Throwing it back to some old (and recent) photos now that I'm officially done with my internships here in New York City.
Not only that, but I also wanted to talk a little bit about what's to come.
So it's senior year.
And the "it's our last time" line pretty much occurs to any sporting event, party, tailgate, watch party... you name it. With that in mind, I'm mentally and physically preparing myself for it all.
I've been in contact with my four best friends (and roomies!) for the past few weeks now and we're all so excited to be back together. We've been messaging each other nonstop and it makes me miss home. More than ever. Nonetheless, we're kicking off our last year with a P-A-R-T-Y.
Typical, right?
But this summer in New York City has taught me a lot of things.
In the past three months, I've grown as a person. I came here with the intentions of growing my network and brand, learning more about strategizing social media, potentially searching for a future career and life post-graduation, without the realization that I would leave learning more than just that.
Most importantly, I've learned more about myself.
Meaning, what I like, what I can tolerate, and to stop being so hard on myself.
It's incredible how much you still have yet to learn. I know I'm only in my twenties, but still. Regardless of age, I still believe that we learn something about ourselves all the time and it's amazing how much it surprises us.
Upon arriving, I felt on top of the world. I was doing what I love, in the city that I love, and I was by myself, which I love more than anything. Being independent, young, and free.
But if there's something you should all know about me, it's that I'm a perfectionist. I admit it. I expect too much out of things, out of people, and when things don't go accordingly with no reason, I give it a reason.
I have a long list of things I'll never know, and when I'm feeling down, I think about it and try to piece together a puzzle that cannot be solved. Anyone else do that? Try to formulate every possible reason and theory because you can't understand why someone stopped talking to you or why someone did this or that. You know?
More and more, I became a different person in a way.
I felt satisfied with keeping others around me happy because I didn't want anyone else to feel the way that I did. Little did I know that I was so focused on keeping my friends, family, co-workers, boss, and followers happy that I completely neglected my own happiness. I convinced myself that that was okay. That seeing other people happy would make me happy.
But in the long run, that doesn't pan out so well.
{ 10/10 would recommend this book '
It's Not Okay' by Andi Dorfman. Hands down, my favorite book ||
here }
I'm not here to bore you with my problems or have a pity party because even though there's no real happy ending, I'm happy in a different way. Because I learned who deserves to be a part of my life and who doesn't. Who is there for me when I really need them.
Happy that certain people walked into my life because then I know what I don't want in a person and more importantly, to never make the same mistakes again.
I learned so much about myself and that's why I'm happy.
Why settle for the sad? I got to experience an amazing Drake and Future concert in Madison Square Garden, live as a true New Yorker, meet and chat with Rebecca Minkoff on a daily basis, work with Lele Sadoughi, and meet incredible people that I'm going to keep in contact with forever.
Going back to Chapel Hill makes me anxious. I'm going to miss all the hustle and bustle the City has to offer, but New York City and this summer has taught me that I'm strong. So whatever life has to throw my way, I'm going to keep my head up and power through it.
It's not so much what I expect anymore, but more so of what I'm looking forward to.
Senior year is going to be fun, yet tough. But I know I have the right people in my life that support me and will stick with me through the good and the bad.
I apologize for the novel of today's post. Haha!
Now onto the round-up...
{ I'll never forget that Manhattanhenge sunset
here... }
{ One of the best nights of my life. Seeing Drake + Future in concert. ||
here }
{
one ||
two ||
three }
{ one of my favorite smoothie places: Liquiteria }
{ Soho }
{ Ladurée Soho macarons }
{ Sunday brunch on the UES // Sarabeth's }
{ East Village // from this post
here }
{ Happy Hour cheersin' at the High Line Hotel ||
here }
{ fresh blooms in the RM office }
{ red white + blue for the Olympics // #teamUSA }
{ coming to the blog soon ||
here }
{ champagne cheersin' at The Park in Chelsea ||
here }
As always, if you have any more questions or want to know more of what I've been doing here, feel free to shoot me an email!
{ gracefulleemadeblog@gmail.com }
