#MayaMoments, 11 memories of '11
Maya Moments are random moments from my life. Whether I'm ranting or doing something REALLY cool, no two days are ever alike so I call them Maya Moments. Moments I'll never live twice but they'll always leave fond memories.
2011, where do I begin? This year was AMAZING, it's one thing to dream but each day you're able to wake up and the things you once dreamed about are now your reality is a wonderful feeling. I've decided to share 11 random but very happy moments from 2011
MayaMoment11 "Ambitious Girl"
You guys know I stay motivated and energized. I thought I'd share a few quotes that kept me grounded this year.
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want & all that is left is compromise,"
"My picture of my future self was so strong, it made everything that was wrong in my present seem to lose its power" -Max Siegel
"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step, he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road"
MayaMoment10 "Losing My Phone"
I know this may sound crazy and no one would ever think that losing their phone would be a "happy" moment. I lost my phone two weeks before my college graduation. It contained over 600 contacts filled with people I've networked with and so much stuff. If you know me, you know that my cellular device is MY LIFE. Losing my phone taught me to never let material things have that much control over my life. Every move I took was noted in my phone, and although I was crushed that I lost it, it was an eye opener for me. Although I cried, like a baby and even though I got a replacement within a few hours I learned to NEVER let it control me.
May 8, 2011 was a GREAT, GREAT day! I received my Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC. Undergrad was truly an experience. JCSU taught me alot about myself, it forced me to grow up. I hated Charlotte until I realized just how much this city has had my back and the remarkable people here who have had so much faith in me and are just as excited as I am about my future.
MayaMoment8 "222 S. Church"
Two weeks after graduation, I was having mixed emotions about what I really wanted to do right after school. I was able to land a really cool internship. My first thoughts with this internship was to just keep myself busy while I mapped out my post graduate plans. Packard Place was more than just an internship. It gave me an outlook on the entrepreneurial community that I never knew had such a huge impact on the city of Charlotte. I spent 3 months learning and helping develop something amazing. It sharpened my leadership skills and my ability to network in a completely different way. Working with Dan Roselli, Adam Hill & Laura Gennings was a phenomenal experience.
MayaMoment7 "My Mentor, My Friend"
"A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you."
I have a few "mentors" who've been very influential in my life. BUT, my sophomore year of JCSU I was "that" girl, the gum popping, cell phone using...non-attentive girl. It took one professor calling me out to make me realize I had so much to learn.
My mentor, Michelle Horton CEO/Founder of YOUniversity Drive, inspires me to be great, she sees so much in me, sometimes more than I can see myself. This year she's played a major role in my life and making sure I was on task with my post graduate endeavors. In middleschool being called a teacher's pet wasn't cool but when people refer to me as a "Mini-Horton" I take that as a huge compliment. I'm not the person who wants to change lives with anyone but it's great to have a role model who has done and doing the things that you aspire for your own life. She's proud of me and I'm proud of her, it works.
I also think God brought her to me at a perfect moment.
MayaMoment6 "CI CI double A"
CIAA is such an amazing time of year for Charlotte, parties, sports and everyone coming together to mingle and network. This year I've been asked to help on the planning committee. Such an honor. I get a kick out of being the youngest in the room. This year they've trusted me to help facilitate some events this year...wait they've HIRED me. Ah! It feels so good to be respected and recognized for what you love.
MayaMoment5 "Friends, how many of us have them?"
2011 was a test of survival, survival of the friendliest. I've lost a lot of friends this year and I gained some as well. I believe life is all about relationships and the ability to cherish a life other than your own. I'm thankful for everyone that entered my life this year. Whether you stayed for a season or if you've proven that you're a lifetime friend...you are appreciate.
"I only want friends who I can see in my wedding, god parents to my future kids, invited to my house for holidays, and etc..." @DesSoMajor
MayaMoment4 "I feel pretty, witty and gaaaay"
Ever been searching for something that felt like it was impossible to find, like it just didn't exist? That's how I felt for a long time, I was on a quest to find happiness and I felt like I was searching everywhere and I couldn't find it. I was ready to give up. Like on the outside everyone tells me I have every reason to be happy but I needed to see that for myself. In 2011 God revealed so much to me and it it made me appreciate every living thing and I found happiness in a the most confusing place, in a place that made so sense but it made me happy. For once, nothing else mattered. I realized that being happy didn't mean I had to be with someone else, I didn't need certain material things. The ability to be truly happy came from wanting the best for Maya and not letting anyone determine it for me. I was given a canvas and I painted a picture that only I could understand and I titled it..."Happiness"
MayaMoment3 "The Oakley of Boone"
Sooooo July 27th I accepted an amazing offer that jump started my postgraduate career. I became an Assist Account Executive at BooneOakley, an advertising Agency located in Charlotte, NC. Yep, I said it Charlotte. I'm sure many of my peers thought I would run at the chance of not staying in Charlotte after graduation but I see so much potential for my life in this city. BooneOakley has been an amazing place to work. No two days are ever the same. I can't even consider it work because I honestly get up every morning excited to go to work. There are stressful days but it's still something I enjoy. I work on the Bojangles' account and it's pretty cool to be on the the otherside of a brand. I see consumers in a whole different light. I work with some amazing people. I love that I'm the youngest one there and they see so much in me. Ah! Its great! Truly a wonderful thing to happen to me in 2011, I can only imagine what 2012 has for the agency as a whole and my place with them.
MayaMoment2 "How Does She Do It"
Among the things I've accomplished this year I was able to start the ground work with my friend Brandi on creating a new empowHERment movement for women entitled How Does She Do It. This movement is to help inspire women and serve as a gateway for networking and to create fearless dream chasers. How Does She Do It is a blog, a sisterhood and so much more. Stay tuned for the big launch in 2012.
I think the ultimate MayaMoment of 2011 was being able to make it through. So many lives have been taken to violence and suicide that it makes the world a scary place for individuals my age and any age for that matter. God's blessed my life in so many ways and I'm so thankful and excited to see what else he has in store for me. Beyonce's song I was here is very inspiring and it makes me hopeful for the future and the impact that I want my life to have when its my time to leave this earth.
"I wanna say I lived each day until I died,"
I'm learning to believe, I'm worth everything that I want
I'm still in the running toward becoming America's Next Top Marketer
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