The Lone Giraffe

A look into the findings of a curious and hilarious 21 year old. Stumbling onto the treasures life has to offer.

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The Lone Giraffe goes to 13 Fest

It’s the Monday after 13 Fest and I am feeling groggy. 

Despite my sleepiness, I had the best weekend of the semester. I had been planning for this weekend for a couple of months and the wait was well worth it! This weekend was the infamous Number Fest. Even though I was excited for the fest, I was more excited because my three best friends from California were coming to celebrate with me.

For years I have gone out to California but this was the first time that most of them have even been to Ohio. Getting a chance to show them where I live and my school was really a great experience. Also the fact that they were willing to fly all the way to Ohio was major labor of love. Long distance friendships aren’t always the easiest, but we definitely find a way to make it work. As soon as we all get back together it’s like we never left. 

So this weekend I had to show them how OU knows how to party, and what better weekend than Number Fest. The Number Fest is the epitome of all college fests. It began in 2004 and since then it has grown to be one of the largest collegiate music festivals in the United States. Before my friends got here I had to prepare them for what was about to ensue, but honestly no one is ever really prepared for the number fest, it’s just something you have to jump into. 

I think the hardest part about the weekend was getting to and from the fest. Initially we tried to catch one of the shuttles, but those shuttles decided that they weren’t going to come anymore. So we waited in the Palmer Place parking lot for almost an hour until cars started driving around offering rides. It was literally survival of the fittest. Everyone at once would jump on the car and try and squeeze in at all costs. I literally thought I was in a scene from a Hunger Games movie because it was complete insanity. So after watching people nearly die to get into one car, a nice girl with a pickup truck offered to give us a ride for $10 per person. So we hopped in the back of the truck and headed down the highway to the Fest location. I’ve done a lot of things but riding in the back of a pick up truck with people I don’t know was definitely a new experience. 

Once we finally got to to the fest it was like a magical utopia. That might be a slight exaggeration but any place you can eat funnel cake and listen to Schoolboy Q seems pretty great to me. The music was great, the crowd was turnt and the weather was beautiful. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend to end fest season! 

If you get a chance, you should definitely go to the Number Fest at least once because it’s literally an unreal experience that you definitely won’t regret! 

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Loves the Moms

Hello on this glorious Monday morning! 

This past weekend was wonderful! It was Mom’s Weekend here at Ohio University and it is one of my favorite weekends in the spring. It’s always fun to see moms and their children and how similar they act and resemble each other. It’s like a sea of women walking around with their mini-me’s. It’s also a weekend where moms get to take a look into your life at college and even relive the glory days. 

This year my mom and step-mom came for Mom’s Weekend and it was great. A lot of people were surprised to hear that both of them were coming together but I have a very special situation. Yes, my parents are no longer together but despite that I have been blessed to have a wonderful step-mom as well. The cherry on top is that my mom and step-mom are friends. Both of them have raised me and I learn so much from them so having them both here this past weekend made my heart full. From laughing together, laying in bed watching SNL or showing them the ‘magic’ of Court St. I couldn’t have been happier. 

This year made me realize that Mom’s Weekend is so much more than a weekend with your mom. It’s also a time to really connect and learn about each other. I realized I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today without either one of them. I also learned how truly hilarious they are lol (where I get my sense of humor). In college we often push our parents away because we think we’re “grown” but honestly the older we get the more we need them. Even if it’s not your mom, maybe it’s a sister, aunt or older cousin. Cherish the mother figures in your life and take time to get to know them. You never know what you’ll learn about them and yourself. 

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Tries to De-stress

This past Easter weekend was wonderful. I went home to spend time with my family and it was amazing! I didn’t feel stressed. All I felt was happiness. I was happy to get away from the madness of campus. It felt SO good that, as soon as I got back to Athens on Sunday, all I felt was sadness. I was sad that I had to leave my family, sad I didn’t get to relax anymore and sad that I had SO MANY THINGS TO DO!!!!

