It's about to get hot and heavy.
Since I was a little girl, my passions have always been electric. Whenever I come across something novel and exhilarating, I tend to fall head over heels for it (I am referring to activities, so no need to get excited, boys). However, these passions of mine rarely last for extended periods of time. For example, I have tried almost every sport in the book. Shoutout to my parents for not only allowing me to pursue them, but also attending every game, race and competition, even though they knew I would be curious about another sport the following month. I am still constantly altering my passions as a 19-year-old to remain active and dynamic.
Here are my current passions. I have a feeling some of these will actually stick around for the long-run.
School
Yeah, I definitely think I am passionate about attending classes and finishing my homework as soon as it is assigned because school has only been in session for one week, but at least I am starting the semester on a positive note! There is one intriguing, women-only class that I am taking right now, though. We will be learning about the differences between men and women in the workplace, as well as strategies to transform our weaknesses, such as fear of failure and lack of confidence, into strengths. Finally -- a class that is applicable to my career! This leads me to my next passion.
Fostering more badass women
While I, myself, am a developing badass female, I also love empowering other females to speak up and achieve their goals. The organizations that I am a part of at UC are primarily filled with women, and I cannot tell you how inspiring it is to surround myself with driven, intelligent individuals. As more well-known women throughout our nation are bravely raising their hands to share stories, lessons and opinions about their positions in society, collegiate women in Cincinnati are also feeling confident to do the same. I can proudly say that I am helping shape the future of our country by simply helping others overcome their challenges and, in turn, expanding the community of women at UC who are hungry to spur change. What a time to be alive.
Building my brand
This passion was discovered a month ago when I began creating a portfolio that showcases my original content and will be used in upcoming job applications. The project forced me to take a step back and understand my own personal brand. What are my short-term and long term goals? What differentiates my brand from others? What is my brand promise? Is it obvious that I am a marketing major? Now that I have a strong grasp on the Emily McDonough brand, I love growing it through every possible avenue -- on Instagram, in the classroom, at parties, etc. It is all about brand consistency.
Eating healthy
I have always been a healthy eater, but I recently kicked my passion into full gear. I cut dairy out of my diet about a month ago to see if it would help my skin, and it did! Bidding farewell to dairy has not been easy, though. I have realized that dairy products are in A LOT of foods, so I have to be uber conscious of what I am putting in my body. Maybe my next passion will be veganism. Go big or go home, right?
Running
Out of all of the sports that I have rotated through in my lifetime, running is the winner. I have been running almost every day since my freshman year of high school, and I am somehow still passionate about it. My passion for running, though, does not stem from the monotonous process of moving my arms and legs back and forth. Instead, it is fueled by the feeling I experience after my run -- the electrifying feeling of having accomplished a difficult task. This feeling keeps me sane and motivated.
Get out there, my loyal readers, and explore a new passion! You can never have too many.
Cheers to a dynamic, dairy-free lifestyle.
Emily