My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou
Hi friends- I am soooo excited to be embarking on this creative journey with you all! I’ve wanted to start this blog for quite some time now, and now I have finally mustered up the courage and confidence to share with you, my life. I’ll be sharing bits and pieces, here and there, discussing topics of social justice, fashion, and post-grad life altogether.
Each month, you can expect posts discussing fashion sense and styling, social justice campaigns worth supporting and post-grad life lessons worth sharing. I think it is most important that I am honest with you guys because I want to share the lessons I’ve learned throughout my years of post-grad/grad life. These experiences are quite true to me and might even resonate with you. So with that said, let’s jump into what each topic will encompass, shall we?!?!
POST GRAD LIFE. Where do I start? Graduating college can be one of the most life-changing moments of your life, literally and figuratively. You’re moving on to the next stages of your life and you’re embarking on what-you-hope-to-be a greater landscape of opportunity and prosperity. Graduating can come with the unknown. How does one deal with ambiguity and uncertainty, especially in circumstances where that individual does not have control over the outcome? Much of life after graduation is made up of this very same strategy of contemplation. Attempting to understand the unknown or at least have some level of control over it, whether it’s your career or dreams, can be exhausting and infuses way too much anxiety into your life. Because we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we should enjoy the present and give it our all! This lesson I’ve learned only recently and even continue to remind myself of its importance to this day.
In discussing my post-grad experiences thus far (May 2018 to now), I can proudly state that I am a trouper. And as a trouper, I wish to share the knowledge and wisdom that life after graduation has gifted me. It’s funny that now I can consider it a gift. Long before I decided to write my blog, I considered it to be quite the opposite- but it sure is funny how life can do its own u-turn. After this directional change, you find yourself perplexed by the difference in opinion you have towards your positioning in your career and life goals.
You can rest assured Time With Sig will dispense information on how to navigate the world as a recent graduate. It’s not easy and it sure isn’t as glitzy as it’s made up to be. If there is one thing I have learned – YOU NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. I’ll discuss in later posts how effective learning this was for me, but until then, remember to be open and willing to learn. That’s what life is literally ALL about so there’s no need to shut yourself off and confine your growth.
I’ll also be touching on what being a student was like for me. What classes I enjoyed most that actually showed up in my skill-set today. And what lessons I learned as a student that I am continually reminded of as a career-driven young adult. Yes, there is a lot to uncover but how neat is it that we have time to chat more! So looking forward to sharing the juicy bits of life with you ❤
Next topic…. SOCIAL JUSTICE.
This one is quite near and dear to my heart. Such a topic remains at the epicenter of my purpose and career-oriented goals. I consider myself to be quite fortunate in my upbringing and access to opportunity. With that said, I naturally am grateful enough to care and advocate for those less fortunate and more susceptible to abuse and violence!
At the age of 11, I watched a CNN special with my mother. It conveyed the lives of women and children who fell victim to human trafficking in Southeast Asia. I was most confused at the time, as I began to overwhelm my mother with questions and inquiries as to why those girls depicted in the special, lacked the same freedom I so much enjoyed. It was one of the most life-changing facts that I uncovered that day. What my mom shared with me (keep in mind she tried her best to change the channel, but I insisted I wanted to watch and learn about this travesty that was occurring before our very eyes) was, “Unfortunately, sometimes those less fortunate and more vulnerable are likely to experience being lured into dangerous, violent circles that enslave and harm them.” To this day, that explanation has been one of the most PG accounts I’ve heard an actual victim of human trafficking go through. Needless to say, I grew up to learn what exactly my mother was hinting at but was unable to explicitly say that day.
I didn’t know it then, but at that moment my great passion for combatting whatever circles of violence and crime those women and girls were trapped in was birthed. What started as a simple search for evening entertainment turned into a found treasure that would mark my quest in life. I am an advocate for human rights justice and I strongly urge and fight for the abolition of modern-day slavery! There, I said it, and I mean it! 🙂
Social Justice has always been a way for people to harness their superpowers. Want to know what someone is made of, find out what they believe in and how they support it. A campaign stands alone when it disinvites members of society, but a social justice campaign invites all to attend and participate. It’s like entering a great amphitheater to view a play and finding out that you’re a vital part of the production. Without you and your voice, the production ceases to reach its full potential. I view social justice in this very same light. Without hearing, acknowledging and respecting each and everyone’s voice, society will never reach its full potential and will only reflect a few people.
Fighting for your rights is fighting for everyone’s rights, and this is the same message I wish to champion for in my blog! I want you, as the reader, to understand that the world is much better off when it decides to listen to everyone’s voice and not just a selected few. We all matter and we all have voices and rights. #Period! Ha-ha.
And lastly, the drum set of the Time With Sig band- FASHION! Fashion, fashion, and might I just say, FASHION. This is what I call the bass of the Sig Party! Do you know that one thing in your life that just adds colorful detail and flagrancy to your mood and overall persona? Well for me, fashion does just that. If you can’t already tell from my Instagram page, I absolutely love clothes, styling different patterns together and creating fun and unforgettable moments with my wardrobe. It’s crazy to think that your attire can literally convey your attitude, mood and/or your inner spirit animal.
Whether you’re putting together a suit for an interview, or rocking ripped jeans with a crop top infusing early 2000s hints of style into your outfit, what you wear can be eclectic and cool regardless of the actual event you’re attending. And you hold the power to mold your attire into whatever creative style you wish to. No, seriously- fashion ceases to exist without people willing to express themselves.
Self-expression is a symptom of fashion! And if you’re not really willing to express yourself, then you’re not willing to participate in the conversation of fashion. What’s so incredibly neat about fashion is you don’t need anyone else’s permission to proudly flaunt your style and personality. So go be you- you’re the only you we’ve got!
I’ll be posting pictures and dishing fashion advice of pattern pairing, textures, and individualistic expression. Tune in to read posts on ways to amp up your fashion game and confidence!
And there you have it….a rough sketch of what Time With Sig will encompass. I hope to see you back here soon. Till then 🙂
TIME WITH SIG 