You know that moment when you look at your bank statement and hate yourself for spending all of that money through online shopping? That moment sucks, and it sucks even more when you know you didn't need to buy all of those things. Now, you have cute clothes but nothing to eat for a week because you're broke.
After I had an overflowing closet of useless clothes, shoes, or accessories, I told myself to never do it again. By that, I meant only once every month or so. I'm the worst. Online shopping is so tempting when you have nothing to do, and you don't want to start the entire Grey's Anatomy series for the 12th time...
It's just so easy to start looking around and convincing yourself in that moment that you NEED that new blouse or jacket when you don't NEED anything besides food and more room in your closet. Then you spiral down the hole and convince yourself how you're helping the environment by not driving to the physical store and polluting the very air we breathe.
Now, every time I get that urge to go online shopping, I started just letting myself peruse various sites at a time. I'll add anything I like to my shopping cart and literally make sure that the price gets so high that I just freak out at the thought of actually paying that amount and close the tab. While the freaking out part may be a little dramatic, this silly solution has "cured" my shopaholism. This lets me still enjoy the part where I look at the clothes, but then, I don't end up hating myself for spending all of my money.
You may think it's silly, but shopaholism has many cures, and the path you choose can vary per person. There is no judgement, and we're all here to support each other.
Friday, September 16, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Humans of New York: Utilizing Social Media Platforms for Blogs
In case you missed it, Brandon Stanton is coming to Athens, GA! Brandon is the founder of the famous Humans of New York account. He first started with Facebook and then created a Twitter and Instagram account. Instead of having a website to showcase his work, he's utilized these three social media platforms to share his photos, interviews, and even fundraisers.
With a strong fanbase, Brandon has been able to utilize social media in ways not many others have. I mean, not many can capture so much emotion in a photo and get strangers to tell us personal and intimate stories, knowing that we'd share them for the whole world to see. Yet, Brandon finds a way to do it. Within the past year or two especially, he's done series that were relevant and gave people so much insight into what's going on. When he went to Syria to interview people and their families about the refugee crisis, he opened up a lot of people's minds about what it was like to be living in Syria. When he worked with the beautiful children in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he showed the world the rollercoaster of Cancer and managed to give other people hope to keep on fighting the battle. When he did the series on veterans, I know I learned so much about working in a war zone and then transitioning back home in the United States. Regardless of political opinion, he was also able to interview Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who you know, are kind of important people.
The fact that he's only utilizing social media platforms makes it easier for his audience to engage - they can like, react, comment, and share his content more easily than if he only posted on a website. Social media platforms were originally for interactions and engagement, and that's what Humans of New York is doing. The growth of his "blog" is incredible, and I'm so excited to see him on campus this Thursday!
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| These are the Syrian refugee families who were/are coming to America. Brandon went to Syria to interview them and help fundraise money for their relocation and other needs. |
With a strong fanbase, Brandon has been able to utilize social media in ways not many others have. I mean, not many can capture so much emotion in a photo and get strangers to tell us personal and intimate stories, knowing that we'd share them for the whole world to see. Yet, Brandon finds a way to do it. Within the past year or two especially, he's done series that were relevant and gave people so much insight into what's going on. When he went to Syria to interview people and their families about the refugee crisis, he opened up a lot of people's minds about what it was like to be living in Syria. When he worked with the beautiful children in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he showed the world the rollercoaster of Cancer and managed to give other people hope to keep on fighting the battle. When he did the series on veterans, I know I learned so much about working in a war zone and then transitioning back home in the United States. Regardless of political opinion, he was also able to interview Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who you know, are kind of important people.
 |
| This was the cover photo that began his series on American veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
The fact that he's only utilizing social media platforms makes it easier for his audience to engage - they can like, react, comment, and share his content more easily than if he only posted on a website. Social media platforms were originally for interactions and engagement, and that's what Humans of New York is doing. The growth of his "blog" is incredible, and I'm so excited to see him on campus this Thursday!
Friday, September 9, 2016
The App That Gave Me More Time
I've been told that you have a busier lifestyle while you're in college than when you first enter the workforce. That may not be true for everyone, but I hope that is for me. Between working 20 hours a week, being a full-time student, having leadership positions in organizations, and trying to find internships for the summer, I think I have a total of 45 minutes some days where I don't have to do any of those things or be in a meeting. While I'd love to squeeze in a quick Netflix episode or something in that free time, I usually am spending my time waiting in lines to get my food. Now, I do pack my meals most of the time, but there are just weeks where I get home close to midnight, and I barely have the energy to shower and get myself into some comfy PJs.
Waiting in line was how most of my free time during the day was spent in my sophomore year of college. But then, an app came out that saved me, and that beautiful gift was called Tapingo. I'm not a Brand Ambassador, and unfortunately, I'm not being paid to talk about the company; I just want other students who have hectic schedules to have their days be a little less hectic because I feel you.
Tapingo allows you to order your meals and drinks via your smart phone, and then you can pick it up whenever the food is ready. The app is connected to the Barberitos and The Niche Pizza Company on campus, and it's working on getting Chick-fil-A back on there. It's also connected to other places off-campus, such as Gyro Wrap, Zombie Coffee & Donuts, and D.P. Dough; they also give the option of having your food be delivered rather than only pick up!
