My Daily Routine (Fall 2019)

October 14, 2019October 14, 2019 / makenakirsten / Leave a comment

Hello, and welcome back to Capturing College! I hope you are enjoying reading my weekly posts. I am not sure what kind of content you all prefer, so feel free to comment and let me know!

When debating on what to post this week, I ultimately decided on sharing my daily routine with you. While in college, my daily routine isn’t always consistent, but I thought it would be fun to share with you what my average day is like.

My schedule does change every other day, so I figured I would share with you what my typical Monday is like this quarter.

My day starts at 7 a.m. when I wake up to shower. I usually shower fairly quickly and then head back to my room to get dressed. When deciding on my outfit, I usually check the weather so that I am prepared for the day. Recently, it has been pretty cold, so most mornings I am ending up wearing jeans and a sweatshirt under my black North Face rain jacket.

After getting dressed, I wash my face and put on my makeup. Since I am pretty tired and it is very early in the morning, I tend to wear very minimal makeup. After my makeup is done, I usually fix my hair while popping a K-Cup into my Keurig so I can brew some coffee while I finish getting ready. Some days I curl my hair if I have the time, but typically it is straight. However, since it is usually a little frizzy from sleeping, I sometimes run a straightener through it in oder to sleek it over again in the morning.

After my hair is done, I brush my teeth while pouring some caramel creamer into my coffee. I then put on my shoes and jacket, pack up my backpack, and spray on some perfume before slipping on my jacket. After that, I pop in my Airpods before putting on my backpack and heading out the door, coffee in hand.

I head to my first class, Contemporary Biology, and usually am greeted by my friend Harrison, who happens to be the teacher’s assistant for that class. I sit in class and take notes while drinking my coffee. At 8:50 a.m., that class ends and I then tread across campus to my second period class, Writing for Advertising.

After sitting in that class and discussing methods of advertising, I head on my longest journey to my last morning class, Introduction to Music, where we learn all about the history and methods of music composition and how to identify different instruments.

After that, I am typically free until my 1 p.m. class, and I usually use that time to eat lunch. However, on Monday’s, I have an officer meeting from 12:30-1 p.m. for the CommLang Club, of which I am the vice president.

Once that meeting has ended, I head straight to my last class of the day, Media Writing, which ends at 1:50 p.m., but what happens next varies by the day. On Wednesday’s, I have Contemporary Biology Lab from 2-5 p.m., and luckily it is taught by Harrison, so I feel comfortable asking questions. He is actually a very helpful TA and does a great job. On Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Thursday’s I usually work from 2-5 p.m. and that really works up my appetite for dinner.

I head out to eat with Christopher usually right once I am off of work. We try to go to the cafeteria as much as we can, but honestly we do end up going out way more than we should.

If we go out to eat, we usually end up getting fast food, and once we get back to campus, we get straight to work on our homework and studies for the week.

I tend to finish my homework anywhere between 8-10 p.m. depending on how much there is to do that night and how soon I need to complete it. After that, I head back to the dorm to relax.

Usually, I change into sweats and prepare for bed, and then start to watch “Friends.” Right around then, one of my friends, typically Lexi or Allison, knock on my door, and we end up hanging out. We usually catch up and make plans for the following day, or talk about what is going on in our love lives.

Sometimes, if it is a particulary slow week, we even watch a TV show together. Lexi and I have recently been watching the Netflix original show “Raising Dion.” It is amazing and really well done, I highly reccommend it. Other nights, we binge watch One Direction videos and sing along, or we spend the late evening eating a bunch of food at Sheri’s.

Most nights, however, we just talk for hours and leave the door open until we end up with our whole squad gathered at the end of the hall in either my room or Mariah and Allison’s room, which is across the hall. Eventually, we end up deciding to turn in for the night.

To prepare for bed, I usually make sure to remove my makeup before washing my face and brushing my teeth before putting my retainers in. I put an essential oil in my room diffuser and turn it on before turning out the lights and crawling into bed. My favorite night time scent for my diffuser is lavender, but recently I have been running thieves or eucalyptus due to the fact that myself and my roommate have been sick for a while now.

