The End

Hey guys,

I just wanted to say that writing for this blog has been fun, different, and inspiring. Thinking about new topics to write about every week or really just having a place to post fun thoughts is a great way to relieve stress but also discover new things about yourself. Here a couple of the things I have learnt along the way:

1. Look to those around you for inspiration! My friends, my family, my professors - these real people in my life are all I need to learn. I have learnt so much from those around me. They make me stronger and allow me to realize my own potential. Whether it was sharing an empowering message from my best friend or looking to my mother as leadership role model - I have loved writing blog posts about the important people in my life and how they empower me every day.

2. Look to the future! College is a scary, scary concept. But I can promise that if you put yourself out there when you get here - you won't regret it. Try new things, don't let other people hold you back, and - most importantly - hold on when you discover what you are passionate about.

3. Being a women in today's world is not going to be easy. We still have a long way to go. Every now and then google "women and politics" and see what comes up. It may not be as boring as you think. There are some pretty inspiring women out there.

Thank you for reading and continue reaching for the stars.

With love,
Steph

In need of inspiration?

Via

This list of women is a fabulous one to check out!
Forbes has named women from Michelle Obama to Beyonce as the most powerful women in today's world.

Check out the list here:
The 100 Most Powerful Women

How do you view yourself?

I came across this beautiful video and it brightened my day just a little bit.

It's All About Perspective

Earlier this month, the famous child actress turned Ambassador Shirley Temple died. I have to admit that I did not know much about this famous public figure, apart from her child star days and of course the delicious pink drink. Little did I know that this woman was a powerful force of nature who didn't give up when her dream seemed to fade. She challenged life to the fullest and lived what can only be described as miraculously. 

"I don't like to do negatives. There are always pluses to things."
          ~ Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple grew up famous.  In 1935 - at the age of 7, she received a special Juvenile Academic Award for her contribution. At the age of 17 however, she got divorced and realized that she was no longer wanted as an actress now that she had grown up. Transition to adulthood was difficult to say the least. As it is for all of us. 

Shirley had three things that kept her going: her cheerful optimism, her incredible work ethic, and her winning personality. And boy did she come back to life with a bang. Her second marriage was an incredible partnership that lasted 55 years. But - more importantly - she became an Ambassador to Ghana and, later on, to Czechoslovakia. 

via

She is the most inspiring role model one could hope for. Whether you are 12 and unsure about the teenage years to come, 14 and starting to think about college, or - like me - freaking out about the fact that you are turning 21. With her unwavering optimism, Shirley Temple contributed to the world in so many positive ways. Shirley Tmeple was a true leader, and true leaders never let that hope die. She made her obstacles into into opportunities. 

When it rain and rains....

"Rain is good for me. I feel like I achieve clarity actually when it rains. The longer I have to sit and wait, the clearer my game becomes to me." 

~ Venus Williams on her tennis game.

The Rain can often be such a good excuse to sit around and do nothing. I didn't want to work yesterday, or do any errands despite my to do list being as long as ever. The Williams sisters (they are famous tennis players!) are such an inspiration for women everywhere. They are strong, independent and so successful. Stumbling onto this quote really turned my day around. The rain is a good time to achieve clarity. 

 

Decorating Tips!

I've always loved taking time to decorate my dorm: whether it's my many Beatles posters, finding interesting ways to sort my scarves, or putting up copious photos of all the people I love.

I am so messy when it comes to my jewelry! I can never keep my necklaces neat, or my earrings in order. My friend gave me an amazing idea though - and it works! I love how it adds some bling to my walls.













I really love doing this with my scarves as well.










Both of these are really easy to do: all you need are some thumbtacks, and a blank wall! Make sure that this is okay with your parents though. I don't want to be responsible for any holes in your walls that they don't want. Stick the thumbtacks in and hang your scarves, hats, necklaces! It's so practical AND super cute.

You're a leader!

I just got off the phone with my mom. She's in Switzerland at this really cool conference called Davos. It's held every year and world leaders come together for the World Economic Forum where they discuss all sorts of political and economic issues. This year's conference was titled "The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business". I am so incredibly proud that my mom gets invited to this conference - she's such an amazing role model and inspires me to make a difference every day.

However, while looking up Davos I came across a really interesting article in the Huffington Post that had some very sobering facts. Only 15% of attendees were women. The Forum selects 50 of its own Global Shapers of which 50% are women but for the rest - there is such inequality! Women everywhere need to be a part of the discussions that are shaping our world and moving our society forward.

