Celebrating Success + Enjoying The Ride
Hey y’all, it’s been a minute. I haven’t done a free write or a life update in quite some time since as many of you are also probably experiencing right now, life’s been in full swing again. It’s hard to believe that the world is open and how fast the past few months have gone by. Since April, it feels like every week has had a new adventure and something exciting to tackle so I wanted to take a minute to document the highs and lows in order to remember what this season has taught and is continuing to teach me.
Career Updates:
For the past few years, I’ve been a bit unsure of how all of my different passions and experiences would come together. My career path thus far has been anything but your traditional linear moving up the corporate ladder routine and though that’s not good nor bad, it has often made me question if the skills I’ve built would really work together and help me. This past season has truly been a mix of answered prayers and it’s been pretty amazing to see how what I thought were unrelated experiences have come together.
Let’s get into the details. Full time, I work for a really cool startup called Birdy Grey. Birdy Grey is a bridesmaid dress brand based in LA and New York that I found while searching for a full time position straight out of college. I signed on to the company is the heart of the pandemic, unsure of what my role would truly entail. After 1 year with the company, I can honestly say how amazing it has been to be a part of the growth of the small team. My own responsibilities have evolved, the brand itself has continued to shine during a rough time for many businesses, and oh yes, I got my first big girl promotion!
This job has given me some incredible opportunities including photoshoots in Palm Springs, working with top LA models and photographers, and the ability to take the reins on larger projects and initiatives on my own.
In addition to my full time job, I’ve attempted to maintain the various side hustles I began during my time in college. One of my favorite opportunities I had during my time at USC was the chance to work at a casting studio. The main casting agents (owners of the studio) have become more than just mentors or co-workers but have become great resources and friends. I’ve been able to help them out with some dream opportunities and most recently was sent out as a behind the scenes writer for an upcoming music video.
With so much going on this past few weeks, I posted a little bit, but didn’t fully share how incredible this recent career milestone was. Back in April, I was able to work on set for the collaboration of a rising rock band with one of my new favorite brands NiceRide. This laid back apparel company hired some pretty big name models and influencers to help rep the merch and needless to say, my 12 year old self was screaming at the opportunity to be able to work with people I have admired professionally for so long.
The NiceRide team brought together a group of creatives who together brought the brand’s mission statement to life. The brand was founded on three main principles: family, friends, and fun! I think we can all agree that this past year has left us all yearning more for these three core values more than ever before so getting to work with a team who truly embodies these in everything they do was such an amazing growth opportunity both personally and professionally. For any of y’all interested, you can check out the full video HERE!
Important People + Moments
With so many positives in my professional life, I’ve had to be intentional with how I spend my personal time and who I choose to spend it with. With limited time comes the responsibility of how to delegate it. Luckily for me, I’ve had the most amazing and supportive community to turn to throughout the good and the bad. It’s been such a blessing to watch friends from various sections of my life get to know one another and to be able to see the through line of a community growing more and more interconnected.
2020-2021 has been challenging for us as a collective in so many ways, but it also taught us the importance of slowing down. With an overload of good, comes a need to be intentional in choosing to take a step back and make time for ourselves in order to avoid burnout. God am I grateful for the highs, the business, and the blessings that have come my way but in those times, I remember more than ever the importance of the key people in my life, the need to take a breather, and the crucial practice of daily gratitude.
Here’s to the good that came out of a season of uncertainty and to all the exciting moments yet to come.
