Should I Invite The Girls To Join

Personality Talk

I know most girls are obsessed with the concept of zodiacs and horoscopes. Some of us are dillerberate in our connections based on personality tests; what is your enneagram number?? I have even been involved in long winded, post night out conversations where we all deep dive into our Myers Briggs. Don't get me wrong I love, love, love these tests. Period. But. Should we start by taking a deeper dive into the OG personalities?

One thing that is for certain to have been thrown around for decades is extroverts vs. introverts. When in doubt, someone always knows what you're referring to and it is generally easy to place ourselves amoung the two. 

But you guys. What if there was more. 

There are probably 4 different personalities as far as I can tell. Extroverted Extroverts, Extroverted Introverts, Introverted Extroverts, and Introverted Introverts. While they may have sounded repetitive, they are all very different things. 

I can break it down for you real quick. 

Extroverted extroverts are the people who crave human interaction. They are going to be the loudest, most captivating, energetic personality in the room. Not only are they getting their full charge from social life, they do not need alone time. Life for an extroverted extrovert means a social job, a social family, and the expectation for someone to always tag along.

Extroverted introverts are just a bit different. An extroverted introvert is going to be the person in your life who loves and flourishes in their alone time, they can fully recharge in their own company. But they also maintain a very healthy social life due to their drive. They are adaptable in social settings, and tend to be very outspoken with the right groups of people. They have a switch, and are able to turn it on and off where they see it most fit. 

Introverted Introverts are going to be much more comfortable in their own space as their focus is on their internal thoughts rather than their external relations. This may be the person in your life who you would characterize as being more reserved, or less willing to open up. 

Introverted extroverts wrap up our four personality types. An introverted extrovert is going to be your most balanced friend. They may be on the shier side to start a conversation, but are very happy to partake in one. While socially adaptive, they can hold qualities like modesty. 

I would classify myself as an extroverted extrovert, but sometimes I lean to be an extroverted introvert. By this I just mean to explain that I am a people person through and through, I love to talk, I am comfortable in social settings, and I get lots of energy from surrounding myself with other people. In the same breath, my social battery CAN get drained depending on how the rest of my life is rotating. In a comfortable crowd and a positive time, there's a good chance I will make myself known in a crowd.

When I spend lots of time with people, I need my own space to charge up a bit. An extroverted introvert would get most of their energy from alone time whereas mine is needed only in situational spurts. 

Lately I have been trying to take the initiative to better understand how I prefer to socialize. Learning where I'm obtaining energy, can in turn maximize my ability to energized and help me to be happier with how I'm are spending your time.

But who's to tell you, when every label is just a glorified personality test!!

How Do I Grow Up?

Having my graduation day just months out makes my now self very on edge. Even the days that I feel on top of things, the future unknown future looms over me. 

So how do I prepare myself for the real world?

I have a few tips that most people entering the workforce should keep in mind.

1.) Not Everyone is The Same

        Something I find constantly having to remind myself is that my friends and I are not the same. We come from different backgrounds, have different majors, and different work experience. Comparing myself to my friends only puts me behind. Knowing someone who has a job already for post grad, just means they're having a different experience than you are. 

2.) The Present Matters Most

        I find myself very worried over what the future holds. Sometimes it clouds the kinds of opportunities and fun I am having in the moment. Every now and then I think about how every step cannot just be planned out and the best thing you can do for yourself is enjoy the process.

3.) Rejection is Learning

        I have had many friends who have already been to numerous interviews and are let down by rejection. While rejection can sting, it is only bringing you closer to a better path. 

I am always asking, "how do I grow up?". There is no one specific way to go through life and that includes post grad plans. If you are having a similar experience, give yourself some grace. I know sometimes that's all I need to get through another day. 

Not Feeling Guilty For Always Saying Yes

 I know the concept of people being upset at you saying "yes" seems backwards. The thing is people can be counting on you to say no to others in order to be there for them. Should you always be there for your friends? Yes, absolutely but there are different ways to go about being there for someone. 

To me what is important and valid is your self discovery and your ability to care for yourself. There are stages in life where we want to say no to things we KNOW will be beneficial for us. It is easy to push to the side things we don't see as a priority. But we should always see ourselves as a priority. 

