Emøtiønal Røadshøw: Concert Kick Off

Summer Time, Concert Time

The beginning of summer can mean a lot of things, for students, it means a break from school, for parents it means having their kids around 24/7, for young adults in the working world it means having to deal with the fact there is no longer such a thing as "summer vacation". For myself, it means the beginning of summer concerts.

I've worked in radio for almost two years now, and the best part of my job has been, and will always be the ability to see various artists perform live. 

Most of my friends are very aware of just how many concerts I go to, and that I am someone who is always willing to buy tickets for a concert. In all honestly, most of my paycheck is spent on concert tickets.

My concert kick off began last night, at the All State Arena in Rosemont seeing Twenty-One Pilots.

The Few, The Proud, The Emotional 

The Emotional Roadshow Tour was incredible. Not only because Tyler and Josh are such incredible artists and performances, but because this band has established a special place within my music roster. 

Someone special to me actually introduced me to Twenty-One Pilots almost six months ago. I was lying on the couch, while a playlist of every Twenty-One Pilots song played in the background.
 I first came across Twenty One Pilots back in 2013, and never really gave them much thought. The first song I had ever heard was "House of Gold", and while I thought it was catchy, I didn't see the hype that everyone else did.  

It wasn't until I heard, lead singer, Tyler Joesph's cover of "Can't Help Falling in Love" on Youtube, that I was hooked.

What can I say, I'm a sucker for cover songs.

That being said, I was insanely excited that during last night's concert they covered: "Twist and Shout", "Jump Around," "My Love Will Go On" AND "Love Yourself" (Yes, Twenty-One Pilots covered a Justin Beiber song, and I loved every minute of it).

Tyler's vocals are just stunning. Over and over during the concert, the only thing I could think of was just how incredible Tyler and Josh sounded, and just much energy they put into their set.
Watching Josh, on the drums, was incredible to watch, it was like watching a dancer, he was just so sure of each hit that it looked effortless, while energetic at the same time.
Tyler's voice sounds amazing live, and how he interacts and feeds off the crowd and yet is so immersed in his music at the same time.

It's Our Hearts That Make The Beat

This is my second Twenty-One Pilots concert, and the more the band grows the more excited I am to see how their music does as well. The summer concert series has just started, so thank Josh and Tyler, for setting the bar high.

Stay tuned for what concert comes next!

xoxo

 

(Video taken June 6, 2016 by Christina Gonzales. All State Arena. Twenty One Pilots.)

It's Still All Greek To Me

Being in a Greek organization without a doubt shaped my college career.
More importantly, it shaped who I am as a person.

I went Greek during the spring of my freshmen year.
The sisterhood that opened it's arms out to me, was called Sigma Delta Gamma, a small local Greek organization that was founded and exists solely at Aurora University.
College was one of the best times of my life, I grew immensely through out my four years, pushed myself to be the best version of myself I could be, and took every opportunity that came my way. 

Growing up, I was lucky enough to be raised by a single mother, someone who never told me that my dreams were unrealistic.
According to my mother, there was nothing I couldn't do.

Those same feelings were something that my sisterhood reflected onto me.
During my time in Sigma Delta Gamma, I was introduced to some of the most important women in my life. Women with goals and ambition, but most importantly, these women got to see who I really was, and made me see her as well.

Today, as a recent college graduate I'm out in the real world on my own for the first time in four years.
I'm going through one of the biggest emotional changes of my life, and finding my line jacket sparked something in me I didn't realize I was missing.

Wearing my letters is a reminder of all the hard work I put into during my Greek process.
And more importantly, it was a huge reminder of just who I fought to be.
It feels like a safety blanket, wrapped in my jacket with my name and letters, I remember who I am.

She is brave. She is a fighter. She is someone I'm very lucky to have when times get tough.

Discover What Matters...Build Your Life Around It

It still hasn't hit me that I'm a college graduate.
Graduation was a solid two weeks ago and yet I still am having a hard time believing it actually happened. It might have something to do with the fact I won't actually be getting my diploma until later this summer when it's mailed out, but it's a strange concept to accept I won't be going to school any more.

