starringpamela

Upcoming Changes!

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to update you on some changes I’m expecting to make in regards to this blog and my life in general.

First, I wanted to thank everyone. I reached 600 followers on Tuesday! So if you’ve supported me along the way, thank you! I do appreciate every like, comment, follow, and every one of you!

Now back to the big change! So for a few posts now I’ve mentioned I applied to an MBA program. Today I’m happy to say that I was accepted to the MBA program at Elmhurst College and will start classes in the fall! So thank you to everyone who wished me luck throughout the way.

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I don’t know if it has fully hit me yet. Honestly it all happened quite fast at the end. I put it off for months as I was worried I’d be rejected (remember when I first mentioned this back in March), finally got all 3 recommendations and my statement of purpose in 1 day before the deadline last week Friday, had my interview on Wednesday, and was accepted five minutes into the interview! Next thing I knew, I was sitting in the Founder’s Lounge at an admitted students reception with my new classmates and a glass of wine in my hand. That’s why I love EC, it always feels like home! 

I’m expecting a lot of changes both on my blog and in my life because of this. I’m excited to start this new chapter of my life but some of the changes I’m going to make aren’t as happy for me. This is quite long and a bit rambly. You’ve been warned!

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What’s changing for my blog?

In terms of the blog I will do my best to continue to post 5 days a week but I cannot promise this will continue to happen. Ultimately I’m going to put school before my blog for the next two years, as much as I dislike that idea. My blog is very, very important to me. It started as a hobby and has turned into my passion, but I am going to focus on school. My goal is straight A’s! So I’m going to do my best but my posts may be shorter, or I may have to repost older content.

I’m going to ask that everyone please be patient as I try to figure out what a good balance between work-school-blog will be for me. This is the first time in my life that I’ll be working and going to school as well. I’ve been very fortunate but this does make me a little nervous. I’m pretty good at time management so I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out but if I take a little longer to respond to your comments, please don’t think I’m ignoring you! I generally have tried to respond by the next day at the latest and will continue to aim for the same goal. If you have any tips for me on how to balance a full time job, part time school, and full time blog, please share them with me!

As school will be a big expense for me, I will not be going self-hosted any time soon. I had hoped to do this by the end of the calendar year but I am going to use what I would have spent to make the change towards my school books or tuition instead. I’m disappointed but it is what it is.

I do expect I’ll be blogging about my MBA experience and that is something I’m excited about! I was thinking of doing this kind of post on Fridays but I don’t think it would be every week. I’m thinking maybe once a month?  I can recap what happened in class a bit (not the boring school work, but like the fun part of course), give you an explanation of what to expect in the coming week (if I have exams I likely won’t have time to post so I’d give you a heads up), and in case someone is out there thinking about doing an MBA program I could help them know what to expect and do posts on how to select a program or what you need for class, etc. Let me know if this is something you’re interested in!

In terms of my new YouTube channel, well, my goal has been 1-2 videos per month. July has had 1 video and I wasn’t sure if I might do a 2nd video yet so I will keep this goal. I might instead do my MBA updates as videos. I’d love to share a “what’s in my school bag” video once I’m settled in the routine or a back to school haul (likely will be tiny but fun?) for the year. Ooooo or what about a “week in my life” or an overview of the application process?  I’m going to play it by ear.

I promise I’m going to try to keep the MBA content to a minimum but this is something I am excited about and I’m sure my life will revolve around it for the next two years!

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What’s changing in my life? (And how does it affect my blog?)

In terms of my life, well, this is a lifestyle blog and a lot of what I talk about is about are things that’s happening in my life! I’m a little nervous about not having interesting things to share with you. I love having my little hobbies and talking about them here.

However time and money are going to limit me now. The books I read are usually from the library, so free! But I’m sure I’m going to be reading my school assignments instead now. Hopefully I still make my Goodreads goal of 50 books! I’ve read 35 already and maybe I can sneak in some children’s books if I’m desperate? Hahaha I’m totally going to start a reading club for children’s books. You have a month to read Green Eggs and Ham everyone! Next month’s book of the month is Madeline so start requesting the books from your library now!

