August 2019
DELIGHTED SOUL Authenticity in college
Letter from the Editor College is such a life-changing season. Many enter as wide-eyed young adults eager to create the life they’ve always wanted and enjoy the perks of being grown. While change is necessary, some changes, if made for the wrong reasons, can cause us trouble that could have been avoided. While a person entering college can almost never predict the person they’ll be at the time of graduation, it’s important to move through school with some sense of who you are. This month’s issue is talking about living authentically in college, and fortunately for those of us beyond our college years, there are nuggets that can be applied to our current seasons too. Take a look at some of the recommended items to keep you focused and fashion forward!
Jasmine Powell
Table of Contents
3 Michelle’s Jewels 4 How to be Authentically You in College 5 Back-to-School Must-Haves 6 List 9 The #BacktoSomethingA Supply magazine for young in pursuit of deeper 11 Break It Down women relationship with Jesus Go Sis, Go! JAZZELLA MCKEEL’S STORY
WISDOM FROM MICHELLE POWELL
TIPS FROM DEANNA KENNER
FASHION IDEAS BY KRISTEN MILTON
IDEAS BY KRYSTAL HAWKINS
Go Sis, Go! CAREER PROFILE
Name
Jazzella McKeel (@jazzellamckeel)
Hometown
Houston, Texas
Current City
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Education
High School: Martin High School. 2006 Graduate.
Undergraduate: University of North Texas. 2011 Graduate. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography. Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Art Studies. Professional Employer: Jazzella McKeel Photography Position: Owner and Creative Branding and Lifestyle Photographer How long? 2 years, full-time
What do you love most about your current program?
What I love most about my job is that I have the freedom to do exactly what God tells me to do, when He tells me to do it. He is my CEO. He is the one that makes the plans and He gives me the wisdom to follow what He tells me to do. Being a full-time entrepreneur is difficult...very difficult. However, the amazing thing about it is that I am able to use the gifts God has given me on a daily basis, on my own terms. I love putting everything on the line in order to produce something amazing from just a vision or a thought. Also, as a Creative Branding and Lifestyle Photographer, I love meeting with clients to hear about the vision that God has given them. I find great pleasure in knowing that it is my job to help them carry out that vision by creating dope visuals that will connect them to their target audience. I GET to do that! I love it!
What is one of the most monumental experiences on your journey?
One of the most monumental experiences on my journey happened in October 2018. I had been a full-time entrepreneur for a little over a year and I thought I was getting the hang of this whole entrepreneurship thing. In October 2018, I was only at home for 12 days out of that month. God had set it up for me to have a major speaking engagement in Atlanta, then I was flown out to work with a high profile client in Los Angeles. I ended the month by getting flown to Orlando to work with my client and a famous motivational speaker. It’s almost like God allowed me to have a sneak peek into my future. During that time I knew that I had to pay close attention to what He wanted me to learn. He wanted to show me the systems that I needed to put into place in my business in order to be able to live that life on a consistent basis. God has a beautiful way of teaching us. I won’t forget those phenomenal experiences as I grow my business.
How do you avoid getting burned out?
I believe when you are truly doing what you love, you don’t have to get burned out. I also believe that it is important to implement stress management strategies. Mental health is so very important. I utilize a morning routine that sets me up for success every single morning. If we start to take our lives one day at a time and make sure we have amazing days, we can look up and see that we have created an amazing life. Also, I go to therapy. I actually started therapy when I was on the verge of burnout; how to successfully deal with people is one of the hardest lessons I had to learn. I love that my therapist is a Christian as well. We talk about spiritual and practical ways to succeed at life and business in order to avoid burnout.
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How do you balance your work, church, and social duties?
One practical way that I balance work, church, and social responsibilities is staying true to my calendar. If it’s not on my calendar, it’s not happening. Through the years I have also learned the power of saying no. Only God can be everywhere at once. Not me. Lol. I do my best to make everything work. I put me, my mental health, and my family as a priority. At the end of the day, that’s all I can do: my best.
What is your ultimate career goal?
