo diplomas.  I can't believe I'm actually checking this one off my list but....

Graduate from Bradley University???  CHECK!!!!!!!

The past few days have flown by so quickly and I am happy to report that I have quite a few things to scratch off my To Done list because of it.  First and foremost, I went to NewYork City which I had never done before.

While I was there, I saw the Statue of Liberty at night...

rode the Staten Island Ferry....
saw the famous New York City Skyline...

met a famous person (B. Smith, former model)...


saw Times Square (night and day)...

and went to Central Park!

Other things that I did included pitching a real advertising campaign proposal to members of the company it was for, holding an official ABC7 news anchor microphone, visiting the 9/11 memorial, and riding the subway.  To say the least, it was an incredibly awesome trip and I am thrilled to have been able to experience so many things in so little time. I'd say after all of that, I can definitely check all this off the list, but for the sake of everyone's sanity (and slight abuse of making lists) I'll chalk it all up to a total experience of one:

Experience downtown New York City? CHECK!

It is about that time of year when things are truly wrapping up for us graduating seniors.  Yesterday was perfect proof of that as I participated in my last SONOR and HEAT events ever. :(  I have been involved with Bradley's Wellness Program for the entirety of my time here and I am desperately sad to be saying goodbye to all of the amazing things we do every year.

The events this week were held on Monday and Tuesday on the quad and SONOR passed out free cup tumblers for those who pledged to be smoke free while HEAT held their annual B.E.E.R. drive (an event where students see the effects of drunk driving by maneuvering a golf cart around an obstacle course while wearing beer vision goggles).  This was the first year I actually participated in the B.E.E.R. drive and it was actually quite funny as I took out quite a few recycling bins.  SONOR was also successful in handing out a majority of the cups they ordered and got over 100 people to sign the pledge on Olin Hall's brick wall.

Overall, the times I have spent in the Wellness Program have been some of my best at Bradley and I am sad to see them go.  And it is with a heavy heart that I am lead to another To Done item for the week...

Drive a golf cart wearing beer goggles? CHECK!

Complete my final Wellness Program event? CHECK! 

Graduation, here I come...

What an amazing week! First, I found out that I won an award for my senior project.  This means I will be going to New York City to meet the company the project was done for in person and my team and I will be receiving a small cash prize.  I have never been downtown New York and I cannot wait to experience it with my amazing team. Next, I got to have an awesome time presenting for SONOR (a peer education and wellness organization I am president of) at the regional BACCHUS Network.  This year it was at Illinois State University so we were able to attend and still sleep in our own beds at Bradley.  I also have never been to the regional conference, just the annual national one so it was a treat to meet the people in our area in a smaller setting.  Finally, I won an award at the conference for Outstanding Graduating Senior!  I have never had my own little plaque like the one I got there either, especially not with my own name on it, so I was more than thrilled to accept!

I am so honored and I couldn't have had a better week doing all of it!

Win the Douglas E. Alligood Diversity Advertising Campaign award? CHECK!

Present at the Area 4 BACCHUS Network conference? CHECK!

Win a plaque with my name on it? CHECK!

This week I was invited to a going away party for a professor at Bradley at a home in Galesburg.  When I was asked to bring a dessert for everyone, I knew right away that with the nice weather, I should bring a lemon-based cake (I always imagine lemon to be good for summer).  That said, I found a quick recipe on Allrecipes.com and whipped it together.  The recipe called for lemon pudding mix added to the yellow cake mix and I am very glad that I chose this one over the others I saw.  It was fluffy and moist and the whipped topping frosting made a very refreshing after-taste.  It turned out perfectly and it went over well with the guests (see remnants pictured below).

Basically this week, I did what all good women do and brought a lovely dessert to a party.  But for the sake of this blog, this was my first time making a lemon cake to present to a party full of people and I am happy to say it can be crossed off my "To Done" list!

Make a lemon cake? CHECK!