You Asked, I Answered.
One thing that makes Daily Dose of Prep so special is the interaction I get to have with my readers. You all are so vocal whether it be on my Instagram comments, in my direct messages or in my inbox. Rarely do I share answers to your questions on the blog, so I thought today I would answer some of your most frequently asked questions from the past few months. I extend the opportunity for questions on my Instagram yesterday and here's what you all asked me.
Q: What's the biggest benefit of having your blog?
A: The biggest benefit of having a blog was that I learned a lot about my current major before college. I might not have learned the exact terms for certain areas of public relations or media marketing but I was still carrying out proper practices that public relations practitioners utilize. It teaches you how to stay on a schedule, constantly look for inspiration, cultivate your creativity, network with other professionals, and so many other skills necessary for the professional world.
Q: How did you start your blog?
A: I just started writing about what I knew. Was my senior year of high school style the most fashion forward? No. But it got my creative juices flowing. When friends of mine ask me how I started I always tell them to just write or film or draw. Even if you never share it with anybody, one day the courage will come where you hit the post button. Start as early as possible because it allows for you to make mistakes early. By the time competitors enter the field, you will have already made the mistakes and learned and grown from them while your competition is still learning how to manage bumps in the road. Just start. Figure out what works for you and go from there.
Q: What are your go to outfits for class?
A: I mix it up between sweat pants and jeans. If I wear leggings or joggers, I try to make sure I have a full face of makeup, styled hair and accessories to make myself look a little more put together. When I wear jeans to class, I style it with a cozy sweater and casual sneakers so I can stay comfortable. I shared a few outfits here.
Q: Do you have an internship for this summer yet? A: I currently don't have an internship for this upcoming summer. I have interviewed at a few reputable places and still have interviews on my calendar this upcoming week. Hopefully some good news comes my way soon.
Q: How do you balance work and studying?
A: It all comes down to prioritizing and learning how to say no. I make to do lists every day about what needs to be completed before I fall asleep and what needs to be finished by Friday. I also have started to learn how to say no to people and things. I said no to greek sing this year. I said no to club tennis this year. I said no to an online internship opportunity this year. I said yes to a position on the ADPi exec board, I said yes to a second job, I said yes to an additional 8-week class. It all comes down to what's important to you and what you are willing to sacrifice. Obviously, school must happen so assignments come first. I can't eat if I don't work my jobs, so those have to stay too. From there I can pick and choose what gets done depending on how many people are affected and how pressing the time constraint is.
Q: What's your best piece of advice for juniors and seniors in high school?
A: Don't stress about your SAT's and ACT's. Learn to transcend a little and think about college not as the best four years of your life but as the ladder that will set you up for the best years of your life. Let it be known that I came home sobbing from every single SAT and ACT I took. I did find on my tests and I got into college so clearly I didn't bomb them. You are more than a standardized test. Also, don't think that you have to go to the best of the best college in order to succeed. You need to go where you can best succeed. Harvard isn't for everybody. Yale isn't for everybody. I would fail out of both of those schools. JMU is there I feel challenged, accepted, involved and appreciated. It's exactly where I need to be.
Q: How do you consistently come up with new content for the blog and Instagram?
A: I take from the world around me. What am I loving? What's trending on Twitter? What's all over Snapchat news? What season is it? What does the event calendar have on it? I use a lot of environmental scanning to help plan my content calendar for each quarter of the year. Think "okay, when are the sales?" and "okay, when are people starting to shop for swimsuits for Spring Break?". If you are struggling with coming up with content, put yourself in the mind of the consumer. What are they looking for this time of year?
Q: Have you dated since being in college?
A: I haven't dated anyone since I was a junior in high school. I know, four years. Yikes. I've taken a couple of guys to date functions and we have a good time, but I haven't had a boyfriend while in college. College is my time to figure out who I am and what I want. If someone comes along and feelings develop then of course, I won't ignore them, but for now I'm okay with being single.
Q: What are your best tips for shopping chic on a tight budget?
A: You can find incredible closet staples from stores like Target, H&M, Forever21 and BooHoo. Shop neutral colors that can be paired with one another and don't waste your money on things that will go out of style by next season. If you're shopping on a tight budget, buy the cream turtleneck you can wear repeatedly or buy the black wrap skirt that you can wear to parties and to luncheons. Think about versatility when it comes to shopping on a tight budget and don't be ashamed to look at stores like Target and Old Navy.
