In my family, my sister has always been 'the smart one.'

Not taking a dig at myself whatsoever, but the girl is scary smart. Like getting her PhD from Vanderbilt in things I don't even understand type of smart.

It always rolled off of everyone's tongues that she was 'the smart one' in our pack and, trust me, they aren't just being complimentary. She is brilliant - I just proudly shared her first published scientific research on Facebook (with the disclaimer that I don't know what any of it means).

We're both incredibly lucky to have two parents who didn't put any caps on what we were capable of or what we should do with our lives. This is something not everyone has and I realize what a contributing factor it has been to our successes.

The bar is set high in this family and while it's overwhelming, I'm grateful for it. We have always been surrounded by incredible role models - from female executives to entrepreneurs to our dad who decided to go get his Bachelor's degree at 50 (and is currently finishing up his Master's).

I'm not going to wake up one day with the all of the answers in quantitative and chemical biology and I'm okay with that. Because I eventually realized that my sister being the smart one doesn't mean that I'm not smart.

I think at some point in my childhood, I decided that if she was 'the smart one' that meant I had to be something else. Anything else. I tried the funny one, the outgoing one, the athletic one, the compassionate one, the strong one, the leader - to name a few.

Keep in mind that no one in my family ever told me I wasn't smart. Ever! But in my mind, if someone else was the brains of the operation that meant I had to take on a different role.

It wasn't until my early twenties that I realized I never needed to try to be anyone else because there's really no 'one' of anything. There are thousands of Olympic athletes, hundreds of brilliant scientists, millions of strong leaders.

There is enough room for all of us and what you do takes nothing away from the person next to you. So from now on, let's focus less on comparing and more on supporting each other.

Do you have a brilliant sister? Pick her brain on a complicated work project. Is your college roomie a marathon runner? Ask her for tips on self-discipline. 

Because no matter where you are in your life, there are things you bring to the table that you can teach others. And there are just as many things that others can teach you too.

Everyone told me college would be 'the best four years of your life,' but to say I didn't have your typical college experience would be putting it lightly.

For so long, I felt this pressure to pretend I was fine. To pretend I wasn't overwhelmed, I didn't just have another breakdown, I had it all together. 

I really struggled to appreciate the beauty of my time in undergrad because of how much unexpected adversity I was experiencing - and now I realize that I wasn't alone.

Many of my friends struggled through their own issues, but so few of us spoke up about them. So now, I'm sharing the five things I wish someone had told me in college.

College is your time to learn, to try, to fail. Aside from your classes, of course, there is no better time in your life to fail than in college. 

Think for a second about how big our world is and all that it has to offer. There are jobs out there you never even knew existed; the love of your life could be in a city you've never traveled to; your calling may be the one thing you're too scared to try again because you didn't succeed the first time around.

Trust me when I say, failure is a necessary evil - the sooner you accept your failures and all they have to teach you, the happier and more successful you will be.

With so many moments where you feel like you're at your breaking point, finding a safe haven is crucial for your mental health in college. Keep in mind that everyone's outlet looks different and that is okay.

Whether it's playing a club sport, getting a job on campus, mentoring, or even joining Greek life - find a community where you feel you can be entirely, unapologetically, yourself. As long as it's a place that leaves you feeling less stressed, not more.

There can be an unbelievable amount of uncertainty in college. Should I change my major? Should I transfer to a different school? Do I need to get an internship? How can I be a full-time student and still make money? 

Accepting the revolving door of changes during those four quick years was one of the things I struggled with the most. I remember laying in bed some nights thinking: Once I graduate, have my own place, get a great salary, everything is going to be sooo much easier.

Until your washing machine breaks, your dog gets sick, your car won't start in the dead of winter, and your 9-5 is more stressful than any 5 page paper you've ever written.

While having a routine is important, learn to be flexible. Learn that our world is ever-changing and life isn't about controlling change, it's about being the best version of yourself no matter what is going on around you.

It is okay to just be. You can be a committed college student without being the president of three clubs, raising the most money for your sorority, volunteering on and off campus, working a part-time job, and being a straight-A student.

For so long, I completely burnt myself out trying to do EVERYTHING. It is okay to not have every minute of your day planned. It is okay to rest when your body needs to rest. It is okay to take mental health days. It is okay to not do it all. You don't need to be everything to everyone.

You are enough. What you are doing is enough.