After I graduate I’m going to look back and wonder how I ever made it through. Because the amount of things I do in a week is ridiculous. I might make it look easy but trust me, nothing about college is easy. 

So instead of making this a huge rant about how annoyed I am with everything I have to do, I’ll be productive and try and follow my own advice. We only have two more weeks before finals, and it’s never good to finish the semester angry and stressed out because it probably makes things worse for you.

A few things you can do to de-stress would include:

Getting a massage

Mani/Pedi

Yoga

Dancing around and singing like there’s no tomorrow

LOTS OF SLEEP!

Binge watching Gossip Girl (or your favorite series)

WARNING: this could cause lack of productivity**** 

Watching Vines

Eating good food (preferably chocolate)

Being around friends and/or family

Praying

Shopping

I could continue this list but any one of those things would help you to unwind. What has helped me to destress is pampering myself. I just got a face mask from Lush this past weekend and I tried it out and for some reason that calmed me down. Maybe because I could literally feel my face getting super soft, but either way it did the trick. I also got my nails done which is something I rarely do. I usually paint my own nails but it was so nice just being able to sit and have someone else do it was great. Also on Sunday I went to church and my pastor had a really inspirational sermon and that brought everything into focus putting me into a clear mind state allowing me to refocus. 

I have a big issue of overthinking things and making elaborate to-do lists that stress me out. Here are some things to you should avoid at all costs because they are guaranteed to stress you out.

Arguing with people

Constantly thinking of all the things you have to do instead of just doing them

Shopping when you are broke

buying cute clothes but no rent money = lots of tears

Lack of food

Lack of sleep

Creeping on someone you don’t like on Instagram

Everyone please don’t stress yourself out these last few weeks of school. The sun is finally coming out and Summer is just around the corner so finish this semester strong! If I can do it, you all definitely can.

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Goes to a Dance Concert

Happy Monday everyone!! 

I woke up feeling very optimistic about this week. Despite the fact that I have two tests I’m not going to let that get me down! The sun is shining and it’s not freezing so it’s the start of a good week. I even painted my nails gold because I felt like it was going to add to my optimism lol. 

This past weekend was pretty good. The weather was weird as usual. On Friday I walked out of my apartment ready to go to Palmer Place and fest it up and then I get hit with a giant snowflake. That was a downer but it didn’t stop me from engaging in the weekend festivities. 

First I stopped by Palmer Place fest. I had never gone and it was really fun! But it was super cold and I was not for that. I tried to bounce around from apartment to apartment to stay inside. I didn’t stay at Palmer Place for long because I HAD to make it to the annual Athens Black Contemporary Dancers Spring Concert. 

Athens Black Contemporary Dancers (ABCD) was founded at Ohio University in the fall of 2005 by a group of women that wanted to make a difference.  ABCD aims to reach a diverse group of experienced and non-experienced dancers to express their love for dance.

The spring concert was a two-day concert and the theme was “Evolve.” It started on Thursday, March 26th - Friday, March 27th held in the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre. 

I had friends who were dancing in the concert and I wanted to support all their hard work. I’m so happy I attended because the concert was wonderful! It really went back to it’s original roots of being a strictly “contemporary” organization and I believed that it highlighted the strengths of all the members. The music was eclectic and catchy, despite the fact that most of the songs didn’t have words, this allowed for the dancing to speak for itself. The lighting was magnetic and it successfully highlighted each piece of choreography, helping me to understand the message that the dancers were trying to convey. 

This was my first year actually attending an ABCD concert instead of performing in one so it was definitely interesting being on the other side of things and I was thoroughly impressed. It was nice knowing that I was apart of such a strong organization. The dancers within the organization exude confidence on and off the stage which I have always admired. Especially since you don’t always see people of color within the fine arts, this organization inspires others to to seek a career in the arts. 

Below are some pictures from the show! 

