So back in 2013 when I was finishing up my first year of college I wrote a list of fifty different things I had learned during my time away. It is so funny to read back on them and honestly for the most part they are still very true. But as I have now completed four years I think I have a more complete understanding of myself and my time here. So I figured I would make a final list on the 50 most important lessons I've learned in college.
1. There's a 99.99% you're going to change your major.
2. Become friends with your professor, laugh at their dumb jokes, ask for guidance.
3. If you feel you are being treated unfairly by a professor, speak up. Chances are other students feel the same.
4. Grades are always negotiable.
5. If you think all nighters are a good idea...you're wrong. Do it once to say you have.
6. Learn the power of time management early on.
7. Extracurriculars are great but don't let them take over your life.
8. Read the g-dang books you are assigned in English classes. Reading is one of life's greatest treasures.
9. If you know your passion never let others interfere.
10. It's okay to not know your passion yet... keep experiencing life, it will come.
11. You may love your college town, you may hate your college town, but let it teach you a lesson about yourself.
12. There's a great chance you'll look into transferring... really assess if your current situation is as bad as you think it is.
13. Netflix should be consumed sparingly.
14. You are going to make best friends in college.
15. You are going to lose best friends in college.
16. That party/bar/frat house will most likely never be as great as spending a night in watching movies with friends.
17. Write your essays ahead of time. Don't become the night-before monster.
18. If you drink, make sure you trust the people you are with.
19. Having a bad day, week, semester is something everyone experiences.
20. Study Abroad. STUDY ABROAD. Even if they tell you it's impossible. Even if you have to take out loans. It will change you.
21. Don't study abroad with friends. Learning to travel alone will be extremely valuable.
22. Go somewhere you don't know the language.
23. Learn a new language in college. It could be the only chance you get.
24. Internships aren't going to come to you. It takes work.
25. Not having an internship doesn't make you a failure. Volunteer or join a club, it's all about experience.
26. Your parents miss you. Give them a call every once in awhile.
27. Leave your hometown for college.
28. Everyone has their own shit going on. But you are never to busy to call an old friend.
29. It's good you didn't peak in high school, it's even better not to peak in college... be patient that your time will come.
30. One day you'll look back at the memory of your first insane college roommate and laugh.
31. Don't compromise your own values to make friends.
32. Find people who are pieces of you, not the whole picture. Be unique.
33. Take advice sparingly... no one knows you like you do.
34. If you get a tattoo: Don't be drunk. Don't be cheap. Don't tell your parents.
35. It's okay to sleep around and it's okay to not sleep with anyone. Trust your intuition.
36. You will probably gain weight and lose it. You are more than the size of your jeans.
37. The cafeteria should never be taken for granted. Free chicken nuggets won't always be a reality.
38. If you thought you couldn't imagine a life without a boy maybe you don't love yourself as much as you thought.
39. If you do something awkward or embarrassing really own the moment.
40. Getting exempt from finals isn't a myth but it does take a lot of effort.
41. GPA doesn't reflect who you are as a person but it does reflect your dedication to learning.
42. Don't let people walk all over you. Find your voice but learn when to let things go.
43. There will be days you think it won't end. And there will be days you think it went too fast.
44. Don't kill yourself trying to be employed straight out of college. You have the rest of your life to work.
45. If you move somewhere cold... buy a good coat.
46. Take lots of pictures.
47. Four quarters is better than 100 pennies.
48. Say thank you to your parents.
49. Never take this time for granted.
50. ...

Going to be a little more personal on the blog right now. I'm feeling pretty nostalgic today (I think it's due to the huge blizzard we experienced in New York yesterday) and I just wanted to talk out how I feel about starting my last first day of school tomorrow. So if there are any college seniors out there that are in the same boat as me right now your advice would be very much appreciated.
I'm not scared to end school at all because I feel ready to start my life. But there is something innocent that is about to end in a few months. It's the kindergartener with a brand new lunch box, the fourth grader with the braces, the eighth grader who is too cool for anything, the high school junior driving to school on their own for the first time... It's all of these things that have revolved around education for so long. It was always the center of everything. It was the reason to get up five days a week from the age of 4 to 22. It was the fights you had with your parents over a bad letter grade.
And now, in about four months, someone is going to look me in the eye, hand me a piece of paper and tell me that it's over. That all those years of anxiety, happiness, stress, and elation are finished.
Lord knows I'm not one who handles change well. But this change... am I really prepared? Starting from learning the most basic material like the A, B, C's to complex media planning and buying strategies.
And not only that but the fact that New York will shortly end it's chapter for me. All the growing I did here and the stories I will have to tell will all be past tense. That high school Senior who cried to her mom about how badly they wanted to leave Orange County, the people from high school, all of it! And now I am knowingly zeroing in on that life again. That has been the accumulation of my time in New York... returning back to my home town. Sure I did a lot, I experienced a lot, I learned a lot. But so did everyone else, in their own way. My friends who stayed at home experienced a completely different way of life than me. Not that one or the other is better but they aren't the same. Hearing from friends that they can't believe I buy my own toothpaste because that's what their parents do is alarming. But if that's what they know it can't be wrong?
So maybe that's what I am most nervous for. Not the job search process (although it is quite daunting) because I'm ready for that. But its saying goodbye to the 5 year old Sam with giant buck teeth who cried in class because a flag was covering up something on the wall and she couldn't read it. It's going back to the friends who have had their tooth paste bought their whole life.
I know there is going to be a lot of soul searching this semester as I evaluate my strengths and really figure out what I want in the next stage of life. I want to walk across that stage in May and know that my education taught me more than how to count or read. It taught me to be exactly who I am

