Unlikely Connections

Unlikely Connections

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Do you ever look back on seasons of your life and people you met there thinking "there is no way we would have ever met, gotten to know each other or have ever been friends if it hadn't been for ________" ? 

As an Introvert (not that I am making excuses, it is just a fact of my personality) it is often hard for us to make connections with other people, to get to know them, grow together in a common goal, and have healthy comradery. This is often the case because we don't willingly put ourselves in public or group situations that warrant us opening up, getting to know strangers with similar interests, and grow together with like minded people who all encourage each other. 

Throughout my life I have never stretched myself to be in settings with lots of people, mainly because I don't like large groups or new things....unless there is no getting out of something and it is required. When that is that case I might enter into the situation apprehensive, slightly negative minded, and might not think I will grow or come out better for it. However, sometimes life (and God) has a way of surprising me and showing me that there is more to who I am and more to people when I let myself get to know them and open up about something I am passionate about. 

As many of you know, I majored in Family and Consumer Science, but my minor was in Education (I am starting my first year of teaching in the fall). However, if you are not familiar with how many University Education programs work, you often go through a semester or more of education classes before starting your student teaching (at least that was the case at my University). 

Every university is different when it comes to how they present classes, but when I took all of my main education classes it was during the spring of 2017 and it was called Methods. During this time I took I think 3-4 different education classes taught by two teachers (one a doctor and one a professor) in a classroom at a high school (where we completed field experience) along with about 15 other education students. We met two days a week for 4 hours. That might not seem like much, but after you get to the High school at 7:00 am two days a week and have field experience until about 12:30 and then meet with 15 other people for 4 hours it's hard not to get close with those people. 

Going into Methods I had no clue what to expect, and I most certainly didn't know what to expect in regards to a classroom of strangers who wanted to become teachers. However, throughout those spring months we didn't just learn how to be amazing teachers, but we talked about what we saw in classrooms, our highs, our lows, our challenges, our dreams, taught lessons to our peers, worked on group projects, went to seminars, ate lunch together, you name it! 

I remember our two teachers (the Doctor and Professor, both of whom impacted me greatly themselves, as talked about here) telling us that the people around us (taking methods) were the only people who would know exactly what we were going through, and would go through in the future, therefore making them very important in our life. I can't tell you how that spring changed my perspective of Interpersonal Relationships and being open to getting to know new people. We shared many jokes and funny stories in that class, we celebrated with each other when great things happened, we carpooled places, met up for lunch, it was crazy (in my mind) but amazing! Getting to know the group of people in that classroom two days a week helped me grow as a person! I learned to be confident in myself around people, to start conversations, encourage others, get to know what made each of them unique, and look to them for advice, critique, and encouragement.

The crazy thing is that I think for the first time in my life I was in a situation where my "peers" noticed me.......I know that sounds weird, but so often I have a tendency to fade into the background, wishing to be invisible rather than seen (sometimes it is my doing and sometimes it is others), but in that class I was seen and people openly chose to get to know me as a person and future teacher. The funniest thing is that because the class was focused on something I was passionate about I was actually SUPER talkative and interactive (shocker, I know)!! One day one of the guys even looked at me and asked "are you doing okay today, because you seem quiet, not like the typical Madison." I had to laugh at his statement because most of the people in the class didn't know me as a quiet introvert, and I looked at him with a laugh and said "This is actually the typical Madison, you just don't see it in class often." 

Those group of fellow Education students and future teachers became so special to me during that spring semester, which was my next to last semester of college. The cool thing is that after our semester and class ended, because of the connections we made most of us stayed in contact. Many of us follow each other on Facebook, keeping up to date with each others lives, and even the next semester when we had to go to meetings and seminars for student teaching we would always make a point to grab lunch together (it was like a big family reunion). I never in my life thought I would meet a large group of people I could be comfortable with, get to know on a mature level, converse with, laugh at, eat lunch with, and know that they understood what you were going through because you had all been there and knew what the other experienced. We may not all be Best Friends, but that spring taught me that people have the capacity for being more than you think. We all have the ability to connect with strangers we never thought we had anything in common with and create bonds that could last forever. 

So I challenge you, whether it is willingly putting yourself into a situation that is new and maybe uncomfortable or entering into something that you don't have a choice about, going into it with an open mind because you never know how much you could grow, how much you could learn from others or the relationships and unlikely connections that could be created there. 

- Madison

I GRADUATED!!!!! Now What

I GRADUATED!!!!! Now What

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Is this real or is this a dream? I seriously can't believe this day is here! I feel like the last 3 years of my life have both crept by and flown furiously. (Oh, and if you are wondering why I say 3 years, it is because I went into college with a LOT of hours so I got to graduate early) But seriously, if you have kept up with my other posts about college or happen to have been following along with the adventures of Minnie Muse for 2-3 years you have probably heard a good bit about my college experience. 

It has been both the hardest and most rewarding 3 years but the payoff is worth it because today I am GRADUATING COLLEGE! That is still crazy to say:) 3 years ago I wouldn't have been able to comprehend that yet another chapter of my life would be ending as another awaits beyond the horizon, but yet here I stand, looking out over the valley that is my future!