ABCD President, Brittany Spivey opening the show 

Dancers performing a piece choreographed by Lauren Holland 

Deneisha Franklin performing a solo she choreographed 

Diarra Ndiaye, Janae Potts and Lauren Holland 

Najah Braswell, Deneisha Franklin and Raven Reid performing a piece choreographed by Trezon Dancy

Next year everyone should make it a point to support these wonderful dancers! They really work hard for this concert every year, and they deserve a all of the praise. 

-The Lone Giraffe 

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The Lone Giraffe Wishes for Spring

I am over this weather. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy that it’s not snowing *knock on wood* but I’m over this fake spring weather. It’s like actually cold outside, but not cold enough that I have to wear my heavy winter coat. As the semester winds down and into the midst of fest season, I want it to be hot! Oh well, Ohio is weird and I should be used to it by now. 

  With all of my yearning for spring this has also given me the shopping bug. I just got my new InStyle magazine in the mail and it’s full of fun spring trends to try out. Since I actually didn’t do anything worth writing about this past weekend, I’m going to inform you on my internet trolling and online shopping browsing. My shopping carts are full, I have no money, but it’s okay I’m just waiting for the next big sale. 

  Here are some of the trends that I’m most excited about!

1. Gingham Gingham reminds me of my younger days. I always had something gingham. My room even had gingham in it. So the fact that it’s socially acceptable in the fashion world for a grown woman to wear gingham is really exciting to me. It’s a fresh and feminine trend that can easily be worn. 

  2. Black and White So I love black and white. It’s the best combination and it will NEVER get old. This past fall I had a goal to enhance the black in my closet and I was successful. I was also worried because I thought that I couldn’t carry these new clothes into the spring. Oh but I was wrong, black and white is still going strong and to brighten it up with a colorful lipstick and/or accessories. 

  3. Fringe I know fringe might sound like the old west, but trust me if you style it right it can really be fashionable. I’m really a fan of leather fringe. Most people stray away from wearing leather in the spring/summer but it’s definitely do-able. 

4. Denim Denim on denim on denim. I love denim so much. As the years have gone on, I honestly have no problem with working the jean on jean look. Denim shirts and jeans are very neutral and are perfect for a weekend outfit. 

5. Monochromatic Outfits  I know the Kardashians are famous for this but it’s not as easy to master as they make it look. I know some people are over wearing all of the same color but I love it. I chic and an easy go to when you want to make a statement. 

I hope some of this fashion inspiration got you excited for the spring trends to come, and hopefully we will be seeing a lot more sunshine in the near future! 

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe “Fests”

Ladies and Gentleman, fest season is officially upon us. 

For some of you who don’t know, fest season originated in the 1960s at Ohio University. It began as a block party on the different streets in Athens, and ever since then it has grown to be one of the biggest traditions at OU. 

Whenever I used to hear anyone hype up the fests I could never relate. They looked like a great time and I know that’s what OU is known for, but nothing really drove me to go to a fest. My freshman year I attended the Number Fest and that was an interesting experience. I was constantly dodging beer cans getting thrown, often saw people making out and mud was everywhere! It probably wasn’t the best first fest experience to have considering Number Fest is one of the wildest ones, but it definitely was interesting. Ever since then I haven’t been to any of the fests but this year I said that before I graduate I would go to every one.

Saturday I went to the first fest of the season, Mill Fest. I finally got to fully experience what it meant to “Fest with the Best.” I’ve come to realize that if you’re not naturally a wild person, you really have to mentally prepare yourself for the mayhem that is going to ensue at a fest. Granted, people have blown some things out of proportion but fests do get pretty wild. 

  So below is the “The Lone Giraffe” certified OU Fest guide: 

  1. Realize early on that people are not themselves at a fest     

I believe that when people attend a fest that they take on a new persona. In the way that Beyonce is sometimes Sasha Fierce, they go into beast mode. A lot of it probably has to do with the amount of alcohol they’ve consumed but when you’re festing you feel like nothing can stop you. So don’t be alarmed if your friends are more “turnt” than usual, it’s just fest season kicking in. 