That is the end of my typical day so far this quarter. While it does tend to vary due to after school activities, amounts of homework, changing schedules, and other variables, this is the basic outline of a day in my life.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post! If you would like to see more post like this, perhaps a day in the life post with images, or a quarterly updated version of this, let me know by commenting below, Please be sure to follow Capturing College and check out more of the posts I have. Have a great rest of your week!

20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20 (Part Four)

June 10, 2019May 30, 2019 / makenakirsten / Leave a comment

This is the final part of my 20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20 series! If you missed Part One, Two, or Three, read those first, and don’t forget to follow this blog, Capturing College, for more helpful hints and advice.

16. Everyone is on a different path.

I struggle to remember that I can’t compare where I am at on my journey with other people’s journeys. We are all on our own journey and have our own struggles and trials, as well as our own successes and triumphs. Don’t compare your phase two with someone else’s phase four. Also, don’t compare your phase two to someone else’s phase one. Don’t go around thinking you are so much father ahead than someone else. You may just have an easier path now, and they may catch up or even pass you. Everyone is on a different journey, just be concerned with your own.

17. You can learn something from every situation.

No matter if it is the best scenario, or your worst nightmare, you can learn something from everything you experience in life. You woke up late and missed your first class? Maybe next time don’t stay up late studying and set multiple alarms. Your friend brought you coffee to work today? Maybe follow their example of kindness and bring them a treat next time you go out, or treat a random stranger by paying for their order at Starbucks. No matter how good or bad a situation is, you can always learn something from it.

18. Love everyone.

Life is too short to go around making people miserable. The world would be so much better if we all chose to love each other. Regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs, sexuality, or any trivial thing that may make someone different from you. Love them. Love everyone. Be kind to others.

19. Take risks.

There are two things I have struggled with since I was a child. One is making fast decisions, and the other is taking risks. Ironically, those two things kind of go hand in hand on a fairly frequent basis. When I was a child, if I did all my chores for the week, my mom would let me chose between a mystery present or $10 or something like that. She was trying to teach me that taking risks in life is okay, and they even help spice up my life. I like to weigh all my options as a kid, and if I ever had to make a choice, I would always try to find a way to compromise and get both things. Unfortunately, you can’t always do that in the grown-up world, so don’t be afraid to take risks. It will all turn out the way it was meant to.

20. Do what makes you happy.

I saved this one for last because this is the most important thing I have learned before turning 20. Do what makes YOU happy. This is your life, and it is short. Don’t compromise when it comes to your happiness. If you hate your major now, you are going to hate doing things in that field for the rest of your life, so change your major now while you still can. If you don’t like your school, don’t just sit there and live through it, make a change and transfer schools. Make this life worth living, do what makes you happy. Pursue what you love, whether it be someone or something, a person or a career. Do what makes you happy.

I hope you enjoyed this series. Be sure to check out Part One, Two, and Three if you missed them. Follow me on this blog, Capturing College, for more content like this, and don’t forget to do what makes you happy.

20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20 (Part Three)

June 3, 2019May 29, 2019 / makenakirsten / 1 Comment

This is the third part of what will be a four part series on 20 things I have learned before turning 20. If you haven’t read the first two parts of the series, listing 1-5 and 6-10, be sure to check those out. Also, don’t forget to follow so you don’t miss the final five going up next Monday!

11. It is okay to not be okay.

You are not going to be okay all the time. We will all have our bad days, weeks months, or even years (can you hear the “Friends” theme in your head?), and that is completely okay. You don’t have to pretend you are okay all the time. Also, under the same umbrella, if you are not doing too well, please seek help. There is no shame in going to see a therapist or a counselor. It can really help you think things out and process, and the trained mental health professionals can give you tools to use when you aren’t able to have access to help from other people.

12. Adapt and adjust.

Not everything is going to go to plan all the time. I am someone who plans things in my head all the time, and when things don’t go exactly as I expect, I tend to get a little frustrated. When I was in health class my freshman year of high school, my health teacher told us that we need to be able to adapt and adjust. Whether it may be a new job, a daily plan, a routine, or a move to a new place, we need to know how to adapt and adjust to our situations and surroundings.

