Taking care of oneself is crucial for overall well-being and that is something I have realized in college. As a college student, I have been so consumed with being active on campus, volunteering, working, and trying to maintain high grades that oftentimes I have become stressed. Due to this, it has been hard for me to consume information due to having so many things in my head. Through all my academic and organizational achievements, I have never been able to celebrate or enjoy myself because it’s always on to the next project. This past year I decided to make a change to take care of myself. I started prioritizing my self-care by doing things I love and creating new hobbies. Through my self-care journey, I found out that I love baking. Now, anytime there is a family or friend gathering, I am always asked to make a special dish. I also love trying new food. Trying different cultures food makes me happy, because everything is always different and has a new taste. Though sometimes it can get pricey, so when I'm not eating, I’ve learned that I love working out. Sometimes it is hard to try to push myself, I love the feeling after a workout. It makes me feel strong and energized. Another way I have learned to manage my personal wellness is by maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Before, I would always bring my work home, which would extend for hours. Now, when I clock out, that’s it. This helps me gain more time for studies or free time. I’ve also learned to say no. I am a people pleaser, and it has always been hard for me to say no even if I have a lot on my plate. Now, I’ve learned to say no, when necessary, which helps me and the other person. By prioritizing self-care, managing time effectively, and maintaining a work-life balance, I have been able to enhance my personal wellness and set a strong foundation for my academic success. During the last semester of my junior year, I noticed a change in my productivity, grades, and mood. I am less exhausted and happier. Your personal wellness is something that is often overlooked because people are just living and working consistently. Though, when you stop and think about all of the hard work you’ve done and haven’t taken care of your body and mental wellness, that’s when you should consider change. Focusing on your personal wellness will give you a whole new perspective and mindset on life and will change you for the better, through personal experience.

Starting off, my plan was to go into consulting as a business management major. Going into the spring semester of my junior year, I received a message from Red Bull through Handshake to become an ambassador. During this time, I had no clue what that would intel, but I thought it would be so cool to work for the company. I accepted the position and loved it. At the time, I thought I was just showcasing Red Bulls products and telling students about them. Later when it was time to start applying for internships, my advisor told me I could put that on my resume as a marketing job. I never knew how connected being an ambassador for Red Bull was to sales and marketing. Being an ambassador, there’s constant communication and conducting interpersonal skills. I found out that I love interacting with people, building relationships, and persuading others. I enjoyed being able to create bonds, which is what I did being an ambassador. In this position, I had complete control of how I wanted to promote the products. I also really enjoyed that the position was always fast-paced, and I was able to be out instead of in an office environment. Saying this, my advisor made me realize I was doing exactly what the sales and marketing industry is doing. I realized I enjoyed the industry and decided to pursue it. My interest to pursue marketing is being able to impact and influence others. I strive when others have questions about what I am advertising because it makes me feel like I am doing my job well and making an impact. This also gives me the chance to communicate and build relationships with others. Coming into my freshman year, I was very shy and timid. I knew this trait would not leave me successful and I would miss out on opportunities because I was shy to speak up. Knowing this, I decided to join organizations to get out of my comfort zone. After joining an organization, I was later appointed to be on the executive board. Each executive board chair was required to host their own event. I decided to do a raffle giveaway. Due to me having complete control over the event, I had to walk up to students face to face and ask them if they would like to be entered in the giveaway. At the start of this meeting, I was so nervous and realized it was a bad idea being that I am shy. Though after connecting with a few students, I realized that I enjoyed going up and talking to students. I believe since I never had to do anything like this, I felt like I would automatically dislike it, which in fact I loved it. This not only pushed me to communicate but made me want to be even more active, which is why I started to become a brand ambassador for companies. I enjoyed showcasing products and teaching students about the products. It's even more exciting when you have an interest in the products that you are selling/marketing. The sales and marketing industry is so huge and really makes an impact on businesses. This is something that I wish I realized sooner so I could get more experience before graduating. Though I know if I get all the knowledge I can by continuing my education, I know I will be successful in landing a full-time job in the marking industry.