So....now what? What is next for me? Well.....I majored in Family and Consumer Science (which is what most people know as Home Economics or as some jokingly call the true the "Mrs. Degree"). Apart from my major, I minored in Secondary Education which means (after I complete all my certification tests) I can teach Family and Consumer Science (which is what I did this semester during student teaching). While my degree is broad and there is definitely I LOT I could do with it, and much I am interested, my plan right now is to become a Family and Consumer Science teacher at the High School Level. However, I don't want to jump into getting a teaching job right away.

You see, the thing I have come to realize over this last semester is that everyone (mostly) always seems to be pushing you to dive right into a job or career or to get an actual teaching gig right away.....but you just spent the last 4 (or 3) years of your life in classes, studying and taking tests to get a degree....you need a moment to just be. To just be a person, not a college student......so I need a moment to just be Madison. Now, I am not saying this in a negative way. Many of the people I went through Methods and Student Teaching with have gotten jobs or plan to in the next month, and I am so happy for them, but I knew for me I needed time before I dive into teaching full time. With that being said, this doesn't mean I am going to sit around all day watching Netflix (only on Friday nights) but it does mean I can pursue the things I didn't have time to in college and also work a part time job. I get a moment to breathe and see what the world has to offer for a few months without the looming expanse of GRADUATION. 

Thus, my plan for the spring is to study and take my tests to get certified as a Family and Consumer Science teacher. Sub at various schools in the school district I eventually want to get a job at next fall, and also pick up my old part time job working at a local tea room. So I am not completely without a plan, and honestly no plan would probably stress me out, but there awaits a future of unknowns, possibilities, and infinite opportunities and I cannot wait to see what God has in store!

-Madison

Surviving College as an Introvert

Surviving College as an Introvert

Monday, November 27, 2017

Looking back on college I am constantly surprised that I survived in a sea of people! I knew college would be a stretch for me, but I don't think I knew quite how much of a stretch until I moved in and it all became a reality. The strange thing about my personality and college is that when I started I only knew I was a quiet and shy person, but I hadn't yet discovered what that really meant for me. I didn't yet know the expanse of what it meant to be an Introvert and that the word "Introvert" completely captured every emotion and feeling that went on in my head. 

Through being at college I not only learned so much about myself and what I was capable of, but I learned so much about my personality, specifically what it meant to be an Introvert (INFJ) in a heavily "peopled" place and how to survive in a sea of people. 

As an Introvert (if your are like me you can relate) we are people who thrive being alone, doing things by ourselves, dislike talking to people we don't know, and avoiding social events or large groups of people at all costs! So looking at a college campus from an Introverts perspective EVERYTHING basically goes against what we are feeling, thinking, and saying in our mind. Let's see, there are dinning halls with many students every day, you sit in class surrounded by 30-50 strangers, you are put in groups to work on projects with classmates you don't know, everyone around you is involved in clubs and organizations, the "thing to do" is go out on Thursday nights, football games are a common occurance for college students to be surrounded by fellow students yelling and cheering at the top of their lungs, tailgates are tradition, and on campus events draw crowds of students who are usually just there for the free food and Tshirts.......did I miss anything? College for an introvert is everything that makes us uncomfortable, anxious, stressed, and retreat into ourselves. 

So how does an Introvert survive? I think for me, the thing that helped me survive as an Introvert was discovering myself. I discovered who I was, learned about my personality, and came to realize that the way I was feeling was perfectly normal for 26%-50% of the population (and the 1% of us INFJ's). I learned that my need to be alone was normal and I accepted that as a part of myself. When I accepted who I was through my personality, it made me feel more at ease in a world that could be a bit overwhelming & crazy. Fore example, I remember taking a book with me to breakfast and lunch every day my first semester.....there isn't anything quite as nice as dissapearing into a book while surrounded by people, it gives you your own world to thrive in and I loved that. I even continued this book reading tradition into my other semesters and even started bringing a book with me to class and reading while I was waiting. 

Looking back at college, I am still dumbfounded at the things I did! Knowing so much about my personality now I always wonder if I were to go back, would I be as sucessful as I was? Sometime I think being so naive about my personality for so long helped me push myself beyond my comfort zone? Other times however, I think it was the recognizition of my personality that actually helped my push myself beyond my comfort zone to try new things (like become an RA). 

Whatever the case, I believe the one thing that helped me survive college as an Introvert was accepting who I was. Being in a world of people who were constantly doing things, constantly meeting new people, going places, and being involved with clubs an organizations, I learned to accept that I wasn't like everyone else. Sure, I eventually became an RA and got involved with my staff team as well as an on campus small group and Bible study, but beyond that I was just me. I didn't go and do all the "things" the "typical" college students did, but I was okay with that. 

I had discovered a few years before starting college that I was different than a lot of people my age, mainly because of how I dressed. However, as the years went by I discovered that wasn't my only difference from other college students. Not only were my views of relationships, fashion, modesty, language, actions, and hard work different, but my view's of "fun" were to.....it was confirmed (as I had already known) that I was VERY old fashioned! 

Call me a grandma, crazy cat lady, whatever you want, but for me those terms encompassed who I was and the way I spent my time outside of class (or in class)...LOL:) With that, I had one Best Friend in college who I met my first day (she was a blessing & God send) and she was also an Introvert so we did a lot of stuff together whenever we were not in class. Honestly I don't know what I would have done without her? I think we would both agree that we would have become hermits if we hadn't met, so it's a good thing we did. 

