As I sat down to write this, I took a bite out of the dark chocolate bar I bought at Casa Bosques in Mexico City. I hate dark chocolate, but this time it was warming up on me. It didn’t taste bitter like others I’ve tried. I could taste hints of strawberries as it melted into my mouth. Instantly, memories of making the purchase flooded back.

It was Sunday, my last evening in the city. I spent a solo morning getting ready, holding onto the slowness ingrained in us on day one here, when we first connected with each other and the retreat host, Paige. Walking (well, $3 Ubering) to the bookstore, the autumn sun was setting, and the city was starting to come alive.

As I walked up to the first floor, it was a little harder than usual to catch my breath.

By then, I had gotten used to it; the city's high altitude made me more cautious with my breathing, but secretly, I felt like it helped open my mind and body to stillness. It enocuraged me to listen to my breathing, which gradually steadied as I acclimated to my new surroundings. Everything about being in CDMX made me look around with my heart, ears, and eyes wide open, taking it all in.

As I sauntered around Casa Bosques, I could hear the wooden floorboards creak beneath me. My shoulders ached with bags of beautiful home goods, jewelry, and everything in between that caught my eye that evening. Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving filled every corner of the shop, and for a few moments, it was just the three of us, Olivia, me, and the cashier, quietly singing along. It was the closest thing to girl heaven.

When A Couple Minutes came on, I chuckled. Around this time last year, I was crying about a man to this very song; someone who wouldn’t have even cared about my tears.

You know that joke about being in public when a song that broke you years ago comes on, and you have to play it cool? That used to be me.

Now, a year later, here I was, dilly-dallying on a Sunday evening in a city that’s been on my bucket list for years. His name didn’t come to mind all weekend.

The only thing I worried about was whether I was spending too much money, because everything in that store and Ciudad de México was calling my name…and I was happily answering.

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I don’t know how to rest.

I know people say this, and they mean it to be cheeky, but I literally don’t know how. There’s always an extreme with me - I’m either working 80 hours a week or laying horizontally, bed rotting for 72.

Entering year 2 of full-time entrepreneurship, I noticed I kept facing burnout, faster and more often. Something needed to change - expeditiously.

In early 2026, I was scrolling TikTok and came across a video from Paige Willis (@undonebypaige), a wellness instructor here in Chicago, talking about her 3rd annual Undone Creative Retreat. It covered the 7 forms of rest and being held in Mexico City.

It was my first time ever seeing her content, and something about her aura made me instantly know I wanted to go. It was February, and I had no idea what my life would look like in October, but I knew future Jade would thank me for booking this trip.

By the end of the video, I immediately put down my deposit.

No time for second guesses. We’re in the business of trusting our gut here.

I’ve always loved Mexico. I went to Tulum in 2020, and since I turned 25, I went every year on a solo trip. I actually just came back from my 3rd annual birthday trip in September. They were gorgeous resort trips, but I knew I wanted to see the country and the culture in ways I hadn’t before.

I spent months counting down until it was time to go; every hard week or burnout moment reminded me peace was on its way. This retreat helped me get through the year before I even touched down in Ciudad de México.

Last week, the day finally came.

I was spending 5 days with 20 strangers on a creative retreat in my dream city.

Just as I expected, it turned out to be one of the best trips of my life

DAY 1

From the minute we arrived, I had heart eyes for the city. The streets were painted orange, with big, beautiful marigold bouquets everywhere in preparation for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Seeing how much the holiday was celebrated in every crevice reminded me of how Barbados looks during Christmas time. I felt everyone else’s excitement and wanted to celebrate myself! I knew a little about the holiday thanks to Coco (sad, beautiful movie), and I honestly plan to rewatch it this Halloweekend.

We stayed at Casa Izel, a gorgeous boutique luxury hotel in the neighborhood, Roma Norte. Like everywhere else, it was decorated with marigolds and other Day of the Dead decor. As we shuffled in, I was instantly drawn to the records on the wall and the warm light. I love warm lighting, so I felt at home. The team was so sweet, greeting us with the yummiest welcome drinks as we settled into our rooms.

Heading upstairs to room 304, the hallways spiraled upward, with huge green plants covering the walls. It felt like I was in a forest. I stepped into my room and felt at ease. I’d been traveling a lot over the last 6 weeks and missing my bed like crazy, but I could tell I was going to love my room. The bed was huge, and the comforter looked fluffy; I could already see the huge shelves filled with my shopping bags.

A little brown bag sat in the corner of the bed, a welcome gift from Paige. I felt spoiled and loved! Inside was a guide to Mexico City, chocolate from Casa Bosques, a copy of the guided journal The Art of You, a non-alcoholic drink from TOMONOTOMO, and so much more.

It was 2 p.m., and we had a few hours until the welcome happy hour and dinner. It was only right that I tried my first street taco! I opened Google Maps (underrated app btw; I was a former Apple Maps warrior) and found a stand a few feet from my hotel.

Reviews recommended a chorizo taco, and as a chorizo stan, I happily obliged. The stand was a bit crowded, so I knew it had to be good. Living in Chicago, there’s a large Mexican community here, so I’ve had some great ones, so my taco reviews in CDMX were kinda strict. Mine were good (3 stars) and definitely hit the spot before the happy hour and welcome dinner.

Time flew quickly, and before I knew it, I was scrambling to get ready. Y’all know I love me a full glam, but honestly, I didn’t have time to do it. Paige told us that when we’re back home, we’re used to being in fight-or-flight. Always rushing for the next thing. On this trip, she encouraged us to move at our own pace. To let the city move us from one thing to the next, without any false sense of urgency. So for me, that meant taking my time and skipping steps that took forever, like doing my makeup.

Happy hour went really well; I made a friend at the retreat while leaving the airport and met a few other people, too. The cohort was diverse, so many people from Chicago, NY, and other cities. Hella black too. Conversations naturally flowed as people opened up to each other.

Dinner was at Filigrana, and at this point, I felt so much peace (and the consequences of only getting 3 hours of sleep) that I kept falling asleep, but my goodness, even though I was half awake, the food was great. I can’t stop thinking about the mini white Pacific fish tostadas I had. I ate 4 and then ordered a plate of 3 for myself.

I also really loved the ceramic plates the food came in. They were colorful and came in fun shapes. I found out they came from a store called Menat Studio (which had a location in the city!). I ended up getting a few pieces on my last day.

DAY 2 (FULL RETREAT DAY)

Friday was our first full day of the retreat, and we had a full schedule. I got the best sleep in a long time, too good actually, because I almost missed our first stop because I overslept lmaooo, but thank goodness I didn’t because our first stop was one of my favorites from the entire retreat

Xinú Fragrances (the flagship store)

You’ve probably seen them all over TikTok for CDMX recs, but instead we went to their first and largest location, their flagship store in Juárez. We got a full tour of the facility and learned the background on all their scents, candles, room sprays, etc. They called the tour a fragrance experience, and it was 100% that. There are 6 signature scents to choose from, ranging from woodsy to floral to clean, and OMG, the minute I smelled scent #5, OroNardo, I had to control myself because I got way too excited 😭💕

I love perfumes, especially floral ones, and this one is incredibly sexy. To me, it smelled like Burberry Her x Delina Exclusif, multiplied by 20x. It quickly draws you in and piques your interest. This is definitely a “Who’s That Girl?” scent, and I’ve been slowly building my collection up with those.