My ultimate career goal is to be connected with the people that God has assigned me to. I have to reach those people. They are waiting on me. Your people are waiting on you. We reach our people by doing what God tells us to do on our jobs, in our churches, and in our everyday life. I encourage you to live a life where God can always use you. He uses me through my photography business, my blog, Jazzella’s Closet, and the other business ventures that He will have me to do. Allowing God to use me by blessing others is always the ultimate goal.
Michelle’s Jewels Words of Wisdom from Mother-In-Chief Michelle Powell Authenticity: the quality of being authentic; genuineness. Authentic: not false or copied; genuine; real.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 When going into a new place, like a college or a university, where you’re meeting new people, you want to make a good first impression. Let authenticity be at the root of your character. Be genuine, be real, be friendly, be kind, be yourself, and more than anything, be authentic. Allow people to see the real you the first time you meet. Don’t present a fake persona of yourself. Love yourself enough to be who you are. Be authentic, believing you are God’s creation, and you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You do not have to like everything your friends do and they may not like everything you do. Be genuine in your conversations. Be intentional in keeping your friendships. In life you may not have the same tangible things that other students possess. Tangible things don’t make a person as special as you think. Know that you have your own gifts and talents within you that make you special too. Tap into your gifts and talents by searching your inner most authentic self. Focus on what brings you joy. Focus on what you are passionate about. You may learn that you are different from others, but it’s okay. You may have defined yourself as peculiar and different, it’s okay. Keep striving forward in your education, stay focused in matriculating through school, seek counsel from advisors and professors, and be genuine with them. Your friends and classmates may also have great advice that you can use if you’re real and ask for help.
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How to be Authentically You in College Stay true to who you are on your campus by using theses 5 tips from fellow college student Deanna Kenner. Believe me, I understand. Transitioning can be difficult. Going to college for most is not just stepping into a new school with new hallways, teachers, and classmates. It’s stepping into a whole new world of principles, ideologies, challenges, and pressures. In these new surroundings, it can be very easy to lose yourself. In August of 2015, one of the classes listed on my freshman schedule was Intro to Philosophy. Yep, Philosophy. This meant straying away from the lessons I learned through Christianity to instead learning about what’s morally right and wrong according Immanuel Kant…like who even is that guy? Already in my first semester, I was facing one of my biggest college fears…the possibility of losing my faith. My faith is the foundation of who I am; it grounds me. It’s my truth. I felt that if I lost it, I wouldn’t know who I was. So, like I always do when I’m in a crisis, I went to my mother and listened to what she had to say. I would love to write down all the wisdom my mother shared to me that day, but I wouldn’t have enough space. Instead, I will list five tips on how to stay grounded in your faith and be authentically you in college.
#1 #2 #3
Find Peace with Being Yourself.
It can be quite overwhelming when you realize just how many people are around you in college. And with all these new people, comes new pressures. The swimming pool of diversity can swallow you. So many different lifestyles. It’s tempting. It can be difficult to adapt to all that’s around you. Though, should you? Or should you just be happy with who you are. When you see those sorority girls getting all the attention in the courtyard, or that senior cheerleader that walks into your class, try not to compare yourself to them. You need to recognize the worth within yourself. It’s perfectly fine to try new things and to continue to discover the you that has yet to be found. However, don’t question the good in you. Be confident in who you are! Everything that makes you into the wonderful person you are should be acknowledged and cherished. It does good to remember Genesis 1:27, God made you in His image, and He makes no mistakes. Trust that.
Fellowship with Like-Minded Peers.
I will credit this one tip to my kind mother. Finding clubs, small communities, or even just one classmate who shares the same beliefs and ideas as you can be relieving. It doesn’t make you feel so alone in such a big place. I encourage everyone to be as involved as they can in their college years. No one wants to be in solitude in the library all the time. Go out and fellowship with your neighbor. It does the spirit good when you find someone with the same energy as you, where you can just vibe and have a great time. Though I do recommend fellowshipping with like-minded people, it can also be good to talk with someone who differs from you in some ways. Opposites attract, right? This kind of fellowship could lead to moments of inspiration, which are also good for the spirit.
Remember your Passions.
Always remember why you’re in college. Don’t become consumed by the parties, being the life of the crowd, or even the assignments. What you’re passionate about also makes up you who you are. Remembering these things will keep you grounded when the college life becomes a little too chaotic.