That's the second thing that helped me survive college as an Introvert, having someone that understood me. Not everyone understands Introverts, but fellow Introverts always understand (for the most part) and that helps you feel like you are not alone. Most days I was perfectly fine going back to my room after class to study, or staying in on Thursday nights with a movie and Icecream, or traveling home on the weekend, but when I was feeling like I should probably talk to another human, she was always the person I turned to. We had standing lunch dates during the week and always had a schedule we stuck to so we knew when we would see each other and when we both needed time alone....it was great! 

So here's my GRAND takeaway.........embrace who you are! You know the Dr. Seuss quote "why fit in when you were born to stand out!" that is 100% how you should approach college as an Introvert. If you spend your time trying to fit into the typical "college life" and "college routine" that everyone else falls into when they go to college you will find yourself lacking, feeling disconnected, loosing yourself, and probably having a severe case of anxiety or panic attacks, so don't do it to yourself! As an Introvert we view the world differently, and therefore college for us is a whole new world in itself, but it is a world we have the ability to thrive in and conquer. BE YOU! Embrace your quirks, habit, and nights in, because that is who you are! Find someone who understands you, you don't have to have a TON of friends, all you need is one and you will both be there for each other when you need it! 

While college was a HUGE STRETCH for me as a person and as a Introvert, I wouldn't change the experience because I learned so much about who I am. Because of my experiences in college, I know why I feel the way I do at parties with tons of people I don't know. I understand why staying at home in my room with my cats and a movie or a book is my favorite pastime. I can laugh and make fun of the fact that I only ever went to one football game in college and didn't live your typical college life. However, embracing me, embracing my introverted personality is one thing I am proud of and will forever make me a more confident person (as odd as that sounds).

Were you an Introvert in college?

What were your tips for surviving college as an Introvert?

-Madison 

My 20 Tips for college success

My 20 Tips for college success

Monday, November 20, 2017

1. Be PREPARED but be FLEXIBLE: As much as I would like it to be, life isn't perfect, and as much as I frugaly plan things ahead of time they don't always go according to plan. Being prepared and planning ahead helps me not to be stressed or get anxious, but I also realize that things don't always go according to plan so I have to be flexible when things dont work out or go my way. 
2. Your Planner is your best friend: Visualizing my daily schedule helps me stay on track and writing out my class schedule and events in my planner help me make mental notes and see what all is happening in my life. With everything you are cramming into your mind in college you barely have room to keep a mental schedule. 
3. Don't study past 10:00 pm: I think I am the only one who feels this way, but after 9:00pm my mind usually shuts down and no matter what I do I won't be able to focus, study or remember things. I would always try to get my work or studying done earliar in the day, and with this approach I was able to go to be earlier or could spend my evening relaxing or reading a book. 
4. Manage your time wisely: This goes back to making sure you know what is happening every day and planning extra activities around it. I knew so many people who would immediately agree to hang out with friends or go somewhere forgetting they had to study for a test, or thinking it wouldn't take that long. Studying should be first priority and taking extra time with friends or for outings should be second.....it's already in my nature and personality to say No when I have work to do, but there were times that I had to make a bigger effort. 
5. Take a break: This is VITAL to your sanity! If you are in the midst of a major study session and feeling totally overwhelmed take a break! This can be as simple as getting up to make a cup of coffee or listen to music, but it's even better to get up and go on a walk, jump up and down, do some yoga, or whatever else will help you refocus and relieve stress.  
6. Set an alarm and wake up every morning: I knew to many people who would sleep their life away at college. Okay, so yes, college is tiring and yes there will be some late nights, but if you manage your time you should be getting a decent amount of sleep, and I hate waking up late because I feel like I have lost so much of my day. Therefore, the best way to start your day off right is to actually set an alarm for a decent time (no later than 8:30) and faithfully wake up every day. This starts your morning off productive. 
7. Find what makes you confident and LIVE IT: College is a world full of stress, pressures, and overwhelming lifestyles, so in the midst of the craziness you still need the ability to feel confident. For me, my confidance came through my style, because my style is self expression of my personality. Maybe yours is something different? Whatever it is, find what make you confident and faithfully live it every day! 
8. Don't let yourself become someone else: I saw to many people change in college. I saw people become different people to fit into a certain friend group, I saw girls compromise their values and beliefs to make it into a group or organization, and I saw people easily let go of living their faith because it wasn't considered cool. 
9. Find a friend who supports you: Having someone who is there for you, who understands you and supports you is what will help you succeed and get through the hard times. I don't know what I would have done without my college roommate, because we both helped each other when times got tough. 
10. Get connected: I think this was the hardest part for me in college, but once I got connected with my staff team through being an RA and also joining an amazing small group college definitely felt different. I am definitely not someone who needs a place to belong, but it was great having people around you who understood what you were dealing with and who could support you. The best thing I ever did was start attending Chi Alpha which was a weekly worship night/Bible study that definitely helped me connect with God and other believers more. 
11. Pick a night each week to have fun: As an introvert I loved staying in my room with a pint of icecream and a good movie, but most nights you are busy studying so make sure to set aside one night each week to have fun. When I say have fun I don't mean go crazy (that was everyone else in my house and on campus) but I mean this in saying that when everyone else goes out dancing or goes to the bar on Thursday nights you stay in and have your own party, invite a friend over for a movie, paint your nails, do a craft, etc.....you need to take personal time for yourself! 
12. Have something to look forward to every day: for me this was a project, getting done with a test, making a bulletin board, creating door decks, or even just brewing a cup of coffee. 
13. Set reminders on your phones: YOU WILL THANK ME LATER!!!
14. Leave extra early for class: It might seem ridiculous, but trust me, if you leave early for class and then get there only to realize you forgot your calculator for the chemistry test you will still have plenty of time to run back to your room and won't be nearly as stressed as you would if you had left five minutes before class:) TRUST ME! 
15. Always bring a book with you: This is what I call my "Rory Gilmore moment" because she always brought a book with her everywhere and I loved that! In college I would always carry a book with me and read a few chapters as I was waiting for class to start. 
16. Set a weekly schedule: When I say set a schedule I mean know when your classes are and plan your life around them accordingly. My college bestie and I had a set schedule every week of always meeting on certain days for lunch, going to yoga on Tuesday nights, and attending Bible study on Thursdays.
17. Find your stress relief....yoga, running, reading, drinking tea, etc. 
18. Your room is your home, so make it homy! I had banners, an entire gallery wall, Christmas lights, rugs, flowers, you name it in my room and people always commented on how cute and cozy it was! That was my whole purpose in decorating it how I did, was to make it cheery and inviting since I spent so much time there:) 
19. Never say no to opportunities & believe in yourself! .....because you never know if the person you meet ends up being your best friend, or the job you apply for ends up being the best thing that happened to you or that you are able to accomplish more than you ever thought you would! 
20. Coffee is your best friend (at least for me and 95% of all other college students)! 

