It's crazy to think that 2017 is already over. This year has been one of the most eventful years of my life thus far. I think the new year is a great time to look back at the best and worse memories and to reflect on the lessons learned through the past year. That's exactly what I'll be doing today. JANUARYJanuary 2017. A new year. A fresh start. A new page. I was very excited for 2017, I was in my senior year in high-school and I was determined to make the best of every day. Some of my goals were to really be myself and focus on self growth, as well as making a difference in other's lives, and to work hard towards my academic goals as well. One of my favorite memory's this year was being a candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Students of the Year campaign. I was working towards raising thousands of dollars for blood cancer research. It was a great and humbling experience, I wrote and send hundreds of letters as well as went to local business for support. It brought me so much joy to help raise money for a cause so dear to my heart. FEBRUARYFebruary 2017. Another great and eventful month. As you can see in the picture above I was very happy and proud of all that I was achieving. I was so proud to get all A's and my highest GPA yet, a 4.4! And I was still working hard on my campaign to help beat blood cancer. One of the best days ever! My acceptance into the University of Maryland! I also found out that I got into the honors college and was a semi-finalist for their most prestigious merit-based scholarship. To say the least I was over the moon happy! The best part was seeing how proud I made my mom who worked so hard and sacrificed so much for us to have these opportunities. Another favorite memory is Black History Month. I was happy to help my school celebrate BHM as vice-president of SGA by having a black out day, making posters, a banner, and bringing awareness to this important month that was often overlooked at my school. I learned a lot this month about leadership and the criticism that comes with it. MARCHThe Gala for the Student's of the Year fundraiser was so inspiring. I was so proud to take part in this campaign and raise thousands of dollars for blood cancer research. It was amazing to meet fellow young students who raised so much money for this cause, the whole experience was inspiring. The lesson I took away is that we all have a chance to make a change, any amount that you can give is worth it. I raised over $6,000 for this cause which I was so proud of, another student raised over $70,000! The moral is it doesn't matter how much you give, it's about the fact that did your best to make a difference in any way you can. Laurence Family - March 2018 Another major moment was my acceptance into GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY! I was so happy that I cried because I didn't think I would be accepted AND offered a merit scholarship. It was truly a humbling and amazing moment this year, the fact that they accepted me still gives me chills and makes me so proud. APRILA huge moment this year, I can actually say the best was being offered a full academic scholarship to the University of Maryland! My mom and I cried tears of joy and I can't describe the emotions that I felt. I feel so blessed for this opportunity and it continues to motivate me even more. My high school prom! I was so happy that my boyfriend and I were on prom court. It was such a great night and it felt like I was living out a dream. Check out my prom blog post for more pics. MAYIn May, everything was basically about saying goodbye. I had my last chorus concert which was so bittersweet. So proud of my mom, she instilled the importance of education into us and lead by example by going back to college and receiving her degree while still caring for the four of us. I don't know how she does it but I'm glad to call her my mom. JUNEMy high school graduation was another major moment. I felt so blessed and honored to be one of the speakers as well as being able to perform one last time with my singing group. This was a huge step towards the next parts of my life. JULYOne of my favorite moments this year was going home to St. Maarten. Leaving my home four years ago was the hardest thing and I really appreciate the times that I get to go back home and see my family and friends. I was so blessed to have my boyfriend come to the island, I loved showing him my home and what my childhood was like and to celebrate our 2 year anniversary together. Reunited for the first time in 4 years @saravictoria99 @heyfleurr AUGUSTMove in Day! In August I moved out of home and into college. It was a huge step for my whole family. I am the first child to go off to college so it was really big moment for us. I was so excited to start my college career! SEPTEMBERIn September I celebrated my 18th birthday!!! Thank God for giving me another year of life and a wonderful family to have celebrated this day with. Hurricane Irma hit my island in September, I was heartbroken. I've never felt that amount of fear until that moment. It was shocking. It was numbing. But when life knocks you down you have to get back up and I am so proud of my island for its road to recovery. OCTOBERI really enjoyed my first semester of college. I learned so much about myself, how to live on my own, how to enjoy my own company, and how to stay focused. I stayed true to myself and did the things that make me happy. I look forward to spring semester to push myself further towards my goals. NOVEMBERIn November, I continued to work hard in all my courses but I was so happy to finally have a break. Thanksgiving was a great time to reflect on all the blessings in life. One of the projects I was working on was "Gemstone Terms for St. Maarten" With the help of my honors program and fellow terps, we collected hundreds of items for St. Maarten for Hurricane relief. It made me so happy to contribute to my island after the worst hurricane in history. DECEMBERNow it is December and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. Writing this post helped me to reflect on this past year and its easy for me to say this has been the most eventful year in my life. Gemstone Terps for St. Maarten was a success. I am happy to say that we shipped 44 boxes to the island to help those in need. I am very thankful to everyone who donated! I went through my first "finals week" which was quite the experience, it is very daunting that one last test could impact your grade and all the hard work you've been doing the past months. But I stayed motivated and studied hard. I'm so happy to say that I finished my first semester of college with all A's and a 3.8 GPA! Now, I am home for winter break and am enjoying time with my family to end this incredible year. I am thankful for 2017. The ups, the downs, the fun times, the struggles, the tears, the laughs...I'm thankful for it all. Every experience gives us and opportunity to grow.