.

hey hey hey! Wow, I truly hate to see how long ago the last post was written. This blog may not be super popular but I was excited to see the number of page views growing over the past few months as I put more energy into writing better and more interesting content. It really was more of an experiment, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed!!! When I got home from school I went on a mental and physical reset. You never know how much you have over done it until you come home and just go into total detox mode. Catching up with friends and family, preparing for Christmas, reading books I actually wanted to read, binge watching TV shows... the list went on and it was all lovely.
I was also feeling very unlike myself. It is not uncommon for me to get inside my head too much when I'm away from my family for a long time. The Thanksgiving trip was such a whirlwind I don't think I sat down for more than 5 minutes trying to see everyone and do all the things that I wanted to do while home. I always start to feel like myself again here... which can be both a good thing and well a really bad thing.
I am someone who always battles with self doubt. Sometimes it is the easiest thing to just be like no that'll never work out. Last year I really tried to be outside my comfort zone as much as possible. And I think I am still setting the foundation in my mind for being able to reach my own success. Call it life therapy because I know I came home at a time when I needed an intervention.
And that is what I am going to be talking about at least once a week on this blog. Discovery. That is my word for 2016. Every single time I am going to be in a new situation I am going to think about this word. As I am graduating from Uni this semester and entering into the job world... there are so so SO many unknowns. As a Taurus it is in my nature to have a hard time adjusting to big life changes. That is why I am going to create all the ground work and preparation to make sure that this giant change is nothing more than a smooth flow of gradual adjustments.
I ask that if anyone else is feeling the same that you come along with me on this journey this year. Having a community that is understanding and empathetic can make big life changes so much more possible to conquer. Sure your family is great but 9 times out of 10 they aren't in the same position you are. And although they may think they can relate they still see you and your situation from an outside perspective. But that is why the internet is so much fun! There are people like you, facing similar (if not exact) experiences as you are. I mean how rad is that. So come and discover with me my friends! Let's see how we can make 2016 such a beautiful year full of happiness and balance.
Be back soon xoxo Sam

Hello Hello! I have to say I'm surprised with myself for getting a blog post out yesterday (considering I had to write two blog posts for my internship *soon to be on SoleScriptions Blog!*) but here we are for day 2 of December! Maybe it's just my obsession with Christmas but I really am so inspired to create as much content for the blog this month as I can. I know that I have other responsibilities I should be focusing on (schoolwork? job applications? present buying?) but 'tis the season to procrastinate!
Today I wanted to share with you all my top 5 Christmas movies. I challenged my best friend to watch at least one Christmas movie everyday until Christmas... it may be overly ambitious and we will part ways about 5 days before Christmas but why not add a little more to our already full plate this month!
Without further ado here are is my personalized list of Christmas movies:

1. The Grinch
Hands down. No competition. All around. BEST. CHRISTMAS. MOVIE. EVER.
You can disagree but you're wrong. Honestly if I'm being completely honest I think this would rank as one of my top ten movies ever! Call me crazy but I can watch this movie 50 times in a row and never (I repeat never) get sick of it. Just so so good.

I absolutely can not believe November is already over. Compared to October, which dragged...and dragged...and dragged... But finally the time has come to finish 2015 off with a bang! School is going to be quite insane in these next few weeks but I am ready to finish up and head back home to spend the holidays with all my most nearest and dearest.
Speaking of home Thanksgiving break was exactly what the doctor ordered. As soon as that plane landed in LAX I hung my head out the car window like a dog, just taking in the warmer air. Even though it was around 1am there (4am in New York) my best friend and I laughed and sang and danced the entire car ride home. Each day was jam packed with friends and family and laughs and most importantly enough love to give me just enough motivation to take on these final weeks of school. My favorite night of being home was staying in our cabin, fresh snow on the ground, playing monopoly, charades, and heads up with my two sisters, mom, and stepdad. God, I would love to go back to the way I felt in that moment anytime I'm feeling down.
But alas I'm back to school, ending my internship, and also trying to scramble to get ready for the holidays. Here are just a few things that I was loving in November!