- Madison 

The Decision That Changed My College Experience Forever

The Decision That Changed My College Experience Forever

Monday, November 13, 2017

Shirt: c/o Four:Eight Shop

Skirt: The Skirtery 

Everyone goes into college with ideas of what it will be like. Sometimes those ideas are lofty and far reaching into great achievements, new friend groups, on campus organizations, and a boat load of fun. However, I was never one of those typical college bound girls....my ideas of what college would be like consisted of classes, studies, projects, surviving without my family, traveling home on the weekend, the uncertainty of new friends, and no real desire to get connected with on campus happenings or Thursday night shenanigans. Nevertheless, college proved to be so much more than I had imagined. Not so much in the way of it being to much to handle, but rather that God had another plan of what he wanted me to accomplish in an unfamiliar place and boy is he the craziest!

If you have been around here for awhile you probably can recall me mentioning that I was an RA (Resident Advisor) while at college. I got the job half way into my second semester and kept it up until my last semester of college (this fall) when I moved home for my student teaching. However, while that might not seem like that big of a deal to you, it was a HUGE deal to me because I never could have foreseen getting a job on campus, and much less being in charge of students who lived on campus.....the whole timeline and occurrence was truly ordained and destines by God to grow me in more ways than I could have known and put me in the midst of the biggest opportunity for witness I had ever experienced!

I still remember the day I received the email which said "We are pleased to offer you a Resident Advisor position beginning immediately!" And while getting the job wasn't all that much of a shock it was the process that was CRAZY! You see I randomly decided that I should apply for an RA position on campus (I think I just took a leap of faith and didn't even know what I was doing) which meant submitting an application and going through two rounds of interviews which included a panel interview with 3 people and a group interview for half a day (that in itself was not a typical Madison thing to do...talking to people I didn't know.....WHAT!). If that didn't push me out of my element enough, the fact that I immediately got one of the vacant mid semester openings a week later did.....oh, and did I mention that my RA placement was in a sorority house (insert wide eyed and shocked face emoji here)!

Here is the background on all of this:

1) I was (and still am) the person who didn't understand the need for sororities. I thought they were a waste of money, changed and conformed girls, sometimes put them in bad situations, and thought the idea of hand signs and chants was bit ridiculous. 

2) The RA positions I was interviewing for were for the next spring, but I was offered a position to start IMMEDIATELY which meant skipping all the training that new RA's typically go through to prepare them for the job and just being thrown into the midst of it! 

Now that you know a few facts, you can see how getting the job and then finding out where my job would be were all HUGE surprises and pure humor on God's part. So after completing my paperwork I started the job, which in itself had a lot of responsibilities, but responsibilities that nonetheless helped me grow:

RA Job Responsibilities:

1) Hold daily office hours.

2) Enforce the university rules and policies and make sure all resident follow them. If they fail to do so you are required to document and/or fine them based on the policies broken. 

3) Attend staff meeting ever week and all staff meetings once a month. 

4) Plan events with your staff team for all of the residents in your area. 

5) Complete rounds on your assigned night(s) with another RA. Rounds consist of walking through ever house in your area (our area had 8 houses....4 of them were sorority houses), both upstairs and downstairs. Rounds during your assigned shift were at 9:00pm and 12:00am. 

6) Respond to any calls on the duty phone while you were on call (this means 2:00 am phone calls about broken toilets).

7) While on call you must report any major policy violations (drugs or alcohol) or unsafe situations to the University Police, wait for them to arrive on scene, and stay close by to write a report. 

8) Handle roommate, suite mate, or resident complaints and disagreements. 

9) Complete safety and maintenance checks every month within your house. 

10) Hold floor meetings two times a semester for residents to go over policies and checkout procedures. 
11) Make fun and creative door decks with your residents name every month
12) Design and make a fun and creative bulletin board for your house every month. 
#11 & #12 were my personal favorite parts of being an RA :) 

Maybe you are still curious about how this decision changed my college experience forever? Here's the thing, getting the job as an RA put me in a place where I was daily outside of my comfort zone. I was no longer just the random college girl who lived two doors down, I was the RA of the house and knew all 25 girls who lived under my roof. I had to daily challenge myself to say hi to my resident, talk to my co-workers, and acknowledge the many faces I now knew.

Not only that, but I joined a staff team, surrounded by over 9 people that I didn't know, and for this introvert that was something I never had worked through before. I had to learn to work with new people, get to know them, plan events with them, back them up when they were on call, ask for help when need be, express my opinions, and at the same time be completely different than everyone else around me. I don't think I ever expected to know that many people at college, but after becoming an RA I not only knew people on my staff team, but I got to know other RA's who worked across campus.

I no longer walked to class seeing faces I didn't recognize or know, because I now actually knew people.....by name (I think my mom is still shocked by this). I knew my fellow staff members, my residents, and even my team members residents. I actually hung out with people other than my ONE friend at college because as an RA we would have "staff bonding" days, dinners, all staff events with all the RA's on campus, and random grocery store runs.

With all of that being said, I still today believe that this all happened for ONE reason! God ordained this to do something in me that I never would have allowed him to do otherwise. He ordained it to STRETCH my introvert self beyond my limits, instill the confidence in myself that I really could do hard things, gave me the courage and strength to talk to new people, the wisdom to deal with difficult and hard circumstances, and the boldness to share my faith. I think if anything he allowed me to become an RA to give be a platform to be a positive influence. He took me (Madison), this quiet and old fashioned, high value, strong moral girl and placed her in a Sorority house where I daily had contact with girls who lived much differently than me. He took me (Madison), this quiet and sometimes ridiculously nervous girl and placed me on a staff team of which there was only one person who shared my same faith (until another girl joined us two semesters in) and thus gave me the BIGGEST stage for witness......whether that witness was in sharing my faith with fellow staff members and my boss, praying with a resident, sharing my relationship views with the girls in my house, or even just living a different life in the choices I made and expressing my views on a few occasions. Through being an RA I learned BOLDNESS and I learned how different I was from the world and nearly every other college student on campus, but I also learned that as an Introvert I could still thrive in an environment filled with people.

If my decision to become an RA taught me anything, it taught me about the REAL MADISON. It showed me the courage, strength, and boldness I possessed that I didn't even know I had. It showed me that God can do the unimaginable in your life and grow you exponentially more than you could have ever foreseen. It showed me that by being yourself, people respect that as being a unique part of who you are and that being yourself is the best thing you can ever offer the world (or college for that matter)!

Sure, I was exposed to more "college life" than I had originally expected by becoming an RA (I will forever be able to bust people for smoking marijuana....yes, you read that right), but I also got to do a lot of cool stuff and use my creative skills as part of my job. And sure, there were times that I didn't make the most of the opportunities that I had, but in the midst of it all I know that the opportunities I did take were defining moments in my life that forever changed me and changed my college experience. I could seriously write an entire book on this topic (as you can tell from this long post) but I will end it here, because through it all God taught me to see the open doors of opportunity around me, muster the courage to walk through them, and trust that he would keep them open for more of his crazy plans.

I always believed God has had CRAZY plans for my life and college was just many of those plans rolled up into one that reminded me that when I think I have control over the future, it is never really me, but God who succeeds!

- Madison

End Of Semester Recap

End Of Semester Recap

Friday, May 6, 2016

I thought I would take a post and share with you all a recap of my spring 2016 semester. I know there are a number of you who are in college as well as a number of you who are not in college, so wherever you are in life right now I hope this is slightly intriguing if not maybe even inspiring in relation to your life. 

This semester has honestly been the most intriguing of my three semesters (not including last summer) at college so far. While this semester was just like every other in many respects it differed quite drastically in one area and that was having a job at school. Last semester I applied and got a Resident Adviser position at college which basically means I live in a house/residence hall and have 28 residents whom I am in charge of making sure they follow the rules and be there if they need anything. To be honest living in a small house which only has 28 girls is different compared to others, although it is a whole other ballgame in itself due to it being a sorority house. However, being an RA means that I not only interact with the residents in my house every day, but I also have an entire staff team that I work along side. 

I have never been one to get to know new people. I never really felt a need to make new friends or get to know others around me in a new place because I was content being on my own (as are most introverts). However, this semester I have been challenged to step outside of my comfort zone and get to know new people (particularly those on my staff team) and talk to them on a daily basis. Quite honestly a year ago I don't think I would have seen myself being able to do something like this, but sometimes I can surprise myself at my ability to become a different person for 30 minutes or more as I become the person to start conversations, keep them going, and try to get to know someone or make them feel welcome! Maybe it is that I have always been the quiet person who people never really talk to, or never seem to be able to start conversations around, and therefore I have become quite skilled at starting and keeping conversations going which is very rewarding. 

While I might never have seem myself as a resident Adviser a year ago or an RA in a sorority house at that, I know that it was God's humorous way of placing me in a situation where I was forced to step outside of my comfort zone and grow in different areas. Even more so, I know that God placed me where he did to be a light and example to others even if I am not aware of the impact I have. 

However, I think the funniest part of my job (I still laugh when I think about it) is knowing that my boss thinks I am someone who likes to talk to new people and get to know them.......which is TOTALLY not me what so ever, but apparently I have done a good job of getting out of my shell enough when carrying out my duties and appear to be somewhat of a outgoing people person! So hurray for challenging myself to the ultimate brink and so far succeeding! 