As described on the site,

“OroNardo is a tribute to the gorgeous Mexican tuberose.

Tuberose accentuated by mock orange blossom to bring out its naturally fleshy sexiness, using the spiciness of marigold to draw its green freshness”

“You’re coming home with me,” I whispered to myself, and to my surprise, we were gifted full-size bottles of our favorite scents!

So not only did I get OroNado (and a second bottle a few days later), but I also got Monstera. It was nothing like anything I had in my collection, and I liked it.

The best way to describe it is that it smells like a jungle after a well-needed rainstorm. What really sold me?

“Jade, did you check out your namesake perfume?” Paige came up and asked me when I was already on cloud 9 from the morning.

I must’ve missed it during the tour! One of the ingredients/scents was Jade. Monstera was my second choice so it was perfect. I picked her up, a room spray, and a candle, FuegoZen, which was described as perfectly cozy for winter. Chicago winters get brutal, and I’ll need all the good vibes from this trip while I play The Sims over holiday break.

After dropping a bag at Xinu, we had a gap in our schedules and explored the Juarez neighborhood. The group had a tour guide for the day who explained Mexico City's history, and my friend and I got a private history tour with the guide, Emmanuel. The three of us spent the 90-minute break walking around the city, shopping, and taking pictures. Bubala and I took the cutest pics of each other, this one being my favorite off-guard everrrrrr

When I reflect on how and why I love Mexico City so much, I realize I love how colorful the city is. Everywhere we went was painted in the prettiest colors, from the shops to the old mansions to the colorful people we spoke with. The people are so nice, and everyone’s moving at their own pace. It’s not like back home in NY or Chicago where there’s hustle and bustle everywhere.

Another thing I like here is the language barrier. Yes, some places had people who spoke English, but not everywhere. It reminded me that I was in their world and shouldn’t expect others to adapt to me. It grounded me and reminded me where I was. As Americans, we’re conditioned to think that everyone knows English, and that’s not true! It was me and my Apple Translate app against the world. I regret not taking Spanish seriously when I had to take it for 2 years at Howard! Being in CDMX makes me want to relearn it.

Since entering year 2 of full-time entrepreneurship, I’ve been on go go go. CDMX was actually my 7th trip since August. I hadn’t been home for longer than a week since early September, and it was starting to take a toll on me. I desperately missed my bed and, on every trip before this one, was secretly counting the hours until I was back home. But this time, I wanted the trip to go slowwwww. I wasn’t ready to leave, and honestly, since I’ve been back home, I started tracking flights so I could book my next stay.

After exploring, we got lunch in Condesa at Maizajo, another popular restaurant with great food! I tried street tacos before lunch, so I wasn’t full but wish I saved some room. Their chorizo taco definitely was a 4-star rating.

Later that evening, it was time for restorative yoga at Gita Studio. Earlier in the day, Paige prompted us with a question to think about:

“What have you put down that you’d like to pick back up again”

Since I went full-time with The Ninth Semester, I've put my favorite things on the back burner: writing, reading Black romance, playing The Sims, and weekly SoulCycle classes. I kept using work as an excuse. Yes, I was exponentially busier, but that doesn’t mean I should abandon the things that make me Jade. The things that fill my cup.

One boundary I set on this trip that, surprisingly, I actually listened to was not to worry about work.

I’m so grateful to be signed with an amazing talent agency where I can turn my brain off and trust that they’ll keep the brand moving while I’m away. I couldn’t do that with my last agency, so the difference was a 180. For the first time, I really left the brand in great hands and came back to some new revenue and blessings on the way. I’m a big advocate of work hard, play harder.

If I can pour 80 hours/a week into my business, I can at least do the same with travel and indulging in my favorite hobbies.

Yoga is usually a little hard for me because my brain is always racing, thinking about the next thing, but I challenged myself to just be. I daydreamed about the version of Jade I’d bring back to Chicago: one who’s back in her weekly SoulCycle classes, playing her crazy Sims timeline, and living in the moment. I’ve lived in fight-or-flight way too long; it’s time I reclaimed my life.

DAY 3 (FREE DAY)

I loved having one free day to ourselves on the retreat. I started a new tradition: whenever I visit a new country, I do a historical food tour. I can’t remember where I found mine, but I booked the Mystic Markets La Merced & Sonora Food Tour on Airbnb Experiences. We explored the La Merced Market, filled with everything you could imagine (food stands, piñatas, candy, costumes, jewelry, etc.), and the Sonora Market, which focused on the occult.

The markets are open every day except Christmas and New Year’s. They’re extremely popular and VERY crowded on the weekends. If you hate crowds, this won’t be for you!

I have mixed feelings about this tour, solely because we didn’t do much eating! Yes, I found another 4-star taco here, got to try eating bugs (some were good, not gonna lie lmaoo), and got a glimpse of real CDMX life, but baby, it was wayyyyyy too crowded and too much walking. The crowd really got to me. I did manage to hit 15K steps this day, but if you’re looking for more variety in what you’re seeing, I wouldn’t recommend.

I’d also like to note that we took the train on the tour, and as a New Yorker, I love a good train, but my goodness, it was MAYHEM in here LMAOO. We literally had to push to get on or you’d get pushed. Mornings on the B/Q train to school prepared me for this.

This was also the day where I went to the store I was most excited for: Cyan Mexico to create a custom leather journal. I love, love, love journals, so designing one from scratch was so fun. I literally spent 2 hours at this store and had the best time ever!!!!! I highly highly recommend going

The night before, I went to bed early, so I missed girls' night with a few of the girls on the trip. In true Jade fashion, I planned a dinner for us that night. I blanked on getting good resys before leaving Chicago so I had to rely on OpenTable for some hidden.

I booked a table for 6 at Salazar, which allegedly had the best views of the city. There were no TikTok reviews, but the Google/OpenTable reviews seemed promising.

Ironically, that same night was a huge pre-Day of the Dead celebration, and the streets were crowded with people, dogs, and the scariest costumes ever. But it was still pretty cool. Also, October in Mexico City is cold! I made the mistake of packing like it was Cancun when you should really pack like Fall in NYC.

Y’all, Salazar was TOO good. The views were indeed gorgeous, the restaurant was perfectly dark and moody for a good ol’ chit-chat, and the food was INSANE.

I ordered a French 75, roasted shrimp with focaccia, a salad, and the juiciest ribeye of my entire life. I can still taste how perfectly seasoned and medium that steak was. I’m starting to understand why people gatekeep this place!

It was great spending time with the other women on the trip; everyone is genuinely so sweet! Girl nights also fill my cup, and I haven’t had one in a while since most of my friends left Chicago and my besties are long-distance. As I get older, I realize I don’t care for club/party nights out (maybe a couple times a year); I prefer dinner, drinks, and gossip with the girlies.

As with most girl nights, dating came up. Most of the women were in relationships, but 1-2 others and I were single. Look, I’ve already yapped on this app about how much it sucks being a Black, ambitious woman looking for love. I’ve heard it all before, especially

“He’ll come when you least expect it”

“He’ll come when you’re not looking”

and I began to wonder, what constitutes “not looking”?