When I discovered Tapingo and decided to get the free app, I was skeptical to see how it'd work. I had an unhealthy obsession with Barberitos last semester, and it sucked most of the time out of my 45-minute break since I'd spend about 20-30 minutes of it waiting in line. Then I'd have to scarf down my quesadilla or burrito and rush off to my next class. But when I first used Tapingo, I was able to order exactly what I wanted to go in my burrito or quesadilla, and my order was ready in about five minutes. It was glorious.
I went up to the front of the line, got my order with no errors, and saved myself the usual 20-30 minutes. It was so nice to actually enjoy the food I was eating and to not feel rushed. Now, I put my order in towards the end of class or right as I get out so by the time I get to Tate, it's ready for me. If you know of any other apps that could help us save time, let me know. I could really use it...
Waiting in line was how most of my free time during the day was spent in my sophomore year of college. But then, an app came out that saved me, and that beautiful gift was called Tapingo. I'm not a Brand Ambassador, and unfortunately, I'm not being paid to talk about the company; I just want other students who have hectic schedules to have their days be a little less hectic because I feel you.
Tapingo allows you to order your meals and drinks via your smart phone, and then you can pick it up whenever the food is ready. The app is connected to the Barberitos and The Niche Pizza Company on campus, and it's working on getting Chick-fil-A back on there. It's also connected to other places off-campus, such as Gyro Wrap, Zombie Coffee & Donuts, and D.P. Dough; they also give the option of having your food be delivered rather than only pick up!
When I discovered Tapingo and decided to get the free app, I was skeptical to see how it'd work. I had an unhealthy obsession with Barberitos last semester, and it sucked most of the time out of my 45-minute break since I'd spend about 20-30 minutes of it waiting in line. Then I'd have to scarf down my quesadilla or burrito and rush off to my next class. But when I first used Tapingo, I was able to order exactly what I wanted to go in my burrito or quesadilla, and my order was ready in about five minutes. It was glorious.
I went up to the front of the line, got my order with no errors, and saved myself the usual 20-30 minutes. It was so nice to actually enjoy the food I was eating and to not feel rushed. Now, I put my order in towards the end of class or right as I get out so by the time I get to Tate, it's ready for me. If you know of any other apps that could help us save time, let me know. I could really use it...
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Creating Your Online Brand
I recently watched a documentary on PBS called Generation Like, which had me thinking a lot about social media marketing and branding. The documentary discussed important topics regarding many people's obsessions with getting a lot of likes and how we brand ourselves online.
Nowadays, it's not uncommon for employers to look at your resume and your social media accounts when they're considering hiring you. Your social media accounts can say a lot about you, and it provides them with information they may not be able to ask you about in an interview. Two of my friends debated about whether likes truly mattered or not on social media, and the friend who said that likes mattered supported her argument by saying it's a part of your brand. She brought up how getting those likes, shares, or comments show that maybe you're well liked or that you have a large network. In opposition, my other friend brought up that if you're trying to brand yourself for companies, they won't notice the number of likes on your post but rather the content of the post. Were you holding a beer in your hand when it's evident you're not of age? Were you posting pictures of the house you helped build over spring break for a family in need? That's what companies are looking at.
There I sat thinking, they've both got a point. I definitely agree that the content that you post online is really the first, and most important, part of branding yourself, but getting those likes, shares, or comments don't hurt. It may show that you have a strong reputation or that you post content that people like or care about. However, my caveat is that it's not worth worrying or obsessing over how many likes or retweets you get. I doubt a company will base their decision to hire you because you never broke 100 likes on Facebook or don't consistently get 20 retweets on Twitter.
At the end of the day, the important thing to remember is be aware of what you post online. No matter what industry you're in, there's a chance that potential employers will be going online to search your name and look through your social media profiles, and you don't want that to cost you a job. Take time to build a good, strong brand for yourself because it could give you the leg up when you're in the final round of the interview process.
Nowadays, it's not uncommon for employers to look at your resume and your social media accounts when they're considering hiring you. Your social media accounts can say a lot about you, and it provides them with information they may not be able to ask you about in an interview. Two of my friends debated about whether likes truly mattered or not on social media, and the friend who said that likes mattered supported her argument by saying it's a part of your brand. She brought up how getting those likes, shares, or comments show that maybe you're well liked or that you have a large network. In opposition, my other friend brought up that if you're trying to brand yourself for companies, they won't notice the number of likes on your post but rather the content of the post. Were you holding a beer in your hand when it's evident you're not of age? Were you posting pictures of the house you helped build over spring break for a family in need? That's what companies are looking at.
There I sat thinking, they've both got a point. I definitely agree that the content that you post online is really the first, and most important, part of branding yourself, but getting those likes, shares, or comments don't hurt. It may show that you have a strong reputation or that you post content that people like or care about. However, my caveat is that it's not worth worrying or obsessing over how many likes or retweets you get. I doubt a company will base their decision to hire you because you never broke 100 likes on Facebook or don't consistently get 20 retweets on Twitter.
At the end of the day, the important thing to remember is be aware of what you post online. No matter what industry you're in, there's a chance that potential employers will be going online to search your name and look through your social media profiles, and you don't want that to cost you a job. Take time to build a good, strong brand for yourself because it could give you the leg up when you're in the final round of the interview process.
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