13. Friendships (and relationships) are a two-way street.

Friendships and relationships require give and take. Don’t be the only one giving in any relationship, whether platonic or romantic, but also don’t forget you shouldn’t be just taking either. Relationships are a balance. Somedays you may give more than you take, and others you may take more than you give. However, if you feel you are always giving and they are never giving you anything in return, maybe speak to them about it, and if nothing improves, maybe let that relationship fade.

14. It is okay to cut people out of your life.

Cut them out. (I tried to think of a nicer way to say this, but I think this is common language now, so I will stick with it for now.) I have said before that friendships fade and change, and that is true. However, when, in reference to #13, a relationship is always more give than take, and you aren’t getting what you want or need out of the relationship, it is time to let that person go. You don’t have to be rude about it, but maybe say no when they ask you to do something for them, or stop hanging out with them as much. If you are constantly being dragged down by someone, cut them out. If someone is using up all of your energy and never building you up, cut them out. If you do so much for someone and they never do anything in return, cut them out. If they can never be happy for you when you are finally happy, cut them off. It sounds terrible and mean, but you don’t have to be rude about it, please be polite! You just need to realize what you need out of life, and if this person isn’t a good person to have around, you need to let them go, and move on with your life.

15. Not everyone wants your advice.

I know this is pretty silly to say, especially considering this list of 20 things are basically all advice from my life, but it is something I have come to realize recently. I am at a different place in my life than a lot of people my age. I have researched heavily what I want and what I am doing, and I have gone through things that other people I know haven’t experienced yet. I tend to offer advice to people that don’t necessarily want it on a fairly regular basis. Of course, I never mean to overstep or be rude, but if I know that a certain school is over twice as expensive as the one I am currently attending, I am going to caution my friend, or if I know that it is going to rain tomorrow and there is a photoshoot planned, I will give them a heads up. What I have to realize is, some people just need to do this on their own. I have conversations about these things with my mother frequently. I just want to help others, but to them, it seems as though I am an annoying know-it-all that just wants to prove she’s better than everyone else, which is not true! I just love my friends so much that I don’t want them to have to struggle to figure things out on their own. However, I need to realize that people need to figure things out for themselves, and they don’t always want my help or advice.

That is all for this week’s edition of 20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20. Don’t forget to check out Part One and Part Two, and follow to make sure you don’t miss the fourth and final part coming out next Monday!

20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20 (Part Two)

May 27, 2019May 22, 2019 / makenakirsten / 2 Comments

To count down the weeks until I turn 20, I decided I would share with you 5 of the 20 things I’ve learned before turning 20. Check out the first five here if you haven’t already, and be sure to follow and come back on Monday for the next five things.

6. You are allowed to put yourself first.

I constantly put someone else’s needs before my own. Whether it be my friends, my boyfriend, or even a classmate, I always find myself placing my own personal needs and wants on the back burner. This is just a recent thing that I am still working on, but I am reminding myself that it is okay to have time set aside just for me. It is okay to not set your whole life around someone else’s schedule. If people want to see you badly enough, they will work with you to find a common time. Of course, relationships and friendships take work and a balance of give and take. However, make sure you aren’t the only one giving. It needs to be a balance. Put yourself first. It really is okay.

7. Just because someone is better, does not make you bad.

I don’t know if this is a teenager thing or a girl thing, but I constantly compare myself to others. Not just my hair, my body, my makeup, but my work, my talent, and my grades are all nothing if they aren’t the best, and therefore better than everyone else. I constantly hear myself saying things like, “Well, they are an amazing photographer, so I must not be good.” Just because someone is more talented than you does not mean you are not talented. Don’t define your self worth based on other’s success.

8. Speak up.

It is okay to say what you mean. You are allowed to tell people what you want and how you want to be treated. Of course, you should do it nicely, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a pushover either. If you want to go to a specific place for dinner, speak up. If you want more time with your boyfriend, tell him. Don’t go through life unhappy because you didn’t want to be an inconvenience. This is your life, and you deserve to live it your way.