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#4 #5
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Let’s be honest, some days, life gets to us and we don’t always feel our best. However, this is no excuse to cast out negativity into the world. Spread love, rejoice, and always be positive. Easier said than done sometimes, I know, but this is very important when it comes to staying grounded. It’s so easy to throw a pity party or be a negative Nancy about everything. However, surrounding yourself in kind, warm energy will for sure get you out of whatever rut you’re in, and brighten your day. Though, if that doesn’t work, God’s Word has some positivity that will bring a smile to your face. Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice, and be glad in it.”
Meditate and Pray.
Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” I truly believe in this scripture. Meditating on the Word of God definitely keeps my head leveled and my heart full. Every day is a spiritual battle. We are constantly fighting off demons disguised as temptations, anger, hate…we win some and we lose some. That’s ok though, we’re human. However, God loved us so much, that He sent His only Son, His perfect Son, to die for our sins. So, for those times when we do lose the battle, remember that God’s love is the Salvation. Study the Word and pray. Try not to only go to Him when you’re in need, He wants to hear from us for more than just that. Show Him thanks, talk to him about your day, have a full-blown conversation with Him. Not only will this feel amazing, but it will strengthen your faith and your relationship with God. Remember to do these two things, and I promise, you will have a testimony to tell.
So friends, those are my tips. I pray this helps. Lord knows it helped me. Still does! The college years can be the best moments of your life; I pray you will make the most of it! Remember to always be kind to your neighbor, spread love, and trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Back-to-School Must-Haves Fashion Tips from Kristen Milton (@kristen_lanell) Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. It doesn’t have to be expensive it just needs to express who you are within. Be Bold, Be You.
For a cute casual day of class you can dress this look up with a pair of single strap heels or down with a pair of classic black and white vans. Boohoo
Boohoo
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Lulus
Vans
I absolutely LOVE any look involving a T-Shirt dress. This popping yellow shirt paired with a pair of black biking shorts gives you a chill yet stylish look. Add a little pop by tying a shirt around your waist. Pretty Little Thing
Pretty Little Thing
SHEIN
Whether you have a class presentation or just want to look classy this outfit is for you. Just remember, on Wednesdays, we wear pink!
This dress is GORG. It’s a must-have and can be worn for any occasion from church to date night. Boohoo
SHEIN
Boohoo
SHEIN
I love how simple a little black dress is. It’s basic yet versatile. You can wear a pair of all white Converse or Steve Madden heels. You can tie a denim or plaid shirt around your waist, or simply add a 3-layer necklace. One is never over-dressed or under-dressed with a Little Black Dress.
Fashion Nova
Pretty Little Thing
ROMWE
Complete your casual outfit with this t-shirt, featuring a Devil Wears Prada print matched with a snake skin mini skirt. The joy of dressing is an art. Pretty Little Thing
Pretty Little Things
Journeys
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SHEIN
Here’s a lounge outfit that can be worn to class or to do one of your favorite hobbies (mine is walking around Target haha). Boohoo
Journeys
Boohoo
Boohoo
What’s denim without a little distress? These jeans pair perfectly with an off-the-shoulder bodysuit with your color of choice.
Fashion Nova
Fashion Nova
UrbanOG
This dress is great for a night out on the town or simply hanging with you best friends. Either way this bomb bronze bombshell will make a statement.
Lulus
Fashion Nova
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SHEIN
The #BacktoSomething Supply List
Ideas from Krystal Hawkins (@kryslejoye) While many of us are coming off a summertime high (in heat, healing and energy), teachers, parents and students alike are gearing up for back-to-school everything. Back-to-school discounts, back-to-school social posts from teachers decorating classrooms, back-toschool photoshoots of kids in first day outfits, and detailed back-to-school supply lists for the young and educated. Yes, the #backtoschool trend is in full effect! And while all of these things help prepare the kids – where’s that trending list of supplies for the rest of us? You know, those of us who are #grownish, not so adorable, and moving into our first dorm with overpriced textbooks in hand. Or those of us who pay rent in-full for an apartment and are borderline considering a roommate because we’re having a hard time paying all the monthly bills on time. What about those who pay a home mortgage and want to spice up the room essentials, but need to keep money transactions fairly low? And, oh, we can’t forget about those who have worked hard all year long to start that new passion project – in need of a quick work desk refresh to stay on top. What about all of us? Where’s our list of resources to conquer adulthood and manage goals for the year?! We’ll wait. Afterall, it’s important that we all get back to doing something productive...right? So, whether you want to decorate your dorm, prep for those college courses, pay those monthly bills, update your living space, or simply add multi-purpose decor to your work desk – this post is for all of us. To keep us grown folk motivated for the rest of the year, we have our very own #BacktoSomething Supply List. Now, let us all get primped and prepped for photos!