I am so excited for 2018, I hope to grow, learn, and accomplish even more than I did this past year. A new page. A new start. A new year. Goodbye 2017 Hello 2018
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November went by extremely fast, but that means that its time for monthly update! Keep reading to see what I've been up to this past month. AcademicsThere are only two weeks left in the semester! I can't believe that my first semester in college is coming to an end. This month I have been focused on ending my classes with the best grades possible. I had my final midterm exams in my classes, and I am happy to say that I aced them! I also finished my first project sheet for Gemstone, it is titled "Preventing Preterm Birth in African American Women." I researched about preterm births and how African American women in the US are disproportionately more likely to have a preterm birth. It was very exciting to research a topic that I felt very passionate about which is women's health and equality in the United States. I am looking forward to the next four years of research through the Gemstone program. Thanksgiving BreakTop: Old Navy | Jeans: T's Closet | Knit Headband: Old Navy The highlight of November was THANKSGIVING BREAK!!! I was ecstatic to have my first break since the beginning of the semester. I went home and spent time with my family, and slept a lot! I think it was the most sleep I've ever had in my life! Having a break was really great, and now I'm ready to have a strong end to the semester. 2 Years 4 Month AnniversaryThis month I was so happy to spend another monthly anniversary with my wonderful boyfriend. We had a date night and went out to my favorite sushi restaurant. I'm glad that we can still have date nights, even though we have been dating for a while every moment together feels so special.. We had another date night this month which was a Fro-yo date to celebrate our test grades. He's as sweet as this dessert! Hello DecemberThose are my updates for this month! I am so excited for what December will bring. Be on the lookout next month for a look back at this whole year and what 2017 was like for me.
Don't forget to check out my previous blog posts. Thanks for reading... xoxo, Kye The end of the semester is so close! Finals are around the corner! And after a break at home, it can be hard to find the motivation to finish strong. I totally relate and so I thought this was the perfect time to share the ways that I stay motivated. Focus on GoalsA big part of staying motivated is having something to be motivated towards! This can be a test, a degree, or a career. My goal is to be a doctor, so this is my long term goal. In order to get into medical school I need to have a high GPA and ace my science classes and so every test and exam is my short term goal. Figure out your goals and surround yourself with them. I like to write them on my white board, my journals, and in my phone. My PreMed notebook is filled with tips, tricks, and notes about medical school. Stay OrganizedWhen you feel like you have 100 things to do, you can get so overwhelmed and not know where to start. I like to write "To Do" notes, and use my calendar and my phone to organize everything I have to do. I think that checking off each task is so satisfying and it feels great to get things done. This helps me to feel motivated to check off more tasks from my list. Surround Yourself with PositivityA very important part of staying motivated is having a good attitude and filling your life with positivity. This includes yourself, your friends, and even the people you follow on social media. I have a set of Youtubers and bloggers I follow who share positivity and share their stories and are such strong women. One of my favorite Instagram bloggers is @paging.dr.dre.. she is an OB/GYN resident (what I hope to be in a few years) Good Moods PlaylistMusic is a big part of my life and most student's. That being said you can use music to lift your mood and get you ready for the day. Take all the songs that make you feel good, happy, and motivated and put them into a playlist that you can play before a big test or on those days when you don't feel like getting out of bed. I love the lyrics for "Happy Face" by Destiny's Child Think about that AWhen I've been studying for hours everyday and all I want to do is chill and watch Netflix, I stay motivated by thinking about how great it will feel to get an A. Working hard and seeing the results is such an amazing feeling and it makes the studying always worth it! Motivational QuotesMotivational quotes can give you an extra boost to get through the day. I find my quotes on twitter, Instagram, and google and I have them on canvasses in my dorm room that I look at everyday. Take BreaksFinally my last tip is to take breaks! Balance is so important in life and we need it in every aspect that we do. When your mind seems full take a 10-15 minute break from your studies. I also take longer breaks when I can and I watch some of my favorite shows. Another thing I do to add balance in my life is my morning and night time routines. I give myself time every morning to do my makeup and have some coffee and in the night I do my skin care routine and have some tea. These "me times" really help me to unwind and in result make me more motivated when it's time to work. I hope you enjoyed this blog post and maybe will use some of these tips to stay motivated towards the end of the fall semester.