I’m out here living my life, traveling the world, and growing my career. I’ve been on and off the dating apps because I literally can’t get a date. I’m not looking, but he’s still not coming.

The lack of romance in my life is astonishing; I don’t even want to get into it. But at least I have my passport, right…..

If there’s anything traveling is teaching me, it's the importance of a partner with an intense curiosity about the world, like mine. I’m not saying your passport gotta be stamped up, but at least travel outside of your hometown and your comfort zone.

I want to travel to countries like Bali and Japan with my partner, but I’m proud of myself for not waiting on others to travel. This is my way of bringing romance into the world even though I haven’t had a smoochie in ~checks calendar~ 600+ days (no, I don’t wanna talk about it LMAO)

DAY 4 (THE PERFECT SOLO DAY)

It was Sunday and our last full day in Mexico City. I was determined to make it the best day ever.

Brunch > Shopping > Final Retreat Dinner

Yes, shopping in Mexico City is even better than you think. I did the calculations, and I’m ashamed to admit how much I spent. Let’s just say I spent anywhere between 1,000 MXN and 65,000 MXN… and that’s just on shopping. This doesn’t include flights, food, the retreat, etc.

Look, I work hard for my money, okay, and I’ve planned for months to be here!

I spent the morning mapping out my day. I did some shopping earlier in the trip but really wanted to get some more home goods like dishware, try one of the Michelin-rated restaurants, and visit other stores I didn’t get to.

Within an hour, I used ChatGPT, Google, and TikTok to put together a fire itinerary. Chat was very helpful with organizing my stops by neighborhoods, distance, and closing times. I had 19 stores on my list and made it to at least 10, which was amazing!

I’m probably going to work on a video with my top recs, but here are a few:

La Once Mil for Brunch

OMG, I need to go back here immediately. The chips and salsa, spicy tuna tostada, Caesar salad with salt-and-vinegar chips, infamous ribeye tacos, and charcoal-grilled asa with crispy bacon tacos were immaculate. They also give you a nice sauces spread and i love a saucy meal. my waiter gave me the best recs for taco toppinga. I ended up getting too full and couldn’t finish my meal, so trust it’ll be my first stop when I’m back in the new year

Originario

This was my first home goods stop after brunch, and they have such unique and colorful pieces. I got the prettiest vase, some plates, and a little container for my jewelry. I met some folks from LA here, and everyone was gassing me up on my outfit and my hair! I felt so tea

Menat Studio

Remember when I said I found out the store that sold the plates served at Filigrana had a location in CDMX? I went and got some plates and a cute cup + coaster set

Fueguia 1833

This was my last stop of the day, and they’re in the same building as Casa Bosques. This Argentinian fragrance store had over 130 scents to smell, and the displays were so cool! I found two scents here that will officially become a part of my signature scent! Honestly, after I saw the bill, I knew I'd lost my damn mind and had to end my shopping spree there LMAOOO, no regrets!

We ended the night with a last supper at Nogal Nogal Supper Club. Reflecting on the retreat, I felt so grateful to have experienced it with everyone in the room. We started the weekend as strangers but eventually became a little family. It’s crazy to think about how the universe aligned for us to be together for those few days.

This experience was honestly one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. One of those moments where I know I was making core memories, living them, and truly embracing them. Man, I still can’t believe I went out of my comfort zone to do this, and I’m honestly ready for another retreat!

Since I’ve been home, I can’t stop thinking or talking about this trip. I’m actively convincing my besties to go in March and my sorority sisters in October. I can imagine bringing the future love of my life here and our kids. This is the type of city worth spending time in with the people you love and care about the most, even if it’s just you.

On this trip, I promised myself I'd pick up the hobbies I loved and put down, so the fact that I wrote this post…man, I’m so proud of myself for keeping that promise. I can’t wait to keep making those promises to myself and hold onto the good vibes.

Bonus:

Here are my top recs for Mexico City

1. Salazar for dinner - order the roasted shrimp and the ribeye

2. Cyan Mexico for custom leather journal making (book an appointment to go because it gets crowded)

3. Originario for home goods like dishware, jewelry containers, vases, etc

4. La Once Mil for Lunch/Dinner - order everything I shared above

5. Photoculto for cute photobooth pics (sad I didn’t get to go, but I will soon!)

6. Xinú Perfumes for their fragrances and incense

7. Rumor for matcha (another cafe I didn’t get to go to but heard amazing things about)

8. Casa Izel for a hotel to stay in (or anywhere in Roma Norte!)

(And while you’re at it, tune into my TikTok/Instagram because I've got alllllll the recs and vlogs coming!)

xoxo, Jade

As a young Black woman and proud child of immigrants, why would I be anything else? I grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY in one of the most diverse cities and neighborhoods in the country. Being in community of a melting pot of religions, cultures, and people is all I know. It’s the life I hope my future family get to experience.

If any of this bothers you, feel free to block me because clearly you’re mistaken with thinking that this community is a safe space for your bigotry. There’s no place for a difference in opinion when it comes to someone’s life and safety.

I will never forget the dread I felt when I woke up to find out Trump won the 2024 election. The night before, I went to an election party after voting for the first future female president. I got chills seeing the world tuned into the live footage of the Harris administration on The Yard on Howard University’s campus. My alma mater on a global stage because our alumna was running for the President of the United States. I knew Howard women could do anything but seeing it in real time…man, I can’t even describe how proud I felt.

During the party, we noticed her polls weren’t doing to well. At one point, the vibe in the room shifted from excitement to worry and we decided to call it a night. Me being the “glass half-full” girl I am, went to bed that night praying there’d be a miraculous turn around in votes. I even had a dream that she won. It was so vivid that I jumped out of my sleep to check the results. My heart sank and tears welled up in my eyes reading who won. We were totally fucked.

That week, I couldn’t really look at anyone who didn’t look like me. I wondered “did they vote for him?” and “why are they smiling when the world is ending….again?”. I went on a blocking spree of anyone openly supporting his win.

I remember a classmate of mine, child of immigrants, cheering on Instagram that he won.

“What a fucking idiot?” I thought to myself as I blocked her and informed my twitter timeline of her dumbassery. How could anyone proudly cheer on a man who hated their very existence? How much do you hate yourself to be happy that a horrible man who spewed constant vitriol was back in office?

I was surprised by the people I had to block: so many Black and Brown people, women especially, who wore their invisible MAGA hats with pride. I guess they forgot the lives they actually live in America. You can align yourself with the right all you want but if you don’t look like them, they think you’re an idiot too.

Every time some breaking news comes out from this administration, I can’t help but ask:

Why couldn’t y’all have just voted for Kamala?

The most qualified candidate on the ballot. We wouldn’t be in this constant state of worry, despair, and anger that are now. Seeing how everyone criticized every single thing about Kamala that was not relevant to the election (her laugh, her hair, her identity) was a reminder that people didn’t like her because she’s a woman. I understand not liking her for policies and stance on things but out of the two candidates, I’m sure her opinion could’ve been swayed. The other candidate, not so much. He had been clear from day one that he hated everyone that didn’t look like him.

Sometimes I get nervous talking about politics because I don’t want to sound stupid. I try my best to stay informed as much as possible, but it’s important to share my stance with y’all because I never want anyone to think their bigotry is welcomed here. My own mother, who got her citizenship in the 90s, has been scared about deportation which makes me very sad. I know people whose parents have been deported. It’s one thing to see it happen on line but different to see it happening to those around you.

