0 Cart
Added to Cart
    You have items in your cart
    You have 1 item in your cart
    Total
    Check Out Continue Shopping

    A Little Piece of You

    A PIECE OF CHELSEA'S STORY

    A PIECE OF CHELSEA'S STORY

    Meet Chelsea Medic - she graduated from Wheaton College and is now working in LA in media while running her very own soap-making business! Read more to get inspired by this easy-going girl.

    WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?

    I’ve been living here in Los Angeles, CA for about 2 years now (I grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA) and have been working at DreamWorks Animation for the past few months. I work as a Production Assistant for the show The Adventures of Puss in Boots which airs exclusively on Netflix.

    The Soap.Bar is coming close on its 1-year anniversary which I am really excited about! I am making tons of soap and will do some fun giveaways during that time. I am gearing up for some outdoor craft fairs and farmers markets and also prepping for my first wedding favor client (my sister, tee hee).

     

    WHAT'S YOUR DAILY ROUTINE TYPICALLY LOOK LIKE ON A WEEKDAY?

    A typical day is hitting the snooze button at least three times so I can ease my body into waking up because my sleeping habits are like a hibernating bear. After combatting the L.A. traffic, I get to work around 9AM and remain there until 6PM. My day at work usually consists of various meetings with directors, producers, writers, storyboard artists, designers, and animators trying to make each episode of our show awesome! A Production Assistant acts as a telephone wire of sorts between all the different departments of the show making sure they are communicating with one another, that they are in the loop of any changes, and that they are keeping to their deadlines. For example, if an animator has a question about how a certain prop is used in the episode, I can answer his/her question because I read the scripts and attend the storyboard meetings. I take notes during all of our meetings and distribute them to our other offices in India and Canada as well.

    My after-work activities vary day to day. I go to a church in Hollywood called RealityLA and attend a weekly bible study with my boyfriend and some friends. Working for DreamWorks includes free breakfast and lunch so naturally, I have to hit the gym a couple time a week to compensate for the over-eating. DreamWorks also has a movie theater on the campus and offers free screenings to employees, so my boyfriend and I like to attend those as much as possible; will be viewing The Jungle Book this week. I also volunteer at a non-profit fair trade store called Ten Thousand Villages once a week. And then when I’m not doing any of that, I will go home and make a soap that I have been day-dreaming about or package up a recent order. 

    WHAT IS IT LIKE LIVING ON THE WEST COAST WORKING FOR DREAM WORKS? DO YOU EVER GET TO MEET CELEBRITIES?

    Living in Los Angeles is so different from any place I’ve ever lived; the culture is very unique and exciting. When I was considering making the move, some people were skeptical if I would like it (I was too), and some would even tell me that Los Angeles is an evil city that had no place for Christians. I have found these things to be untrue. Many of the people that live in this city are like me: an out-of-towner taking a leap to follow their dreams.

    While I am really sad to be living so far from my family and friends, I really do love Los Angeles. Getting to know this city has been amazing! It’s also really weird living in the city of Hollywood and getting to see movies being made around me that millions of people around the world will watch. My friends here work on all kinds of television shows and movies that everyone watches on Netflix or sees in the theater. Audiences in movie theaters here almost always sit the whole way through the credits because they know someone that’s worked on the movie. It feels like a family almost.

    I am the most oblivious person ever! Celebrities are literally everywhere here. I never see them. They are always wearing hats and sunglasses, first of all. But Los Angeles is also one of the most populated cities in the U.S. sooo it’s still like reading an “I Spy” book. If you watch a lot of television, you are sure to find your favorite characters lurking about. Bruno Mars came to my work one day... I didn’t see him but I did get to finish his uneaten cheese and crackers. Oh! Oh! And I saw Twenty-One Pilots at church.

     

    WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL INSPIRATION FOR THE SOAP.BAR? WAS THERE A SPECIFIC MOMENT YOU KNEW YOU WANTED TO PURSUE IT?

    I get these bursts of creativity that happen every once in a while and the bursts are usually strong desires to do everything DIY. I am the worst customer when going to craft fairs because I ask all the vendors a million questions about their products and then I don’t buy anything from them because I leave thinking, “I can just make it myself!” Haha it’s the worst attitude and I usually never end up making those things. For some reason, soap has been the one thing that I really wanted to pursue. I had never had much interest in body products; I always hated going into those stores in the mall where people were spraying cupcake-scented body mist everywhere, pressuring you to sample the thick, sticky body butters, and then leaving with a headache and burning nostrils. However, when I saw the amount of creativity that goes into making soap and that I could actually manipulate the recipes to my skin’s and nostrils’ liking, I was ready to start making from scratch. My mom (the most creative person I know) bought me a recipe book and my neighbor walked me through how to make my first batch. That was about a year ago.