Apart from life lived up at school and working a job on top of everything else, my classes this year were interesting. Well...interesting in the since that most of them were very enjoyable and in the case of my Biology class it was quite a God ordained experience to be in the class I was placed! Going into my Biology class this semester I would never have foreseen that at the end I would write up a long letter to my teacher about my faith and sharing with her the truth that I know.....but I did!! Trust me, I am not in the habit of writing my professors letters but this particular professor intrigued me with her passion for science and teaching and after finding out that she was an athiest God directed my heart to write her a letter. Writing my professor was one of those moments of just doing what I feel God had lead me towards without stopping to think about it lest I freak myself out and overthink!

Quite honestly, this entire semester has been full of moments where I was forced to jump off cliffs and trust that God would be there to catch me! This semester has opened my eyes in more ways than I can count and has shown me that I truly do have the courage, strength, and determination to do things I never saw myself doing and that is all because of God's presence in my life!

School/homework wise this semester was probably my easiest so far, but that might have also been because the main classes I had the most homework for were project oriented or writing driven which I enjoy. I took my first education class which was very exciting as well as an interior design class which was quite intriguing. My schedule was set in stone like most semesters and for the most part full, but now I know what its like to say "Oh, sorry I can't, I am on duty" #residentadvisorproblems! And contrary to popular belief and my mothers complete shock I somehow am able to stay up to date with multiple TV shows (probably because I have to stay up till 12am/1am for rounds) throughout the month/semester! Especially when my college bestie and I have a set in stone Agents of Shield new episode watching every Wednesday night after Bible Study (we LOVE that show way to much #Fitzsimmons). I have also developed a pretty good routine when it comes to blogging as I try to get at least 1-2 photo shoots done on the weekend and have photos backlogged when things get busy (lets hope I can keep that up).

All in all the semester was great even when there were stressful weekends, late nights, difficult situations to deal with and strangers to talk to, but it is always in the difficult situations of life, or trudging up the hills that you must climb, that you realize just what you are made of!

I hope that for those of you in college your semester went well and if you are about to start your finals best of luck...you got this!

In closing My Nuggets of Wisdom:
1) Coffee is life......seriously!
2) Don't be afraid to challenge yourself because you will be surprised at what you can handle.
3) Always smile at everyone you come into contact with.
4) When life gets crazy stop and enjoy the little things, like flowers and birds singing.
6) If you live near a donut shop, get donuts on the weekends (preferably chocolate and sprinkles)
5) Don't be ashamed to eat an entire pint of ice cream by yourself....we all do it! :)

Now I am off to pack up all of my "stuff" which could take all day so I will probably be playing/watching That Girl in the background or maybe finishing the last season of Gilmore Girls (decisions....decisions) or possibly even dancing around to music.

Have you ever been in situations that you had to step outside of your comfort zone? 
Was your semester crazy? 

-Madison

Cheating The System

Cheating The System

Monday, February 29, 2016

Sweater: Thrifted (Croft and Borrow)
Jeans: Thrifted (Levi's)
Sneakers: Converse
Glasses: Wallmart

Some days are low key and all you have on schedule is to stay in your room and do homework, and maybe run to the store for a bit just to buy flowers:) That was basically my weekend! I had loads of homework, studying, and projects to work on and with a weekend like that one has to get comfortable......and my by comfortable I mean over sized sweaters, thrifted jeans for when you run to the store, sneakers, and sweat pants when you are back home. The best part about low key weekends is NO MAKEUP! Yep, these are the first pictures I have posted on my blog where I wasn't wearing makeup, but that is kind of my premise for this post......cheating the system....how you ask???

Okay, so weekends are just about the only time I don't wear makeup and I will admit that it is quite refreshing to just be "all natural" and let your skin breath. Therefore, when I go out and run to the store I like to look slightly put together even though the weekend (Saturday) is when I really don't care, so here is my secret for cheating the system. First, you might be wondering "Do you wear glasses?" and my answer would be no:) However, I LOVE fake glasses and this pair always makes me feel extra hipster! Therefore, here is my secret. My view is for people who do wear glasses, most of them choose to wear contacts on a regular basis and only on low key and errand days do they forgo contacts and reach for their glasses instead. Thus, my rational is that when I choose not to wear makeup and dress comfortably it is my chance to grab a pair of glasses. Why? For some reason when I put on glasses on my low key days, when I really don't always care how I look but I want to appear slightly put together, for some reason in my mind the glasses take away from the fact that I am not wearing any makeup and well.....they just look cute! They have truly become my weekend accessory:) I guess this look is inspired by those who done the effortless look on low key days where they wear a comfortable pair of jeans, classic sweater or tshirt and sport their glasses proudly because they didn't feel like putting on contacts.....basically I am choosing to not to completely care what I look like, while at the same time cheating the system in reached for my fake glasses to complete my look instead!

Do you wear real glasses?
If you don't wear glasses have you ever tried fake glasses?
What do you think about glasses being used to cheat the system?

P.S. Don't forget to leave me your questions HERE for my Q&A coming in two weeks!!

