Tag Archives: Harry Potter

Being the Youest You

Posted on by
Reply

College, as according to the ever-so-reliable Wikipedia is defined as an “educational institution or a constituent part of one.” But honestly, just between you and me, it seems like that definition should include something with students having to be a part of a circus by all the amount of work, assignments, club meetings, classes, and miscellaneous activities that we juggle.

It’s almost as if we all wear so many different hats with all the different activities we are involved in. Now I’m not talking about the Harry Potter Sorting Hat, but you all should take this quiz and see which house you’re sorted in but I digress.

1374595037_uuvgq37kSCe7ILuXX0iY_harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-284

Harry sure has a lot on his plate too, such as defeating “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.” Photo via Huffington Post

It can get pretty easy to loose your authenticity and become desensitized to all the things you have to do on that ever growing to-do list (we all have those weeks!) The art of balancing activities and ways of interacting with professors, co-workers, friends, and our families, can often get mechanical as if we are flipping a switch and all of a sudden have to put on a different mask. I suppose its just a consequence of all of the different thoughts racing through our mind at such a fast speed.

Now apply this to a work or internship setting: You arrive as one part of yourself and then the moment you walk in, you switch to your professional/work/I’m a serious professional that can handle adult life persona (and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that — if anything, it shows a high emotional intelligence and capability to compartmentalize your behavior and actions). However the point that I’m trying to make is that while in certain situations, we may have to be a little more relaxed or a little more professional, there is always enough room for your actual self (that isn’t trying to be anything other than you).

Now I’m not saying that you should all of a sudden talk to your boss in the same way you joke around with your friends or tell your professors about that huge party that happened last weekend (although that’s awesome if you are that close with your boss and professors and tell them all about your life), but what I am saying is that it is OKAY to be the most real, raw, authentic version of yourself as much as you can even in professional or work related settings. And when we get down to the point, maintaining your authentic individual voice can be really difficult. After all, the great e.e. cummings once said,

 “To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

From my professional experiences I’ve learned that co-workers, colleagues, superiors, and your boss often like when they can get to know you as a person and relate to you on a personal level. It makes your work relationship even more valuable and that much more fulfilling. So next time you start volunteering in your local community, register for a new class, or start your first day at your internship don’t be afraid to show these people who you really are. Your funny quirks, idiosyncrasies, humor, and overall personality all in good fun. (And pro-tip: you might even get a better letter of recommendation for it, because your boss actually knows you as a person and can validate your awesome existence and humanity).

So don’t be a work robot folks, show your potential boss who you really are!

Have fun being you!!!

Isabella 🙂

Doubting Yourself? Don’t.

Posted on by
Reply

Most of us college students can share that one fateful moment when we get our papers or exams back and just want to curl into a ball and sulk for days on end about our less than perfect score.

Well you’re right… that feeling definitely is not the best one and I can say personally that I have been more than tempted to do just that with loads of sugary sweets by my side. But today I was reminded of the importance of not letting a number define me.

While visiting my professor in office hours and feeling a tad defeated, I was asking her about the questions that I had answered incorrectly and she assuaged my bits of sadness. She told me to never let a test grade define my self worth.

Let’s have that settle for a second. Ready *breathe in* *breathe out*

Ahhhh. Okay so starting to feel a little relieved and I was a little more hopeful but still had those doubts in the back of my mind. Lets expand the zoom on our lives, shall we?

In five years, heck, in two years, no employer will/can see your exam and have any reason to act differently based on a couple of test scores way back when! Yes, while GPA does matter, your grade is *hopefully* not based on one single exam. Take a breather, realize your future is still just as bright and beautiful, and don’t let a number lessen your self-worth.

Remember: you are more than a number, and if you don’t believe me just believe my professor because she know more things than I could ever fathom, mmkay?

http://i.lvme.me/q1h3s1.jpg

So use your experiences to help you create work you are proud of, and remember “success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

So get busy, get studying, and stop worrying. You are in control of your life and a few lower numbers in the scheme of the universe won’t change that. YOU can do this you wonderfully inspired citizen of the world, don’t doubt yourself.