We need to reshape what it means to be a female leader and that starts with you! I want to challenge you this week to put yourself out there. Apply for a position in school, volunteer to lead a project in class, go that extra mile with your homework, audition for the school play and it could lead somewhere. You may discover a new passion! Become involved in the society you are a part of - you will gain valuable experience and it will give you the confidence to develop those leadership skills (and it doesn't hurt on college applications either!).

Boys on Boys

There is about to be some real life coming at you - are you ready?

 I recently had a really important revelation about what it means to prioritize and how important it is to keep those goals in mind. I started off this term on the right foot - I got into two theatre productions I really wanted to do, I was having fun in my sorority, my classes were absolutely fantastic - things couldn't have been better. And then I got distracted...by (you guessed it!) a boy. Don't worry this story doesn't end in tears. I love getting to know new people and this was a really exciting chapter in my life but over the next two weeks, I really lost sight of the goals I had set for myself. I stopped listening as much in classes, I barely looked at my scripts, I stopped reading the news (which usually I love to do on a daily basis! Keeping up with the world can be really interesting but you have to keep up with it - it tends to move on without you). 

So there I was. Sitting on my bed. Complaining to a friend. I felt behind: I wasn't putting any work into the different aspects of my life. I was putting nothing into my passions and I was getting nothing back. Logically. My friend just looked at me. I then got a good dose of tough love. She simply opened my eyes to the fact that I had let my life slide because of a boy. My friend turned to me and said that this was happening because I had gotten so distracted. I couldn't believe that I had lost myself so easily in such a short time. College is short and the time that you spend here is precious.

Now I am not saying that great romances aren't a lot of fun or that you shouldn't totally put yourself out there for that special boy. I am also not saying that you can't have both. I am saying that so often girls can feel defined by our love lives and how "successful" or "unsuccessful" we are. Women are continually judged by their relationship status - whether women are single or not matters so much to everyone else! I had bought into this image of what being "successful" when it was exactly this "success" that was preventing me from achieving my real goals. This can be seen all over the media and the news. Take Taylor Swift - how often is her music judged by the latest boy she's dating? Or how often is she mentioned in the media for who she's dating as opposed to the work she's doing? There are also very positive role models out there. Angelina Jolie is a brilliant woman who has managed to turn her media spotlight to super important issues! Although you can still read about her kids and husband (and who wouldn't want to), she is also regularly profiled for the all the amazing humanitarian work she does. UNHCR ambassador, building schools all over the world, making education more accessible for girls - just listing them is inspiring.

I am not out saving the world right now... but one day I would like to be. Although this boy is a wonderful one - he is also not what I need to be concentrating on right now. I had sacrificed what I really wanted to be working on for fleeting happiness. I panicked but luckily had the greatest girlfriend to give me some good advice.

How to find your path again (according to my brilliant roommate):

1. Set small achievable goals: don't try and accomplish everything all at once, you will only end up disappointed in yourself. Set goals that you know can get done. Ticking something off that to-do list (no matter how small) is a great feeling
2. Re-evaluate: look at your priorities. What do you really want to be achieving? How can you get there?
3. Spend time with yourself. There is no shame - in fact, it's encouraged - in getting a cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate with yourself. Or going on a sunset walk by yourself - think of the instagrammable opportunities.

via

A tidy dorm, a tidy mind...

The key: Unpack!

I am not the biggest fan of packing/unpacking but it's so important to make your dorm your own space. I always like having a couple of hours on my first day back to really make my dorm my own again. Make sure to take the time to organize your clothes and put away those toiletries. I also love decorating my room. There will be a post to come on decorations (I tend to go a little crazy).

Whether you are hanging out with friends, studying for a midterm, or just unwinding - it's so much nicer to do when your room doesn't look like this:

My floor before unpacking my suitcase.

Introduction: Steph

Hey everyone! My name is Steph. I am British/South African but my family currently lives in France. I am a junior at a small New England college, studying Government and Theatre. I know - a weird combination and I would challenge you to think of a joke that I haven't heard about my double major. I am really involved in the theatre department and a Shakespeare performance group on campus. I do a lot of theatre. I am also part of a national sorority which has been such an amazing experience in college. I'm hoping to go into (you guessed it!) theatre after graduation although I will continue to deny that the real world exists until that moment comes. I am a huge fan of traveling (especially Italy), nerdy tv shows, and a dry sense of humor.