    The specific moment I knew I wanted to pursue it as a business was about a month after making my first few batches. I looked into my bank account....... and there was no money in it. Haha I am exaggerating, but I did spend a lot of my paychecks on soap supplies and ingredients. I would love to just give out all my products for free as gifts, but that just isn’t sustainable. My boyfriend, Lucas, helped me brainstorm and figure out all the logistics of starting a business, and about 3 months after making my first batch of soap, my online store was opened.

     

    WERE/ARE THERE ANY OBSTACLES YOU FACED WHEN STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

    Plenty! I literally had no idea how to start a business. I am still learning. There were so many things involved in this business that I didn’t think about: wrapping supplies, shipping supplies, business cards, website upkeep, professional photography, social media, domain names, paying taxes, etc. I overcame them by research and by asking for help on occasion. There is a huge community of artists starting their own business selling online. Tons of bloggers, tutorials, advise... they were my resource! I also had a handful of friends volunteering their gifts and talents to help me with whatever I needed: setting up for a market, taking photos, setting up my finance docs, etc. When feeling overwhelmed, I was happy to pass tasks along to people genuinely interested in helping.

    I also had to learn the ability to think and plan ahead because making soap is a four to six week process! Once the soap is made, it has to sit out and cure for at least one month before it is able to be used. If I want to make a special soap for a holiday or for a market, it needs to be designed and made six weeks in advance. I have missed out on holidays or have shown up to markets with low inventory because I didn’t plan. Life gets busy, and that’s okay. But it’s something I always have to remember!

     

    HOW DO YOU REPRESENT THE TRAIT EASY-GOING?

    I wouldn’t consider myself to be a high-maintenance or high-strung person; I’m not too picky or particular about things. Being an easy-going person, I tend to not get thrown off if things don’t go my way or the way I planned. I am able to adapt well to change and am not fazed by most problems. My personality is mostly relaxed and unworried.

    HOW DOES BEING EASY-GOING HELP AND/OR HURT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS? HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT?

    I think being easy-going helps me face obstacles or problems without getting upset; I am not easily ruffled. Lots of things go wrong when making soap, and at first I may have thought I ruined the product, but I keep on going and one of my “mistakes” ended up being my best-selling product. Being easy-going also comes with some cons... I am not very assertive or controlling so sometimes I take forever to get things done. I can be very indecisive about certain things or not push myself hard enough. Lucas has been a great help to me in this area because he is very much the opposite; he helps push me towards growing the business and getting things done. I try to teach myself these knew skills and ways of thinking about business; I know I will never be perfect but I do want to continue to grow my business.

     

    WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SCENT THAT YOU MAKE?

    I’m always making new products because there is always a new design or special ingredient I want to try. One of my best-sellers, Ocean Wave, is probably my favorite and it’s the one I will always restock. I like clean and fresh scents generally so that one is definitely my favorite. And as I said earlier, I completely messed up on Ocean Wave and it didn’t turn out anything like what I was imagining, but the mistake ended up being beautiful and now I do it on purpose.

     

    ASIDE FROM BEING EASY-GOING, WHAT ARE THREE OTHER PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

    I asked three different people to answer this for me and none of them had overlapping answers! I guess I’m a complicated person... NOT!

    I am very adventurous in that I love to travel to new places and try different outdoor activities that I’ve never done; I really want to go stand-up paddle boarding, so that is next on my list. Sassy would definitely describe my personality and my sense of humor; I’ve been told that I have very saucy facial expressions. Complimenting my easy-going trait, would be calm; I think I am a good listener and my calmness is a trait that people like to confide in.

    WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND GOALS FOR YOUR OWN FUTURE AND THE FUTURE OF THE SOAP.BAR?

    I am hoping that much of what I am doing right now is continued; I really love working for DreamWorks Animation and I love selling my soap. Once Puss In Boots is over, I imagine I will be placed on another show, perhaps as a Coordinator. I’d love to see my business grow and taking on more wholesale clients and making orders for weddings and showers. I’m not at all sure where I see myself beyond five years from now! I know God is taking care of me and I hope to follow His call for my life as an adult.

     

    WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WISH YOU COULD GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF IN HIGH-SCHOOL/COLLEGE?

    Don’t stop pursuing others and pursuing God.

     

    Check out more from Chelsea and The Soap.Bar below!

    The Soap.Bar

    Website | Facebook | Instagram

    Contact info: thesoapdotbar@gmail.com

    Chelsea

    Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest 

    Contact info: chelseajomedic@gmail.com

    0 comments

    A PIECE OF ALYSSA'S STORY

    A PIECE OF ALYSSA'S STORY

    Meet Alyssa Mcelheny, a photographer and soon-to-be owner/founder of Lamb Bride. She's a dreamer in so many ways, all of which relate to weddings. Read more below to get inspired by this passionate dreamer!

    WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?

    First of all, I'm so excited to be featured here on Pieces of Me. I'm a wedding and portrait photographer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I photograph about half of my work here in the Midwest and the other half around the rest of the globe (Japan, California, Florida, New York, Mexico, Colorado, etc.). Come May fifteenth, I'll be embarking on a new (but still wedding related) adventure. I'll be opening a bohemian bridal salon - LAMB BRIDE! In my free time, I also coach cross country and track.

    WHEN DID YOUR CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR JOURNEY FIRST BEGIN?

    I'd like to think my creative journey started in the spring of two thousand eleven. I was living in a small coastal fishing village on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. This city held such incredible beauty and I was frustrated with my ability to document and describe that beauty. Thankfully, I had brought a camera with me and I started to use that camera more and more frequently on my walks through the city and travels through the rest of Europe. Once I returned to the United States, I was so, so blessed to be able to intern with Jill DeVries Photography (www.jilldevries.net). This woman was and always will be one of my favorite photographers. Her knack for photographing light and emotion is unreal. She's also one of the most genuine people I've had the pleasure of knowing. This internship sparked my interest in and love for wedding photography. I also credit Jill and this work experience with my ability to branch out and to start booking weddings of my own. Today, it's my full time job and I wouldn't have it any other way. Being able to work with so many beautiful, unique, head-over-heels-in-love couples on their big days is such a dream.

    WHAT'S YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LOOK LIKE ON A TYPICAL WEEKDAY?

    I'll wake up early with my husband, Daniel, (he's a high school history teacher) and drive into work with him. We live on a lake about thirty five minutes outside the main hub of Grand Rapids so we really like to use just one vehicle during the day (for fuel efficiency's sake). From there, I usually go to a coffee shop to work on editing, send emails, or meet with a client. During this time I'm also running other errands - currently ones that deal with the opening of Lamb Bride in about two weeks (Yikes!). Once three o'clock comes, I'll rush over to the school where my husband teaches, pick him up, and we'll head over to another area high school to coach track and field and cross country for the afternoon. It's a blast to be able to do that together and the girls I coach are fantastic. I swear they're all so much cooler and more mature than I was as a high schooler. Once practice wraps up, Daniel and I head home (often grabbing a burrito on the way home). Once there, we'll watch some Netfilx, hang out on our lake, and hit the sack. It's a dream existence. 

    TELL US MORE ABOUT LAMB BRIDE AND HOW IT STARED? WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU?

    I've always been in love with weddings. I love the photos, the flowers, the desserts, the dancing, the love, and - of course - the gown. I've also found the wedding gown market here in Grand Rapids to be lacking (So much so that ordered my own wedding dress online from Stone Cold Fox - check them out!). That's why, in just a couple of weeks, I'll be opening my own bohemian bridal salon and event space, Lamb Bride, here in my hometown. I hope to offer brides gowns and designers (Rue De Seine, Daughters of Simone, Houghton NYC, Samantha Sleeper, Sarah Seven, Emily Riggs, Anna Campbell, Elizabeth Dye, Odylyne the Ceremony, etc.) that they'd currently have to travel to New York City or Nashville or Los Angeles to try. I'm so inspired by other bridal salons in bigger cities across the country like Alice in Ivory, Bash Bozeman, Lovely Bride, LOHO Bride, The Dress Theory, and Schone Bride. I hope to make LAMB the most unique, precious, boutique bridal experience possible. We'll also be renting out our all white, huge windowed, eclectic furniture filled space for bridal showers, wedding mornings, and small receptions. If you can't already tell, I'm besides myself with excitement. 

    WERE/ARE THERE ANY OBSTACLES THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO FACE SINCE STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM?

    There have totally been obstacles I've had to face in starting my own business. I've learned to be SO okay with asking questions. I've had to navigate the fun world of taxes and legality. These aspects of owning your own business are NOT fun to me so I've learned to pass those off to other professionals. Overcoming these obstacles was really quite simple once I learned to let go of my pride and need to do everything myself. I'm quite the type-A individual so this was no small feat for me. Delegate and ask questions, people. All day long.

    HOW DO YOU REPRESENT THE TRAIT DREAMER?