  2. Dress appropriately

  This is probably the biggest decision you will make during spring semester at OU… what to wear to fest. Some people don’t take it that seriously but there is definitely some underground fashion that is happening. The trends that I see most frequently are: 

Basketball jerseys

LAX pennies

Jean shorts or Leggings 

Neon colors 

Old Nikes, Converse or rain boots

Any kind of baseball cap worn backwards

Sunglasses.

Most attempt the “I don’t care, I’m just chilling, but I really do care” outfit and I commend them. It’s like you don’t want to dress like you’re going to an event, but at the same time you’re going to see everyone you know so you can’t actually look like trash. I decided to wear a grey sweatshirt, cargo pants and rain boots. It wasn’t the cutest outfit but I was warm and comfortable. Fest attire is tricky but at the end of the day as long as you don’t care about mud and you’re having fun that’s all that matters. 

  3. Don’t get lost 

Getting lost is probably one of the scariest things that could happen to you. I noticed that people’s phones tend to die faster due to creating (and watching) so many snapchat stories and posting pictures onto Instagram. The social media overload will definitely kill your phone fast. So try to stay as close to your friends as possible. Wandering off to go have your own adventure really isn’t the best thing to do. That’s how people wake up in an alley and no one wants that. 

4. Fanny packs are cool 

Kind of back to the fashion thing. I always hear people talking about how they lose their whole lives during fest season. I believe the solution to this is to wear an old fashion fanny pack. They’re definitely not the cutest thing in the world but it will keep you from losing your phone and wallet. It also allows for your hands to be free at all times. 

5. Don’t get arrested This is probably the biggest tip of advice. PLEASE DON’T GET ARRESTED! It’s really easy not to get arrested. If you decide to drink, stay on someone’s lawn and don’t have an open container. If you do have an open container or a cup make sure it’s turned upside down so the police know that it’s empty. I have seen soooo many people get arrested. It’s like I’m watching a live episode of cops. So don’t be that person, be smart. 

I hope that advice was helpful! Don’t be scared of Fest Season like I was, embrace it but be smart about it as well!

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Takes California

Well it’s the first Monday back from spring break and this is the worst. Nothing made me want to wake up for class this morning. One week of break is a tease! Honestly, school shouldn't be allowed in the spring time because all I want to do is frolic around Court St. with my friends while eating ice cream. Oh well, things can't always go my way, but I did end up having an enjoyable spring break. 

I often use spring break as a way to rejuvenate myself. Spring semester is often the hardest for me, and the middle of the semester is usually the worst. I often tend to get overwhelmed and frustrated so spring break always comes at the perfect time. This year I used my spring break to spend time with family and really relax and reflect on how I wanted this school year to end. This year I went to Oakland, California and I decided to try my hand at photography while I was there. Hope you enjoy! 

"Giraphics" Art Instillation under highway 580 West

Golden State Warriors game v. Minnesota Bucks

Graffiti in San Francisco of Louis Armstrong

The best burger place known to man

Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA

The Bay Bridge 

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Celebrates Black Women

It’s the last week of February, which means it’s the last week of Black History Month. I am on the Executive Board for the Black Student Union and Black History Month is our busiest month of the year. Usually I’m in a panic all month long, but surprisingly this year was not as bad as the others. Right before Black History Month it seems like I have to always get my mind right because I never know what kind of madness will ensue. We might make planning programs look easy but it is not AT ALL! So shout out to my organization because we're the real MVPs!    

This year we hosted two big programs. Harlem Nights (in collaboration with Kappa Alpha Psi Inc. and BSCPB), which is a program to showcase the arts and the Black Diamond Awards which we hosted last night. 

