DIY GRADUATION SHADOWBOX

Let me first off by saying that I am super late on writing this blog post for you all. Both Titi and I had our undergraduate graduation caps decorated and one of the things that I really wanted to do was create a DIY graduation shadowbox for the both of us. About a year ago, I experimented and created my shadowbox first. I ended up giving it to my parents to keep, and now I’m going to show you how I created Titi’s shadowbox. Hopefully we’ll also be able to give it to his parents back in South Africa for them to keep one day.

Supplies:

• Shadowbox (I used the 16 in x 20 in)
• Sewing pins (as many as you need to pin all of your items down)
• Graduation gear (cap, sash, tassel, diploma, pamphlet)
• Polaroid style pictures (I got mine from FoxPrint)
• Tape

Directions

1. Open up your shadowbox and arrange your items as you like. Have fun with this step and arrange your items exactly how you like.
2. Pin all of your items down to the base of the shadowbox. The one that I used had a fabric backing so this part was easy. Try to pin as much as you can to keep everything in place.
3. Tape your photos down
4. Place the glass top over the fabric base and close it shut. Ta-da! You’re done!

Tips & Advice  

• The shadowbox comes with a few push pins but you’re going to need more than that. I wish I would’ve thought about this when I made my first shadowbox. I only used the ones that it came with and it was difficult to get everything to lay down flat.  
• It’s easier to fit your graduation gown into the shadowbox if you fold it up first to fit the fabric base. Then you can pin it down, so it doesn’t move out of place.
• I taped the photos down to the graduation gown. They weren’t super sturdy or anything but once you put the glass top on, then the photos don’t move around.

For our shadowboxes, I included our caps, tassels, photos that I printed from FoxPrints, and our graduation pamphlets. These came out so much better than I could’ve imagined! I think a shadowbox is a great way to encapsulate your memories from graduation while also giving you some great wall décor to hang up in your home. Graduation is just one of those times in your life that you want to remember and cherish.

Have you ever thought about making a DIY graduation shadowbox before? If so, what did you include in yours?

The post How to Make a DIY Graduation Shadowbox appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

While I definitely had some challenges along the way, the memories and adventures that I’ve gained these last 4 years are undeniable. Looking back, I’m glad that my 18 year old self choose the program that I did because I not only gained an incredible partner, life-long friends, but also a program that allowed me to grow. I’ve learned so much for my professional and creative career that I can’t wait to see what I’m headed. In this blog post, I wanted to share a few lessons that I’ve learned from my time in pharmacy school.

4 Lessons I Learned Pursuing My Doctorate of Pharmacy

1. I learned that my capacity for stress and work was bigger than I expected

When I first started pharmacy school, I was full of self-doubt and worried about whether or not I was going to be able to pass my classes. My story in pharmacy school isn’t like everyone else, which is something that I am proud of. I worked two jobs for most of my time in school, had multiple side hustles (one of which is this blog), and was always volunteering whenever I could on top of balancing my schoolwork and my relationship.

During my first two years of school, I went on a journey of finding myself, developing my passions, and learning how to manage my time. I quickly learned that the more I had to do, the more productive I got with the little time that I did have. So between long hours of studying, working between classes, and staying up late to work on my blog, I made it happen! And I’m very happy with the results! 

2. There are a ton of career options within pharmacy to choose from (No, I still don’t know what I want to do!)

One thing that you have to know about pharmacy is that it’s not just retail vs hospital pharmacy. There are so many career paths within pharmacy that it’s definitely hard to pick just one to pursue. Before going on rotations, I definitely thought that I wanted to go into compounding and independent pharmacy, but now that I’ve completed my final year, I’m even more lost than before. I truly like so many aspects of pharmacy that it’s very hard to pick just one path to go down.

If you’re like me and you are still undecided, then just know that you are not alone, and it is totally okay to be indecisive! We are at the beginning of our career and can easily switch lanes if you find a different passion later on. Right now, I’m going with the flow and seeing where life takes me, which honestly with COVID-19, it could be anywhere at this point!

3. Through pharmacy school, I found my passion for blogging and photography.

When I first started my blog, I had this goal to make a platform where I could document my journey through pharmacy school and help other students in the process. I wanted it to be a place where I could be creative and inspiring to others. While it’s definitely morphed into more than just a pharmacy blog, it truly has opened up so many doors for me. I get to create content for my readers, work with amazing brands that I love, and help others through my writing.