Until then, smile lots, study until your brains fall out, and drink lots and lots of tea!

And don’t forget to…

KEEP CALM AND EXPECTO PATRONUM.

Over and out folks, happy last full week before break!

Stay positive,

Isabella

Poonam’s Outfits and Interview

Posted on by
Reply

For this week’s blog post, my friend and fellow blogger Poonam and I had a photoshoot highlighting different outfits for interviews and the workplace and talked with each other about our experiences around work attire . Our good friend Harry made a guest appearance. Enjoy!

B: Describe your outfit choices and for what situations or occasions they would be worn.

Poonam’s work party outfit

P: The black skirt/ white top combination is what I like to think of as a perfect work party outfit—I feel like there are frequently social events for staff outside of office where you have a little bit more liberty with your outfit choice. While it is a great opportunity to ditch the corporate wear momentarily, you still want to be mindful of how you present yourself. The flowy skirt in this outfit really jazzes things up and makes the outfit fun but still appropriate.

Poonam’s comfortable outfit

I really like the peach top, Capri pants, and flats combination for one huge reason: COMFORT. I know friends who have felt social pressure at work to wear heels, but personally I don’t last more than a few hours before collapsing. There are so many tiring aspects of working a long day—your outfit just shouldn’t be one of them. This example is great for jobs where you’re on the move and being seated isn’t really an option. I know this summer, when I would be overseeing and scrambling after events on campus, this type of outfit was my savior. I looked put together AND my feet were still intact at the end of the day.

“The Classic”

The last outfit (striped top, black pants, heels) is “the Classic” work outfit. Not much to say about it besides the fact that it is wonderfully appropriate in the traditional sense of work attire—classy, professional, and mature. Throwing on a black blazer completes the look and gives the entire outfit an extra edge.

B: I’m a student and don’t have a lot of money to spend on professional attire. How do I stay cost effective and cute?

P: Sales! Every article of work clothing I own is from the sale section of a department store. Just have to be a determined and persistent shopper. Places like Ross and Target are also incredible for decently priced work attire. Moreover, I have found that having two pairs of pants and a skirt is totally sufficient for many combinations of outfit bottoms—it’s all about the mixing and matching.

Poonam and me all dressed up!

B: Halloween is around the corner—what the scariest clothing mishap you’ve ever had?

P: Nothing too horrendous that I can think of; the worst was one day this summer where I tumbled down the stairs of Steele in my heels and then had to put them back on to meet a client. My ankle was throbbing and I couldn’t exactly stand straight. It was a bit embarrassing to be wobbling around– but all is well that ends well, right?

Poonam, Harry, and me in our dress robes

B: Besides getting dressed, what’s the most intimidating part of an interview?

P: The questions you didn’t see coming. I’m always afraid about the questions not really related to the position but more like “If you could go back in time and meet one person, who would it be?” I usually go into an interview feeling prepared and confident about the position itself and my qualifications, but for some reasons, questions like this that put you on the spot to be creative tend to throw me off a bit.

B: In an ideal world, what would your work attire be?

P: Relaxed and comfortable. I don’t particularly love dressing like Condoleezza Rice on a daily basis (too much effort and planning), so a work environment that embraces the contemporary business/ semi-professional look would be super ideal. I would be thrilled with a job where dark wash jeans were perfectly acceptable!

 

OWN IT.

Dear Readers, What do you think about these outfits? Would you wear them to work or to work related events? Have a great week everyone!

Photoshoot and Interview Featuring Bryn!

Posted on by
1

This week’s blog post guest starts the one and only Bryn Morgan! We had a hilarious photoshoot in the Browning Living Room and interviewed each other on issues related to work attire and such. Keep your eyes peeled for a surprise visitor.

P: Describe your outfit choices and for what situations or occasions they would be worn.

B: All of the outfits you see in this post are ones I wear working as a Senior Interviewer interviewing prospective Scripps students for Admissions. The Scripps Admissions office is relatively relaxed and I would say most staff members wear business casual on a day-to-day basis.