It’s been the longest 4 years ever and it’s barely been a year since his new term began. I don’t understand how anyone could be okay with this. Why did you vote for this? How could you be so evil? So fucking stupid..

I’m a full time creator but I can’t bring myself create during this time in the world right now. I try because it brings me joy, but I’m overshadowed by the tragedy happening all around us. I look at my editing queue and planned content with blank eyes because I don’t have the motivation to work on it.

I’ve seen people die on my phone almost every year since 2020. Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, the genocide in Gaza, and now, 9 ICE murders before January 2026 is over.

How am I supposed to show up and talk about my favorite creator tools or early career opportunities to apply for or my resort reviews and act like business as usual? There’s so much grief around us that all I can do is lay here and find any pockets of peace.

On the other hand, I refuse to let the evil people in the world take away any joy that’s out there for us. I’m using this time to stay informed, use my voice, lean on my community, and try my best to continue my mission of helping early career professionals navigate their careers with confidence and real guidance.

I’m giving myself grace that it’s okay to take a break from content and just…exist. Yes, the world goes on but embrace these moments of stillness to remember what and who really matters.

We all have a voice and this is your reminder to use it. Even if it comes out shaky or you don’t have all of the right words to say. Speaking up is a domino effect that’ll inspire others to speak up as well.

That’s the reality of Surviving Your Ninth Semester. The uncertainty of what’s to come and happen in the world around you. No one saw 2020 coming. Most people say what’s coming now, but others chose to be naive. In this season, we need to focus on what’s in our controls. Your careers matter, but never as much as your life or your loved ones or your community. Don’t lose sight of what’s truly important in this season. I’m praying we get through these very scary times.

and if it’s not clear by now,

f*ck Tr*mp and f*ck 🧊

You know when it’s time to step away from applying and breathe.

You try to fight it by telling yourself that maybe on page 57 of the job boards you’ll find the one. Or, you push through it by crying every other day and screaming when you see a job application with three open-ended questions (guilty, lol).

No amount of being a “trooper” is going to be helpful because you’re no longer operating from a sound mind. You’re in burnout and your body is begging you to close the laptop and remember you are a person with value outside of these applications.

These feelings have been creeping up on me since my heartfelt essay I wrote in September.

I’m not your typical applicant - I don’t spend all day applying for jobs, I don’t have the time in my schedule for endless coffee chats, and my LinkedIn doesn’t magically connect me with recruiters. The truth is, I have another full-time job that requires 80-100 hours/wk from me. As much as I try, sometimes I just don’t have the mental or emotional energy to go crazy hard on my job hunt. Outside of content creating and public speaking, any free time I have I use on having a social life, pouring into my cup, and….working on my business LOL. What can I say? I’m a workaholic.

Running the Ninth Semester full-time this year has been the most transformative period of my career. The brand deals are bigger, I’m growing a team, I’m traveling to speak at more universities and conferences. I’m no longer just a TikTok page, I’m actively building a legacy. The growth I’m experiencing and rooms I’m entering are more than I could’ve imagined in the last 9 months. I’m incredibly blessed.

But, I’m also tired. SO, SO, SO tired. I’m seeing that slowly creep into how I show up with applications. I can’t push out 25 apps a week, but I aim for at least 3 a day. I network whenever I can and have been vocal online about what I’m looking for (which has helped bring in some great leads!)

I’ve reached a lull in my response rate. I’m applying for things and simply not hearing back. I sometimes have to double-check that I submitted it correctly. With the holidays coming up, there’s often mixed messaging about whether recruiters are still hiring. Some people say use this quiet time to rest, my anxiety is telling me to keep submitting….and unfortunately, I’m going to listen to that voice. But we’re going to be strategic about it.

I have a confession: I am actively burnt out from my job hunt.

I slipped into a semi-mass apply loop, I feel hopeless about applying and the negative thoughts like “What’s the point in applying, they’re not going to get back to me” and “No one is going to hire you” are swirling in my mind. That’s how I know it’s time to take a big ass break. IDC what my anxiety has to say anymore. My sanity means more.

At 3am, when I was distraught thinking about my job hunt struggles and how it’s starting to make me physically ill, I looked at the calendar and made plans for a vacation from Corporate America until December 1st.

It’s Nov 20th, so that’s 10 whole days to myself. No resume writes, no refreshing my job alerts. 10 days for Jade Walters to just be. This is my chance to check in with myself, lean on things and people that bring me joy, and fucking finally pick up the Sims 4!

Here are 3 realistic things I’m going to do to reclaim my sanity:

STEP AWAY

Outside of content, I don’t want to look at any new job openings. I may passively glance while collecting early career roles to share but unless it’s a fully body HELL YES, I’m not pulling out my resume. I read so many job descriptions a day, my brain needs some new stimuli.

During this 10-day period, I’m giving myself 30 mins a day to “casually” shop. If I don’t see anything good in that time slot, I’m moving on. I’m working on building out a dopamine menu of things that bring me joy, so if I ever feel discouraged on these mini shopping sprees, I can turn to something that’ll get me out of the funk

CHANGE THE CHANNEL IN MY MIND

I think about my job hunt day and night. When someone asks how it’s going, my stomach drops. When I hear “any company would be lucky to have you”, I panic because where are they? I need a few days to not think about my endless rejections. I plan on doing that by:

• Playing Sims 4 and creating a messy ass family

• Hanging out with my girlies in Chicago

• Enjoying Thanksgiving

• Creating a Christmas wishlist

• Hit up a Soulcycle class

• Watching Stranger Things

• and most importantly, lots and lots of sleep.

Create a list of 10-15 things you want to do if you didn’t have to think about your job hunt for a week. Lean on that whenever you take mini breaks.

SELF REFLECTION WHEN I’M READY

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same result. That’s how I feel about my job hunt strategy. Once I’m ready, I’m going to have a serious heart-to-heart with myself about what I could be doing more.

Whether that’s another complete resume revamp, getting even more niche and granular about what I want, and making time for coffee chats simply so I can bounce ideas with someone new and not feel so alone on my job hunt.

I’m opening the door to self-reflection and some tough talks with myself to get to the root of the problem. While also working on giving myself grace!

I help so many people in their careers, and it’s time I lean on others who have offered me support and wisdom. If my mentor Marcus is reading this, please know I will be hitting you up soon!

That’s the reality of Surviving Your Ninth Semester. There are several times you’re going to enter this season where you feel like everything is falling apart. Maybe it’s Mercury retrograde, or perhaps it’s a sign to stick down and return to yourself. However long it takes or whatever time you have, you can’t show up for others until you show up for you. Either take the break now, or your body will take it for you.

“Don’t let desperation lead to choosing the wrong job”.

On this job hunt, I’m being very intentional about my next move. For years, I felt embarrassed for not being able to stay in a role for more than two years, but the truth is, some companies aren’t able to handle talented candidates. They refuse to nurture them or completely remove their entry-level roles to help them grow from the ground up. It became clear each day that within corporate America, the goal is to better the company; the employees are just players in the game.

