It is the last day of 2014 which can only mean that this is my last day of countdowns. I've decided to make this a more personal list, deeming it my top 10 moments of this year. I feel this will make for great reflection on my life for myself and hopefully inspire some of you to do some reflecting yourself. Here we go!
10. Midday Madness Coordinator
This past semester I was promoted at my college radio station, MyWCWP, to Midday Madness Coordinator. Midday Madness is our lunch time radio show. At my school we have something called a common hour where basically everyone has off at that time to eat lunch, have club meetings, study, etc. During this time the radio station puts on Midday Madness playing top 40 music or any requests from the students. Some days we even have live DJ's its great. Basically my job is to hire talent, schedule interviews with other organizations on campus that want to get the word out over radio, gather news for a news segment, etc you get the point. Basically I'm producer of the show and thats such an honor for me. I'm a mere sophomore at school and I already have such a high position. This was a real highlight.
9. I Quit My Job
For some this may not seem like a great moment and for about 2 months after I did this, I felt some financial pain. I was working at a frozen yogurt shop for over a year and towards the end, I really just felt I had to get out of there. This semester I thought would be a great time to do so except when I did I was spending $80 in gas every week commuting to school. I did not have the budget for it, but I had gone through something. I noticed I was happier broke, than working. When you're at a dead end job like that, it makes it really hard to work there. The people were awful, the managers didn't give a hoot and the customers made me want to rip my hair out (and I really love my hair). When I left, I had the biggest sigh of relief. When you're surrounded by that for so long, it takes a toll on your happiness. I want to wake up every morning and be happy to go to work. Thats why I go to school. I now work at a trampoline sports center and could not be happier as a party host. Until of course I get my big break in radio.
8. I Cleared Up My Skin
For about a year and a half, my face had been the worst it's ever been. It was to a point where it was so out of control, I felt I couldn't even save it anymore. Then I became insecure noticing how everyone else's skin was flawless and I was the only girl in college with horrible acne (not true thats just how I felt). Over the summer I saw the best dermatologist I've been to. She (well the medicine she prescribed) cleared up my acne by the time the next semester started and I've never felt more prettier (complexion wise). I still have some scarring and what not, so yeah I'm still wearing lots of makeup and I'm not where I want to be, but I came a long way and I couldn't feel greater about that this year.
7. I Cut Out The Baggage
Old friends, or as I like to call them baggage. I cut them all out minus a few. See there were a few people in high school I was friends with, who at the time (I didn't notice) were completely toxic. Of course, I knew who the bad friends were I wasn't dumb ever, regardless of what they might think, but I kept them around. Cutting them out of my life couldn't have been a better decision. There were just a select bunch that were just horrible to me, they weren't friends, they were trying to cause drama and raise hell every second they could and tried involving me. I don't need those people in my life anymore and they never needed me. I'm in such a good place in my life that they are just so.. irrelevant. They don't fit in my life and I don't even care to lose them. Surprisingly, I'm talking about all my guy friends from high school which is nice to hear for once. The girls have stayed very good to me which, I'm happy about.
6. Total Access Coordinator
Total Access at MyWCWP is the 2 hour Top 40 show that you can hear me live on every week. I was also promoted to coordinator of Total Access as well and for some reason I feel more attached to this show. It's just me on the show and when I graduate this is what I want to be doing in the real world, so I'm enjoying the heck out of it. I get artist interviews, hire talent, and jam out to new music every half hour (that's when we premiere new songs before every other radio station in the country). It's a lot of fun and I can't wait for the Spring semester for it to go in to full effect.
5. I Tried A Macaron
A very light hearted silly moment, but for those who love those colorful Macarons you know that the experience is life changing. For a while I went to this place in a village near by called 'Kiss My Cake' and it's this cute little pastry shop where I tried my first one. Occasionally I still go in but, I also go to By Woops which basically only sells macarons and those are heaven as well. Macarons have become my favorite desert ever this year and I can't believe I went my whole life without them (cue end of dramatics)! My favorite flavor is Pistachio, just in case you wanted to get me an early birthday present.