As always, if you have any suggestions or requests for future posts please let me know! xoxo, Kye Marquiss and I + his camera +a beautiful day on campus = the following photos A few weeks ago, my boyfriend and I did a photoshoot on the University of Maryland Campus. We found some great spots, the lighting was amazing, the colors were popping, and I was loving the fall vibes. I happy to share some of my fav shots and I hope you like them as much as I do! The StairsAutumnSimply KyeRed BricksHope you enjoyed the pics, we will definitely being doing more shoots in the future. Don't forget to like the pics on my Instagram @simply_kye and to check out my boyfriends photography page @_noveac. More posts soon.... xoxo Kye My second month of college has gone by so fast. It's time to reflect over the past month and share some updates. AcademicsThe most significant change in my academics is that I officially switched my major! I am now a Microbiology major and I am so excited to learn about all about microorganisms. I decided to switch my major because I just wasn't feeling biochemistry anymore and I am way more interested in biology. I think my interest in medicine makes me interested in this field. This past month was midterm time! I definitely had to step up my studying but overall I think my midterms went well. I really am working hard to get As in my classes and at least a B in my harder courses. Student OrganizationsThis month I've been continuing to be apart of the clubs I joined last month. In the Pre-Med Society meetings I got to listen to a general surgeon, chat with Johns Hopkins Medical School students and get advice from the admissions council of the University of Maryland Medical School. I really love these opportunities because they make me so excited about my path towards medical school which motivates me to work hard in my courses. Being apart of the Caribbean Student Association has been so fun! As a cabinet member, I helped to plan a GBM and hosted it! CSA is full of great people and I'm glad to be apart of it. It's great to be in a group of people who relate to and appreciate your culture! Gemstone Terps for St. MaartenThis month my fundraiser that I started with some of my fellow terms started! We've collected over 300 items already and I am so happy with the outcome of this fundraiser. It feels so good to be able to help my island and I can't wait to ship the items down to St. Maarten. Meeting the President of the UniversityThis month I had the great honor of being invited to the University House for a reception by President Loh and his wife. At the reception I was able to chat with fellow Banneker/Key scholars and with the deans of the colleges that make up this wonderful university. This was truly an amazing experience to personally meet the President of the University, I hope it is not the last time that we meet and talk. Photoshoots with QuissThis month, Marquiss and I have been putting our passions together and creating amazing photos. We had our first photoshoot in D.C (see past blog post) and recently did another one. I have been loving doing these photoshoots and I can already see huge improvements from our first shoot. I can't wait to continue to shoot, we have a lot in store. Marquiss started a Instagram (@_noveac) for his photography and we might just have his own website coming soon! A sneak peak of our latest photoshoot...stay tuned for the photos. Quiss and KyeMy boyfriend Marquiss ( @_caevon) Going from seeing each other everyday back in high school to only seeing each other on some weekends is definitely something that we had to get used to in our relationship. I miss him all the time because he truly is my best friend and I love doing everything together. But I'm happy to say that the little bit of distance has had no negative effects on our relationship, we're both really happy to be in college and are supporting each other every step of the way. I feel so blessed to have had this amazing guy in my life for the past two years and I can't wait to see where life takes us. FamilyFamily Weekend 2017 I am loving college life, but I definitely miss my family a lot. I appreciate the weekends when I get to hang out with them. My three younger brothers have been growing so much since I left the house. Akeem is a junior and he has become such an intelligent, caring, and responsible young man. Keven is more social than ever, I miss constantly arguing with him over stupid things, I think it's our form of bonding lol. He's taken advantage of me being out the house by taking my mirror and my chair into his room...Hotmess! And my sweet Kayden is just an amazing little boy, he was tested into the gifted and talented program and is learning to play the trumpet. Goodbye October....Hello NovemberI hope you liked the update! I am ready for November and to see what this new month will bring me.