For Storage and Organization THE DIVIDER STICKY NOTES
These divider sticky notes can be used for a variety of things: tracking class notes, writing personal goals, scheduling the bills, and so on. For you color-coded folk, be sure to check out the sticky notes in pastel colors.
A STYLISH HANGING ORGANIZER
This stylish organizer comes with a chrome finish and can be used to file folders, tablets, notebooks, mail, books and more. You can store mount or hang it in any room of the house, apartment, or dorm room. The choice is all yours.
DESKTOP STORAGE RACKS ON RACKS
Big ups to Jerry and Maggy for making this decorative storage rack in black and pink colors. The multi-functional standing shelves can be crafted together to accommodate lengthy shelf needs for office supplies, books and plants.
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For Room Essentials MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS AND BEDDING
Improve your sleeping habits and invest in this memory foam mattress infused with green tea extract, or a similar 4-inch memory foam mattress topper that conforms to the body (ooh la la). Boost your overall sleep experience with Mellanni’s Bed sheet set via Amazon or Wamsutta’s 500 Thread Count sheet set at Bed Bath and Beyond. Both are ranked at the top of Good Housekeeping’s list for the Best Value Sheets and the Best Luxury Cotton Sheets.
FUNKY WALLPAPER
We know that Target has ALL THE THINGS we need (and if you disagree, that’s unfortunate for you). Go ahead and upgrade your room walls with a crafty, removable wallpaper. Choose from Target’s wide selection of colored stripes, speckled dots, celestial print, the yellow medallion pattern and so much more.
Office Supply for the Readers & Writers A LITTLE GREEN BOOKMARK
Whether you are moving through class textbooks or your very own good reads, try this set of 6 little green bookmarks to keep you charging forward. Use these seedling-shaped bookmarks to mark your pages and mark the last lines read.
RELIABLE PENS & CRAFTY PENCILS
Now that we live in a digital world, penmanship has becomes more sacred for the writers, notetakers, journalists and doodlers reading this! So if you fall into one of these categories, be sure to grab a long-lasting pack of Pilot G2 BallPoint Pens for a reliable ink supply. Lastly, for the test takers looking to spark up those multiple choice answers, check out this unique set of pencils now available in woodland, cactus and safari styles. Just imagine Beyonce’s “Spirit” track playing in the background and let it soothe your mind knowing that you’ll ace your next exam (God willing)!
Sources
9 to 5 Toys Yahoo Finance Seventeen Business Insider Amazon Buzzfeed Buzzfeed
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August’s Scriptures In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. MATTHEW 5:16
Break It Down I think it’s safe to say that most of us can be categorized as goal-driven. Everything we do each day is building up, we hope, to a goal that we’ve created. Some of those goals are God-given, and some we just pick up along the way trying to figure out where we should be at our age based on those around us. What if, instead of us waking up and our first thoughts going to how to get that title, or secure that bag, or start that business - what if our first thought was, “How can I be a light to those around me today?” Don’t worry, you can be both a light and an entrepreneur at the same time, what matters is our priority. The way that we speak, act, and treat others can confirm or destroy what someone else thinks about Christians, and more importantly, the God that we serve. When we are our true selves - living according to the scriptures we study - then we’ll exhibit the fruit of the spirit in our interactions with others. When we compromise who we are to impress others or to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, we’re not letting our lights shine. When we’re true to who we are and what we believe, we open the door for more opportunities to bring people to Christ. Let’s look for every opportunity God sends our way to shine in other people’s lives so that they can see His majesty through our good works.
Do you want to share feedback or see a specific topic covered in the future? Let me know! jas@delightedsoulmag.com
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