I’ve been grateful to have one manager in my career who genuinely cared about my professional growth. At 23, she created a role for me on her team, gave me free rein to grow a department, answered all my questions about the industry, immediately introduced me to the C-Suite and VPs (ensuring they knew me by name), and was my biggest cheerleader. I’d do anything to work with her again.

In the short time I stayed at that company (because when she left, I slowly left too), I grew significantly in my career. I had a strong portfolio of work experience, a new title, numerous industry connections, and newfound confidence about where my career was heading.

I was also reminded that there are managers who genuinely care about the growth of their early-career employees - something I hadn’t fully experienced yet. For the first time, I felt so seen and appreciated in the workplace. I wanted to find another organization where I could feel that way too.

Fast forward to the present day, it’s been nine months since I left that role to chase that feeling of being supported on the job hunt. Some days I question if I should’ve stayed in that role until a new one came along, but my new manager was horrid…I couldn’t sacrifice my mental health for a check (even though every 15th and 30th of the month I miss seeing how full my bank account was)

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Last Tuesday, I came across what I thought was the perfect role for me.

It was based in NYC at a tech company I heard a lot about recently and involved employer branding—exactly what I’m looking for in my next role!

Lucky me, one of my sorority sisters worked there. I knew she loved her job because she talked about it often. I reached out for a referral, and by the next morning, she submitted my app at 10:25 am. By 10:32 am, the recruiter reached out, and by 11:32 am, an interview was scheduled for 2 days later on Friday.

I was geeked. I hadn’t had an application go to an interview that fast in a while. Was September Surge bleeding into October? I was so eager for the role that I almost submitted a cover letter, but stopped because it felt too close to begging. Thankfully, this process showed that my resume was strong enough on its own.

When it comes to interviews, I never rush to schedule one. I give myself 1-3 days to prep (mentally, emotionally), do my research, and organize my interview notes. This process ensures that I have enough time to get myself together and show up as the best candidate I can be.

I’m working on another post where I break down my interview prep rituals, so stay tuned.

Honestly, going into this interview, I felt confident about what I could bring to the table, but also…numb? That morning, I had an interview with another company for a role I was really excited about, but it turned out I wasted my time. The interviewer never showed up, and HR didn’t reach out until hours later. Truthfully, I was fed up with another last-minute (not discussed) interview, so I didn’t chase.

I accidentally put my eggs into one basket and got anticipatory joy for a role that I wasn’t getting.

I’m starting to feel defeated on this job hunt and am doing everything I can to prevent those emotions from affecting how I present myself in my applications or interviews. It’s easier said than done, I know. There’s only so much rejection one can take before they mentally check out. I’m slowly approaching that point LOLOLOLOLOLOL *eye twitches*

There were little red flags that popped up before and during my interview.

One, I have seen this role on LinkedIn several times over the last months. I was surprised that it was still open, which signaled to me that they were struggling to hire someone for this role.

Two, my interviewer was 7 mins late LOL. I thought she forgot about me.

The actual interview went fine, nothing memorable. I can barely remember the questions she asked because she didn’t have many…except that she started asking about my experience with internal employee events.

Truthfully, I hadn’t done any. It usually fell on HR to organize events for the company during holidays, off-sites, and special occasions. I didn’t want to do that work, but understood it was part of the role since it was in the title.

At one point in the call, the recruiter gave me the breakdown of the role and this - THIS is when I knew it was over.

I don’t remember what came first:

1. Her saying that the role was 80% employee experience focused and 20% employer branding focused OR

2. The warning (more so threat LOL) that the interview process consisted of six 1:1 interviews (1 in person in NYC) and a week-long take-home assignment.

and no, the recruiter screen didn’t count as one of the 6, bomboclat 1:1 interviews

I couldn’t believe my ears. I remember asking her twice about the number of interviews because maybe I was hallucinating. Now I understand why they were struggling to hire someone, because they were making applicants jump through hoops for a job that barely paid over $100,000.

My mind was made up before the call ended. As much as I wanted a job, I know my worth, and the time I spend in an interview process like this would take away time from applying for other jobs, actually doing my first job (running The Ninth Semester as a creatorpreneur and public speaker), and basically anything else instead of prepping for six freaking interviews.

I feel like that many interviews is a slap in the face. You don’t care about an efficient interview process or a positive candidate experience. If there were going to be this many interviews, I can only imagine the hell life in that actual role would be like.

But most importantly, the role wasn’t aligned with what I want in my next job. I’m being very intentional with what my next move is. I know I don’t want a job focused on throwing internal events for employees - I wanted to work in employer branding, ideally with an early talent focus. I wanted to work on fun recruitment marketing campaigns to attract employees to an organization. Why waste my time and theirs pursuing a role that would most likely stress me out?

So, I did something that others may think I’m crazy for doing,

I thanked the recruiter for her honesty and told her that I’ll be rescinding my application because this position isn’t what I thought it would be. It was a boss ass move. I’m reclaiming my time, my peace, and sticking to my boundaries.

and you know what, the recruiter was cool asf about it. I could tell from her tone that I wasn’t the first person to run for the hills after getting an overview of the role and interview timeline. This role must be really hard to hire for and I hope they reconsider all of the interviews they have set. Why can’t they just exchange interview notes LOL?

I’m a big believer of when one door closes, another one opens.

As much as I’m facing rejections, I’m the one doing the rejecting too. I mutter “rejection is redirection” even when I don’t feel like it’s true…because I know it is. I just can’t see it right now.

I have no regrets and know that as I continue to be intentional on my job hunt, it may take some time to find the right role for me, but eventually it’ll come!

This is the reality of Surviving Your Ninth Semester.

It’s making the tough decisions now to protect the sanity of your future self. Yes, it’s scary to turn down interviews when you really need a job, but you need to look at the bigger picture. Interviews and the candidate experience can give you a glimpse into workplace culture. Don’t ignore red flags during your job hunt!

I love fun facts. I always have one ready to go.

Did you know the first stall in a public bathroom is the least used, so it’s usually the cleanest, or that September has the most birth dates?

In any new room I’m in, I must learn a fun fact about someone. In exchange, I usually offer two about myself. I love meeting new people and sharing fun lore about each other. Like seriously guys, please share a fun fact about yourself in the comments.

(I’ll go first: I love documentaries and hope to direct one someday. One of the best ones I’ve seen recently is McMillion$ on HBO Max)

Sharing my lore has always benefited me in interviews. When I applied for a marketing internship at Penguin Random House, I immediately told my interviewer that I used to write Teen Wolf fan fiction. Fifteen minutes out of our 30-minute interview was spent discussing the quirky fan fiction we were reading (and writing). It was then that I knew I would land the offer.

Why? Because personalization leads to connection.

In a sea of interviews where people are listing off everything on their resume, I lead with sharing how a personal project/interest of mine drew me to the role, intertwining my passions with my professional experience.

That’s how my interviewer remembered me - not just another candidate in her queue, but the qualified candidate with personality, grit, and fun lore related to the role.

The truth is = people hire people. Companies want people who can do the role, but is also a culture fit. Sometimes the most qualified candidate on paper is just that….someone with a track record of accomplishments with no story to tell. You can be qualified on paper, but if you’re boring in your interviews, you will get overshadowed by the other candidates who know how to turn an interview into an interesting conversation.

