A Message to Young Women Graduating: You Got This!

It’s graduation season!

Huge shoutout to my #BossBabes graduating – Congratulations! I absolutely love seeing others achieve their accomplishments and prepare for their next chapter. I’ve been in your shoes and know all about the sacrifices that are made in undergrad/ obtaining a second degree. There’s no other kind of excitement than hearing your name as your cross that stage. YOU DID IT! #OkLadiesNowLetsGetInFormation

I graduated with my Masters of Business Administration in May 2016. I completed my masters online, which I truly recommend for anyone looking to further their education and work full-time. It gives you the flexibility and opportunity to do both. It definitely has it’s pros and cons so, I advise researching (or you can ask me!) to see if this would be a good option for you. During that period, I was working full-time at a healthcare company, a full-time student, trained for the Texans cheerleaders tryouts, and Maid of Honor in 2 weddings. Whew! *wipes forehead* Reflecting back, I really don’t know how I had the energy to do all of that… but, I can tell you that these are the things that held me together and kept me balanced:

1. Faith

My faith was strengthened immensely. None of this came easy and I definitely had moments that were challenging. There were often times where I was pulled in every direction but, I remained centered because of Him. I was focused on becoming a better version of myself. Mentally, physically, and spiritually. Mentally by cramming all of the curriculum in my brain, testing, and working, physically by experiencing my body completely transform as I tried out (my trainer kicked my butt and I was in the best shape of my life), and spiritually because, when you have that much going on, the only way you’re going to get through it is with God on your side.

2 Timothy 4:17, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” is LITERALLY how this all went down.

2. Positive Energy

I say this a million times but, my family and friends are TRUE blessings in my life. I lived at home with my parents while I attended grad school which allowed me to pay for tuition out of pocket and be debt-free after graduation. Because, we all know student loans are no fun – thanks, Baylor. And for my girls, they were there every step of the way cheering me on. Girl talk over queso and margaritas is real life therapy. I’m lucky that most of my best friends were also just as busy and just as determined – so we were able to understand each other’s challenges and give advice to one another. Take a look around you; if you’re circle isn’t motivating you, reconsider.

3. Work Outs and Diet

Training was intense. I only trained three times a week but, fitting scheduled workouts with projects at work that sometimes required me to stay after hours and papers due by midnight was a lot! Prior to tryouts, I only worked out when I wanted to and it wasn’t a big priority to me. Training became a lifestyle change and eating clean came naturally. I literally went cold turkey – I guess things really become in perspective when you realize how much pain you go through to burn off the calories of your favorite food lol. In undergrad, I used to rely on energy drinks and coffee to keep me wired for hours on end. Super unhealthy. As I took on a new lifestyle of diet and exercise, I didn’t need those things to keep me energized anymore. The fruits and vegetables I ate created a natural source of energy that were more stable. After a long day of work, I’d come home from my workouts, eat a well-balanced meal, and then stay up working on homework. I loved how consistent my workouts/ healthy eating habits made me feel. But lets be honest, there was always exceptions for icecream!

4. Time Management

My previous job was flexible and allowed me to study and work. I usually tried to get my school work done during the weekdays so that I could enjoy the weekends. For the most part, I had my week days planned by the hour (you should have seen the scribble scratch on my calendar). When you’re studying online, you don’t have your buddy reminding you after class of when assignments are due – that is completely on you. So Outlook reminders, sticky notes, alarms on my phone, you name it, I was on it. There were definitely some all-nighters and I remember being a zombie at work. My boss at the time really encouraged me to further my education so he took it easy on me the days he knew I had a long night studying aka looked busted. Saturday and Sunday were dedicated for “me time” and getting my mind together for the Monday – Friday grind. I think this is so important because you can’t go 100% all of the time. You have to allot times of the day or days of the week to rest. Moments of rest are just as important as “go time.”

Life update: You’re probably wondering if I made it out alive anddd I did! I graduated with honors, I made it to round 3 of the Texans Cheerleaders tryouts, I got promoted at work, and the weddings/ bridal celebrations of my two best friends were times I’ll never forget. God will open doors and also appoint you to stand up in certain areas in your life. When these things happen, take action. But most importantly, be ready. You are more than capable.

 

Human Resources Quick Tips:

Ok, enough about me. Let’s talk about you, grad! Now that you’ve graduated, what will be your next move? Will it be a new job? Are you looking to be promoted at the job you are currently at? Here are some Human Resources tips to help you in this transitional period:

1. Resume

As you are applying for jobs, make sure your resume is highlighting all of your accomplishments (education, experience, and skills) in a clear and concise way. Take into consideration that your resume is in competition with hundreds of other applicants that want the same position. How will yours stand out? Your resume should be one page, in an organized format, and free of grammatical errors. Use keywords that will be picked in a search engine and boost your chances of being reviewed. Try to keep the font size between 10-12 point, Times New Roman is a good option, and use bullet points to keep it attractive and readable.

2. Cover Letter

Create a generic cover letter that you can use and edit for different applications. For the jobs that you are most interested in, I advise that you take time to specify to what they are asking and looking for. Make sure this is different from your resume. Go beyond what is written in your resume. It should tell a story by showcasing your skills and what you can bring to the company.

3. LinkedIn Profile

Secret: I actually landed both of my jobs through LinkedIn – so use it! This is a great tool to apply for jobs and contact the recruiter. It puts a face to a name and builds a relationship before you walk in for the interview. LinkedIn has features where you can filter for what kind of jobs you are interested in, salary, and location. Also, be sure to upload business professional photo that represents you well because, first impression is everything right?

4. Interview

When you get called in for that interview – bring it! Remember, they are calling you in because they see potential in you. All the hard work has been done, this is your time be yourself and get a better feel of your future position. Rehearse general interview questions so you become comfortable answering them. Have about five questions to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. Engagement is important. Lastly, remember to dress your best, bring hard copies of your resume in a portfolio, and follow up with a “thank you” e-mail to everyone you spoke with. And yes, I mean everyone. You never know who you can touch and influence a decision.

Wherever your next journey takes you, I hope that it’s everything that you’ve worked and prayed for. Do not rush this decision. Pay close attention to what best fits you. Make your next move based on how you can thrive and feel the most fulfilled.

The future is yours!

Grit.

I first heard about grit from a TED talk by Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth that I watched recently. Angela is a psychologist who studied “intangible concepts such as self-control and grit to determine how they might predict both academic and professional success” and coined the term “grit.” During her time teaching math to seventh graders, she quickly realized that IQ was not the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. It’s actually the concept of grit that makes one successful. Not only having talent, but obtaining a good mix of passion and perseverance. It’s having a mentality of staying loyal to your dreams, following through with commitment, and standing back up again after failures. I automatically felt a connection to the idea of grit. And I knew if it could relate to me, it could relate to you too.

Growing up, I did decent in school. I made average (sometimes above average) grades, was placed in a couple advanced classes, and was very involved in athletics and community service. Lieutenant of the dance team and on the homecoming court. I considered myself to be well-rounded. I noticed in high school that my personality and determination always trumped my grades. I remember junior year when the conversational topics in between classes and lunch period switched from cute boys to college admissions – really quick. It seemed like everyone had it figured out. They knew where they were going (or at least their top 2 choices), their admission fees were paid, and even which dorm room they would live in. As for me, I wasn’t close to having it figured out. I remember getting home from dance practice with a pile of applications. Essays, transcripts, recommendations… it became overwhelming. I was fortunate to attend Baylor line camp the year before and I automatically KNEW that’s where I wanted to be. But, would I even get in? The thought haunted my mind. I didn’t have the highest ACT or SAT scores and I definitely wasn’t top 5% of my class. Out of my pile of applications, I grabbed Baylor’s to complete first. I had my eye on the prize – I was going to make it there…

Fast forward… I found my second home at Baylor University in Waco, TX. A true blessing. I wanted it bad enough and God met me half way. As I look back, my college years were the best time of my life! But, also the MOST challenging. I found myself at Baylor. From my spiritual growth, to creating and establishing long-lasting friendships (shout out to my girls ♥), to realizing that biology wasn’t my path. It all set me up to be me. right now. today. Baylor challenges their students to achieve excellence in the classroom and in character. And character is exactly what I built.