If you have any questions about anything feel free to leave a comment on my Q&A page or message me on my social media for a personal response. I love sharing my experiences with others because we can all learn from each other. Until next time.... xoxo, Kye Hey guys! Today I wanted to share a quick "Outfit of the Day" post. I was feeling very bright and happy, and feeling orange. Dress: Old Navy | Jacket: Forever 21 | Necklace- From my friend Fleur For this outfit, I paired this bright orange dress with my forrest green jacket. I loved how these colors paired together. I belted it with a brown belt which tied in my brown shoes. For my jewelry, I added this super cute gold necklace that my friend Fleur gave me. (Follow her on Instagram @heyfleurr) To add even more color, I added my African print bag that I love! "SELF-CONFIDENCE IS THE BEST OUTFIT....ROCK IT...OWN IT" Hope you liked the outfit! Stay tuned for more outfit of the days and for my monthly update coming soon.
xoxo, Kye September 21, 2013; 8:35 AM. I remember the distinct smell of the fuel. I sat in the window seat, gazing at the road next to the airport. I saw my grandma standing outside of our family-owned car rental company, waving sadly at the plane. I took a final glance at the beach and the clear blue waters that we would soon be soaring over. As the plane moved away from the terminal and towards the runway, I thought about my family and friends who I had just said goodbye to. My heart was racing; I was full of emotions. My mom, my three younger brothers, and I all held hands as the plane accelerated, lifted off the ground, and flew towards the United States of America.
I was born and raised on the island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin. The 37-square mile island is uniquely divided into a Dutch and a French side and is characterized by serene beaches, delicious Caribbean cuisine, and breath-taking sights. For many people, the island is a stunning vacation spot, but for me, it was and will always be home. My childhood was simple; full of love and laughter. I lived in a small apartment on the French side. On weekday mornings, I would put on my school uniform, and my mom would drop my brothers and I off to school, which was located on the Dutch side. After school, we would go to our family-owned car rental, do our homework, and chat with tourists, until my parents were done with work for the day. Most of my time was spent with family; my cousins were like my siblings, and my aunts were like my additional mothers. My great grandmother, “Grandma Ello,” was the matriarch of our family. I spent many days at Grandma Ello’s house. She always had something to offer, whether it was sound advice or her famous Johnny Cakes. I would greet her with a hug and a kiss on each cheek, which is customary and respectful in my culture. She would tell me, “Child, you do good in school, ya hear! Your schooling is something they can never take away from you.” I would show her my report cards which were always straight A’s. She was always very proud of me. After chatting with her, I would rush to play with my cousins, running around the yard and climbing the Genip tree. Without a doubt, my family has shaped the person I have become; they taught me to be giving, respectful, friendly, and to keep my education as a top priority. September 21, 2013; 11:40 PM. After a long day of traveling, we finally made it to Maryland. I remember walking into my new house and feeling a rush of excitement. We made it to our new home! I remember sitting on the floor of my new bedroom (as we did not yet have furniture), thinking about the challenges I was about to face. I thought about my first day of high school, just two days away. I also thought about how much I had already missed my family, including my father who had not moved with us. I was overwhelmed, but I knew I had to stay focused; I understood that our move was a sacrifice so that we could have greater opportunities. The challenges surely came. Moving from a small island made me feel like a tiny fish in a huge ocean. I felt that no one could truly understand me, because they did not know my culture or relate to my upbringing. I felt like I was losing a piece of myself, a piece that is so important to me and that defines who I am. I also experienced the loss of loved ones after our move. My little cousin passed away from leukemia in 2014 and my great grandmother went onto a better place in 2016. I was not there for their final moments. These losses strengthened my realization that I have to appreciate every moment that I have on my island with my family and my friends. They also make the goodbyes at the airport much, much harder. Today, four years after the big move, I have adjusted to my new home in Maryland and I am enjoying being a freshman at the University of Maryland. However, the challenges do not cease. Shortly after starting college, an event happened that would change me forever: Hurricane Irma. It destroyed my island, and for many days it destroyed me as a person. But, these experiences can only make me stronger and more appreciative, and they make my goals and motivations greater. So yes, moving from St. Maarten is a challenge, but it also has taught me so much about life. I always make a conscious effort to never forget where I came from. My island and my family molded me into who I am today, and my ultimate goal is to be in a position where I can give back to my island and make my family proud. This is my story. Thank you. A few weeks ago I had a wonderful day in D.C with my boyfriend. We went to the Museum of Natural History and had a photoshoot in the city. I loved how the photos turned out. My boyfriend, Marquiss, is an amateur photographer. He can work magic while he's behind a camera and I'm happy to support him by being his model. Dress: Charlotte Rouse | Purse- Pimkie We really hope you like the pictures. This is only the beginning, we will continue to do more shoots. Its great that both our passions work together so well and I can't wait to share more pics, and of course more outfits!.