9. Friends change.

The people you are best friends with in high school may not be your best friends in college, even if you go to the same school. This does not mean you will despise each other and never see each other, and it does not mean you are no longer friends at all. Friendships change and people change, but that doesn’t make your bond weaker. Who knows, maybe you will become closer with people you barely knew in high school, or you will make new friends. No matter what happens, friendships change, and that is okay.

10. It is okay to ask for help.

You can not do everything yourself. I am one of those people that loves to be able to do everything by myself. I move my room around, wash my car, make appointments and shoot and edit photos of myself all on my own. I don’t like asking for help because it means admitting that I have to rely on other people. However, I know that it is okay for me to ask others for help. There is no way I can do everything all on my own, and it is okay for me to learn from others by asking for their help.

I hope you learned something new from these tips. If you would like to read more, be sure to follow for an alert letting you know when I’ve posted again, or tune in next Monday for another 5 things I’ve learned before turning 20.

20 Things I’ve Learned Before Turning 20 (Part One)

May 20, 2019May 20, 2019 / makenakirsten / 3 Comments

My 20th birthday is coming up in less than a month, so for the next four Monday’s, I am going to share five things I have learned before turning 20 years old, which will add up to 20 things. I hope you enjoy these little pearls of wisdom, and be sure to follow to make sure you don’t miss out on the next three parts of this series.

1. Don’t play the victim.

I’ve heard my parents say this frequently through out my life, and it is something I need to remember while I enter my 20s. Take responsibility for your actions, no matter what it is. If you walk into a door frame and stub your toe, it is your fault, not the door frame’s fault. If you decide to skip class and miss an in-class assignment, the zero you receive is your fault, so take responsibility for your choices and actions. You are not a victim of your circumstances.

2. It is okay to say no.

You are allowed to say no to something someone asks you to do. You do not have to do everything someone asks of you. It is perfectly okay for you to not do that favor for your friend, and it is okay for you to back out on a preplanned event in order to take care of yourself or your mental health. You can not do everything, and it is okay to prioritize yourself before the things others ask you do to for them.

3. You will miss your family (even if they drive you crazy.)

We all love our families, but family can also drive you crazy. You may think you’ll be glad to be out in the world on your own, but you will miss your mom telling you to go to bed at a reasonable hour, and your dad cutting up fruit for you in the morning.

4. Experiences are better than things.

I’m not saying buying things isn’t great, trust me, I like shopping. However, what I have learned is that I would rather spend my money on a concert I can experience with my friends rather than buying those expensive Nike shoes at the mall. Chances are, those shoes won’t last very long. You may grow out of them, they may soon be out of style, or you may just wear them so much they fall apart. Regardless, you’ll probably hold the memory of the concert closer to your heart than the memory of those shoes.

5. School is not the most important thing.

I know, sounds crazy to say, especially coming from someone who works very hard for her grades, but school is not the most important thing. While you should work hard to do well in everything you do, you should not let your education take control of your life. There will be times where you can afford to make sacrifices, like taking a break from studying for a quiz in order to grab coffee with a friend you barely see, and you should take those chances.

Five Facts About Me

May 6, 2019May 15, 2019 / makenakirsten / Leave a comment

Since this blog is intended to highlight my perspective on the world and the things I like and dislike, I think it is essential for my followers to know more about me. By revealing more about who I am as a person I hope that each of you will understand my thoughts and posts more completely.

I want to share five facts about me with you all that will hopefully allow you to have some insight into who I am. I hope you enjoy reading these humorous pieces of information, and that it allows you to enjoy the other pieces on this blog with a new perspective.

1. I have lived in four states.

I spent the first three years of my life in Texas. I don’t remember much of it, but I do know it was nice to be within driving distance of some of my relatives. After that, I spent almost years in Alaska. I enjoyed my time there. I loved playing outside all year round. Contrary to the stereotypes I have encountered, I did not live in an igloo, and it did not snow all the time. Before the start of my eighth grade year, I moved to Washington state, and I have been living here ever since, except for during my brief stint in Michigan while attending Andrews University.