I honestly believe that if I graduated from a different University, my world would be completely different. I originally thought attending Baylor as a student would be glamorous and make for cute pictures at football games with Bruiser. Ha! It’s funny to think about that now. I didn’t have a chance to be as well rounded as I would have liked to be because my entire focus was on my grades as a biology major. And being engulfed in that kind of focus taught me – A LOT. It taught me to follow through, to go out of my comfort zone to ask questions, to do things on my own, to find the answers, to stay committed, and to stay passionate. In order to succeed, I realized that it couldn’t just be my talent. Yes, my talent would give me the grade – I’d pass the class and it would look good on paper. But was that enough? There were internships and fist job positions I had to be competitive for. I needed to be equipped with the right grades and the right attitude for the right opportunity to be presented. These characteristics that I built years ago have stuck with me. I now apply them to my every day life personally and professionally.

And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that talent alone isn’t enough. We all are gifted and equipped with qualities that the next person doesn’t necessarily have. These talents can get us ahead and we should use them to the best of our ability but, it is not the long term solution to success – grit is. Angela’s studies show that “gritty” people who collectively have passion and perseverance are more successful than “non-gritty” people. Talent alone does not make someone gritty. But, someone who has talent and a stimulated growth mindset, has the ability to learn by their efforts. In the professional world, I’ve seen so many people move up by having a good attitude and being coachable. Yes, the degrees and experiences get your foot in the door but, someone who is coachable will go much further than one who stays stagnant in growth with a negative attitude. I encourage you to find your passion and persevere. These two qualities will take you to new heights for a longer period of time in whichever journey you set out for yourself. But, they are qualities that you have to find deep within yourself first.

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 Passion

That burning flame that keeps you going. Passion. Ask yourself – what keeps you going? What value do you add to whatever you do? Do you love what you do enough to stay loyal to it? Do you care enough about it to make a difference? Everything seems to flow easily when you have a passion for what you do. The thought of making a difference, giving back, and being an influence keeps my wheels turning. My passion keeps me curious and wanting to learn more.

Perseverance

Are you consistent? Do you follow through? How bad do you want it? Sticking with your dreams and goals is not always easy. There has to be a motivating factor to continue day in and day out to achieve your goal. Know your WHY. Gritty people don’t give up the first time they fall on their face. Gritty people are disciplined. Gritty people see every “no” as a closed door that will lead them to their perfect “yes.” They are able to withstand rejection and road blocks. They may not always finish first, but they WILL reach the finish line.

 

I hope you have a chance to check out Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth’s TED TALK:

 

 

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out. Not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” – Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth

 

 

 

GIRL TALK OVER MIMOSAS

 

On January 20^th I brought my closest friends together for the launch party of Pretty Balanced called “Girl Talk over Mimosas.” January 20^th is also my birthday so it was a super special day to me to say the least! I envisioned the launch party to be an intimate group of women who would feel comfortable in expressing their thoughts and feelings personally and professionally. My goal was to create an environment that would allow them to do so and also give them a chance to interact with other women in the room.

First, I have to say how HAPPY I was that my best friends and parents drove from Houston to make my event. As people entered the room, my dad handed out a raffle card to each guest (see below – didn’t they come out cute?!). The card gave 3 instructions to complete on social media. They put their name on the back and then dropped in a container where a winner was chosen at the end of the event.

Of course we had mimosas, lots and lots of mimosas! I also served donut holes (my guilty pleasure), kolaches, and fruit – yum. We all mingled, sipped, and caught up for those who hadn’t seen each other in a while as we waited for everyone to get settled in.