Movies:
Room

So I know I already did a fall favorites but there were a few things I tried this month that I really want to share! September was just a series of highs and lows, continuously dipping up and down. There were moments of extreme happiness and extreme anxiety (I sound bipolar I know), but all in all I survived! Such a shocker. Nevertheless here are some of the things I was loving the month of September
1. I figure I'll start with some of my favorite beauty products

Finally finally finally! My all-time favorite season has arrived and I am so so so ready for it!
The summer is always incredible but being in NYC... this. humidity. is. killing. me.
So I figured I would do the Fall Favorites Tag, although meant for a youtube video, on my blog!
This is inspired by the amazing and fabulous makeup artist Jaclyn Hill *if you haven't heard of her then you need to climb out from behind that rock*
So the first question is...
Favorite Fall Candle: So believe it or not I have fallen in love love love with the glade Pumpkin Pie Diner that you can find pretty much anywhere. It is literally the essence of fall. One whiff and I am thrown into a thanksgiving day turkey coma.

If I could express the amount of change that has occurred just over the past week or so that I last posted into words... I just CAN'T.
My rejuvenation for life has increased tenfold and each day I wake up excited to be alive. I finally, after thousands of resumes, cover letters, tears and outbursts of anger, I have gotten an internship.
To say it suits me perfectly is an understatement. It suits me DIVINELY.
All my life I have been unable to tell people if I am proud of myself or not. I always try to stay humble and respect others. Most people, especially peers, have a hard time with others success. I know that I suffer from it! I can be the most envious of people (something I have talked about in an old blog post) but right now I can't help but feel overjoyed that all the effort I have put into searching for an internship has actually worked out into the most wonderful opportunity.
**I will tell you all more about the company in another post**
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE
This past weekend I went to Boston to meet my mom and her friend for a short (very short) getaway. And I fell madly in love with the place.
After New York, anywhere seems like disneyland. The streets were clean, the people were smiling, there were no intense crowds, and there was a slight breeze that added just the perfect touch to an all day tourist sightseeing extravaganza.
We also went to Salem which fulfilled my love for all things witch, somewhere I had been dying to see since I moved to the East Coast.
It really was just an amazing trip and left me refreshed and ready for school to start Monday!
Classes are fine, not much to say about those. But with everything else going so well (fingers crossed it stays like this way for awhile) I figure school will also go according to plan.

I bleed at the thought that I never update this blog but of course here I am to fill in the latest and greatest news. Lately things of been tough. Not just the normal day-to-day stresses of school and friends but also internally. I felt like I started off the year with a clean mindset and here I am, March, and I can feel myself reverting back to old ways. I don't like complaining because my life really has a lot of wonderful things about it! But sometimes it just gets to be too much.
I know pretty much every twentysomething can relate to the feeling of being lost. Do I love my major? no. Am I ready to start my life? yes. Am I ready to take on adult responsibilities? uhh...
All of these things are constantly swirling around our minds and eventually it just gets to be too much and you want to run away as fast as possible from everything and everyone.
There are moments that make it worth it, like walking in New York Fashion Week, but more often than not there are moments where you think... what am I actually doing with my life. Sure everyone says we have time but I don't want to waste the one life we are given just being unhappy with who I am and what I'm doing.
I guess I came here to say I am done with the city that never sleeps. I am tired. I am broke. And I am flailing.
With that said I am not depressed about life. I know there is so much more the world has to offer me. Maybe it's because I am figuring out who I am and what I want that I am unsatisfied with the life that I am living at this moment. It definitely doesn't mean I won't ever get away from it because come spring of 2016 ADIOS NEW YORK!
I will always appreciate the time I have spent here and the memories I have shared with some amazing people. But it's time for something different. Some people are empowered by New York and I honestly envy their tenacity and courage.
We get out what we put in to life. Maybe I didn't put enough of myself into loving it here. Maybe I was someone who was meant for a different path and didn't know until I learned for myself. But I think that is the great thing about leaving. That now I can go back and know what the world was like away from the support and comfort of home.
But then again... maybe it's the fact that it is almost April and there is currently snow falling from the sky. Or maybe I just have a chronic dissatisfaction with life (love quoting woody allen movies). I wish some wise old sage could come and tell me that I made the right choice. That I didn't screw up by choosing to go so far away from home. That New York was where I was meant to find myself.
I didn't know this post would turn into such a bummer but I needed to express to others that you aren't alone if you feel like you made the wrong choice. You aren't alone if you don't love the life you are living. And you aren't alone if you are ready to make the changes necessary to be a happier person.
I am tired of putting on a brave face for everyone and acting like its all flowers and rainbows.
Okay... Angsty rant over.