4. I Started Blogging
Though my time on Blogger has been very short, I had my original blog 'Onyx' since June/July. From there, I realized what I wanted out of blogging and what it would do for me and my future, so I decided to change platforms. I moved to blogger, and I have to say, traffic has been slower but, the experience much better. This is about me now, not 'Onyx'. I spent a while trying to build a brand. Now I don't need that, it's all me and who I am and what I like and I love it more. People on here share the same interests as me and, well, its a community. I hope to carry this out for a while.
3. My Summer Internship at Q1043
Over the summer, I had an amazing opportunity to intern with Jonathan Clarke, on-air personality and host of 'Out Of The Box' at Q1043 in NYC. Q is part of the iHeartMedia Group and I had the best summer going to free shows (5 Seconds of Summer, Theory of a Deadman) and meeting celebrities (Taylor Momsen *cries*). Even though Q is the classic rock station here in New York, I highly enjoyed it as I have a love for classic rock as well. Originally, I had been told I was too young to intern by my school and didn't have enough experience (I was just finishing freshman year). I know what I'm capable of though, and I took the internship, got college credit, and by the end Jonathan deemed me his best intern yet. I don't let anything or anyone stop me from doing what I want and this internship proved that case. I work to the best of my availability, I pay attention, and I learn. Jonathan taught me not only industry related things, but life lessons (even if he doesn't know it). Working for him improved not only my radio/editing skills but my self motivation. I had one of the best summers thanks to that internship and it took me from a caterpillar to a butterfly in just months. If only it was a permanent thing.
2. I Met Peter
Alright so technically I met Peter in 2013 at WCWP. It wasn't until 2014 when I really got to know him though. Around March this year, I created a relationship with Peter that I had yet to really experience with anyone. We had a special bond right from the beginning. He made me laugh, he made me feel comfortable around him, but most of all he was a great friend. By the end of March we went on our first date and from then on we've been dating. Peter has been a huge part of my life this year. I don't go a day without speaking to him and I find myself planning days around him. When I hang out with other people I want him there. He is truly my best friend. I know we won't be together forever, this isn't like that and I'm very realistic about our relationship and so is he. We have our own paths we want to go on for a bit after college and stuff but, one thing I know for sure is I made a life long best friend. I love this boy to death and it brings me to tears to even write about him 'cause no one gets him like I do and I just see what an incredible human being he really is. I met someone this year that has changed my life forever even if what we have is temporary. I like to call him the Peter to my Wendy because I will always love him, even if the meaning changes.
1. Self Realization
I think this has been a year coming now but I've never been more sure of myself and my life than I am now. My self-realization never really happened in one moment but it happened this year and regardless of how long it took, I'm just glad it happened. I know what I want in life. I want to be a radio personality, I want my own TV show eventually, I want to travel, I want to be successful and I've figured out my own way how to do all of it. I know who I am. I'm smart and beautiful in my own way, I understand my capabilities and what might be too much for me, and I know how I and my body work. I know what I have to do to be happy. I'm starting my training for a 5k (the color run) so I can not only be in shape, but accomplish something fulfilling. I know who I need in my life and who I don't. I know what I love in this world most. I know so much about myself after this year, and this is the most I've learned about myself in my entire life. I found something I'm good at and something I can be. I learned how to make myself happy and not relying on petty things to do it for me. The only way you can be who and what you want is by realizing whats holding you back and the only thing that was, was myself. Now that I know what was in my way, I can move on and do the things I want in life most and that is just pure and utter happiness. The best part in knowing I'm on my way there.
This was a bit lengthy and I apologize, it's just there were so many great things that happened to me this year, small and big, and they all meant so much. Especially the macarons. I felt this was something I had to do. I needed to reflect on myself in some way, whether publicly or privately. Its very liberating to understand what I have accomplished this year alone, in writing. 2014 was the greatest year of my life to date and I only wish the same and more for 2015. What were somethings you all accomplished this year?
-- Samantha Jo xo