    Lamb Bride is the perfect example of the dreamer in me. I was in Brooklyn, New York last fall for a couple of engagement sessions with my close friend Erika DenHoed Griffith (www.maydenphotography.com). We were sipping on wine and downing some pizza under the stars and some little white lights when I first began to hash this idea out. We had worked on a styled bridal shoot earlier in the week (with Samantha Sleeper (www.samantha-sleeper.com)) and were gushing over her incredible gowns and the shop where they were housed (Schone Bride - www.schonebride.com). At that point I began imagining what such a shop would look like and do for the Grand Rapids wedding scene. Over our drinks and bites we began hashing the idea out. About six months from that day, the Lamb Bride concept is almost realized. I am making this dream a reality and it's still so unreal to me.

    SO, YOU ALSO HAVE YOUR OWN PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE TWO BUSINESSES?

    I guess we'll see, won't we! That might be the biggest unknown in this whole situation. Again, I'm realizing that I'm going to have to enlist a miniature army of help during the summer months (my busiest months, photo-wise). I'll be relying greatly on my sister (Carlie Penning) and mother (Jen Penning) this summer to help me get Lamb off of her four little hoofed feet. Once again, it comes down to letting that control freak side of me go a little bit and being willing to put my faith in others - super capable others, but others none the less.

    WHAT KIND OF HOPES AND GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF LAMB BRIDE?

    Aside from being a unique, destination bohemian bridal salon and event space (for small receptions, brides getting ready on their wedding morning, bridal showers, workshops, etc.), I would love for Lamb bride to be a gathering place of sorts for the modern, alternative wedding vendor community of Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids has bridal shows. That's for sure. However, these shows are ones that I myself and vendors similar to me in style have little to no interest in attending. These shows are fantastic and still, 1000% have merit; they just attract a more traditional sort of bride. I hope to host quarterly events for brides and vendors alike that want to work with and create a more bohemian, natural, effortless, organic wedding. I want to unite this community in Grand Rapids.

    YOUR LIFE REVOLVES AROUND OTHER PEOPLE'S WEDDINGS, WHAT DOES YOUR DREAM WEDDING LOOK LIKE?

    SUCH a good question. It would take place outdoors in the fall. The dress would be designed by either Houghton NYC or Odylyne the Ceremony. The ceremony would take place under a huge tree, decked out in all it's fall colors. The guests would be seated on wooden benches. There would be Moroccan rugs everywhere. The flowers (by Damsel Floral Co. (http://www.damselfloral.com/)) would be over the top and cascading. The groom would be in a dark emerald green suit. The men would each wear a suit (in black, navy, or a dark maroon) of their own choosing. The ladies would be in floor length, off-white bohemian gowns themselves. The bride and groom would be married under the tree. All guests would hold long, floral tapered candles. There would be so much love and laughter and happiness in this intimate space. The reception would be just next door in a grove of trees. Long strings of cafe lights would be strung between the trees. Mismatched tables and chairs would be sprinkled throughout the clearing. The tables would be full of dark greens and fall-hued blooms. Guests would feast on mac and cheese and brisket and wine and doughnuts.The party would last until the wee hours of the morning here. The bride and groom would then make their exit in a tiny white VW bug. I love pretty much all aspects of weddings, if you can't tell.

    ASIDE FROM BEING A DREAMER, WHAT ARE THREE OTHER PERSONALITY TRAITS THAT DESCRIBE YOU AND EXPLAIN HOW SO?

    I identify with being a leader. I'm the oldest child in my family and have always been the most like my father. I love to plan, take charge, and get things done. I'm creative. I like to come up with new, fresh ways to do things. I like to be on the cutting edge of my industry. I am most certainly passionate. I can't imagine doing anything else but what I'm doing. My job is NOT work to me. It's my (second) greatest love (second only to Daniel). I'm the luckiest girl in the world for getting to do what I'm obsessed with on a daily basis. 
    WHAT WOULD YOU BIGGEST PIECE OF ADVICE BE TO A YOUNG GIRL CHASING AFTER HER OWN DREAMS?
    Take that leap, lady! I'm more nervous than I can ever express about embarking on a new business venture. It's freaky - that's for sure. However, I knew that I would regret never trying. That's why I dream and do and lead and work and create. 
    Check out more LAMB BRIDE and Alyssa below!

     

    LAMB BRIDE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

    ALYSSA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

    *PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT:

    Justine Montigny 
    Jill DeVries 
    Abbey Moore 
    Tina Rae 
    Jeen Na  
    Tifani Lyn 
    Marta Berglund

    0 comments

    A PIECE OF JESSICA'S STORY

    A PIECE OF JESSICA'S STORY

    Meet Jessica Owen Stephens, from Cincinnati, Ohio. She's a design director for LPK and loves print and pattern design. We hope this story inspires you to discover your creative side!

    WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW? 

    Right now I am a full-time Design Director on the Print & Pattern team at LPK in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Print & Pattern team at LPK is a relatively new competency where we take a fashion approach to designing everyday goods. This allows us to create desire and resonate with our consumers in a new and exciting way.