The Black Diamond Awards started three years ago because we were inspired by the award show “Black Girls Rock” televised on BET. We thought that it would be a great idea to bring to campus to honor outstanding African-American women on the Ohio University campus for their accomplishments. It’s not always known how many amazing black women we have on this campus, but let it be known now that we are the bomb. We come in many different shapes, shades and sizes but we’re all wonderful in our own way. 

The way the program is set up is at the beginning of February, students nominate their peers within eight categories; Academics, Community Service, Campus Involvement/Leadership, Performing Arts, Miss Congeniality, Outstanding Freshman, Outstanding Graduate Student, Outstanding Alumni and Outstanding Faculty. After nominations, students vote online for their favorite in each category, and later the winner is announced at the award show.

Last night was the award show and it was amazing! It was held in Baker Theater at 6PM and following was a reception. I was one of the co-hosts for the program and it was a great experience. Seeing all of the people who came out to support the event was great, and I thank everyone who was there, the yearly support doesn't go unnoticed. 

Each year the program has grown and has gained more recognition, but I would really love if the program got campus wide recognition. It’s great that black women and men are supporting each other, but it would be even better if our white counterparts were apart of the celebration as well. 

Going to a predominately white college, the celebration of Black History Month is so important simply because this allows for black people to teach others about our strong and rich history. Next year I encourage everyone to at least attend one Black History Month event, you never know what you might learn. 

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe Goes on a Date

This past weekend was Valentine’s Day and let me tell you, love was in the air! Starting Friday everyone was in the Valentine’s Day spirit (or anti-Valentine’s). Valentine’s Day is always a controversial holiday because people put so much emphasis on the holiday that it kind of makes people sick. It's like as soon as February hits, all the stores are on Valentine's overload. You can't go anywhere without seeing something red or pink. I used to be an anti-Valentine’s day person myself. I just didn’t understand all the hype, I hated all the tacky decorations, but I loved the chocolate. What’s funny is that majority of the time I had a Valentine but it was still more fun to dislike it. I never wanted to be that girl who gave into the hype so I often opted for a "Girls Valentine's" with my Mom. This year I completely indulged in everything that was Valentine’s Day and loved it. My boyfriend and I decided to celebrate all of our big holidays (Christmas/birthdays/anniversary) all at once and we decided to celebrate this past weekend. We began our celebration on Friday at Court St. Diner. This got me thinking about all of my favorite date spots in Athens and I thought I would share, so here are my top three date spots in Athens. 

1. Court St. Diner I’m biased to this place because this is where my boyfriend and I had our first date, but it really is the perfect date spot. If you're fan of Johnny Rockets you'll love Court St. Diner. As soon as you walk in, it takes you back in time. The best time to go is in the middle of the day because it’s typically not too crowded which creates an atmosphere of perfect intimacy. The food is good at any time of the day, the staff is great, and it’s affordable! My favorite dish is their Bacon Blue Burger and a chocolate milkshake. Here’s a link to their menu: http://courtstreetdiner.com/Court_Street_Diner/Diner_Menu.html

2. Rollerbowl Lanes To be honest, I am a terrible bowler. I actually don’t even care for bowling itself but I do love the idea of bowling. It’s the cutest date idea! Helping each other bowl on a date is just adorable to me. For the longest I had no idea that we had a bowling alley in Athens until I happened to drive past it one day. Rollerbowl has has 16 lanes, and has a full snack bar. What’s best about this place that it’s really affordable! They have daily specials such as Quarter Mania on Mondays and Cosmic Bowling on Friday nights. More information on Rollerbowl here: http://www.rollerbowllanes.com/default.asp?Page=Home

3. Athena Cinema Athena Cinema is such an underrated movie theater. When I first got to Athens this theater was the first thing that stood out to me. I thought it was so cute, but what was most interesting about it was the selection of movies that they carry. Athena Grand on State St. has all the big current movies but Athena Cinema carries a lot of smaller independent films, Oscar nominated movies, classics, and documentaries. I love the Athena cinema because it’s never crowded and every movie I've  watched there has never failed me. Currently it’s the 100th anniversary of the Athena Cinema so make sure you check it out soon, they have a great line up of movies throughout the year: http://athenacinema.com/

These are just a few of my favorite date spots in Athens and I hope you all find this useful when looking for something to do with your special someone. 

