How to Meet New People and How to Make Friends

Sounds easy, but it is not.

This blog post is for all the newly accepted college freshman and for adults alike.

Making friends is hard!

I wanted to write this blog post, because as a second semester senior, I am amazed that I am still meeting new people and making new friends.

Wake only has 5,000 undergrad students, so you would think that I would know just about everyone in my class at least, but nope.

J.Crew cable knit sweater | American Eagle jeggings | Mark & Graham monogrammed scarf | J.Crew tortoise shell hoops | Tory Burch Reva cheetah flats

Here are some tips I have learned over the years:

1.          Always smile! Smile at people as you pass them on the walk to class. Smile at strangers. If you have a smile on your face, people are more likely to approach you!

2.          Say hi to everyone! On your walk to work or class, in the dining hall, in the elevator, make eye contact and say hi with a smile.

3.          Try new things! Go to a new workout class, take a new different class, try a new spot for lunch, join a new club. Do something new, so you can meet people that you wouldn’t normally have met otherwise.

4.          Sit next to someone new in the library or in class and give them a compliment or ask them about their day/the class! This is probably my favorite tip because I think it works the BEST!

5.          Go out and be social! Go to parties with friends, or to bars, and have your friends introduce you to other friends! Networking!

Hope these were some helpful ideas to help you meet new people and friends!

“Me” Time

As I was writing my Instagram caption for yesterday’s post, it sparked the topic for this blog post.

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One of my New Year’s resolutions was to say no to things that don’t make me happy. I am such a yes woman and it makes me miserable some of the time.

So, I’ve made a conscious effort to do more things that make me happy!

When I first started college I was so super focused on school that my only “fun” time was eating dinner with friends and on Friday afternoons, when I treated myself to tv watching.

My senior year, I have finally realized the importance of “me” time and “fun” time.

Since the beginning of the semester I have made it a point to watch the bachelor every Monday night with my friends and to sit and watch tv in bed Friday afternoons. I have also tried to watch Netflix a couple of times a week, another activity that I never feel like I have time for.

Maybe my new dedication to “me” time is because my work load is not as large as it has been in the past or maybe it is because I have finally realized how important it is to recharge around friends and by myself. And I think maybe it has to do with that I finally realized that grades and schoolwork aren’t everything. You don’t have to read every single word on every single page. I’ve realized life and time in college goes by way to fast to not enjoy it more!

President of Phi Alpha Delta, Law Fraternity International at Wake Forest

This semester I am proud to announce that I am the president of Phi Alpha Delta, Law Fraternity International at Wake.

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Last semester I worked as secretary. I recorded and preserved important meeting notes and submitted them to nationals. I designed a system for taking attendance through creating a custom QR code for efficiency. I helped lead presentations on attending law school and gave tips and tools for effective applications at bi-weekly chapter meetings. I also utilized my teamwork skills in order to conduct chapter meetings, law school admissions and LSAT events.

Last semester was our first real successful semester. The spring before was the installment of our chapter on Wake’s campus.

I am really proud of the work we did last semester and how much of an impact we have made on the pre-law community at Wake.

I loved being secretary, and as president, I am even more excited! 

My executive team and I are working on having a really productive semester.

As you may know, I am currently in the process of applying to law schools and I have had to figure out the application process and the LSAT process all on my own. I am so proud to be president of this wonderful organization so I can help other students who want to apply to law school by giving them the resources that they need.

We had our first executive meeting the other night and we discussed having a resume workshop, hiring a photographer for LinkedIn headshots and having an interview workshop. We are also working on putting together some community service opportunities. We hopefully will visit a law school this semester and a court house in the area, as well.

I am super excited for this semester and hope to hit my last semester in college out of the park!

My Last First Week of Classes at Wake Forest

 

My last first week of class is almost over! What a fun and crazy week it has been! There are going to be a lot of firsts and a lot of lasts this semester.

I am devastated to be graduating at the end of this semester, but I am super excited for everything that I will do leading up to graduation!

I didn’t get a real feel for my schedule until the end of the day Wednesday.

I have three classes on Monday and Friday, only one on Tuesday and Thursday and then five on Wednesday! Yikes! I am in 14.5 credit hours this semester.

H&M white ruffle top | Madewell Taller jeans | J.Crew bow earrings | Hunter rain boots

So far, all of my classes seem like they will be fun!

My English professor who teaches my senior seminar, told us that the class is going to be relaxed because she knows we are all second semester seniors. She told us she will only grade us on the work we do. I have never heard that from a Wake Forest professor ever. It was a really nice surprise!

Another surprise is that, this is the only English professor that has repeated from another semester of mine. Usually, I never repeat English professors.

I am also repeating French professors this semester. Last spring, I took a business French class and now I am taking the second installment of that class so I can be certified in competency for French business.

This is also the first time ever in my college career that I am taking two French classes at the same time.

I love that even as a second semester senior I am still meeting new classmates and seeing friends in my classes.