Follow Marquiss: Instagram and Twitter: _caevon His new photography account: _noveac Which picture was your favorite? xoxo, Kye Sweater: Forever 21 | Skirt: Pimkie Happy Hump Day! Today I decided to make a quick blog post of my OOTD. I often thing about what I'm going to wear for the day the night before, and last night while I was eating dinner I knew I had to put this fit together for the following day! This happens to me all the time. Anyways, I paired my super cute and comfy sweater with my denim skirt along with pink flats. I used Fenty Beauty for my makeup with a light pink lip color and blush. And let's not forget about that highlight! I also put curlers in my hair the night before for effortless loose curls. This past Monday I went to a meeting for the group Masterpiece, a fashion club on campus. It was great to be surrounded by others who use fashion as their outlet to express themselves. When I'm loving my outfit it gives me this extra boost of confidence and I feel ready to take on the day and all the challenges and work that comes with it. "Don't look for happiness....create it" I really am feeling PINK today, to me that means that I am ready to make this day a great one. Whatever it is that makes you happy, I encourage you to do it and put it into your daily schedule.
Hope you liked this OOTD and quick post. Its time to study for my exams, work on my fundraiser, and do some research! More updates coming soon! XOXO, Kye September 22nd was the first day of Fall. I am so excited for a new season and to bring out my Autumn wardrobe. It's time for cardigans, scarves, boots, and layering! Right now we are transitioning to cooler weather, here's my first outfit for this season. Skirt: Banana Republic | Cardigan: Alloy Apparel | Purse: Anne Klein Earlier this week, the weather was almost 90 degrees, but finally today it started to feel like fall. Today's outfit is a black and white outfit; I paired my black leather skirt with my white chiffon top. I love pairing different textures together. I finished the look with my multi-patterned cardigan. I wore a dark red lipstick to add some color to the look. I'm looking forward to dark lips, nails, and outfits. Tips and Tricks for FallLayering As the weather transitions, it can be difficult to dress for the weather. I can be cold in the morning but hot in the afternoon. To be comfortable throughout the day I recommend layering. Wear short sleeves with a jacket or cardigan; when the temperature increases simply remove some layers and rock your outfit. Mix and Match Another way to accommodate to the changing weather is to mix and match. Pair your sweaters or long sleeves with a skirt or shorts for a cute and casual look. You can also match your summer dresses with a flow cardigan, and leggings when it gets colder. Bring Out the Fall Colors These colors are on trend for Fall 2017. Mix and match these colors together with your outfit for the perfect fall look. As I look at these colors I get so much inspiration. I would pair my light pink top with my dark navy blue pencil skirt and a beige cardigan. Or I would I love using a pop of red with the dark colors. Finally, just experiment and have fun! Mix and match, add colors and scarves, and create new looks. Hope you liked the post. Don't forget to visit my Q&A page and leave a question.
xoxo, Kye |
Kyeisha LaurenceEighteen, sharing my style and experiences... Archives
December 2017
"A girl should be two things: who and what she wants..."
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