2. I am part Australian.

My mother is from Australia, and her mother is Australian, and her father is from New Zealand. My mother’s family primarily resides in Australia, so I have had many opportunities to visit them. Last time I was able to go, I even brought my friend Alanna along for the journey.

3. I have watched “Friends” six times through (and counting).

“Friends” is my favorite show of all time. Whenever I can’t decide what I want to watch, I always end up watching Friends. I think I am currently on my seventh time through, however, to be completely honest, I think I have lost count.

4. I was the lead in the school musical my senior year.

My senior year we did a production of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” and I played Milly, the female lead. I had an amazing male lead, Jensen, who was rather new to the musical acting scene, however he was wonderful and portrayed the actor well, despite being nearly the complete opposite of the character in real life.

5. I have always had a big dog.

My family is a big dog family. When I was born, my parents already had a Great Dane named George. When he passed away, it was a few years before we got our next dog, an American mastiff named Tater. He was there for my first day of Kindergarten and my high school graduation, and he even saw my safe return home from my first year away at college. Unfortunately he passed away last summer at 13 years old. We then “rescued” our current dog, Patrick, who is another Great Dane. He just turned one this past March, and now we are getting another American mastiff at the end of this month. This will be the first time we have ever had two dogs at once, and my parents and I are all eager to see how it all works out.

Limited Descriptions

April 29, 2019May 15, 2019 / makenakirsten / Leave a comment

For the time being, I have decided that my posts on Monday’s are going to about sharing elements of myself and my life with you.

This week, I decided to have some people that are close to me describe me in three words. Not only is this a good way for you guys to learn a little bit about me, but also I get to introduce you to some of my favorite people, and learning about them will also let you in to another aspect of my life.

One of the first people I contacted was my mother. My mom and I are pretty close, so I figured she would have a lot of insight into who I am, and would be able to describe me in three words pretty easily.

Mom: “You are indescribable. (3 words. You’re welcome.)”

Next to respond was my childhood best friend Maddie. Maddie is a year younger than me, and we have been friends since I was in fourth grade and she was in third grade. We used to spend every afternoon together, playing and making fun videos of us doing skits we would make up.

Maddie: “Bright, caring and loving.”

Sienna was one of my first friends when I moved from Alaska to the Seattle area. I’ve known her for over six years now, and even when I was attending a different school several states away, she and I were still in frequent communication and would hang out over school breaks. When I asked her this question, she responded almost immediately.

Sienna: “Loyal, efficient and friendly.”

One of my first friends in college in Michigan, Kyra, was also among the first to respond. Kyra and I have had a few classes together, and we had a lot of fun. She was one of two friends I had at Andrews, and we have kept in pretty consistent contact since I transferred.

Kyra: “Compassionate, funny and smart.”

Paxton Shock was among the people I texted as well. Pax and I have been friends for years, and they are someone I have always felt I could talk to about anything and everything. We became close my sophomore year of high school, and our worlds have drifted apart, but we still talk every day in some capacity. When I asked them to describe me in three words, they immediately asked me if I meant my personality or aesthetics. I told them to go ahead and do both.

Paxton: “Personality- witty, exuberant and demure. Aesthetic- Lithe, beautiful and Starbucks.”

I asked my friend Mariah this question too. Mariah and I have known each other for about six years, however she and I didn’t become super close until our sophomore year of high school. We are now in the same department with similar majors, so we have quite a few classes together and see each other frequently.

Mariah: “Hardworking, creative and leader.”

McKenna is a person who has been a great friend to me for years. She has been there for me in my hardest times, and I know we will be friends for years to come. We became super close near the end of my junior year of high school, and since then, though distance and busy schedules have made it difficult, we have remained fairly close.

McKenna: “Driven, authentic and accurate.”

Finally, I asked Christopher to describe me. Christopher and I have been friends since our freshman year of high school. At the end of 2018, we started that we wanted to begin dating, and as of now we have been together for over four months.

Christopher: “Creative, focused and thoughtful.”

It was interesting hearing what the people that I love think about me. They definitely described me with words I wouldn’t have even thought of. If I had to describe myself in three words, I guess I would have to say: