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The Time I Got Sage Advice (From a Crazy Scotswoman) on the Train
I’ve been fortunate enough to meet interesting people in the most serendipitous of ways. This is the story about how I got some powerful advice from one of them. When I was studying abroad in London, I spent half my week taking classes at UNC’s Winston House and half my week working in Reading for Bullitt Group Ltd. The commute to and from Reading took me about an hour each way, and my rides home would often involve looking out at the sunset through the train window. I’d often get to Paddington Station for the last leg of my journey and find crowds of people all trying catch the 5.30pm train home. On one particular Thursday afternoon, the…
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My Journey with Mental Health
Today’s blog post wasn’t easy to share, but the purpose of having a platform and a voice is to use them to share stories, even the difficult ones… I was seventeen when I was diagnosed with Depression. At the beginning of my senior year of high school, my Wellness teacher had us all complete a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). It was basically a form that we used to self-assess our wellness in order to determine if there was greater cause for concern or not. After reviewing our HADS results, she called me to her office. I had scored highly on both anxiety and depression. (This was not the…
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My Big Obsession with Tiny Homes
There is something intriguing about being able to build a home that is cute, affordable and eco-friendly. I first became interested in tiny homes when I decided to entertain my mother’s idea about watching HGTV’s “Tiny House, Big Living.” She is obsessed with home and garden design shows and has done everything in her power to get me to follow suit. In the summer of 2018, she finally succeeded. Together, my mother and I watched countless episodes of people searching for the perfect tiny homes across the US. Some of them were less-than-ideal, with cramped spaces and no storage (that’s a no from me, dawg). But others were fantastic, boasting…
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Friendships: Expectations vs. Reality
I’ve made and lost friends over the years. I’m sure we all have. All my experiences have led me to better understand the kind of friend that I am and the kind of friends that I want to have. Today’s post is all about challenging the expectations we have about how friendships are going to be and accepting the ways that they often are. People are complicated, so nothing is ever straightforward, and that’s totally okay. Expectation #1 : We’re going to be friends forever! Reality: The good news is that this is actually possible, but it doesn’t just happen. People change, so in order to stay friends with someone…
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The Cute Cafe in Carrboro That’s Stolen My Heart
Napoli has it all: delicious drinks, handmade gelato, fresh pizza and friendly staff! In September 2018, a new cafe opened up on East Main Street in Carrboro. Every time I’d be on the bus home, I’d look out the window and see the aesthetically-pleasing cafe in all its hipster glory. I knew that I had to go there. When I finally made my way through the lime green door that leads to Napoli Cafe, my life was changed. They have so many wacky (and tame) gelato flavors to choose from and they all seem to taste good! I tend to play it safe with my desserts but when I first…
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Why Netflix’s “Sex Education” is Actually Educational
Sex Education is the current craze of the Netflix world, starring Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey. It’s a British TV show set around the life of 16-year-old Otis Milburn who’s mother is a sex therapist. Using the tips and tricks he’s picked up along the way, Otis starts up a sex therapy clinic for students at his school with the help of resident “bad girl,” Maeve Wiley. Everyone at the school is between the ages of 16 and 18, and they’re all going through some major (and awkward) life changes. The story – in a hilarious and slightly uncomfortable way – goes through the whole process of learning…
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A Sucker For Love
I am a sucker for love. Some would even say that I’m love’s biggest fan. My love for love runs so deeply that I cry pretty much every time Perfect by Ed Sheeran plays on the radio. I can’t help it! I think that the idea of selflessly caring for another being – be it your mother, lover, friend or dog – is beautiful. Love is one of the few things that every human being will experience at some point in their lives, and in a completely different way from everyone else. Romantic love is scary, because you’re basically agreeing to be completely vulnerable with someone who doesn’t have to…
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Thoko’s Take on Body Positivity
I am a writer for an online publication called The Bridge. It’s a magazine documenting the experiences and thoughts of women of color at UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University. Here is an article I wrote towards the end of last semester about loving our temples (that’s what I call bodies). The journey to appreciating yourself will be long and arduous, and sometimes lonely. These are some of my tips to get you started, but by no means do you have to follow any of these steps to a T. Criticize these. Adapt them. Adopt them. Chuck some out. Add your own in. It’s your journey. Find beautiful and empowered womxn…
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My Thoughts on Studying Abroad
The last 5 years of my life have been one long study abroad experience. I added to that experience by participating in the UNC Honors Semester in London in the Spring of 2017. I had the most amazing time there, and London remains one of my favorite places in the world. When I got back, I was interviewed by the Undergraduate Admissions team. Here are a few of my thoughts on studying abroad. Why you picked this program: I had always wanted to live in London and the program was the perfect opportunity for me to do so. The diversity of the city is something that I’ve always been drawn to…
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Summer Internship 2017 – Mauritius
My high school, African Leadership Academy, was founded on the premise of creating the next generation of African leaders. The intention was for us to learn about emotional intelligence, and ethical leadership and entrepreneurship so as to forge a better path for our continent. The founder of my high school decided to start up a university to continue these lessons into tertiary education and that is how the African Leadership University began in 2015. After a long and amazing semester in London, I got on a plane and headed to a tiny island in the Indian Ocean called Mauritius. The country is truly beautiful, boasting sandy beaches and coral reefs.…
