Post-College Life #2 : Creating Dreams, Living in a Dream

the city keeps growing in fast pace, so do you - umm, do you?

The blog hasn't ceased yet, my lovely readers! How are you?

Another huge huge apologize for long long incognito. The story of post-college life hasn't done yet, fellas. I'm still busy preparing something big (I promise, I will tell you guys soon what it is), here and there with videography projects though. So, here I am, sitting in front of my laptop, pouring all of my minds, hoping that everyone that just been graduated/has been graduated/will graduate soon/graduated a year ago are surviving the thoughness of post-college life : here it is - a PCL series!

[...] Here's my answer : just say yes. Be optimistic, instead of realistic. 

First thing first, because I would like to talk about dreams, please sit back and relax while listening to my dreamy Spotify playlist below. It contains of 133 songs, sung by artists from a lot of countries with different languages and unique music. I made this playlist since May 2016 and it grows a lot, and still my favourite. I suggest to put it on shuffle mode to feel the magic :)

So, have you played it? If you don't want to listen, it's fine. It's not mandatory :) 

Okay, back to our worth one billion question : where do we go from here? 

People are always ask you about what you are going to do after you graduated. Getting a good job, taking a master degree, taking care of your family business, making a mixtape, just taking a gap year to travel anywhere... Anything. But, admit it, do you know where to start? Are you ready to take the risk? Are you ready to fail? Here's my answer : just say yes. Be optimistic, instead of realistic. 

Whatever you dreamed of, just do it. Here's some of questions that probably always come up and how to solve it :

How if I failed? 
If you failed, it was just the beginning. It doesn't mean that you're fucked up, believe me, there's something better ahead that waits for you. Keep trying! Find another way, talk to people.

Then, what about those people that just only depending on their lucks?
Believe me, if you worked hard and setting your goals, you will be more managed. Another benefit of setting your goals is when you tell it to your friends or families, they will support you. Then, you'll get motivated. 

If you failed, it was just the beginning. It doesn't mean that you're fucked up, believe me, there's something better ahead that waits for you. Keep trying! Find another way, talk to people. 

How about the barriers like money and probably, people that tries to bring you down? 
If you really want to do something, believe me, you will find the way. You will find the good and appropriate way to earn money (no cheats, please). About those people that tries to bring you down, don't listen to them. Don't focus on reach your dreams just to show them that you can do it. Reach your dreams for your own good. Don't try to look back or even try to prove someone.

How if... I changed my dreams.... What are people going to say about it? 
Stop thinking about what others think. If you changed your dreams, it's fine. You know, dreams changing as you're getting older. As you're getting older, you know more about where are you going. It's okay that you started it from zero.

Speaking of dreams, I actually don't have a bigger goal ahead. Can you help me to create one?

Just do something you love and live it! If you like drawing, just sell them, earn money from it. Here's the crucial advice from me : never. ever. doing. what. others. do.

Just find something that you really like. If you think that you're totally newbie of it, improve your skill. If you can't afford a school or even a course, go to YouTube and buy some books about it. Believe me, it's worth it.

Stop thinking about what others think. If you changed your dreams, it's fine. You know, dreams changing as you're getting older. As you're getting older, you know more about where are you going.

Now.. How to get motivated?

Make a list, put your dreams anywhere in your desk, put your dreams in your journal, write a journal. 

But, in making your dreams, don't be too ambitious! Remember about the people surrounds you, thanked them. And don't forget to always prioritize your family ❤

and believe me, dreams are like stars. You may never touch them, but if you follow them, they will lead to your destiny. Now, go ahead, GERONIMOOO!!!

Good luck in creating your dreams!

-Aya ❤

P.S : 

- (hopefully) there will be another post for PCL series and probably the final one. Hint : it's about the job life. I will try to post it soon.

-  if you have something to ask or even asking for help in your careers, just hit me up on my e-mail. 

Post-College Life #1: Meeting New People

the world out there is surely big, but - where do I start? 

As 2016 has passed and there were no new posts in 2017, I'm so sorry )): 

My schedule has been messed up with projects here and there, while submitting CVs everywhere for a secure job and secure $$ for.... well, a big plan. I hope you guys will forgive me for such a long long incognito and yes, this blog hasn't ceased yet. 

Graduated, and "jumped" into the real life is kind of scary, isn't it? No "geronimo" exclamation thingy? No?

Well, how are you, guys? I hope you're doing fine and awesome as always :D

Okay, I'm making a rant series namely Post-College Life series (or if you made an acronym, it's "PCL" which means PECEL in Indonesia - well, literally)! This post was for you: ladies and gents that had graduated!

How's your post-graduation life, guys? 

To be honest, that question was kind of... offensive, for some people, right? 

Graduated, and "jumped" in a real life situation is kind of scary, isn't it? No "geronimo" exclamation thingy? No? 