Once I learned that, I realized my superpower in interviews was to be myself. I learned what the company was looking for and tailored my resume accordingly, while selecting the most relevant stories to tell about myself. This is also helpful for curating your 4 core stories for your interviews.

Mastering the art of storytelling is the key to acing your interviews.

You need to know:

1. What stories to tell (based on audience/value/relevance) [see above]

2. How to tell the story in a way that spotlights your skills, unique perspective, and personality

3. Master the story of YOU (so you never have to fear the question “so tell me about yourself”)

The truth is, the right candidate for the role will be qualified and well-liked. I’ve landed several roles, over much qualified candidates, because of this framework.

Let’s go back to my Penguin Random House Marketing Internship role (btw, they’re hiring now for their Summer 2026 internships),

Background:

• It was my senior year, spring semester (2021), and I decided to make a career pivot from STEM to Marketing

• I never had a marketing internship before, but I was a campus marketing ambassador for Tinder and Bumble, running a freelance marketing agency, and had a background as a writer on Wattpad and personal blogging

How did a Maternal and Child Health major get an interview for a marketing internship AND land the role? She focused her story on what was relevant to the audience. Throughout the interviews, my vibe was:

Every touch point (applications, portfolios, interviews) with PRH focused on all of the marketing experience I had. Not once did we address the elephant in the room: my major. My major was a sub-plot in my story, but not the main plot point.

And when it was time to answer, “Well, why marketing?” best believe I had a damn good story to share.

This is where I weaved in my background as a writer, explaining why I was making a career pivot and how my personal interests influenced my professional aspirations to pursue a marketing internship at their company.

Throughout the application process, my interviewers remembered ME, not my resume. They remembered my story and how they were able to connect with me as an applicant. I was no longer applicant ‘whatever-the-number’ was, I was:

If you want to be remembered in interviews or conversations with peers or recruiters, you need to show up as YOU.

Ignore the pressure to be this perfectly curated version of yourself that suppresses the best parts about you - your unique stories, perspectives, and fun facts that make you memorable.

Find your perfect balance of professional and personal storytelling. Whether it’s talking about the small-owned business you’ve had since you were 16 or how running a One Direction stan page prepared you for a career as a social media manager, you have more professional experience than you think, even if it’s tied to personal projects.

It’s okay not to have all of the perfect interview answers or hit every qualification on the job description. The fact that you were selected for an interview shows that there’s something in you that they’re impressed with.

It’s also important to note that, as much as you’re ready to share your personality and stories, you need to be extra prepared for the actual interview (the serious, formal questions).

In every interview where I knew my experience may fall short in comparison to other candidates, I made sure I had a stellar interview prep doc categorized by the following (you can also read more here)

Ironically, the year before, I wrote this interview prep book, which served as my guide for navigating my interviews. It helped me land my offers at Penguin Random House, Ulta Beauty, and TikTok (as well as helping 500+ other readers!)

Being prepared → boosted my confidence → made me excited about connecting.

I went into interviews ready to bring to my resume to life in person. I wasn’t just someone on paper, I was a real candidate with a unique career story to share.

I didn’t need to be nervous about an interview. I need to be me, the incredibly prepared and charismatic, eager applicant who was going to win the team over.

There’s a reason why extroverts are often personality hires. They know how to yap up a room and impress their audience. Introverts? You'd better fake it till you make it!

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Surviving Your Ninth Semester is all about navigating your post-grad life in and outside of your professional pursuits, but it’s important to remember to connect with people when you’re networking, interviewing, or talking with recruiters. You are worth remembering.

To be so open about my struggles with my job search, as someone who has spent years helping Gen Z get hired. I questioned whether people would think I’m a failure or incapable of following my own advice. Or maybe they’d unfollow me en masse because if I can’t get a job, why should they follow my content?

However, today, I decided to ignore those thoughts, which ultimately led to the creation of this post. The feelings I kept to myself, only letting them spill out into the pages of my journal or confiding in close friends, were all laid out in a public LinkedIn post. I threw my phone across the room and started my morning. Fresh off a well-needed birthday vacation, I was back to facing the reality of my life. Being so vulnerable on LinkedIn makes me nervous, with over 164,000 people following my page…but it was time to speak my truth.

For months, I felt immense embarrassment about my inability to land a job in yet another treacherous job market. I saw some good traction earlier this year but over the last few months, the interview requests dwindled, lack of replies skyrocketed, and more and more companies were wasting my precious time.

Even the list of “interesting” roles are slim pickings. I find myself waiting to apply for roles (employer branding/recruitment marketing/integrated marketing with a gen z focus) that don’t seem to exist. As a result, my application volume has decreased. I’m running out of things worth applying to.

The only increase I’ve seen was undergraduate and new-grad roles, including internships, rotational programs, and fellowships. On a positive note, this year alone, The Ninth Semester has helped students secure roles at Google, L’Oreal, Microsoft, and other notable companies.

(Some of these companies have ironically rejected me for their seasoned roles over the last few months.)

Since entering the later stages of my “early career”, I realized it’s getting harder to land a job. With the professional growth I’ve experienced thanks to my “accelerated” career path because of my blog/personal brand, I’m unsure if I’m still considered “early” in my career.

On paper, I look like I’m ready for leadership roles but personally, I think I still have a lot to experience. I’ve only had two full-time corporate roles. One that I f’ed around and got thanks to a viral TikTok resume and another I got because of my blog.

I’ve leaped around on my collection of “professional” milestones one goes through at work, none of which have been the subsequent “next step” - I either skipped a flight of stairs and do things like host a workshop on behalf of my company at a national conference or asked to lead an event during the company’s annual off-site. But I’ve never managed a full-time employee or gotten a promotion. There was never a blueprint for me to follow; I made my own.

So when I find myself in a position of being told that I’m “too junior” for roles or “too senior”, I feel confused. I’ve ran my own department (because I was a team of 1, lol), managed stakeholders, and helped bring 6 figures into an organization…but not good enough for a "senior associate” role on a team.

I’ve scaled my own business to $$$ in revenue with a community of 250K, but that’s too much for you and you think I’d be “bored” in your coordinator role…how do you know that?

My resume is what most would say is “stacked” but employers seem to be turned off by it.

Companies want innovators, go-getters, and scrappy workers, but when you finally meet one who really gets down and has a proven track record of turning lemons into lemonade shacks, you don’t know what to do with their talent?

I used to feel bad about never beating the Gen Z stereotype of being unable to stay at a job for more than two years, but the reality is that I haven’t found the right company that has been able to nurture my talent and expertise to keep me there. The right company that’s willing to invest in my growth and see that, despite everything I have going on, I’m still a young professional who needs guidance and mentorship. I don’t have it all figured out. I’m not supposed to, I’m 26!

I know there’s a middle ground of mid-level roles I should do to follow that invisible “playbook” of the “right, subsequent steps” but how can I find those roles? How can I get back on track and not feel confused when I start skipping steps? How am I praised for skipping steps in one industry but frowned upon for doing so in others? The rejection is starting to feel personal.

What do they want from me?! Some say I’m too good, others think I’m not good enough.

The response to my post is nothing like what I feared.

Instead of people questioning the validity of the early-career educational content I post, they resonated with and appreciated my transparency. Some of them are also struggling to find the right organizations that are accepting of their multi-hyphenate pursuits and view it as their superpower in the corporate world. Others also find themselves stuck in the loop of being “too junior” and “too senior”.