I opened up the discussion by handing each girl a piece of paper with a list of scriptures and quotes. I wanted them to take a moment and read the list and to choose one that represented them. We went around the table as they mentioned their name, where they are from, their occupation, and which quote they chose and why. This was BY FAR my favorite part! Everyone had such beautiful responses about how they felt in their current state, what their looking forward to in their future, and advice they could share. I did not want to share my hand-picked quote at the event because I wanted to focus on their responses, but I will share mine here. I chose…

“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

I could probably relate to each one of those quotes but, this one is the closest to my heart. I have finally come to a certain space in my life where peace is a priority. I actually feel like I have been forced to be still and my only option is to TRUST (in a lot of areas in my life). Being still to me means allowing enough space, time, and energy to attract the things that are meant for ME. Being still takes maturity and understanding the value of patience. I have definitely tried to do things “Camille’s” way in the past and have fallen short each time. I remember last year when I was job hunting. It was incredibly frustrating and I didn’t understand why a new door (the right door) wasn’t opening for me. I felt like it was time for me to advance in my career but, for some reason it wasn’t coming easy for me. A big part of it had to do with me obtaining a Master’s Degree and only having 1 year HR experience. My education made my overqualified and my experience made me entry-level. So, where would I fit? It wasn’t until months in my job hunt were I came to Dallas to visit a good friend of mine when I was like you know what – I could live here! As I made that a new option, I started receiving more interest from the applications I put in. Until… I landed the perfect job. I share this to say that I believe I needed to wait to have that moment where I felt like Dallas could be my new home. I feel like I had to go through those rejections and that very confusing moment in my life to be completely appreciative of where I am today. If I didn’t allow myself the time and space to come to this conclusion I most likely would have taken on a position that wouldn’t have been right for me, just so that I could say “I moved on.” Being still can be challenging, but I promise it is so rewarding.

Transitioning into the next part of the event, I wrote down a few questions that I was interested in getting feedback from that ranged from the topics of career and lifestyle.

The questions were…

• What do you do to recharge?
• Walk us through your morning routine.
• What do you like to do for fun, and how do you make time for it?
• What has been your favorite vacation so far, and how did you budget for it?
• How do you release stress?
• What advice would you give someone starting in an entry-level position?
• Do you prefer reading blogs, podcast, or YouTube?
• What has been the biggest challenge in your career?
• What is your favorite book and why?
• What do you think about a second degree?
• How do you keep a daily to-do list?
• What inspires you?

And these were the take-aways from their comments:

• Playing ratchet music and praying (I love the combination here) helps recharge.
• Eating breakfast, reading a daily devotional, having clothes laid out, and making a long drive productive in the morning makes for a great day.
• Brunch with friends is a top-favorite thing to do on the weekends (who doesn’t like mimosas? duh.)
• Visiting family in another country or state makes for the best vacation because you don’t have to budget for it 🙂
• Ratchet music and working out best helps release stress (ok so ratchet music is a clearly a winner!)
• Knowing and researching the industry you are going into will help you get ahead as an entry-level.
• Short and sweet podcasts such as Side Hustle School are the best.
• Being a female in a male dominant career has it’s challenges, but with time you learn to get your points across without stepping on anyone’s toes and receiving respect.
• Not everyone likes to read (except to their 1st grade kids LOL) butttt some good books to recommend are Crushing It by Gary V, The 10 Commandments of Hollywood by Devon Franklin, and Creating Magic by Lee Cockerell.
• Some believe that a second degree is not required to advance in their career field.
• Writing down to do lists on paper and sticky notes helps set reminders.
• Moms inspire us to be better women.

I was so blown away by how AWESOME this event went. Women from different backgrounds, career paths, and mindsets game together for this event – it was magic! I love diversity. I truly feel like we can learn from one another when we take time to see things in a different perspective. When a question was asked, I enjoyed seeing other women in the table chime in on their experiences and to add to their answer. Everyone was engaged and it was a fun time!! It was the perfect way to kick off the launch of my blog and my birthday. I’ve gotten great feedback and it made me happy to see my vision come to life. I’m exciting to continue creating and building content that can help inspire the next young professional woman.

Huge shout-out to Purpose With Photography by Adriana Byrum who was the official photographer of my launch party! Thanks girl! ♥