    H

    SO, YOU ARE A DESIGN DIRECTOR AT LPK, WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

    Being a Design Director at LPK is about balance, creative confidence, vision, hard work and fun. As a Design Director I am in charge of leading a team of brilliant creatives to meet a project objective. I am charge of creating the vision with our trends partners, providing inspiration and making sure the work meets the client objectives. My day to day is ever-changing and involves internal kick-offs and reviews with client meetings.

    WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING FOR LPK IN SUCH A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT?

    The people. Coming to work every day and being surrounded by brilliant thinkers and talented designers pushes me to be the best version of myself, every day. This collaborative culture feeds the work and desire to deliver extraordinary thinking and creative.

    HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A CREATIVE PERSON? WAS THERE A MOMENT YOU KNEW THAT YOU WANTED TO GO INTO THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY?

    Growing up I didn’t know I was a “creative.” I had trouble in school and understanding what I wanted to be when I grow up. I went to UC on a whim to study fashion design and fell in love with being a designer. My internships led me to LPK where I was able to apply a Fashion Design process and thinking to work that wasn’t just clothes. Elaborate on this “fashion design process” and how you are able to apply it to packaging not just clothes.

    TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY/CAREER PATH THAT HAS BROUGHT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

    The University of Cincinnati co-op program gave me 6 different internships in the fashion and branding industries. I worked at companies like Old Navy, Gymboree and LPK. I spent my last two internships at LPK and fell in love with branding and applying my fashion background to a new output. I have been at LPK for seven years and have been apart of our Trends and Print & Pattern teams.

    HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY OUTSIDE OF YOUR JOB AND WORK?

    This is something I will always be striving to do. I find it hard to be creative outside of work due to timing and finding balance. It is my goal this year to create work outside of my career and put it into the universe. I am interested in doing my own surface design and applying that to an array of soft goods.

    ASIDE FROM BEING CREATIVE, WHAT OTHER TRAITS DO YOU USE TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

    Along with the creative trait I think I embody the ambitious, driven and leader traits. Ambitious because I have high standards for myself and have my eyes set on the future. This future vision helps guide and inspire me to be the best version of myself. Driven goes hand-in-hand with ambitious. The goals and standards I set for myself drive me to be a better creative and person. Lastly, leader is something my current roles offers me the privilege of doing and a trait I will continue to grow indefinitely.

    WHAT DOES THE TERM "BEING CREATIVE" MEAN TO YOU?

    Being creative can be a multitude of things… it can be thinking, designing, making art (with a multitude of mediums), solutions, etc.. Being a creative is an approach to a particular problem. I also believe that everyone is creative.

    WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS, HOPES & DREAMS? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE?

    To be a Creative Director and eventually have my own brand. I always have had the dream to work for myself. The brand I would love to create and build would evolve around my passion for pattern design and empower women in some sort of way.

    WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO ANOTHER YOUNG WOMAN ABOUT WORKING IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY AND EXPRESSING THEIR CREATIVITY TO THE WORLD?

    Work hard and trust your gut. I am a true believer that hard work pays off. I also believe that trusting yourself, your intuitions is one of your greatest strengths!

     

    Check out more Jessica below!

    Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest 

    Contact Info: Jessica.Owen.Stephens@lpk.com

     

     

    0 comments

    A PIECE OF ANDREA'S STORY

    A PIECE OF ANDREA'S STORY

    Today's story is all about Andrea. She's a D1 athlete studying psychology but getting there wasn't easy. We're hoping that this inspiring story will ignite yourself to do everything it takes to reach your goals just like she did!

    WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?

    Currently, I am finishing up my spring semester of junior year as a psychology major at San Diego State University. I am on the NCAA Division-I swim team at SDSU and currently we are in off-season, so I am training about 12 hours a week, 8 hours less than in-season, so it is a lot more laid back right now training wise! 

    SO YOU STARTED SWIMMING WHEN YOU WERE JUST A KID, HOW DID IT BECOME YOUR PASSION?

    I think I was 12 when my interest in swimming truly turned into a passion. I have been a competitive swimmer since I was 5 years old, I was able to float in the water on my own at 6 months old, before I was even able to walk. Since the beginning, I loved going to practice and getting to be on a team with all my friends, but the age of 12 is when I really started to dedicate my whole life to the sport of swimming. In middle school, I started to swim 20 hours on a local club team. I was a state champion at the age of 13 for Michigan Swimming in the 100 yard backstroke and then my freshman year in high school, I was the Michigan High School Division 1 state champion in the 100 backstroke as well. These two moments are when my passion grew into something more than I ever thought it would turn into. This was also the time when I decided that my goal was going to be to become a Division-I collegiate swimmer.