Bryn’s basic business casual

This first outfit is basic and works well for my job in Admissions as well as interviews that don’t require more than business casual. I wore this outfit for a recent interview. While I love this pink top (it has a fun back!), a variety of other nice tops could be substituted to make a whole bunch of outfits. I’ll talk more about this later, but these black shoes and black trousers are comfortable and professional-looking staples that I wear all the time. For outfits like this one that are made up of blocks of color rather than patterns, I always like to have a necklace or some piece of jewelry like the gold one I’m wearing in this photo to keep things interesting.

Born Shoes, GAP trousers, shirt from Marshalls.

Outfit #2

I have to confess that while I do wear this blouse and skirt often, I have yet to wear these heels in Admissions. I think heels are fun but my feet do not, so when given the chance I usually forgo anything platform for flats. I like this outfit because it’s a little more  formal than the first while remaining colorful and fun (the quality of the picture isn’t high enough for you to make this out, but the pattern on my blouse is multicolor hearts). I don’t know what it is about pencil skirts, but I throw one on and automatically feel twice as professional!

Shirt and skirt from Forever 21, shoes from Urban Outfitters when I worked there and got a fantastic discount.

Bryn in a flowy and fantastic-for-warm-weather outfit and me!

This last outfit is one I have been wearing a lot recently as the temperature seems determined to remain excruciatingly high. It’s flowy and comfortable but still put together. I have a number of more flowy knee-length skirts like this one and they have seemed so much more appealing than pencil skirts or trousers in this weather! Also featured here is my blue and green wooden painted fish necklace that I found at a yard sale and love wearing to Admissions. It reminds me to lighten up every time I see it and has been a great conversation starter. I wore it to a recent interview as Lesley in CP&R had told me during my mock with CP&R that sometimes it’s okay to see individuals’ personalities come out.

Born shoes, skirt from Forever 21, shirt was a hand-me-down.

P: I’m a student and don’t have a lot of money to spend on professional attire. How do I stay cost effective and cute?

B: I talked a bit about how I was able to revamp my work appropriate wardrobe for working in Admissions on a budget in a blog post a few weeks ago and will elaborate here. Basically, I spent the most on two staples: my pair of black Born flats and black GAP trousers. I knew I would wear both items very frequently, and thought that  having comfortable, supportive, and well made shoes that I could wear all the time and will (hopefully) last for quite awhile was worth it. From there, Marshalls and Forever 21 were my saving graces. Inexpensive, cute, and work appropriate clothes abound in both stores, at least this season, and I was able to get a good number of blouses, sleeveless tops, and pencil and flowy skirts for a very reasonable price. Find fun jewelry at yard sales and Goodwill to add some pizzaz to your outfits.

P: Halloween is around the corner—what the scariest clothing mishap you’ve ever had?

SURPRISE

B: What comes to mind is just the other day in Admissions when I looked down after being there for about an hour and realized my blouse was on inside out. Luckily, the staff is extremely sweet and Meg, who fearlessly leads us from the front desk, and I laughed heartily together as I dashed into the bathroom to change. I’m sure now that you’ve asked me this question something truly scary will happen soon…I’ll report back.

P: Besides getting dressed, what’s the most intimidating part of an interview?

 

B: I really love interviews. I loved college interviews the first time around so much that I applied to interview prospective Scripps student four years later. What usually concerns me most is the possibility that I might not be able to get as much across to my interviewer(s) as I would like. For example, in a recent interview I had so much to say about a question they asked that I was disappointed  I was only able to communicate a fraction of it in the short 25 minutes the interview lasted. But I just do my best to let my personality and passion for whatever it is I’m talking about come out, and try not to worry!

In an ideal world, what would your work attire be?

Before I actually had to dress in professional attire 5 days a week in Beirut this summer, I thought I would hate feeling constrained to certain styles and items of clothing. It turns out I love dressing in professional attire and have especially been enjoying putting together outfits for Admissions this semester. In the future, having the flexibility of business causal would likely be preferable to wearing suits every day of the week, but I am delighted to find out that I don’t at all mind dressing up for work as it definitely leaves my options more open than if I were against being part of a workplace with a dress code.

Dear readers, we could do with some laughs and would love to hear your scary stories of clothing mishaps in interview or work settings!