Almost everyone who commented has shared that they feel seen after reading my post.

Feeling seen and heard is exactly why I created The Ninth Semester. As much as it sucks to hear that so many people are struggling in the job market too (for more reasons beyond their personal brands and entrepreneurial pursuits), it’s nice to know that I am not alone.

I’ve kept these feelings of defeat off my channels because I was scared to disappoint others. I was scared to be honest about how freaking hard it is out in the job market. I don’t want them to give up because I know on the other side of this hell, there is light at the end of the tunnel. However, I realized that this level of transparency with my audience is important. It humanizes the job hunt and reminds them that they’re not alone. That even the people who seem to have it all figured out are also struggling.

There are so many people online trying to sell them a lie:

and I don’t want to be another person lying to them.

I have an amazing Linkedin presence but no recruiters in my DMs (unless they’re from an agency trying to sell me something).

I’ve mastered networking but keep getting told “We’d love to have you on our team, but we don’t have the budget for a new role.”

I get interviews, but then they hit me with the “We think you’re amazing but you have a lot going on (i.e.: The Ninth Semester) and we think you’d be bored in this role”

There’s no perfect formula or course or resume template to landing a job, and no one is above facing rejections during this horrible, confusing job market.

You can still do all of the right things and still face challenges.

There are so many factors (timing, industry, who you’re talking to, internal hiring, etc) that play a role in affecting your job hunt.

My struggles on the job hunt and being open about it online is helping me become more empathetic as a career creator. It’s my chance to remind them, “Hey, you’re not alone. It sucks out here for me too, but I’m on your side. I’m doing this with you.”.

I don’t want my audience to think that I can’t relate or don’t understand their struggles because I do. I’ve lived it too. I’m experiencing it right now.

I still remember confused asf 21-year-old Jade, who struggled during her post-grad job hunt, wondering if she’d ever land a job, and 23-year-old Jade, who left TikTok to finally bet on herself and felt those same feelings.

At (newly) 26 with a larger personal brand and more work experience under her belt, I’m still having those feelings. I’m still questioning if I girlbossed too close to the sun.

Secretly? I ask myself what is so wrong with being a multi-hyphenate and having a 9-5? Is it really the end of the world that I have a life outside of my 9-5?

I don’t dream of climbing the corporate ladder; I’m a part of the Gen Zers who are redefining career success. My success won’t be defined by spending 20 years at the same company, but rather by gaining transferable skills across industries, embracing being a multiphyphenate as my superpower, and finding roles that balance financial security with personal fulfillment. Working in Corporate and being an entrepreneur are the two keys I plan on using to get there as I design my dream career.

I’m a better employee because of my entrepreneurial journey. I see working in Corporate America as the perfect environment to learn how to become a better entrepreneur. Both roles go hand in hand for me, I’ve found my perfect recipe of balancing it all and using it to propel my growth. I’m more well-rounded because of it.

I’ve been in this line of fire before. This is not my first time in the trenches of the job hunt while designing my dream career. When you’re in the thick of it and your self-affirmations are starting to feel like words after the 3rd job rejection hits your inbox, it’s hard to grasp onto the phrase “rejection is redirection” because WHEN is the redirecting going to start? Is there an ETA? Can it come as fast as ordering something on Amazon Prime?

For a few months, I was toying with the idea of “hiding” my personal brand. Maybe I’m too much for Corporate because of my brand. It’s time to really lean in to being Hannah Montana and live a double life.

I considered doing an experiment of removing it from my resume and portfolio and barely mentioning it in interviews. Maybe I’ll see a difference in application response?

But it’s foolish because after one Google/LinkedIn search of my name, you’ll immediately see all that I’ve built. It could also be off-putting to an employer that I’m hiding my brand. What if they think I have a secret agenda?

I also couldn’t stomach the idea of hiding who I am just to get a job. Why should I dim my light to fit into rooms? Why do I have to hide The Ninth Semester, something I am SO incredibly proud of, just to be taken seriously?

This blog and the brand I’ve built for myself are one of the best things I’ve created in my life so far. It was created out of grief, as I felt so alone during my post-graduation job hunt, and I wished I had this platform when I was in college. It was made for the overly ambitious, first-gen professionals like me who are navigating corporate life as the first in their families. No map, no guidelines - just figuring it out one step at a time.

Every day, I get messages from early-career professionals who tell me how seen they feel when watching my content, how I’m their internet career big sister, how my content has helped them land real-life-changing opportunities - some of these messages make me emotional because this is why I created The Ninth Semester. I’m incredibly proud of everyone who has allowed me to help them on their early career journey, even those I didn’t know I was helping.

So no, I will not hide my brand that I’m so freaking proud of!

The community I’ve built, the connections I’ve made, and the opportunities I’ve secured are a result of deciding one day to create a few TikToks to help students land internships. The Ninth Semester is nothing to be ashamed of. My ability to authentically connect and support the next generation on their paths to designing their dream careers is my superpower.

It’s been a few hours since I poured my soul into my LinkedIn post on a random Monday morning. I’ve received DMs that have brought me to tears, reminders never to dim my light, and comments from people who motivate me to keep going. I am reminded that I am not alone, and my vulnerability has helped others remember that they, too, are not alone.

I feel brave for being so honest online, even if it was a scary thing to do.

I turned 26 last week, and with a new year of life, I’m excited to see what comes out of it. Whether it’s a new job, the confidence to continue being real with my audience, or the increase in self-affirmations that I’m that mf girl. I may feel defeated at times and exhausted all the time, but I refuse to give up.

This is the reality of Surviving Your Ninth Semester.

It’s messy, raw, and lots of figuring it tf out until you land in that soft place that’s been waiting for you and your talents.

We’re going to get there…even if it’s taking longer than we’d like.

Over the years, my ninth semester has gotten easier, but trust me, there’s still a lot to learn. At 25, these last few years have been the most transformative time of my life:

→ I moved from NYC to Chicago to work at TikTok because I shot my shot at the company with a TikTok resume

→ I started my early career resources platform, The Ninth Semester, because it was something I wished I had as a student. I’ve had the pleasure of working with dream brands (Adobe, Google, Handshake), been invited as a speaker at my alma mater, Howard University, and now it’s my full-time job during my mini-sabbatical from Corporate America.

→ I’ve built a beautiful life for myself in Chicago, surrounded by the sweetest friendships ever.

→ I gave a freaking TEDx talk about my non-linear career journey and inspiring the next generation to take fearless ownership of their careers (video coming soon!)

But it wasn’t smooth sailing. Since graduation, I’ve dealt with:

→ Heartbreak in all forms: romantic, friendship-breakups, grief,

→ Micro-aggressions in the workplace as a young, Black woman

→ being #23 and all of the mental/emotional olympics that come with that

I turn 26 in September, and I can confidently say that every step I’ve taken has helped me become a stronger, loving, and smarter version of myself. I don’t regret anything I had to go through (although it sucks LOL) because it brought the wisdom I needed to navigate my early 20s.

So, here are my top 10 pieces of wisdom that I wish I knew at 20 and hope you all can absorb today:

1️⃣ Don’t be afraid to walk away. Trust your gut.