    WHAT OBSTACLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME IN YOUR SWIMMING CAREER?

    There have been two major obstacles that I have had to overcome over the past few years. The first obstacle happened during the summer before my senior year of high school. I was hit by a drunk driver. The doctors at the hospital and the fire fighters who cut my out of the car both told me that if my car hadn't had side air bags, I would have died that sunny afternoon when I was hit. I was in the hospital for seven hours and thankfully all that happened to me was that I was diagnosed with severe soft tissue damage, something that could only be fixed with time. I wasn't allowed to swim for quite awhile, but I was definitely determined to still reach my goal of becoming a division one swimmer. It was hard to get recruited by schools once I told them that I hadn't been swimming or training barely at all during my senior year of high school, but I was lucky enough to find a coach that believed I could still succeed in the pool. I committed to Western Kentucky University in November of my senior year of high school; I had reached my goal!

    The second obstacle that came my way tested my character an extreme amount. It was the end of my sophomore year at WKU. On April 14th, 2015, our team was suspended for five years due to hazing allegations, which majority of the allegations were proven to be completely false or extremely exaggerated. My heart was torn into pieces when this happened. The people on my team were my family and no one deserved what happened to us. At that point, I had to decide whether to transfer to another school and continue my swimming career, or stay at WKU and complete my psychology degree there. I didn’t want to leave my teammates at WKU or my boyfriend, who was also on the team but decided he was going to stay at WKU. It ultimately came down to the fact that I was determined to complete my goal of wanting to be a collegiate athlete for 4 years. I wanted to say that I finished, that I did it. That meant I had to go through the recruiting process all over again. Over the next few weeks, I talked to many coaches and went to visit some more schools. My second trip was to San Diego State. I loved the girls on the team at SDSU and I was offered a great scholarship, so I decided I would complete my swimming career at San Diego State University. And that is where I am now!

    HOW DO YOU REPRESENT THE TRAIT DETERMINED?

    I feel like I represent the trait determined very strongly because of my passion to do whatever it takes to succeed. Not only in swimming, but in academics and my relationships as well. I know how to put my head down and push through anything. At practice when we have a hard set, I grit my teeth and think about the end goal. When I don’t want to study for a test, I think of my dream of getting my Ph.D in Sport Psychology. I am committed to reaching my goals and if I fall short I know I will be disappointed, so that is why I work so incredibly hard day in and day out. Also, because I am so far from all my friends and family in Kentucky and Michigan, it takes a lot of dedicated work and time to stay in touch with them all. Being in a long distance relationship of 3,000 miles also takes a lot of dedication, trust and determination to make it work! Even though its extremely hard, it is one hundred percent worth it and that’s what motivates me to keep all my relationships strong. 

    HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN A DETERMINED PERSON? WAS THERE A DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT MADE YOU AS DETERMINED AS YOU ARE TODAY?

    I think I have always had determination within myself, there is no real defining moment I can pick out. When I was ten years old or so, I made a shadow box of my dream of getting first place in the olympics (which is still sitting on my shelf in my bedroom at home in Michigan). I also was very adamant at always having goals set for my future. I always had my goal times set at the beginning of the swimming season that were always in the back of my mind during every practice. As I grow older, I truly think that I have grown as a person and with that my determination has grown stronger. I think that where I have grown the most is within my education. Now that I know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life, and how to get there, I am working hard every day to reach that goal.

    HOW DO YOU USE YOUR DETERMINED PERSONALITY ON A DAILY BASIS?

    Every day I use my determined personality to simply get out of bed with a positive attitude. I am really big on positivity and I truly believe you will not grow into a better, more mature, person if you are negative about life. My determination follows me through my passion of swimming. Especially right now in off-season, I have no meets that I am training for at the moment, so it is a little tough to be training now because there is no “end in sight.” But my determined and goal-oriented personality is always thinking about the bigger picture. I also work hard at school and my future every day which is definitely another way I used my determined personality.

    DO YOU FIND THAT YOUR DETERMINATION RUBS OFF ON OTHERS? HOW SO?

    Yes! Positive attitudes are always contagious and determination definitely falls into the category of positivity! To be a good leader, it is important to be determined. As an upcoming senior on my swim team, it is crucial to be a good role model for the younger girls on the team, especially for the new freshman coming in. Being a determined athlete as well as a student rubs off on others because everyone wants to succeed. I think my determination specifically rubs off on others because my kind of determined attitude is not overwhelming or intense, it is fun. The happiest and most successful athletes are the ones having fun and enjoying every second of the experience and that is what I try to do every day.

    WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION AND HAVE THEY INFLUENCED YOU TO BE A DETERMINED PERSON?

