The possibility of home school never dawned on me until my college started offering online classes to freshmen who were looking for ways to manage their workload and also not have to commit to time management when they could do their work whenever they wanted. I refused to take online classes because I thrive in learning environments where I can see and talk to people. All of that has changed and I wouldn't have thought that finishing my last year of college fully remote was the reality I am now living.
I have always been one to have a well-managed routine and a pretty good way with a planner or two. So, as surprised as I am to say this, online learning is probably one of the best things that has happened to me. As a daughter of two teachers, I understand the value of the classroom (as I loved being in one years before), but there is just something so empowering about being able to tackle the work I want to do at my own pace. Nevertheless, I miss seeing my friends and collaborating with classmates the most, but since we all have to be somewhat active online, I can become more active in reading about people's lives, the work they're doing, and be more mindful about the way I respond to others.
It took a while for me to find a place where I could separate work and school from everything else. Our house is already extremely cozy and humble as it is, so when my sisters are home it is really hard to separate and find a place to focus. My bedroom, of all places, was the only option. Thankfully, I have this really nice desk that I've only ever used as a vanity and now converted to my classroom, event "space," and tutoring desk. Every now and then I would leave my room and tutor at the dining room table, but I found the most effective area I could do work at was in my room.
When I was at school, I would spend hours at our college library and just cram or hash out a paper. It was a place where I could focus and detach from feeling like I could do work on my bed and not be as productive as I would at a sturdy table. The atmosphere makes all the difference. Keeping your workspace clean is also another motivator, so be sure to have some sort of organizer system to keep your notebooks and things!
Becoming a Mindful Responder...
There were a lot of times during my in-person college days when I just could not function. Usually Mondays, but depending on the time of day, I would just melt into my desk and fear I'd have to participate. It's not something I do on the regular, but we all have those days. Now that I'm learning online, I can make time for myself to actively and mindfully respond to classmates over discussion boards or giving accurate and effective tutoring feedback on papers. I've noticed that I am more willing to respond and also I can choose what I want to respond to. Not only that, but within emails too. I am not just responding to respond, like I would on a day in class where participation felt forced at times.
Keeping in Contact...
I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunities to connect with so many amazingly talented and dedicated people during college. But the social life of being a senior this year is non-existent. When a lot of people might have been tailgating, not cramming for finals, or having the common case of senioritis set in, it's been hard to find that sense of community online. Keeping in contact with my past roommates, friends, and even professors has been the most helpful in relieving that sense of isolation.
You have to put in the effort, but I've definitely had a few wine nights and happy hours with friends, coordinated time to decompress with past professors, or made more time to meet up with my co-workers or meet some new members of organizations I'm in through our mentorship programs. The social dynamic has changed, but I feel more supported than ever.
Those were just a few tid-bits of how I've been able to remain grounded and active with my last year of college. I am remaining grateful for those developing three years and am lucky enough to have been able to establish myself and make the most of the opportunities at DePaul. While I begin to focus on the next steps of my career during my time at home (and having the perks of saving on rent), I am looking forward to celebrating this chapter and am optimistic for what's to come.
I've been at a bit of a crossroads with my hair lately. I've managed to change my side part to a middle part, gotten layers, had a balayage, and have worn it down more than I used to. I've shuffled out some of my old products and have been more cognizant of how many times I wash it now that the winter chill makes my hair so dry and dull.
My hair is pretty fine with dry ends — not a great combo! But I think I have this lineup down to a tee. With however many products I've tried and that are on the market, it constantly feels like a treasure hunt. These are some of the products I've found to help create a silky and effortless blowout look.
Revlon One-Step Volumizer Hair Dryer - I've always grown up with Revlon hair tools and every Christmas my sisters and I were always gifted a flat iron or curling wand, but this year, I hopped on the Tik Tok trend and gave into trying this 2-in-1 hair dryer brush that has been raved about for creating an effortless blowout in minutes.
And let me tell yuh folks, it works like magic! Probably one of the best things I've purchased last year. There's no fuss with a normal hair dryer and having to hold your arm up with a brush in the other hand. It is truly a game changer.
Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray - I've always loved Amika as a brand, so I thought I would try this spray to accomplish an even better blowout with the Revlon hair dryer. I've also been keen to using heat protectants more again. It gives the perfect amount of texture and volume without build up.
