"Imagine A World Without Hate"

One of the greatest pros of living in D.C is that there is always something to do, learn, and someone to intern with. If you are like me, you purposely look for internships that would be considered out of the box or even out of your realm of comfort. For example, I want to work in the field of politics/ civil rights/ human rights, whatever you get the point around those lines of saving the world, and making sure that everyone has a voice and that it is being heard. However I felt that I wanted to have a different type of interning experience rather than go down the "road frequently traveled by". So, instead of working for the NAACP, or Congressional Black Caucus (which are both fine organizations) I wanted to work with people that had the same mind set, and were working on "equality" just from a different point of view. The being said, last summer I worked for the Anti-Defamation League and I have got to say it was one of the most rewarding experiences and probably the most fun I had in a summer. I worked closely with the Holocaust Museum, observed how they taught groups of people about Anti-Semitism and the food was always free! (Even though it was usually Kosher). However I also saw people react negitavley to the information being told, and I saw how hatred is something experienced by any group that has been targeted. I say this because "we" (and when I say we please know I mean African Americans) are often encouraged to just intern with our own organziations. Which is nice however if you go to an HBCU, and then intern with just black organizations you can sometimes be limiting your "view" of the world. Granted, we need our civil rights programs however we also need to educated on other minority groups and majority groups as well. The best way to be successful is to be able to firmly say that you are educated in ALL types of cultural experiences aside from your own. That's just my humble opiion, but you don't have to listen to me. I ain't nobody...at least not just yet. 

Interested in finding out what exactly the ADL does? Visit the website below! 

http://www.adl.org/

Relationships, School, Success, oh my!

I was face-timing my mother the week before last, and during our conversation I was rattling off the list of organizations and events that I had planned, and seminars that I was attending. Suddenly she cuts my speech off swiftly with the most ridiculous phrase that has ever come out her mouth. "Uh huh, yeah that's great but how is that helping me get to know my future son-in-law?" She then continues on to say, "With all of the activities that you are in, are you making time to date anyone?" These two phrases have stuck with me since then, I am very traditional in the sense that I wanted to come to college, get a degree in English, but to also get the Mrs. degree as well. However as the years have gone by and the relationships that I have entered have ended in total and complete disaster I have found it alot easier to focus all of my attention on school and working, these are things that I can control and things that I am good at. However I noticed although I have become successful in these two aspects of life,  I am not as happy as the girls around me who are able to handle school, working, and relationships. I keep thinking to myself how in the world are they balancing ALL THREE. School takes concentration, extra circulars can be time-consuming and to even think about adding a boyfriend to the mix seems exhausting. I also noticed that for women we seem to get pressured alot sooner in life to "settle". Of course we are encouraged to get good jobs and pursue higher degrees but there is also that ever persistent nagging to be "on the lookout" for your future husband and those annoying and slightly horrifying "how many children do you want?" question. Like, whoa! I have only been 20 for three months! What's the rush?! This has nothing to do with my profession I know, but it has everything to do with basic time-management and general life problems. Am I the only one who finds this to be a problem? Is anyone else being hounded about their love lives by family members? Who is in a successful relationship and can give time-management tips. This is a subject that every girl and her friends discuss, but from one future professional to the next, I would like to know your experiences.

Interested in getting advice from 12 successful women? Click on the link below!

http://www.thedailymuse.com/lifestyle/relax-recharge-work-life-balance-advice-from-12-successful-women/

Checking in from the Hell we call "Hobart School of Business"

I apologize for not keeping up with the blogging, I never was one for writing out my feelings and frustrations in regards to school. However being that this week was so stressful I thought it best to blog about it.
The Background: My parents, both successful in their careers and educated at Howard and Spelman believe that they know everything. And me having the unfortunate "privilege" of being the first born child, my parents tend to use me as a trial and error. I am the first child to go to college (my younger sister starts school next year). With that in mind my parents disregard anything and everything that I say in regards to school "I don't know what I am talking about" "listen to your parents we know what's best". Which has brought me into the situation that I am in now.
Before School: I enjoy politics, and want to attend Law School. If I had it my way,  I would have been an English major and Political Science minor. THAT WAS MY PLAN. Of course when I presented that to my parents, I was told that was ridiculous "how would I pay for that" "YOU go to LAW SCHOOL? No, you need to be practical." So, I reluctantly after being pressured and pushed became a marketing minor.
Present Day: At first, Microeconomics wasn't that bad, I was keeping up with the readings, I was trying to find something interesting about the class. Then I gave up, I realized it was harder than what I thought it was going to be, I abhor graphs, the class makes no sense to me because in reality, I can't stand it. It SUCKS and now I am stuck in a class that I hate, and will have a minor in a field I do NOT want to enter and I continue kicking myself for being 20 years old that can stand up for everything from voting rights to women's reproductive rights and I can't stand up for my own self against my own parents. 

I don't want it to sound like my parents don't love me, because they do. And I know that they want what's best for me, I just wish that they could see that sometimes, their helping is severely hurting and the more they push plans about my life and school the harder I'm pulling and the more I am resenting. 

I read this article and IMMEDIATELY thought of my own parents, does anyone else think that there parents love does more harm than good? Any thoughts on how I should address my parents about the situation? I am open to ideas. http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/02/living/cnn-parents-helicopter-parenting-job-search/index.html