I am really excited about my other English class which is a literature and film class. Every Wednesday we will be viewing the film adaptations of the novels we read in class.

I am also taking my first ever business class at the business school, titled: Business Life Skills. Hopefully I can learn to do my taxes and how to better balance a budget! Also, the business school, Farrell Hall is a stunning building!

This semester will also be the last semester I’m in chorus! I have been in chorus since freshman year. At the end of the semester, when I graduate, my professor will be retiring.

Although there will be a lot of “last time I ever do that” things this semester, there will still be a ton of firsts, and I hope to document them all here!

I am super excited for this semester and cannot wait to take you guys along with me!

Kappa Delta Recruitment 2020

My last recruitment week!

Although the week is long, exhausting, and stressful, it is also SO MUCH FUN!

I met so many nice potential new members (PNMs) and we added the most amazing group of new members!

Wake does deferred recruitment. Women rush in the spring semester of their freshman year.

All women who want to rush and join a sorority, come a week before classes start in January and meet sorority women from each chapter at “parties.”

By the end of the week, after speed dating many sorority women at each chapter, a chapter will select women to join and they will become a part of a new pledge class!

I always wanted to join a sorority. When I was rushing my freshman year, I knew I wanted to be a KD from the first day I met the girls in the chapter.

My first semester freshman year I felt like I was not really clicking with everyone I met. I had made a couple of good friends but not a ton and not a ton that I was super confident that would stay around forever. I felt like I couldn’t be my real, crazy, loud, outgoing, happy self all the time with these girls. The first day at KD I was cracking jokes and laughing, and I felt like the KD sisters I was talking to were already friends and sisters of mine. I was so nervous during rush because I loved KD, but I did not know if they loved me the same back. But clearly, they did.

Since joining KD, I have made tremendous bonds with some of the amazing girls in our chapter. I have made some great lifelong friends. And even if I have not become the best of friends with every girl in the chapter, I still know that if I needed a shoulder to cry on, or help, my sorority sisters would be there for me.

Day 1-

The PNMs meet every sorority.

I met several T&P fans at the parties throughout the day. Hi ladies! Thanks for saying hi!

Day 2- Philanthropy Day

All the sororities show videos to show our philanthropies. Kappa Delta’s philanthropies are Girl Scouts and Prevent Child Abuse America.

Girl Scouts is an organization that is near and dear to my heart. I was a Girl Scout my whole life and I am even on a Girl Scout cookie box!

Day 3- Sisterhood Day

 

On Sisterhood Day every sorority shows their local chapter video to demonstrate the sisterhood in the chapter. Our video was so beautifully made and focused on the seniors and how our lives have been transformed by KD.

Day 4- Pref Night

On Pref Night, our chapter has a special ceremony to show our love for each sister and there are always lots of emotions and tears. Pref Night is always my favorite night of recruitment.

Day 5- BID DAY

Bid Day BEST DAY! On Sunday, we welcomed 59 new sisters into our chapter! We are so excited! We celebrated all afternoon with our new sisters on the quad, in our lounge and then at the trampoline park.

Central Park and the Met

Last week I ventured into the city for a tourist day. I strolled through Central Park, stopped at the famous Bethesda Fountain and the Bow Bridge.

Walked past the Loeb Boathouse and to the Met on the Upper East Side.

Les Specs Beautiful Stranger Cat-Eye sunglasses | Cinzia Rocca coat | Marcus Adler scarf | J.Crew green turtleneck dress | ASOS tights | Jack Rogers black suede boots (use code JRELIZ102415 for 15% off at jackrogersusa.com) | Tory Burch black cross-body bag

Central Park and the Met are iconic. I’ve been over a dozen times to these iconic New York spots but going back is always refreshing.

We took some great photos and I just had to share them.

Ringing in the New Year with Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick

Happy New Year!

New year, new lipstick!

I am not a lipstick gal. Every morning I put on my Burts Bee’s tinted lip balm and call it a day.

I find lipstick a bit of a hassle because I drink a lot of water throughout the day and am always eating!

I hate when my lipstick comes off onto my water bottle or water glass or onto my food. It’s annoying.

But last night, for New Year’s Eve I was bold and applied a sample of Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème lipstick.

I didn’t know what to expect. I was going to test out my new lipstick at New Year’s Eve dinner. A dangerous test. 

I applied the lipstick, blotted it with toilet paper and went to dinner.

My dad complimented me on my lipstick. He was surprised I was wearing a red lip because even he noticed I never wear anything on my lips.

My first sip of wine, there were no lipstick marks on my glass. My first bite of gnocchi, no lipstick was left on the fork or napkin.

Three courses later and it looked like I had just applied my lipstick. My mom was stunned.

I even forgot I had it on! It was not sticky or cakey. My lips did not feel dry or cracked.

I was so impressed! This won’t be the last time I wear this lipstick this year!

Maybe this year I will be a lipstick gal!?