Good Girls Master It!
FYI: Good Girl Season is a rebirth of my blog Good Girls Finish First. (The following blog post was transferred from there, originally posted on August 27, 2019.) Enjoy!
It's that time of year again Good Girls...school is back in session! A few months ago, we paid homage to our Good Girls getting their bachelors, but this time around we are showing love to the grad school students. Going back to school is a huge decision! It takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice...especially if you've been out of the game for awhile.That leads me to our next Good Girl, Alexus (IG: @lexmuse).
Sis took a much needed break after finishing college, but three years later she decided to move to Cali and enroll at USC to pursue her masters. Take a glimpse at her story, and remember it's NEVER too late to go back and get that second or even third degree.
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What was life like for you after graduating with your Bachelor's degree? (Did you end up working in your field?)
I'll be honest. After graduating from college, I was not exactly sure of the career I wanted to pursue. Sounds crazy, right? There were paths I could have followed that would have led to financial success, but I knew that I wanted more. I wanted my job to be something that I was passionate about. I felt stuck and it was honestly one of the most difficult periods in my life. I would apply to various positions, and nothing seemed to work. After MANY closed doors, God opened THE door, admitting me into the master's program of my dreams, which is perfectly aligned with my career choice.
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What made you decide to go back to school for your graduate degree? Furthering my education has always been a personal goal for myself, but it was just a matter of timing and deciding on the right program. I received my bachelor's degree in political science. However, I knew that I wanted to enter the public relations/advertising sector and become a creative director. I did not have any work experience, knowledge, or connections within that field. Hence, grad school was the perfect move for me.
______________________________________ What were two of your biggest struggles while applying to grad schools?
My first struggle was deciding which graduate program was a good fit. I considered many other schools, but nothing really resonated with me. After coming across USC's Strategic Public Relations master's program, I knew that I had found my school. So yeah, I would definitely say figuring out where I was "meant to be" was my first challenge.My second biggest struggle was having faith and trusting the process. The program that I applied to is the #1 school in the country for public relations. For a second, I questioned whether I was good enough to get in. Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh, so is he." I began meditating on this and the more that I did, the more my faith increased. ______________________________________ What advice would you have for those who are considering going back to school, but may feel "stuck"? First, figure out exactly what you are passionate about. Jay-Z said something in an interview that really stuck with me:"Every human being has a genius level of talent. There are no chosen ones. God has given every single person a genius level of talent. You just have to find what it is you are great at and tap into it."I believe this wholeheartedly. I have worked jobs where I have felt stuck. After graduating from college I was a manager at a steakhouse in D.C. I was making good money, but I was not living in my purpose. So I would definitely say first and foremost, follow your heart.Second, know that it is never too late. I was out of college 3 years before I went back to get my master's. Receiving your degree later in life doesn't make it any less special than someone who did not wait. A degree is a degree, sis.And lastly, trust the process. ______________________________________ In a culture where so much on social media and in music glorifies a fast money/gold digger lifestyle, what has kept you from that path? (For lack of better terms...what kept you off the pole? LOL)
My desire to live in my purpose has deterred me from those things. I believe that God has given me gifts, and I won't let them go to waste.
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As we all know the road to success is not always easy, what motivates you to keep going?
I just remind myself that God does everything in perfect order. My favorite scripture is Proverbs 16:9:"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps"You may think that things are supposed to go a certain way and when it doesn't everything is wrong. But I trust that everything is happening the way it is meant to be. I don't think, "Why is this happening to me?"; instead, I say, "Why is this happening for me?" Faith in the process is what keeps me going.