Hello everyone! Mak is back with another blog post and I want to share my story with you. How does a 20 year old girl wind up self-employed, with a bachelors degree, and fully financially independent in this economy???
WELP, it's been a wild ride, full of ups, downs, and everything in between. I feel like it is important to share what got me here to illustrate that it can be done, and let you into who I am. So, let’s rewind a bit.
Some Context: High School (yuck)
Back in high school, I was juggling a lot. I was in theatre, working 30 hours a week, and taking college classes on top of my regular high school schedule. It was intense, and yeah, I had anxiety, but I was getting by. I was also valedictorian, and finished my AA while still in high school. I was the perfect student and daughter – most of the time lol – a real goodie two shoes who followed all the rules and wanted nothing more than to do everything the 'right' way.
(newsflash! there's no right way, but I digress)
Onto College: The (first) Big Awakening
Then came college. I moved into my dorm at Florida Atlantic University on my 18th birthday... (there's gotta be a metaphor in there somewhere). I was majoring in Communications. And yes, I know the stereotype that comes with that – but listen, I had no idea what I wanted to do. College was a massive awakening for me. Some might call it a breakdown, but I see it as an awakening haha. Through experiencing a whole new town, with all new people, and no one to answer to but myself. I was led into a very lost place emotionally. I was so confused and disoriented by everything, I was aimless. I realized I had been living my life the way I thought everyone else wanted me to and not for myself. I didn't even know who I was or what I really wanted! So, I made a commitment to always follow my own path, not what I thought I should do, but what I wanted to do.
Slowly but surely, I found my way mentally through college. I made amazing friends, excelled at my serving job, and for the first time in my life, I felt like my life was mine. Untillllllllllll I graduated with my Bachelor's degree in Communications at 19 years old, and then the wave of anxiety hit. What was I going to do? Where was I going to go? I loved Boca and didn’t want to move back to my hometown, but how was I going to afford an apartment? I didn't want a 9-5 or a corporate job – that would mean forfeiting the identity I had worked so hard to gain.
A Series Of Fortunately Unfortunate Events
Long story short, I started running social media for someone who housed me in exchange for my services. But quickly, I realized I was working extremely long days, doing tasks far beyond social media, and receiving no compensation except housing. After three months, feeling taken advantage of, I left with just $500 to my name. But somehow, in two weeks, I got my serving job back, found two clients for social media management, secured an apartment, and made just enough money to afford that first month's rent. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my amazing friends and family, including my best friend who housed me during those two weeks when I was basically homeless.
This situation -as insane, and disorienting, as it was- taught me strength, perseverance, and how to run social media!!! I gained so much confidence in myself after everything in my life leveled out. Looking back, I realized how much I actually could do if I just went out and did it. I stopped wasting time being anxious about the possibilities, and just went out there to live and learn my lessons.
Where I Am Now
Through a lot of ups and downs, lessons, and being taken advantage of in a career setting, I built myself up to running my business. Now, I have five clients, a contract with a podcast studio as their preferred social media manager, and countless freelance clients who hit me up when they need me for graphic design. I never claim to know everything, but I do promise to always be open to learning and growing.
The Heart of My Work
What sets me apart is my deep investment in the success of my clients. Every business is someone’s baby, and I treat all the work I do as such. I know the entrepreneurs journey, through the little bit of it I have lived already, and through living it every day. I know what it means to need help, to struggle, and the value of doing good work. I pour my heart and soul into every project, prioritizing the highest level of care and involvement.
So here I am, a 20-year-old, fully self-employed, self-sufficient woman, ready to help as many people as I can through social media. Thank you for joining me on this wild ride and listening to my story. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Go slay the day!
Peace and love, Mak