    My greatest inspirations are definitely my parents, hands down. My dad swam at Oakland University, a university in Michigan, and there he was 28 time All-American and he finished top ten in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the Olympic Trials in 1988. Hearing my dad’s amazing stories at a young age of all his achievements really inspired me to be like him. It sparked my determination to be successful in the sport of swimming just like my dad was. My mom swam as well, but she influenced me to be a determined person in a different way. She started telling me at a very young age, “the mind is a powerful thing.” Her wise words helped me through a lot of hard practices and a lot of hard obstacles I had to face throughout my life. I still hear her saying “mind of matter!” in my head on a daily basis during practices.

     WHAT ARE YOU GOALS, HOPES AND DREAMS? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE?

    With one year left of swimming, I hope to finish on a strong, positive note. Yes, of course it would be amazing to drop time and go to NCAA’s, the fastest meet in the world. If it doesn’t happen, of course I will be disappointed in myself. But I think my determination has shifted focus now that I am realizing that I am so close to the end of my 17 year swimming career. I am determined to have fun with my teammates during my last season at San Diego State.

    After swimming, and after graduating with a psychology degree from SDSU, my goal is to attend a Masters program for Sport Psychology and then go on to earn my Ph.D. in Sport Psychology. I hope to start my own private practice in Tennessee, where I will start a family and have the satisfaction of having my dream job of working as a Sport Psychologist. I look forward to helping athletes of all ages and at all different levels to realize the power of the mind - something that helped me through a lot of hard times throughout my many years in athletics.

    WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH OTHER WOMAN WHO MIGHT ALSO BE FACING A DIFFICULT OBSTACLE IN THEIR LIFE LIKE YOU HAD?

    I know it is extremely cliche, but my piece of advice is “Everything happens for a reason.” God has a plan for each and every one of us. If your life isn’t okay, then it isn't the end! Everything will get better even if it seems like there is no way that it could. There is a positive to everything that happens in life, even if it takes a little bit longer to realize it. After my car accident, it opened my eyes to a whole new respect and appreciation for life. After my team was suspended I thought my whole world was crashing down. But now, after both instances, I am on my feet and stronger than ever. Every situation, good or bad, helps you to grow into the woman you were meant to be.

    Check out more Andrea on social media below!

    TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

    Twitter: @drea_vandermey

    Instagram: @andrea_vandermey

     

     

     

     

    0 comments

    A PIECE OF ALYSSA'S STORY

    A PIECE OF ALYSSA'S STORY

    Meet Alyssa, she's anything but shy. She's a senior at BGSU about to graduate with an ambitious dream and goal called Comfort Covers. Read all about how she stays confident and get inspired to be self-assured just like her!
    WHAT ARE YOU UP TO RIGHT NOW?

    I'm currently finishing up my last year at Bowling Green State University. I am graduating in May with my BFA in Graphic Design. I currently plan to find a design job within the area of my hometown, as well as launch Comfort Covers within the next few months. I am hopefully Comfort Covers will be a success, and look forward to helping families, care providers and people living with dementia benefit from Comfort Covers.

    SO YOU JUST COMPLETED THE HATCH AT BGSU - WHAT WAS YOUR PITCH? WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE AND HOW HAS IT SHAPED YOUR FUTURE? 

    I pitched my business venture Comfort Covers for The Hatch. Comfort Covers are developed for people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers, for the purpose of guiding comforting conversations of memory-based exchanges. The Hatch was an incredible experience, giving me a crash course in business in just 10 weeks! The Hatch has opened so many doors for me. I have been blessed through this experience to receive support from many people, as well as having strangers share their personal stories about their family going through the transition of having a member with dementia and how it affects them. The opportunities given to me after The Hatch has definitely shaped me today, and I am hopeful it will continue to shape me in the future with all of the interested families and nursing homes I currently am in contact with.

    HOW DO YOU REPRESENT THE TRAIT CONFIDENT?

    I have never been a shy girl, I have always been an outspoken person. I think those traits of mine make up my confidence, being self-assured. Believing in my ideas and myself is a huge part of confidence to me. There are days self-doubt wants to take over but my confidence shines through any doubt and it truly shows in presentation.

    HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN SO CONFIDENT? WAS THERE A DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU BECAME CONFIDENT?

    I think many people struggle with confidence, especially when we try to figure out who we are and what our purpose is. I can remember when I would completely shut down as a teen, trying to figure out who I am was hard for me. When I got to high school and college is when I started taking on the confident trait. Now when I think of new design ideas I stand up tall and confident when talking about them. I don’t doubt my work since Comfort Covers. Comfort Covers taught me confidence and owning it! I learned that confidence shines through more than anything, even if your scared or have a little self doubt… training your mind that you believe in yourself will make yourself come off more confident and you will soon start to own it.