Whether it’s a messy interview process or a toxic job or a terrible partner, there’s always better around the corner. I almost accepted my first job offer with a popular online gaming company because it was April and graduation was in May. But something didn’t feel right; I had a feeling that I could find better and declined the offer. I wasn’t in a position to be declining offers, but if I let having a scarcity mindset stop me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I eventually landed a role 3 months later and the rest is history. If you believe you deserve more, you do!

2️⃣ You are the lead designer of your career

This was one of the key points from my TEDx talk and a realization I had when I decided to quit my full-time job in January 2025 to run my brand full-time.

I remember the first time I realized that my career was MY career. I call the shots. No one cared how passionate and eager I was and they weren’t gonna hand me a job just because. They needed to see qualifications.

This is why I constantly emphasize the importance of creating your own work experiences. I’m actively living my dream career because I decided to take control of my career path and not wait for someone, a company, or an organization to be the catalyst.

3️⃣ Comparison is the thief of joy

Seeing your peers land offers left and right while you’re on your 4th rejection for the day, can be A LOT 😭 I literally had to delete LinkedIn at one point because it was messing with my sanity. I found myself questioning what was wrong with me, and didn’t understand how everyone else understood the post-grad job hunt except me.

I didn’t have a platform like The Ninth Semester when I was in college; I had to go through the trenches. The biggest lesson I learned was that everyone’s career path is unique. I couldn’t compare my journey to someone else’s because it wasn’t my story. Stay laser focused on yours.

4️⃣ Investing in your personal brand is incredibly invaluable

I’ve been investing in my personal brand since I was a college student. That amplified post-grad when I decided to post more on LinkedIn. I didn’t want my Linkedin to solely be a “excited to announce” page - I wanted to document my career and network with people all over the world along the way. This was my chance to share my story in my voice. People care what you have to say.

Growing my personal brand is more than just my professional experience; it has also positively impacted my confidence and how I choose to uniquely show up in Corporate America as a young, Black woman.

This invaluable investment has opened more doors for me than my degree, and as a first-generation STEM graduate, it continues to change my life, reminding me that I am not limited by my degree, my interests, or my professional pursuits. It’s not always about what you know, but who knows you and can speak about you in rooms you wish to enter.

My personal brand is proof that I can create the narrative I want to share about who I am. I refuse to let a company/job/position define me.

5️⃣ Moved to a new city after graduation

Growing up in the best city in the world (aka NYC) and attending college in DC, I knew I wasn't ready to go back home. I needed to see more of the world, and because I'm a city girl who doesn't know how to drive, moving to another big city with great public transportation was my best option.

After accepting my offer with TikTok, I had the choice of staying in my comfort zone in NYC or moving to Chicago. It was a no-brainer to go to Chicago! I'd only visited once when I was 7, but I was excited for a new challenge.

Moving 700 miles away from home, where I only knew two people, to Chicago was scary but also thrilling. I felt like a mysterious new character, creating a brand-new life for myself in a place where no one knew me (yet).

I've grown so much living in Chicago and have met amazing new friends, discovered new career opportunities, experienced new things, and learned new life lessons. Every win and loss I've experienced here has helped shape my early 20s.

I'm young, single, child-free, pet-free - now was the perfect time for me to pack up my life and move to a new state and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

6️⃣ Became a hobby hoarder

I love a good hobby! Once you've graduated, you have more time to pour into your passions and interests. Content creation and writing have always been my first love, but I'm constantly looking for new hobbies.

Some new ones I've started include SoulCycle Inc. classes, [solidcore] (77 classes down, tryna hit 100), hosting girls’ nights with my friends, teaching myself photography, falling back in love with reading, relaunching my lifestyle blog, learning sign language, and more.

I love being in my Phineas and Ferb, random side quests era

7️⃣ Slowing down and saying no - often.

Now this is something I'm still working on. There are so many things I'm passionate about and want to accomplish, so I've been working on my work-life balance and making sure I take breaks whenever I need them. I'm a Type A- perfectionist, very goal-oriented, and also a slight workaholic, so it's not easy lmaoo but I'm trying!

Over the years, I've gotten strict with my boundaries and making sure I show up for myself before showing up for others. You can't pour from an empty cup, so weekly check-ins with myself help me hold myself accountable. I'm not afraid to say no. I’ve grown to love saying no, especially as an entrepreneur, where everyone wants access to you.

My former people-pleaser self was buried and tucked away a long time ago.

8️⃣ It's okay and never too late to pivot

During the spring semester of my senior year, I decided to make a career change from maternal and child health to tech. I dove into my job search with a loose plan, lots of manifestation, and a healthy dose of delusion. What's not seen is the 100s of crappy applications I submitted, a job offer I had to turn down, and the endless job rejections until I finally landed my offer at TikTok.

My career pivot and the realization that there weren't a lot of early career resources for new grads led to the creation of The Ninth Semester blog, ultimately leading to my new career path in early career recruiting.

One decision I made in college has positively impacted my career ever since, and now I get to help over 200,000 early-career professionals navigate their careers.

If stayed stagnant in my career in a field that was no longer bringing me joy, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Stop letting fear hold you back from pursuing what sets your soul on fire.

9️⃣ It's okay to be multi-passionate, that's your superpower

I used to (and sometimes still do) feel embarrassed for having an inconsistent career path. I went from a communications internship at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, Inc. → campus ambassador for Tinder and Bumble → a marketing internship at Penguin Random House → a public relations internship at Ulta Beauty → advertising at TikTok → early career recruiting/employer branding at WayUp → full-time content-creator/keynote speaker/entrepreuner of The Ninth Semester → ??? (currently on a job hunt)

I quickly learned the art of painting a story with my career experiences and discovered that my diverse career path is what makes me unique. The skills, software, and niche industry knowledge I've acquired from every role have helped me become a well-rounded candidate.

There's no shame in wanting to learn and explore something different, especially if you're able to apply the lessons from past roles to a new one. Identifying and highlighting my transferable skills has helped significantly with my career confidence.

I can walk into any room and know that I’ve lived a lot of professional lives to get here. I have more unique experiences than the average candidate, and imposter syndrome shouldn’t exist in your life when you’re a jack of all trades.

but the biggest lesson I learned (well, truthfully, still learning…)

🔟 You're on your own timeline.

It was hard watching my classmates land opportunities before graduation while I was on my 20th job rejection of the month. I still feel this way now, watching my classmates get into relationships/get married/have kids. All of these life milestones that I haven’t reached yet, while simultaneously achieving bucket-list goals (moving to a new city, my TED talk, solo-tripping). It was mind-fuck…it still is.

Every step I took, including the mistakes I made on my first post-grad job hunt and navigating life in a new city at 22, brought me to where I am today. I wasn't "behind" or a "failure" - it just wasn't my time yet. And that's scary to believe when you're not where you want to be.

I don’t think there’s a set end date for your ninth semester.

Your unique path and self-assurance continue to evolve over time until you reach a point where you’re confident in who you are. However, don’t rush to that ending, as you’ll forget to enjoy the journey along the way.

When it comes to lesson #10, it’s time I start listening to my own advice.

For those still in their ninth semester like me, what are some lessons (life, career, etc) that you’ve learned and wish your younger self knew? Let us know below ⤵️

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