-Madison

Nook and Cranny

Nook and Cranny

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Sweater/Jumper: Thrifted (Talbots)
Pants: Minnie's Menagerie (DIY paint splatter)
Socks: Old Navy
Earrings: Target

Okay, so here is the thing.....I took these pictures last week (plus more) fully intending on posting them and doing a room tour. However, life happens, lighting isn't right, your camera decides not to act how you want it to and well.....the perfectionist in you wins the battle!!! Nevertheless, while these are not even half of the pictures I took and while they don't show near as much of my room I decided I had to post them because well.....they were to cute not to:)

While in theory I have two rooms, one at home and one at college, I am hardly ever in my room back at home because I am only home two weekends a month (boohoo). However, since college is my life and my home right now it is important to me that my room be just as much home as I can make it. It is also important that my room be something that makes me smile, shows a little of who I am, and also adds joy to my life. Since my room is where I spend most all of my time when I am not in class it has to be an atmosphere conducive to studying, learning, and working on projects. No....I am not one of those college students who goes to the library to study.....I only go to the library to explore:)

I discovered after decorating my room this semester that I quite like color, or at least for decorating my dorm room I used a LOT of color. That is probably because the quilt I made for my bed is made of fabric scraps in all the colors of the rainbow, but I think that is what makes it so very cheerful!
However, since I have a room all to myself (perks of being a Resident Adviser) with my own blue bathroom (yes....blue tile bathroom) and HUGE closet I always feel like I live in an apartment or at least I pretend I do. I love those bloggers who have the most perfectly arranged and decorated apartments.....it just makes me want to have my own! 

I think that my favorite part of my room from these pictures (because really my favorite part is the closet) is the wall above my bed. I would probably have to call it the inspiration wall, but it also reminds me of a carnival with the lights, bunting, quotes/pictures, and the numerous paint swatches that I have collected:) That is one DIY pinterest trick for taking care of a bare wall, simply stick on a collage of paint swatches and you are good to go. 

All in all this is my safe space! My nook and cranny where I escape from the world, sometimes from school, and most of the time from people (though my residents are always welcome) and simply breath.....brew a cup of coffee, or make a cup of tea, put some essential oils in my diffuser and curl up with a good book, a blog post, or get caught up on a TV show. I believe it is important that each of us have a special nook and cranny be it your room or elsewhere that you can escape to and forget about the troubles of the world or maybe sometimes like me brainstorm ways to fix them! 

Is your room your special place?

Are you in college like me? If so how do you make your room fell like home?

Where is your nook and cranny? 

-Madison

//Lately// Behind The Scenes On Instagram

//Lately// Behind The Scenes On Instagram

Saturday, February 6, 2016

New writing project.....yay!!

Before....

After!!

I take pictures of flowers at the grocery store :)

Never to much lipstick!!

FRIDAYS when class is online #coffee #comfy 

So this is my new FAVORITE nail style!!! 

Rosie...insert heart eyes :) <3

Well.....it looks like this past week was so busy I didn't get in a real post. I was planning on doing a post about my room up at college, but maybe that will get done this next week. However, I was wanting to post something so I thought I would throw together some recent pictures from Instagram  and or from my iPod history and write a little something today. 

I was able to come home this weekend which is always a nice break from being up at school working and doing homework. I always miss sitting around the table with my family as we tell funny stories and laugh our heads off, or when my sister and I have a movie night and nail painting party....those are the good times. Apart from that I really miss my cat Rosie (above) when I am up at school #crazycatlady! 

Aside from that, lately life has really just been focused on school and carrying out my duties as a Resident Adviser at college. I am still getting into the swing of school and mid terms are already creeping up....ahhh! I will say though, that I have resolved to try and organize my life more smoothly so that I have time for reading books and writing. Yes.....one of the pictures above (with the yellow legal pad) is a new project I am working on and I have soooooo many ideas for it....eehh :) I must say that I have become really addicted to books as of late....not that I have actually read or should I say finished any lately but I do have 3 books on their way in the mail. That is what happens when you start following a few bookish people on Instagram who have libraries in their room and post the cutest pictures of their latest reads and all because of that you end up ordering three books that all of them seem to be reading.....LOL! 

When I am not working, or doing homework, reading, writing, or blogging you will find me watching the latest episodes of all my favorite shows which include: Arrow, The Flash, Super Girl, Agent Carter, Blue Blood, and in March Agents of Shield (seriously can't wait till this comes back). 

Well....I suppose that it all I have for now, but hopefully a post will be coming this next week with a tour around my room at college or maybe something even a little Valentines Day....who knows. I hope that everyone has a splendid weekend. 

P.S. If you ever want to know what I am up to when I am not blogging and sharing about my life on the blog, you can always head on over to my Instagram @oldfashionedgirl where I LOVE planning and posting way to many pictures:)

Do you follow any bookish people on Instagram?

What have you been up to recently?

-Madison

Re-Adjust

Re-Adjust

Saturday, November 14, 2015

I just realized that it has been a month since my face has been on the blog......that has been way to long! Therefore, hello dear readers after such a long time!!! Since it has been awhile I guess I should fill you all in a bit. This semester is almost over and while I am both excited and relieved about that it means finals are coming up. On top of there being less than a month of classes left I also applied to be a Resident Adviser on campus and got the job which starts immediately, so RA duties and training will fill most of my free time. 