Whether it be about a post about my college experience or a fashion outfit post, I get the opportunity to improve and grow my little corner of the internet through your support of my content! It truly does mean the world to me!

4. Talking to patient is truly an art form that I’m learning to master

This past year, I’ve been through multiple rotations where patient care was at the center focus of the work that pharmacist do, and it truly is an art form! Between sitting down with patients to do a comprehensive medication review or talking about a new medication that’s going to be added, I’ve learned how to talk to a patient in a way that makes sense to them.

Talking to patients means finding not only a way to communicate with them but to inspire them to make changes in their lives. As a healthcare professional, it’s so important and rewarding to be able to connect with your patients on a personal level. It can make a world of a difference, and I’m so proud that I’m in a profession that can make a huge impact! As I continue on my journey, I’m sure I will continue to improve and perfect the art that is patient care.

It honestly feels so surreal to be graduating with my PharmD! Since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be a pharmacist so now that is actually happening, it’s a pretty crazy feeling. Even though COVID-19 came and ruined graduation, it’s definitely not stopping the accomplishment that I worked so hard for. And this goes out for all of the 2020 grads! We still made it! I also want to say thank you each and every one of you that support my blog and read my content! Cheers to the next adventure!

The post Life Update: I Graduated with My Doctorate of Pharmacy! appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Send out the virtual graduation link to friends and family members

One of the easiest ways to celebrate graduation in quarantine is to send your friends and family the link to your virtual graduation! You may not be walking in person, but the dean and president of your college will still recognize you in front of your loved ones for your great achievement. I promise it may not seem like a lot, but your family will definitely appreciate it if they are far away.

Bring the restaurant home

You might not be able to head out to your favorite restaurant for dine-in, but you can definitely get take out to enjoy your favorite meal at home. Order for pick up or use a food delivery app like DoorDash (it’s my fav for food!) to have your meal delivered. Make in even more special by eating your dinner on a fancy dish and your favorite drink! Bonus points if you get a cake made for the occasion!

Host a Zoom Happy Hour Party

Naturally, humans are social creatures and we enjoy human connections, even if it’s only virtual right now. For an at home graduation celebration, set up and host a Zoom Happy Hour Party. It’s super simple to do and everyone can make their favorite drink (with or without alcohol) while jamming to some tunes or just chatting together.

Ask your family to send you a care package

Who doesn’t love a surprise gift from friends and family? Spice up your graduation month by asking the people in your life to create a surprise care package for you! It could be as simple as a candle and a card to help you relax or something more personal that speaks to you as a person.

Have a mini party with the people that you live with

Do you currently live at home with your family or in an apartment with a group of friends? Have an actual party with the people that you currently live with. Choose a color theme, buy (or DIY) a graduation cake, cupcakes, and a few other of favorite treats and have some fun! Spice it up some more by ordering some fun board games or outside games that the whole squad can enjoy. Celebrating your graduation doesn’t have to be a major event to have a good time and to make an amazing memory.

Support a local business and get a cake made

Honestly, there’s nothing better than a well-made cake or cupcakes. I’m a big sucker for sweets, especially for a celebration or an event. If you’re like me, then definitely support a local business in your area and have a cake made for your graduation. You can easily go all out and get a custom one made or just get a simple one that is tasty and delicious.

Plan a fun vacation

If you’re stumped on how you want to celebrate graduation in quarantine, take a few hours to plan a future vacation either with your loved ones, friends, or even solo. While you may not be able to fly right now, it’s a perfect time to plan for the future and even to go ahead and book things. A lot of hotels, cruise ships, and flights are being more lenient on their cancellation policies plus prices have decreased due to the pandemic. Trust me after 4 years of school, you definitely deserve a vacation!

If you’re graduating this year, how are you celebrating the big day?

You may also enjoy: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Graduation, How to Manage Your Credit After Graduation, and What to Wear to Graduation

The post 7 Ideas to Celebrate Graduation in Quarantine appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

While graduation is always a fun time, it can also be pretty nerve-wracking and a little scary. You may be moving to a new city, starting a new job, or heading to grad school, which means graduation is also a season of change. Before the real world hits you, let me share with you some graduation dresses that I found that are perfect for the big day! For my first graduation, I wore a fun off-the-shoulder white dress, and this year, I’m planning on wearing a navy blue off-the-shoulder dress.

