It’s crazy that it has almost been a year since I started this blog. It’s exciting for me to see how much work I’ve put into it and how much work I plan to continue to pour into it. A month ago I made a promise that this Summer was going to be about focusing on me and my career and this blog is a huge part of that! Along with my blog, I’m also focusing on being more independent and figuring out what I want for myself post college.

This last week I had the opportunity to visit various retailers in the Seattle area with my class and it was incredibly awesome! I love being able to meet people in the fashion industry who started their business in the Pacific Northwest and to see where their company is at now. It also made me do a lot of reflecting on where I want my career to head. When I toured the Zumiez headquarters I was reminded of how much I loved skater fashion as a kid and how that culture continues to influence my taste. And then there were some retailers that reminded me of why I refuse to work in fast fashion. When I toured the office and met the owner of Prairie Underground I left even more determined to continue to pursue a career in the sustainable and ethical side of the fashion industry. But while I know what I want, I’m still trying to figure out how to get it.

People used to tell me I was lucky I knew exactly what I wanted to do but what they didn’t know is that I had absolutely no idea how I would do it. I knew I wanted to study abroad but it took me 2 years to figure out how on earth I would accomplish it. I knew I wanted to major in Fashion Merchandising but that was 3 years of constantly struggling to just pass all my classes. And now here I am, interning full time and working on my blog and I have no clue what’s next.

College is kind of a bubble and it’s a breath of fresh air to finally be out but then you’re left without a road map and no direction on where to go. It’s honestly terrifying! And don’t even get me started on the student loan refund safety net…

But I think finding my own path and figuring out what I want is more exciting and much more educational than any class I ever took. I think the most important part is finding the confidence to know I can do anything I set my mind to. The above photo shows my planner and that quote on the first page might be extremely cliché, but it’s also really important and completely true. It’s something I have to remind myself of whenever life gets too crazy or if I feel disheartened.

Right now I know that I want to be a blogger and I know I want to keep traveling. I don’t know how those things will happen but I know I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they do.

For the time being, I’m going to continue to just do what I love: work in fashion, eat good food, and travel the world.