However, Thanksgiving is only a little over a week away and I am soooooooooo excited!!! Oh, and it is finally cold here in Texas which is fabulous:)

I thought that today I would bring you all something unique in a post. If you remember a post I did on my Fall Inspiration awhile back focusing on the fashions of Bletchley Circle here I decided to incorporate that into my ensemble for this post. I love everything that Emily wears in the series so I thought I would recreate one of my favorite looks of hers. I love how simple the look is with a cream shirt, silk scarf, and grey wool skirt with a jacket....simple and perfect. I must say that I am becoming a HUGE fan of wearing these scarves! While wearing these style of scarves might have seemed odd and old fashioned to me years ago, now that is exactly what I need and I adore how it transports me into a different day and age!

This is one of my favorite buildings on campus & apparently people carve their names in the brick when they graduate.

Skirt: Thrifted

Sweater: Thrifted

Scarf: Grandmothers

Trench: Forever21

Shoes: Target (old & broken)

Socks: Target

Purse: Thrifted

Earrings: Walmart

Lipstick: Rimmel London Provocalips (230 Kiss Fatal)

**Pictures by Me & Betty (my camera)**

Have you ever had this perfect idea and everything just didn't work out how you had planned? While we have all had many instances like this throughout life, yesterday was a good example of this for me. I had this perfect idea in my head of what kind of pictures I wanted to take and how I wanted them to look and then when I started taking pictures nothing turned out how I wanted. I realized it is the same way in life (as I have been learning).....sometimes we just have to re-adjust our focus and realize that not everything is perfect. We might have ideas and dreams, and while they might seem perfect to us, they might not always be what is best or meant to be in that present moment. Sometimes we have to step back and view life from a new perspective and setting. 

So there is a little photography example for you! Just a side note, I think I really need to invest in a hand held remote for my camera that way I can take better self portraits:) 

Well dear readers, I must bid you adieu for now and hope that you are enjoying the cool weather and anticipating Thanksgiving!

What do you think about my take on Emily's look?

Have you ever had to re-adjust your focus?

Do you use a hand held remote to take pictures?

Scholarly

Scholarly

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Fall is just around the corner and college is back into full swing. This was my first full week of classes and I am still getting used to my new schedule as well as figuring out when to get all my homework finished. Nonetheless, good news.....I have wifi now!!! Hurray!!! That is not to say that I won't be visiting the coffee shop to write up a post now and then, but for now its back to enjoying the comfort of my bed:)

Therefore, in honor of school starting up again here is a little something scholarly inspired!

On campus all of the old original collage buildings are still standing and those are some of my favorite sites when walking to class (You can see some pictures I have shared before on the blog Here). However, this week I thought I would take the opportunity to snap a few pics in front of the old library, which really is a charming building with a huge red door and stained glass window. 

Blouse: Garage Sale (Columbia)//Skirt: Forever 21//Belt: Vintage
//Shoes: Payless//Bag: Hollister (old)

Lets talk about my outfit shall we? For those of you who happened to read my latest post in which I answered a series of questions, one of them asked what the last thing I had purchased was? If you remember my answer I had said it was two of the same skirt from Forever 21 (which aka, is a "Fast Fashion" industry as learned from my Apparel Production class). Well, this is one of those skirts (the other one is black)! I couldn't help falling in love with these skirts because my first thought was "I really need some solid colored skirts for fall" and two "Oh my is this 1940's perfection." I absolutely fell in love with the big front pockets, comfortable waste and as the fabric nerd I now am I might have thought it interesting that they were a Lyocell/Cotton/Spandex blend:) I have definitely been getting my wear out of them so far. 

All in all this ensemble was fairly comfortable and casual. This top is one of my favorites because I love the style and it is the cutest color and weave of Seersuckeer. To top off this 1940's inspired look I added one of my favorite braided belts and my oxford ballet flats. Of course I can't forget the book bag because, well....I need it for class and it adds to the whole scholarly affect :) hehe...

As for my hair, I have been trying out new things and this is one style that is super easy, fairly quick, and for the most part can pass as vintage. All you do is take two french braids, put them in a pony tail and then put them in a french tuck. Super easy! When I have morning classes and need something quick but exciting (rather than straight hair) this is my current go to style! 

And of course I can't end the post without sharing my new favorite nail polish color! With fall just around the corner I was all for finding a nice maroon polish and when I was shopping at the mall this past weekend with my sister we found this perfect maroon color (and of course my sister loved it because she is an Aggie fan!). It is an L.A. Colors gel nail polish. I have always been a fan of this brand but when I saw they had gel nail polish I was even more excited. I have started using gel nail polishes now because they will last at least 3-4 days for me (for some reason I am hard on my nails) which is an accomplishment none the less:) 

In closing I just have to say I can't wait for fall!!!!! It is my ALL TIME FAVORITE SEASON.......with cool breezes, rustling golden leaves, crisp mornings echoing the choruses of birds and the scent of the season passing through the air (you know what I mean). I have been dreaming of sweaters, wool skirts, and even planning on what new lipstick shades I need to get for the upcoming season. Transitioning into fall is definitely something to look forward to as a fashion lover and even as a blogger. I know many of you have already been talking about how you will be transitioning and it is always so fun to read those posts. 

Well, that is all for now lovely readers. I hope for those of you who are in school that your semester has been great so far!! Also, don't forget about Series II of Confessions of a Fashion Blogger that will be hitting the blog this fall. You can participate in this series by leaving questions for me and topic ideas!!! If you want to contribute to this series you can head on over to the announcement post Here.....or you can leave a comment on this post (just make sure to label it for the series). 

Until next week!

How has your semester been going this fall?

Have you ever bought two of the same thing?

Has your mind been swimming with ideas for your fall transition?