One thing that I have noticed is that typically shorter dresses are more flattering with long, oversized caps and gowns. For the big day, definitely opt for something that you’re going to fill comfortable in because you could be sitting outside in the summer heat or sitting down for hours before it’s your turn to walk. I’m linking some cute neutral and color dress options as well as some comfortable shoes that are easier to walk in. There is literally nothing worse than tripping on stage because your heels are too high or slippery!

NEUTRALS

COLORFUL + PRINTS

SHOES

I hope that this post was helpful and that you found something that you like or at least help guide you on what to wear to graduation! Let me know in the comments below what you are wearing for the big day.

You may also like: 9 Skills Every College Student Should Master Before Graduation and 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Graduation 

The post Graduation Dresses 2020 | What to Wear appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

The opinions of any guest posters are entirely of their own and may not represent the views of Uniquely Mickie.

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been out of college for almost half a year. Time has definitely flown by recently, and it feels so weird to not be starting classes this fall. I miss school so much, I’m in the process of applying to graduate programs in my local area so I can keep studying what I love. In light of the new semester, I wanted to share some of the things I wish I knew before graduating college!

Apply to jobs before you leave college

I started applying to jobs 4-6 months before I graduated, and my career counselor told me this was too late! Honestly, I think she was a bit crazy, and starting any earlier than that wouldn’t have made much sense. Because I applying to jobs while I was still in college, I was better prepared to financially transition from college to the “real world.”

Now, I work as a freelancer, and if I could go back I would have spent more time building my own business. Knowing what I do now, I would have liked to spend more time looking into my options for careers after graduation. I felt really lost and unsure of myself in the weeks leading up to graduation, and it took a few tries to figure out what I really wanted to do with my time.

Think about graduate school

In my senior year, I didn’t really give grad school much thought. As an English major, I couldn’t really find any logical reason to go to graduate school unless I planned to teach, which I didn’t. Now, I wish I had explored more options while I was still in college, because applying after graduation is a bigger hassle. Yes, I have more time to prepare for the GRE, but now I have to reach out to past professors which can be challenging since I’m no longer on campus. If I had thought about graduate school seriously sooner, I could have arranged professor recommendations and other application materials from the comfort of campus!

Spend time on campus

After my first year, I moved off campus. This worked for me since it was cheaper to live off campus, and I enjoyed the freedom. However, looking back on my time in college, I wish I spent more time on campus. I commuted 15 minutes each day to campus, and I missed out on a lot of local events on campus and around town.

Take advantage of everything

My biggest regret is waiting too long to take advantage of all the opportunities college has to offer. I spent the majority of my college experience working 25+ hours a week to pay my living expenses. Because I worked every day after classes, I was never able to join clubs or organizations.

It wasn’t until my last year of college that I cut back drastically on work hours and started to get involved. I was able to do an on-campus internship with the New Department which then led to me becoming the Editor in Chief of my college’s literary magazine. The latter became one of my greatest joys, and has led to a lot of opportunities after college. I wish I had time to discover these passions earlier!

Remember college isn’t everything

I think a lot of the fear that comes along with leaving college is rooted in this idea that college is the best time of your life. That’s what all the movies and TV shows say, right? Everyone says college is supposed to be the best four years of your life, so live it up while you can. Honestly, that’s a really depressing thought.

The truth is that college is great, but so is everything that comes after! I mean, I get to spend my days writing in my PJ’s and if that isn’t the American Dream than I don’t know what is. If you had a great college experience, that’s awesome! If you didn’t, that’s okay too!

The point is that college is temporary, and it is in no way the best experience of your life. You have the rest of your life to learn, make friends, and have fun! I wish I had someone to tell me that when I was having a nervous breakdown before graduation! Ultimately, I’m not going to tell you to make the most of college. I’m going to tell you to make the most of every day, because the fun doesn’t end after graduation!

Sam can be found at Samanthability.com where she blogs about the struggles of transitioning from college to the “real” world. When not writing, you can find her obsessing over books and watching bad reality TV from her home in Orlando, FL. 

The post 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Graduation appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.