Whenever you apply for a job or even submitting applications for a scholarship, or even when your Mum tells you that YOU are the one that have to pay the bills, you always kind of wishing to go back in time where you just sat and listened to a lecture, jotted down your notebooks, sent love notes to your classmate, or nudged your classmate and gossiping or even asked the meal that you guys wanted to eat after class. Or, you wish you could rewrite your thesis? :D 

Well, there will be a question after you graduated : where do I start? 

[..] the first thing (and kind of crucial) you need to mastered is how to meet new people. Why? You will meet new people when you put your resume in your dream office, you will meet new people while waiting for your turn for the interview, you will meet new people to interview you, you will meet new people [..]

So, here's a little simple answer : while you're finding your true dream was or even the "perfect job", the first thing (and kind of crucial) you need to mastered is how to meet new people. Why? You will meet new people when you put your resume in your dream office, you will meet new people while waiting for your turn for the interview, you will meet new people to interview you, you will meet new people; or even you guys who have been planning to travel all over the world, you will meet new people - NEW PEOPLE! *yaay*

Meeting new people is kind of scary, of course. You will meet different people from all over the world, with different backgrounds, different ages... Uh, thinking about meeting new people was so easy but at the same time, it's kind of scary, isn't it? I mean, these new people wouldn't have the same perspective as yours, they will have their own perspectives and sometimes you couldn't shove down your opinions through their throats.

Well, the truth is, meeting new people isn't that scary. Remember when you're in kindergarten, you'd meet a new kid and later, you're playing like you're best friends? Let's go back to the kindergarten life and here's how to strike a good conversation with new people :

1. Smile, and say hi. That's kinda basic, right? Don't be afraid to be the one that initiates the conversation! You're not going to get any judgments just for being nice! If it's online and this people came up nowhere, it will be creepy, but hey, it's IRL convo, it will be just fine. 

I mean, these new people wouldn't have the same perspective as yours, they will have their own perspectives and sometimes you couldn't shove down your opinions through their throats.

2. The Art of Small Talk. Small talk... urgh. Who hates small talks? RAISE YOUR HAND! Hahaha. Okay, guys, now put them aside. You have to master the art of small talk when it comes to post-college life. But first, make a forever reminder at least three things that you enjoy talking about and three things that you don't know so much but you would enjoy to talk about it.  Keep throwing topics until something clicks! 

3. Listen and respond. Attentive listening is crucial. This time, put aside your judgments  or even differences. Try to be a good listener. Appreciate their thoughts, their arguments. 

4. Be curious, ask questions. If you ask questions, that means you're interested and you're appreciating your convo partner. Make your convo partner feel respected. However, don't be so curious and it makes you sounded like a stalker or even annoying, and making your convo partner uncomfortable. Nope. If you're sounded like you're interested, your convo partner will talk openly and more comfortable with you.

5. Look for common interests. This common interests will lead to a good convo, believe me.

6. Humours! Humours! Why so serious? Don't forget to throw jokes! (but not offensive, please). Make your convo partner feel comfortable, make them relax and enjoying the casual convo with you. Don't be sounded like you teach, preach, or impress - that's a big no no. 

7. Just be yourself! Like in kindergarten, you're playing with this new kid because you didn't have to be anything but yourself. Becoming yourself and opened up to people is good because everybody is unique. But remember, don't be sounded like over-sharing and don't stir up conversation to "me" and "I". That will be sounded like you're highly boasting about yourself. This is conversation, it's not just about you, but your convo partner too. Ew. That's the typical convo that I really want to avoid. 

8. Time's up! Now, make a new connection! Post-college life means networking. Small talks: through friendly tone, eye contacts, topics, you can develop a new connection. Don't forget to ask for their contact, I'm sure they will be handy next time. Making a broad networking is a must for a post-college life. 

and believe me, having a conversation with new people radiates positivity. 

It's okay to open up to people, and talk. The world out there isn't as scary as you think. Now, go ahead, GERONIMOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Good luck in your real life and welcome to the jungle!,

-Aya ❤

please anticipate the next PCL series in the next time! Hope you enjoy it!  

How To: Self Love

Dear earthlings, you are alive today because you have sent here to accomplish something. Whether it is big or not, you're here for something. You're not born as nothing, but for something. Take a look at the sea. Sea may seemed lonely.. But if there was no sea, where do the fish go? What is fisherman?

Helloooooo my beautiful readersss~~
Eid mubarak! Hope you guys have a good mubarak!  (:

Another essay, eh? ((: So, I've been come out with ideas to write that happened around me and I feel like I ought to write it here in order to help you guys. In order to make you more shining in this holy Mubarak, our topic is self-love. Well, this may seems like corny post, but I really want to help you to realize that you, yourself, need to love yourself first. 