Briogeo Scalp Revival Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo - I've been through the dandruff shampoo phase and I could never find a shampoo that was free of parabens and toxic chemicals.
So, I was reluctant to find shampoo for dry and itchy scalp, but I happened to receive a sample of this from Sephora and wanted to give it a proper go. I was very skeptical because it seemed almost like a face mask.
The texture is infused with charcoal that helps exfoliate and remove dead skin. It also fills your shower with the scent of peppermint and spearmint oils and my head always feels so clean and healthy after!
Verb Ghost Dry Oil - I recently got onto the Verb train and am glad I did because I found this perfect finishing spray for blowouts.
It acts as a spray-on conditioner, adds a lot of shine, and de-frizzes which is something my hair always does, even during the winter. I'm not a fan of using hair spray, especially when I'm just working at home or don't mind my style falling a bit throughout the day. This is the perfect final touch for my hair.
Living Proof Instant De-Frizzer - If you're looking for a product solely for de-frizzing, I would recommend the Living Proof one!
I used this a lot during the summer, even on my natural hair and without styling it. It leaves your hair silky and smooth and is the perfect touch up during the day when you don't have time to get the flat iron out.
What do you normally do to maintain your hair during the winter?
I think we can put a whole new meaning to New Year's resolutions, but maybe this year we can scrap them and focus on gratitude. I've talked a lot about gratitude, mainly because it's the one thing that has kept me grounded and rooted with perspective. As I look forward with optimism and the desire for a slower pace this year (as I'm sure a lot of people are yearning for), there's so much to be grateful for and I think creating a habit of remembering and being content with what you have can help resolve feelings of emptiness that 2020 was so generous for gifting us with.
The beginning of the year had a lot of promise, like many new years usually bring. I was finishing up a campaign for a competition class and looking for summer internships, little did I know that everything would change come March. I left my apartment at school, had no plans for work or summer, and had to learn how to adapt to staying at home. I know my experiences this year were the least of struggles and hardships many other people have gone through, but I think it's fair to say that we all struggled on our own fronts. I would find myself constantly drained, tired, and worrisome, but being at home alone allowed me to grow and learn how to survive this past year in many ways.
Tuning into Little Joys
In desperate times, I've found that the cure to the emptiness, loneliness, and anxiety that most of us have felt this year is to tune into the things that we love, the people that we love, and realizing that there is so much more to be thankful for in the small and even trivial things. Such as the roof over your head, a jammin' Harry Styles playlist, perhaps good wifi connection, or even your health. Such things go unnoticed or thought about because we're so used to having things be certain, permanent, and constant in our lives. When life becomes interrupted we all freeze—those joys freeze—and we forget just how important they are to keep us sane and moving forward.
Using Compassion to Bring Certainty
Last year felt like digging into quick sand trying to find a more optimistic way of thinking when you were hit with terrible headlines everyday. It felt like if you didn't make sure someone was okay and alive in an email, they'd think you'd already lost it in believing everything was normal. I found that using compassion and being considerate always brings a bit more certainty, humanity, and just common courtesy to any interaction, in person or virtual. We could all use a little more compassion and patience these days without assuming someone's situation. Choosing kindness above all.
Letting Myself Rest
I found myself extremely restless knowing I was stuck at home and not out and about working or being as productive as I would be in the city. I found myself resorting to a state of comparison (bad Natalie) and in a social media hole. None of it made me feel better and none of it helped me get the rest that I truly needed. A slower pace is something that I wish we can all root for this year. Not holding people accountable for not responding to an email immediately after you send it or keeping people on Zoom for over an hour. All of these things that were once part of my go-go routine and have now been put on pause won't hurt me, won't determine my worth, or stop me from achieving my goals. We're all at our own pace. You shouldn't feel bad or guilty for giving yourself a break once in a while. No more burnout. I repeat. No more burnout.
Find some time right before you go to sleep to write down one simple thing you're grateful for or even think about it on your commute home from work (that is, if you still commute). Taking a moment to practice a positive mental habit, one that can tremendously improve your outlook on life, is just one way I can grant myself gratitude. What have you been grateful for lately?
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