NYC Trip Recap: The weekend of getting chosed

Last weekend I decided to take a trip. A trip to NY to see my friends as well as celebrate my booskie's chapter anniversary. The plan to bring everything all together was seamless, so smooth that it was meant to be. Instead writing my paragraphs I decided to hit the highlights of my weekend in outline form. Quicker to read anyways. LOL!
The weekend consisted of: 

• Screaming and hugging my BFF, after not seeing her for 3 years and leaving my suitcase in the middle of LaGuardia traffic. But my BFF grabbed my luggage after our greeting.
• Roadtripping to my campus with my sister, Booskie, best friend. Perfect blend.
• Greeted from the bros who I hadn't seen in a LONG time.
• Officially declaring the weekend, the weekend of getting chosed. Official songs were Pour It Up and Started From the Bottom.  See tweet below.
  
  
• Breakfast with my shooting star and child (STARR Weekend baby).
• Listening to the accomplished bros on the panel share their professional experiences and of course I live tweeted the event. GREAT advice!
• Purchasing some cool stuff RPI para for my desk at work.
• Getting ready with my girls (and Booskie) and looking glam. Then walking into the event, feeling and looking amazing.
• Being announced as a judge (for the Ms. Black and Gold pageant) and escorted by my Booskie to the judges table.
• Learning about the black history at RPI and how those paved the way so I can that I could become an alumna of RPI.
• Speaking with a faculty member about the future of minority life at RPI and discussing my interest in helping.
• Hearing our RPI president speak, first black president of the institution and very noteworthy. She spoke about her dedication to the students and that her thoughts are always with the students of the minority community. One thing that resonated with me is one thing she regrets is not spending more time with students especially the minority students. It was awesome to hear her say that.
• Turning up with my besties and sis! Introducing my sis to her phirstpham. Enjoying good company. Going to bed at 5a, just short of sunrise.
• Zooming down the freeway to make my flight in the NIC of time. 

The hardest thing was saying goodbye to all my friends. Going our separate ways. Not knowing when we'll all be together in one place again. Sucks but I'll have to say it was the BEST $270 I've spent to make [more] memories that will last a lifetime. Spending time with my loved ones is so important to me and I'll have to say I'm SO glad I made the sacrifice to go. Learning to live with no regrets.

              
♥ A.Erika ♥  

following my heart [part II]

So I decided to follow my heart. About 2 weeks ago, I went to new york city for an interview with a small media agency. The night before my interview, I had dinner with a friend just to catch up. We hadnt spoken in a couple years. We go wayyyy back like elementary school way back. young black woman doing her thing in the concrete jungle. When I was last in NYC, she extended an invitation for dinner but I didnt get a chance to meet up with her. So I promised next time, I was in the city we had to catch up. So we arranged our meeting. While waiting for her to arrive, I thought about how I could really see myself living in NYC. I've never really considered living there, partly due what I see with some of my family. Yet after talking to her I was assured that I could make it there. "girl if i can make it, then you can too." We even talked about living expenses, which was one of my biggest worries. Living in NYC is NO JOKE. She said its all about budgeting and sacrifices. After that, I was sold. It was really good catching up with her, seeing each other's progress in life from little fourth graders in Smoke Rise Elementary to young women trying to start their careers. Life comes full circle.

The interview went REALLY well. I felt like I really connected with the team and I felt like this is where I need to be. I was in there for about 2.5 hours and immediately after I walked out and said I need a drink but it was all worth it. I am so glad I insisted on going because its something I did. A risk I took. No matter the outcome, I did it for me and wont have any regrets about shoudda, woudda, coudda. That makes me happy inside. So now I must wait and continue to apply other places. But its hard applying to other places when your heart is elsewhere. I've done all I can do. Said my prayers and now I'm just waiting on the manifestation of it. This is the hardest part but I can see God working. He's putting all the pieces together. 

♥ A.Erika ♥