It is funny that our early lives we were taught how to say "please" and "thank you", as well as acceptable and unacceptable to others and society.. But we are failed to be educated in : self love.

I found that quote somewhere - but I can't recall when and where. 

That quote is still clinging on my brain and I hold onto it. Although I've been spending my time to think that it is only a beautiful compounds of words that makes it into fine sentence - now I feel like that quote is super true.

Yes, it is, we failed to be educated in self-love. We were taught to respect others, to trust others - but we forgot that we actually need to respect ourselves first. We were taught that it is fine to find accept others... when it is to hard to accept ourselves, isn't it? 

You probably feeling not loved, not worth-it, just because you don't have someone to tell you that you are loved, you are pretty, and so on, everyday? Why do you need someone to tell you that when you can tell that to yourself?

I'm not saying that we don't need someone else in order to live, I'm saying that you have to accept yourself and go seek your own power - because you can do everything [...] You're not born as nothing, but for something. 

Well, the truth is: go seek your own power first, because you can do EVERYTHING.

I'm not saying that we don't need someone else in order to live, I'm saying that you have to accept yourself and go seek your own power - because you can do everything. I mean,  you are alive today because you have sent here to accomplish something. Whether it is big or not, you're here for something. You're not born as nothing, but for something. Take a look at the sea. Sea may seemed lonely.. But if there was no sea, where do the fish go? What is fisherman? Go seek your own power.

You are capable to do everything with your own hands, with your own feet. And here's how to develop your self-love:

1. Find your passion. You're probably getting this like sooo many times and it's doze you off - but seriously, this helps. Find your passion. If you feel like kitchen is the place where you can feel like you're a scientist for new recipes, new sauce, and so on - just go for it! If you feel like "naahhh, I can't cook. I just like to be in the kitchen and cook, but other than that - no. There's someone who cook better than me" - don't stop there! Go step further ahead like meet this "someone who cook better" than you and start learning from him/her; try new recipes; go browse TONS of kitchen hacks and weird cooking recipes (such as BuzzFeed. I personally like this recipe "4 Easy Nutella Hacks You Need To Make"). And remember, you can find LOTS of passions! Besides kitchen, you can start learning about photography and voila - your own book recipe! :3 With finding your passion, you will start to love yourself by realizing how capable you are to do a LOT of things: passion for living. 

Little Aya story : I LOVE reading and writing. I love to be immersed in the sea of words, my brain recreates its own setting, characters... Then, I want to write one. I know I'm not a good writer, but I learn a lot from reading a lot of books and discuss with my close friend whom is a writer too (and she already published two books, Dante: The Faery and the Wizard and Youth Andagio), Alberta Natasia Adji. Although I'm still trying to write a book, I'm still writing. I'm writing a lot.

2. Listed what you like and what you need to change about yourself. This really helps - really. It's fine to listed what you like about yourself, boasting about yourself is fine and you can listed AAAAAAAAAAAAAANYTHING that you liked! Then, you can listed about what you need to change about yourself in order for becoming the better version of yourself, not becoming the version that everyone wants you to be. Remember, you are liked for who you are, not for what people wants you to be. You can make it as long as you like. Get to know yourself more by listing what you like and what you need to change about yourself - I believe you will start accepting who you are. 

Little Aya story : I wrote my own lists on April 2016 and start to realize my weakness and what I liked about myself. What I really liked from myself is about how independent I am, and how unstoppable I am when it comes to chase my dream. That makes me gradually start accepting myself.

3. Give yourself some rewards. Don't push yourself too much to do something that you really want. If you really want something, know your limit. Remember, your mind and body needs to be synchronized in order to achieve your goals. You need to reward your mind and body by giving your own version of me-time. Go for an afternoon-walks, doing 60 minutes of Yoga, go buy some beauty products to heal yourself, go browse some new good songs... Love yourself!

Little Aya story : I am a H A R D W O R K E R and I don't know when I have to stop. Of course, my body tells myself that it hits its own limit by starting to catch some disease like virus on my bowel and so on. Then, I started to give some limits to my body and give some rewards for myself like doing Yoga, drinking some Green Tea, and buying myself relaxing body mist. And this helps! I passed the thesis examination successfully ❤

3. Don't find the true beauty. It will shine by itself. If you think the definition of beauty is having fair skin, full bosoms, long hair... Believe me, the beauty that you want is the concept of beauty as we know it is universal because it is forced on us by popular mass media. The true beauty is you, come read more about my opinion that the definition of beauty is different from countries to countries here .

And believe me... The true beauty of you will shine itself. 

Actually, when you started to accept yourself, you will be more happy and you will be MORE beautiful because the true beauty of you will shine itself. You don't need someone else to make you happy, happiness come from you.

Goodluck❤❤

-Aya