-The Lone Giraffe  

photos by: Justin Edwards

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The Lone Giraffe Parties w/ Waka Flocka Flame

This past weekend at Ohio University was Sibs Weekend! Every year Sibs Weekend is packed with great events and it never fails to disappoint. It’s always been one of my favorite weekends during Spring Semester because I always have a friend to come visit me and we have a great time. This year in particular was special because the Black Student Cultural Programming Board (BSCPB) brought the notorious Waka Flocka Flame to Ohio University. When I first heard that Waka was coming I was fake excited. I knew he had some good songs back in high school, but I really was just feeding into the hype because everyone else on twitter was so excited. People were talking about what they were going to wear, how to style their hair, it just felt like a lot of hype over a Sibs Weekend concert. People from all over Ohio were preparing for this concert but I didn't realize what I was getting myself into until the weekend got here.

As Saturday approached I began to get legitimately excited. My friend from high school is one of the biggest Waka fans in life, and she came to Athens to go to the concert with me. Just her presence got me hype about the concert. I still decided not to put much effort into my outfit because I definitely wasn't trying to impress anyone, and in true OU fashion I figured things might get crazy so I decided on a sweater, t-shirt, black jeans, and Doc Martens. Of course I wasn't anticipating on getting rowdy but it seemed like an appropriate outfit for the occasion. 

When we got to Memorial Auditorium, hearing the DJ and seeing the crowd hype, the excitement hit me like a ton of bricks. We get to our seats and they’re amazing. We’re in the front row of the balcony which is convenient because we’re not in the mosh pit that was downstairs and we could see everything really clearly. DJ Bandcamp plays a great mix for a while and the opening acts perform and then it happens… Waka Flocka Flame comes onto the stage. Before you know it my sweater is off and I'm screaming at the top of my lungs. Drake is my favorite rapper and I went crazy at his concert, but the way I screamed you would’ve thought I was at a Drake concert NOT a Waka concert. 

He just had such a great energy that oozed onto the crowd. Honestly if you weren’t excited at that concert something was completely wrong with you. I have never been to a concert that energized, in a room with everyone on the same page. To my own surprise I knew a lot more Waka songs than I realized, and I knew all the words. The concert got so hype he invited everyone onto the stage to rave with him. He didn’t care that he was breaking rules, he just wanted everyone to have a good time and party with him. 

After his performance he has completely changed the way I look at concerts. It’s crazy to say but he really raised the bar for me on how concerts should go. I feel like all artists should have that kind of undying energy and connection with the crowd. That concert definitely made for a memorable weekend in Athens and one of my favorite Sibs weekends. Moral of the story, don’t judge a book by it’s cover you never know how much fun you’ll have (lol)

-The Lone Giraffe

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The Lone Giraffe turns 21

Finally, finally, finally ya girl has turned 21! No longer will I be turned away because I'm underage, no longer will I be left out of all the fun, I am officially grown. The whole night felt like an epic movie montage featuring Beyonce's 7/11 playing in the background. Turning 21 is magical, not just because you’re allowed to legally drink, but because it’s a major milestone in your life. It’s the year that really makes you feel like an adult. Since I’ve reached that milestone I want to be better. Not that I was trying to be terrible all those other years, but turning 21 I want to tap into my inner Audrey Hepburn. Graceful, elegant and poised. So I made four birthday resolutions that I hope to turn into a lifestyle which will continue to shape me into a great woman. 

1. Take care of myself 

In college you often forget to do this. Between classes, organizations and your social life, there are times that you often forget to eat and most likely you end up losing a lot of sleep. I’ve realized I can’t afford to not take care of myself, so my goal is to always cook myself great meals, to begin working out on a regular basis, and to SLEEP!! If I’m not my 100% self, I can’t be 100% in everything that I do. 