Although sometimes we feel deeply alone, we never truly are.

​I think about the hardest, most painful, stressful experiences that have ever happened to me and I can see now just how many other people have been through very similar experiences.

It's so easy to isolate yourself when you're overwhelmed or hurting. Saying "no one understands this" or "no one knows what I'm going through" rolls off of the tongue, doesn't it?But if you haven't found someone who understands or knows what you're going through, keep looking.

​I promise you, your support system is out there.

I started 2018 in the hospital. It was three days into the new year and instead of focusing on my goals, I found myself getting wheeled off to have my appendix removed.

Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm and I didn't have to have surgery after all! But even still, starting off the first week of the year in the hospital really killed my motivation. 

By the time I recovered my goals were already off track, I was behind at work, and I was majorly stressing about how much this hospital visit would cost me. It was like I did all of that planning for nothing... 2018 was going to be like every other year before it.

So often, we just accept these things as our fate and wait around for something to change, for someone to come rescue us. As your tough love friend, I'm here to tell you that no one else has a greater responsibility to giving you the life you want than you.

There were many times where I thought back to the goals and dreams I had written down ahead of this year, but they seemed completely unobtainable. I felt like I didn't have the time, energy, or motivation to achieve a single one.

Then I did one thing that changed the tone for the remainder of the year: I asked for help.

Instead of hiding what I was struggling with, I started sharing them. Loudly. With my inner circle, on my blog, with new friends, and even to strangers.

I created a sounding board of people I trusted and it instantly felt like the biggest weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I didn't have to carry every burden, I didn't have to save everyone, I didn't have to be strong all of the time. I could fail, I could grow, I could try again, I could learn, I could breathe.

All of a sudden, things started going my way. Doors started opening, opportunities were appearing, happiness was abundant.

There is someone reading this who feels as if every aspect of their life is crumbling right now. You have no control. You're on a losing streak. You can't get your mindset right. You'll never have the perfect life you've always dreamed of. 

If you're looking to make 2019 a better year I challenge you to start by doing just one thing: start asking for help.​

To the people who have made this my best year yet, there aren't enough words to properly say thank you. You know exactly who you are. 

Being interviewed on a podcast has been one of my dreams for a loooong time. This year, I put it on my vision board and promised myself that I would make it happen.

Thank you to Lené Hypolite, host of The Glow Up Podcast, for sharing so many incredible stories of success with actionable steps to help others glow up in their careers, finances, personal lives, and so much more. ​

It was an honor to share my story on the podcast, I hope you enjoy it! ​

Have you written your Christmas list yet!? This year, I made it really simple by using Google Sheets to put everything I wanted in one place and then share my list with everyone. 

All your friends and family have to do is pick what gift they want to get you and then delete it off the list, so no one else gets you the same thing! I liked doing this because I could keep my list organized and include my sizes, colors, and even the links. #TypeAProblems

If you're struggling with what to get the blogger in your life, check out a few of the gifts I'm still raving about:

1. Blue Yeti USB Microphone
My mom got me this mic for my birthday and it's perfect for recording interviews, voiceovers, or podcasts. It was really easy to set up and I love that it plugs right into your laptop.
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I used this mic to record my interview on The Glow Up Podcast ​and Getrude Matshe's Podcast, and the sound quality is incredible. It's on sale on Amazon right now, so grab one of these before they run out!

If this sounds right up your alley, you can sign up here. Feel free to email me if you have any questions!
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3. Lap Desk
Whether you're a blogger, you work from home, or you're starting your own business, chances are you spend a lottttt of time on your laptop. 

My mom got me this Sofia & Sam lap desk for my birthday and I'm obsessed! The memory foam base is so comfy compared to some of the other lap desks I've used. There's even a component that slides out for a place to put a wireless mouse and your phone. 
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4. Gratitude notebooks
Has anyone else been doing #Last90Days with Rachel Hollis? This was my first year and it has really helped me focus on what's important by writing down what I'm grateful for every day. 

Our family friends gifted me these gratitude journals for my birthday and they're perfect for jotting down alllll the good things in your life. Grab one for you and a friend - they're a steal on Amazon!

​5. A puppy
Come on, every blogger wants a puppy... I call our dog, Duke, my assistant, but fair warning: he does sleep on the job a lot.

We adopted Duke from Blues City Animal Rescue in Tennessee, where he was rescued from a kill shelter. If you're serious about adopting your new best friend, take a look at their website!