Will saying yes to one social event change the trajectory of your life? Most likely not. But there comes a stage where age starts to affect our answers to yes or no questions and at those points, you reminisce. Will you remember that one specific night out? I would say not, but what we do remember is being at a time in life where we had the ability to say yes and yet we still remained a "no".

It is absolutely okay to be throwing out no's left and right if that is better for you. What isn't right is to feel guilty for constantly saying yes. You don't owe an explanation to anyone as long as you're making yourself a priority. 

Things to bring to the Girly Gameday

Sometimes game days can be a lot. Like I've said previously, a game day in South Carolina is almost a week long event and so when your week is already crazy you may have to settle in for a game day. 

One of my favorite ways to settle in is a dip and wine night. Wine nights can happen on any day though so how can it be made more fun? Themed drinks. 

I'm sure many people have seen themed drinks on TikTok where a group gets together and each person is in charge of many one round of drinks. 

Having each person in charge of a round takes the pressure off the host, gets people excited, and gets everyone involved. If you're in charge of a round of drinks and you want to try each of them, you're going to show up on time.

What I love the most about this idea is that it could be as creative or dull as you would like but having a theme goes beyond in showing how deep a friendship can actually run. What a fun way to spend a saturday with the girlfriends. 

Get bartending!

To Rent or To Buy?

 In the last few weeks. I've attended many events with my friends. Some sorority functions, some football games, and a few birthday parties. For every event you need an outfit and while repeating is acceptable, it is less fun!

Through the different fits I have seen my friends in this month, some of them were immediately the type of item that I must know where it came from. When asking my friends the question of "where can I buy that?", there were some common themes. My friends have been renting their clothes with monthly subscriptions.

I know this may not be brand new news for a lot of people, but I personally haven't seen this many rented items EVER. 

There are a few different places to rent from and some may suit you better depending on your vibe.

1.) Rent the Runway

        Rent 5+ items each month, buy what you love and return what you don't want.

2.) Nuuly

        Rent 6 items each month. Rent or thrift all on their site.

3.) Fashion Pass

        Rent and swap as many outfits as you want in a month.

4.) StitchFix

        Personalized finds with a stylist to pick 5 items for you each month.

I personally have not gone down the renters rabbit hole, but with a continuously event packed year, I think I may have to start shopping. Join me?

A Saturday in South Carolina

When I first decided to go away to college, I needed a big school; lots of people, lots of diversity, and lots of football. Growing up in Texas, football was the thing to watch. Fridays and saturdays were often surrounded by the pregame, the game, and the game after that. 

When I got to South Carolina I thought I would have to describe to people what a high school football game in Texas looked like. Needless to say, there was no explaining to be done.

Saturday in South Carolina is everything I grew up with and more. You wake up and you make sure every person you pass is greeted with a "Happy Gameday". You spend approximately 2 hours getting ready, even if the heat is going to ruin your hair, and you listen to sandstorm to practice for the day.

A gameday in South Carolina can be the only thing you look forward to all week. Whether you're in Williams Brice Stadium, watching at the Salty Nut Cafe, or working your butt off as a server for the customers that come in to view the game, Saturday is about football. And while it is just a silly sport of men throwing a ball and occasionally tackling other men, it is the most exciting thing to be apart of.

In the last couple of weeks I've used a dirty dish rag, a paper napkin, and a rally towel to participate in the University of South Carolina's gameday jam- Sandstorm. No matter where you end up in the city of Columbia, Saturday's in South Carolina will always be a gameday.

New State, Same Me

Going to college out of state is both exciting and terrifying. It is hard to wrap your mind around moving to a new state without your family, friends, dogs, and local spots you've grown to love. Younger me could never fathom the thought of calling a new place my home. 

Years later and I would 100% classify South Carolina as my home and can't even imagine a world where I don't live here.

I was so scared to go to school out of state but so eager to meet new people and get a chance to start over completely new. Being away from my family, who I am so close to, was one of the most difficult adjustments for me. I was extremely dependent on my relationship with my sister coming into college. Over the first few months, I started to gain my own independence and find my footing. 

Over the last few years, I have stopped feeling homesickness, become my own person, and still remained so close with my family and the city of Houston. I wish I could tell my 18-year-old self how proud I am to have taken a risk but it has completely paid off.

One of the ways that this place has begun to feel like home is because of the people and the memories it holds. I owe so much to Columbia, SC because of what I have experienced in this city.

The people make the place.