    HOW DO YOU USE YOUR CONFIDENT PERSONALITY ON A DAILY BASIS?

    I let my confidence shine daily through creating. Developing new ideas and exploring new possibilities for all of my design projects including Comfort Covers.

     DO YOU THINK YOUR CONFIDENCE RUBS OFF ON OTHERS? HOW SO?

    I truly believe my confidence rubs off on others. There are things people worry about on a daily basis, being able to take the same situation and come off completely confident calms others down and they soon relax and pick up the confidence they always had, just didn’t believe in. I think confidence is a trait everyone has, we just have to uncover it. Believing you are confident will ultimately make you a more confident person. I can remember in high school being the only girl on an all guys hockey team, I needed to be confident, I was representing all girls. I had many girls sending me emails about how I made them see girls can do anything guys can and how my bravery and confidence encouraged them to want to be more confident. That alone was a powerful experience and making a difference made me realize the importance of my confident trait.

    ASIDE FROM HAVING A CONFIDENT PERSONALITY, EXPLAIN HOW YOU ARE, BOLD, LOYAL, and CREATIVE?

    Bold is another trait that branches off of confident. Being bold means holding your head high. I have always been a person of action, which shines through being bold. Bold can mean so many different things like confident, another way I feel I am bold is having a strong/vivid appearance. I feel looking professional makes people take you more serious as well as makes you feel better while creating.

    I have always been a loyal person. I am loyal to my family, friends, and myself through my work. Having strong morals and goals helps my loyal trait shine. I am the person who always shows firm and consistent support to those who need it. Being loyal is something I pride myself in being, I enjoy that I can be the person others count on to be there to get the job done. Being loyal shows lot of discipline and self-determination.

    I have been a creative person for as long as I can remember. I truly believe “creative” was the first trait I noticed about myself and how others viewed me. I was constantly creating and coming up with ideas as a kid. I would never leave the house without my drawing pencils and sketchbook. I can remember being a little girl and going to the zoo with my family, of course I had to take my sketchbook and pencils with me. I drew every single animal I saw at the zoo. My family would sit there and wait for me to be done drawing. Every animal I would draw would be so calm as if they were posing for me (so I was convinced!) I will always be creative, I just explore different ways I can push my creativity everyday.

    WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCES YOU TO BE A CONFIDENT PERSON? 

    I would have to say Jenn Stucker is a huge part of my confident personality. Jenn is an amazing design professor who is extremely talented. Throughout the creation of Comfort Covers she worked with me as a mentor, she taught me so much about believing in my work and myself. I can see how different my attitude is about my work and myself as a person now. I always want to show off my confidence in everything I do now. I think it’s important to come off confident and show you believe in what your saying or doing. Confidence relaxes people knowing they can rely on you to pull through strong.

    HOW DOES YOUR CONFIDENCE INFLUENCE YOUR GRAPHIC DESIGN WORK? DO YOU SEE IT AS A DRIVING FORCE IN TRYING NEW IDEAS?

    I think being confident allows me to explore so many more options in my design work instead of shutting it down from the start of concept. When getting in front of people to talk about my work I can see that my confidence is what people notice first, then they see I know what I am talking about and connect to my work easier. No one knows my work like I do, so being able to present it in a confident manor allows me to engage the viewer.

    WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS, HOPES, AND DREAMS? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THE FUTURE?

    In the future I plan to continue creating works that can make a difference in peoples lives like Comfort Covers. I feel Comfort Covers showed me I had confidence in myself the whole time and just needed to believe it. One huge goal of mine is launching Comfort Covers and getting the word out about the company and why it’s a valuable product. As dementia will continue to grow, tripling in 2050 this is something that needs to be approached with a positive outlook, which is why I created Comfort Covers. I hope to spread comfort and confidence in everything I continue to do.

     WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE THINGS YOU COULD TELL OTHER WOMEN ABOUT BEING CONFIDENT, OR ADVICE THAT YOU COULD GIVE?

     I truly believe confidence reduces stress, once I let my confidence take over I had nothing to stress about because I knew I could accomplish what I was stressing over. Confidence is simply being self assured. If you don’t believe you have confidence in you then you are soooooo wrong! If you truly believe in something that’s showing confidence. Confidence ranges in so many ways. One thing to remember that its always important to hold your head high, people won’t mess with you if you do so. Even if you feel like you aren’t confident on days keep holding your head high, no one will question if you truly are or faking it. Truth is, there is no faking confidence, once you hold your head high your body language tells your brain “hey I got this and I’m going to kill it!” Believe in confidence and it will show.

     

    Find out more about Alyssa and her Comfort Covers below!

    WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

    Contact: alyssa@alyssabatch.com

     

    0 comments