The holidays are meant to be a time for celebration. 

College students taking a break after finals, parents enjoying a full home again, professionals sharing their accomplishments, and siblings back to fighting over the best spot on the couch.

But for some people, the holidays aren't all things merry and bright. Although they may be surrounded by family and friends, all they can see is an empty seat at the table.

If you've lost someone in your family, especially if you've lost them recently, the holidays can be an incredibly painful reminder of the people who are no longer here to celebrate with you. 

Sometimes, it may even feel like a betrayal to celebrate such a special time of year when there are people who are missing. But this year, let's change our perspective.
​

2018 has flown by for me - I can't believe it's almost the holidays already! My family has a few holiday traditions, but one of them is really special.

Every year on December 23rd, the night before Christmas Eve, we pick a restaurant and go out to dinner. The catch? No matter how good or bad our service is, we give our server a 100 percent tip.

Yep, you read that right. 100%. So if our dinner comes out to $50, we pay $100 - $50 for our meal and $50 to tip our server.

A big part of the excitement is that our server has no clue the holiday gift we're planning to leave for them. As kids, we used to drop hints when they would come by to check on our table. "We have a BIG surprise for you," we'd say between giggles. I'm sure they thought we stuck gum under the table, so this probably was a pleasant surprise.

It was important to my mom that our good deed had one single rule: We must tip 100% regardless of the quality of service we receive.

Over the years, we've been to many different restaurants to celebrate the holiday tradition, but there's one I will never forget.

I sat down at the table across from my mom and sister, the three of us were already grinning as the waiter introduced himself.

A few minutes later, he headed back over with waters for us while we read over the menu. Except, we never got a chance to drink them.

To this day, we're still not sure exactly what happened. Maybe he tripped, maybe the floor was slippery, maybe it was divine intervention. But on 100% tip night, our waiter dropped an entire tray of ice waters directly into my lap. 

Yep, you read that right. He dropped the tray directly into my lap, which spilled cold water allllll over me. Let's not forget that this was also in late-December! Needless to say, I was furious. I wanted to go home. I'm cold, I'm cranky, I'm not even hungry anymore. And there's no way in hell this guy is getting a good tip after that.

My sister started to reach for her jacket when my mom finally spoke. "No, we're not leaving. It's 100 percent tip night." 

I was stunned. I couldn't believe she wanted to stay and eat dinner here, let alone tip the waiter at all. But, our tradition only has one rule. We must tip 100% regardless of the quality of service we receive.

In hindsight, I'm sure our waiter was just as shocked as I was that we left him such a nice tip. But our worst 100% tip night also left me with something: an important life lesson on gratitude. 

It's easy to be grateful for the things we have on the good days. It's easy to be grateful for the sunshine, for your Christmas gifts, for your new iPhone.

It's harder to be grateful for the things we have on the bad days. It's harder, after a waiter dumps ice water on ya, to be grateful for a meal with your family, that you have more clothes at home, that you can afford to give a 100% tip.

I think this is one of those lessons that we can't learn from a self-help book, life coach, or inspirational quote. It's one that we have to learn through action, and I'm grateful for that tray of ice waters for bringing me that a-ha moment.

One of our close family friends recently gave me this Gratitude Journal for my birthday and I use it every day! On the bad days, it's a perfect reminder of the things I still have to be grateful for. Things like clean drinking water, an incredible support system, a bed, a working car, money to buy gifts for the ones I love.

After all, isn't that what the holidays are really about? Being grateful for another year spent with the people who mean the most to us, while spreading a little joy a long the way.

Let's face it, money is a toooouchy subject that most people steer as far clear from as possible.

Ironically enough, not talking about money is one of the main reasons that so many of us continue to struggle with it.  I'm a huge advocate for being open about your personal failures to help others learn from your mistakes, and money is no exception.

​Everyone makes mistakes with their money. But whether your mistakes are lessons you learn from and share with others, or lessons you let haunt you for the rest of your life is up to you.

​I can't tell you the number of nights I remember crying, slumped over my math homework at the dining room table. My feelings on the subject were crystal clear: I hate math.

The truth? I wasn't good at math. But math is a skill that can be learned and developed over time. Overcoming the mindset of "I hate math" to get more involved in my personal finances proved to be much harder. Luckily, I found a community of women who were getting real about their personal experiences to learn about money and grow their wealth.