2. Read things that make me think about life differently 

This past summer I read the book “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and it was actually life changing. It’s about a young woman Ifemelu from Nigeria who goes to college in America and while there she blogs about her experience and how it feels to be an African in America. The book made me view my surroundings and how I live life differently. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good beach read, but I would like to expand my mind more because there is a lot more to life than the small bubble I inhabit. 

3. Judge Less

Everyone can be judgmental but in actuality it's not that cool. I’ve been guilty of it but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that being judgmental is not necessary. It’s okay to have an opinion about things but sometimes it doesn’t always need to voiced. You never know what people are going through and the last thing they need is for me, or anybody else, to judge them. This is definitely not going to be an overnight task but I’m definitely going to try and stick to it. 

4. Have lots of fun! 

Yes I'm in college and yes I need to be focused but college is also where you have the potential to make some really great memories. Going to Ohio University there is so much to do here and I want to seize every opportunity that Athens has to offer. So anything and everything from going to Union St. Diner at 4 in the morning to doing midnight bowling at Roller Bowl I'm going to do it! 

Turning 21 has really been a great experience and I have a feeling it’s going to be a phenomenal year! 

-The Lone Giraffe 

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The Lone Giraffe Learns From Beyonce & Blair Waldorf

It’s the weekend! A time to sit, relax and ponder how little you want this time to end. We are only two weeks into the semester and I am already overwhelmed. Classes are hard, my organizations are overwhelming, AND there are so many fun parties to go to! It doesn't help that it's freezing outside and I have to dress like an eskimo everyday to keep from catching hypothermia and dying. That’s a lot to handle right after coming back from a month long break. I will admit, spring semester is not always my best semester. I always get caught up in my emotions and being overwhelmed, and before I know it, it’s over. This year I’m not going to let that happen. So to gather a little inspiration I'm going to look to two of my favorite women: Beyonce and Blair Waldorf. 

Beyonce is Queen. I’ve followed Beyonce's career since I was a little girl, beginning with the Destiny's Child days. Aside from the fact that she is gorgeous and has a beautiful voice, she is such an inspiration. I admire her work ethic and her business savvy more than anything. To get pumped about life I decided to watch some of her music videos (mainly to encourage me to begin working out) and her documentaries. One of my favorite documentaries is the “The Year of 4.” In this documentary she talks about how “4” was the first album that she completely managed by herself and how terrifying yet exhilarating it was. I learned a lot of things from this documentary such as...

It’s okay to be scared of failing, but even if you do fail, at least you tried despite fear. 

Never stop working hard because you’ll receive the benefits later.

It’s hard to be independent but it’s liberating.

Most importantly, invest in a fan machine so your hair can always look flawless. 

Now onto the other Queen B… Blair Waldorf. Blair is my favorite character on the hit TV drama Gossip Girl. I love everything that is Blair Waldorf. Even though she’s a “mean” character, I think she’s hilarious, we could definitely be besties. She has a great sense of style and a beautiful penthouse on the glamorous Upper East Side of New York. Aside from the material things, Blair is a go-getter. Blair doesn’t believe in the word “no” and nothing is going to stop her from getting what she wants. Granted, she often decides to scheme her way into a lot of things, but her constant determination is infectious. Even though she is a privileged Upper East Sider, she still believes in hard work and working for everything that she gets and I definitely admire that. Blair taught me... 

Never take “no” for an answer.

Stay true to yourself and what you want, no matter how hard you have to work for it.

Always have an evening gown ready, you never know when you’ll have a gala to attend.

After getting some much needed encouragement from Beyonce and Blair, it has inspired me to look at the semester not as as struggle but as something to look forward to! It’s definitely going to be hard but when I look back I’m going to be happy about all the things that I’ve accomplished and not ponder on all the sleep that I’ve lost. I have a feeling it’s going to be a good semester :) 

-The Lone Giraffe