Fashion&Lifestyle by Ky: September 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011

You goin' to your Volunteer thing?

I knew I was in love when my friend referred to my job at Catholic Charities as just a measly “volunteer thing” and I took major offense to it. For me volunteering at Catholic Charities was more than just a volunteer thing, it was actually my first real experience in the real world working for a busy company that helped the less fortunate with an education for their children and programs for advancement in their lives. Some people believe that volunteering and working for free is beneath them, but in this economy it seems as if those are the only options out there for a recent graduate who has yet to get their foot through the door. After only three weeks of being at Catholic Charities I was told that if I wanted a job at one of their sites, it was mine. This was just the boost I needed to get me out of the funk that there were no jobs and I would be poor for the next year or so. It gave me confidence in knowing that I was a darn good worker and it did not go unnoticed at this company. I began looking at my position at Catholic Charities not only as a volunteer thing but a semi-job(as I like to call it). I was helping this company succeed, whether it was answering phones, faxing important papers, making copies, or entering data on excel, I began to feel wanted and needed and took away valuable skills that are so necessary for my future career goals. When I did an event with Cocktails and Couture during Fashion Week I was lucky enough to meet girls that were in my exact dilemma, graduates from college, yet working for free at an internship or flat out unemployed. The difference between them and me was that they had rent to pay and I was still living rent-free. It felt good to know that I was not alone in this journey. Meeting these girls really changed my life. However it also motivated me towards the direction of figuring out my goals, my life and how I would get everything I wanted out of life before I got too old and wondered Where did my life go?

Volunteering for me started out as a ploy to avoid having any spaces in my resume when I applied to law school. It then progressed to getting a recommendation from the company but now I look at it as something that was life changing. I met two of the most generous, kindhearted individuals, who wanted nothing more than to see me succeed. I developed contacts, and learned skills that no amount of time in the classroom or reading textbooks could give me. I learned exactly what it means to be in the real world; and now I am on to my next venture, learning exactly what it means to be in the real world and get paid for it.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

The Curse of Class of 2009 and Beyond

Working at my semi job has lead me to indulge in the typical bored at the office activities including, googling random things, msn.com, goosip sites, blog sites along with many other distractions to get me through the day. But I must say I am so intrigued by the plight of the recent graduate as a recent graduate myself I dont feel like I was ever prepared for this life. Seems like i'm not the only one feeling this way...I found the following article on the WallStreet journal website about recent graduates having to endure salary cuts and not ending up in the field they majored in because of the poor economy.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124181970915002009.html

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Top 10 best Cities for Recent College Graduates

As a recent graduate moving to another city, before settling down is on the minds of many of us. A majority of the recent graduates that I know would rather struggle pay check to pay check then return home to their beloved parents. However the reality of the situation is simple, a lot of the glamorous cities we set our sights on are hella expensive. I always imagined moving to Washington, DC after I graduated however I know now those expectations are unrealisitc because the price of living out there and in the surrounding areas are over what I can afford at this point in my life. Nevertheless, in collaboration with careerbuilder.com and apartments.com I found an article on msn.com(ie.my new favorite home page) which list some of the most cheapest and realistic cities to live in as a recent graduate. A little food for thought...

Top 10 best cities for recent college graduates, plus average rent for a one bedroom apartment

1. Hartford-New Haven ($1,047)

2. Cleveland ($695)

3. Boston ($1,625)

4. Denver ($994)

5. Minneapolis ($941)

6. San Francisco ($1,560)

7. Washington D.C. ($1,679)

8. Philadelphia ($1,068)

9. Atlanta ($813)

10. St. Louis ($826)

What do you think about this list? Would you move to one of these cities for a job?

Monday, September 19, 2011

If you know me you know how much I love Chanel Iman...from Day 1

I remember when my mother gave me endless subscriptions to Teen Vogue as a gift when I was 14 years old(until 18). Lets just say that's around the time I became caught up with all things fashion for my age, but I couldn't help but notice and fall in love with Chanel Iman while she was still a question mark in the modeling industry. Before Gucci and Christian Dior knew her name, Marc Jacobs and Teen Vogue were giving her a shot....and myself, I was just overjoyed that finally there was a brown face on the pages of Teen Vogue who was young, fresh faced and not Tyra or Naomi Campbell. Most recently she has launched a website that is all things Chanel Iman, from childhood photos to a portfolio of all the innovative photo shoots she has done throughout her career, including posing as Minnie Mouse to hanging out on a tree with an elephant. The website is amazing. Everything you would ever want and need to know about her is on this site. I love it!!!!!!

www.chaneliman.com