Clever Girl Finance, one of the top personal finance websites for women, offers online finance courses to help women pay off debt, save money and build real wealth. 

CEO and Founder, Bola Sokunbi, has been praised by Glamour, Money, The Chicago Tribune, and many others for her approach to personal finance that actually makes sense.

Although I wasn't joining because I needed to pay off a mortgage faster or save for my future kids' college funds, I got the opportunity to read so many stories of how others struggled with these things. The most helpful resource for me? Getting to hear the mistakes others made and the things they wish they had known sooner. 

I'll be honest, the "no-spend" challenges are tough! But I love that there's an entire community to help hold you accountable. 

One of my favorite things is Bola's 26-week savings challenge, which helps you stash away over $1,000 without even realizing it. Since I started over the summer, I love that I'll have extra $ just in time for the holidays. 

While I may hate math, your girl loooves to read. Bola's book recommendations and her podcast helped lead to my light-bulb moment: the reason I've always hated math is probably because I wasn't naturally good at it. Boom.

It seems like we're flooded with more inspirational quotes than ever and I've noticed many of them have a common theme: pushing us to become the best versions of ourselves we can be.

One of my personal mantras is "stop half-assing it." Call me extreme, but I'm a firm believer that if you're doing something halfway it's almost not worth doing it at all. 

Are you an investment banker because your dad was an investment banker and your grandpa was an investment banker and your great grandpa founded Wells Fargo? Or are you an investment banker because it truly sets your soul on fire?

I've lost a lot of loved ones in my life unexpectedly, from my older brother in his twenties to our family dog. Although working through so much loss has often felt like an uphill battle, there's one important life skill that I took away from it all: perspective.

Life can be so short. Life can be so unexpected. Life can be so freaking relentless. Are you going to waste decades of your life in a job where you want to cry in the bathroom every day? Please don't.

Are you going to waste decades of your life in relationships, friendships, or even business partnerships that are one-sided? That are manipulative? That are selfish? Please don't.

You deserve better. You deserve more than to just go through the motions day-to-day. You deserve a life where you wake up in the morning overwhelmed by how incredible it is.

The only person who is capable of making your life that incredible is you. No one else is going to call you one day and say "Hey, I figured out what you should do with your life!" 

Stop waiting for the call and find your calling. What is it that sets your soul on fire? Once you find the answer, pursue it relentlessly.

But so many of us struggle with figuring out what our calling even IS, so I'm sharing a trick I came up with that helped me uncover mine. 

My friends, it really is that simple. Think about what you would wake up at 4 AM on a Saturday to do for free. And the 'for free' part is crucial.

I absolutely love my job and the company I work for, but I don't know if I would wake up before the sunrise on the weekend to do it...

Reading and writing are two of my biggest passions, but I genuinely don't think I would get up that early to write a blog post or finish a book either.

I kept thinking about other things I do in my life and I finally found my answer. 

While I might not be thrilled about the early wake up call, I would get up at an ungodly hour to mentor students who come from difficult life circumstances. To answer a call from a mentee who feels so lost and doesn't know what to do. To be who I needed when I was younger.

My life has, at times, been so crazy that I thought about pitching it as a show to Netflix (not kidding!). And I think about how differently I would've dealt with so many of my obstacles if I heard an honest voice with someone else's struggles. 

Students don't need to hear "Well, I put my head down for 23 years and worked reeeeeally hard and that's why I'm a Senior Vice President with a company car and a billion dollars." 

Students need to hear I know how stressed they are about exams because my grandmother died in the middle of studying for finals my junior year of college. They need to hear that you get their weight loss struggle because you struggled with that too in your early twenties!

They need to know that someone else has failed over and over and everything still turned out okay. They need to see the ugly behind-the-scenes footage of our struggles, not just the highlight reels of our success. They need tough love and sarcasm and someone who will not give up on them.

I realized that person is me. 

So while I don't have plans to quit my incredible job or stop blogging, now that I know mentoring students is my true purpose I've made it a bigger part of my life. 

I'm on the alumni council for my college and founded an alumni network with a mentorship program for my high school. My life-long dream is to launch my own scholarship and mentorship program for students in the county I grew up in.

Finding your true calling in life is hard. It may change along the way and it may take you years to figure out what it even is. While you're searching for answers, keep in mind that a passion is something you love to do, while your calling is what you were meant to do.

What are you meant to do?