All my fun, random hobbies that I’ve done will likely be on hold. I already stopped taking equestrian lessons so I won’t start those again, my ballet class is ending so I doubt I’ll sign up for another class (unless it’s offered at the same price because it’s really quite cheap), and I likely won’t start anything new. Ah well. I love finding new things to learn but when I’m done with school maybe I’ll sign up for three things at once to make up for it!

I’m sure I won’t be renewing my season subscription to Broadway in Chicago and that I won’t be going to many musicals once this season and the next are done in February. I might try to make an effort to do so but I doubt I’ll have much extra to spend. I might try to see if I qualify for student tickets or try last minute tickets as they’re discounted. But if not, I’ll have to make up for it once I graduate!

So as sad as it makes me to think that I won’t be able to just sign up for something fun just because I want to, I am going to look forward to indulging in all my interests later. I’ll have to do more free things probably and maybe now I’ll actually run more often so that I have something to talk about each month! (We can only hope.)

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So those are my plans thus far. I am so excited for this new journey. I have a lot to do before school starts so that will keep me busy. My goal is to complete my MBA at 28 and pass the project management test (if that’s what I chose to study) by 29! I know there are many bloggers out there that knock the “9 to 5”, calling it a bore or worse but honestly that’s what I’ve always wanted, to be a successful businesswoman. I’m going to keep working towards that goal and I can’t wait to see what the future will bring!

Please remember to let me know how much or how little you want to hear about my MBA journey going forward! I can’t stress how excited, and ultimately stressed, I am about this new chapter so I want to talk about it but if you’re not interested, let me know so I can curb my enthusiasm here.

Thanks for reading!

Pamela

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47 comments

  1. I have somehow managed to manage my blog and go to college at the same time. Doing both is challenging. This blog has helped deal with some of the stress that college can cause. Now, next month, the final year of college is hitting and that semester is crazy to believe and will look forward to that last year, but seems a bit sad in a way. Crazy how that year is getting ready to happen.

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      • College is so challenging it seems. But there is so much to discover about who you are. It is a place to grow and mature. Blogging is something that I never imagined I would begin, but glad I did start

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  2. Congratulations on both reaching 600+ followers and getting into the college!!! That is brilliant news. My only tip for you when you will balance a job, school and blog is to remember that all of your blogging friends will always be here and never think that we will think you are ignoring us as what what you are doing is truly inspiring and allot of hard work! I’m already excited about the school related posts/videos you might do! 😄💗

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  12. Pamela!!!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you!! This is amazing! I wish you all the luck for your next two years 😀 I would love to hear about your MBA experience, it’s going to be a big thing for you, you should definitely write about it 😀

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  17. I just wanted to send you a belated congrats on your actual site. It’s so hard not to rant about the things that we’re excited about. You MBA is going to be a huge part of your life now. Most cities do put on free concerts at various parks around the city and running is a great idea. It’s funny how you say you’ll do it to have something else to talk about lol. You should put aside a little jar for musicals change, then treat yourself whenever you reach a set number 🙂 You’ll be back on the scene soon enough girlie. Enjoy this new chapter!

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    • Thank you!!! Yes, a treat now and then would be good! I’m definitely going to be on the lookout for free things to do in the meantime. 😀 I’m sure the next two years will fly by!

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  19. CONGRATS Pamela!!! I’m so happy for you! I’m sure you’ll find a happy medium at some point, but in any case I would say shorter blog posts and writing about what you Want is probably key! If your life is revolving around ur MBA, then ur blog has every right to be about that too. Its not like we’ll be in lecture either, we’ll be hearing it through ur voice so it makes things so much more entertaining.

    Also its good to unload on school stress by blogging about it, I used to do it all the time on tumblr. Maybe it’ll help!

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