Two weeks out and I've filled out more job applications than I can count. Two interviews under my belt, and all I can think about is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I didn't know the answer to that question when I first applied for college, and I'm not sure I even know it now.

This phrase was plastered around my University campus, and lately it's been my head a lot more. I've always kept these words in mind whenever I've spent countless hours scanning different online job posting websites. My biggest fear post-graduation is that I'll end up taking a job, just for the sake of having one.

I've considered myself a pretty passionate person, and I want my passion to be the very best thing about me.
With that in mind, my job search has been pretty tough because I'm being pretty particular on what jobs I want to apply for. Working in music, now that's where my heart is.
I believe in music, the way some people believe in fairy tales.

Here's hoping my job search lands me something pretty magical.

Stay tuned!
xoxo.

Where You Lead, I Will Follow

Choosing to rewatch Gilmore Girls was single-handedly one the best decisions I’ve made.
Not just because it’s a good show, the writing is witty and hilarious and the music selection is phenomenal, but because it’s exactly what I needed. Case in point, I am currently on the seventh and final season, which Rory is graduating  from college. She and I are in the exact same position and career path, the idea that it is the end of an era and the beginning of the unknown.  During these last few episodes I keep finding myself relating to dear Ms. Gilmore more than I ever have. Here I am entering the last few months of my college career, an incredible internship already under my belt, and now I’m not sure of what my next move is. I’m watching friends make these big life choices and celebrate with them as they receive news of a job offer, or internship choice, or acceptance into that graduate school program.

Yet here I am, waiting, almost hesitating to make the next big step. Much like Rory herself and having just finished the episode titled “It’s Just Like Riding a Bike”, Rory turns down her first job offer to go after her dream of working at the New York Times, only to be rejected, thus ending up with no future career path while everyone else around her is finalizing their plans post-graduation.

I’m given the real possibility that I might not end up where I want to be (if I figure that out) just like Rory herself.  While of course there are moves I want to make, but the issue is seems is more of when. Do I move home for a year to save money? Do I pack up and go on to another state and start new? Do I accept the first “big-girl” job I’m offered as a safety net, or do I hold out until one I really want comes along?  The deciding factors seems to be: when and where, and for once I’m thankful it doesn't rely on a “who”.  It might be that I’m too in love with myself and my passions, or that I’m too “busy” for anything else really, whatever the case, I’m pretty happy with the direction I’m going. Where I'm going...seems to be the biggest question.

Maybe 2015 can help me figure that out....

xoxo.

From (Web) Page to Paper

I'll be the first to admit it, I spend a lot of time in my own head.
Most of the time my head space is occupied by lyrics to songs that I'm always surprised I remember, or those equally annoying times when I can remember the lines to that annoyingly catchy pop song that won't stop being played on the radio.  

If it's not song lyrics, it's story lines. Ever since I was little I wanted to be an author, but I've got this whole thing about grammar and rewrites. That thing being I hate grammar rules, the whole i before e, except after c rule makes my head spin and I'm notorious for using one too many commas. So my apologies now if I commit any grammar crimes -- my AP Style book is being delivered from Amazon and you know how unreliable the U.S. Postal Service is.
And don't get me started on rewrites, this paragraph alone has been rewritten a solid seven times already.

Anyways, back to my point here...
Being in my own head.
It's messy and cramped and filled with endless nonsense that usually comes out of my mouth, or via my Twitter page, and sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of it all.
Which is why I originally decided to start this blog. A place to keep all my thoughts.
Enter the problem: My brain goes a lot faster than my hands can keep up with, which can result in a lot of spelling mistakes (another grammar crime I often commit, so thank god for spell check). I've considered doing a podcast, but 1) I'm lazy and have yet to actually follow through with it, and 2) I'm not too keen on hearing my own voice on recording...yet-if I do happen to land my own radio show right after graduation, than I'l get over my own-voice-listening-to-aversion and gladly accept the position.

Recently, I got this idea of how to document my head space clutter sans a computer.
A good old fashion journal. Think of one of those "Wreck this Journal" journals, just minus the prompts and actual destruction.
With 2015 a day away, I feel like this is just what I needed to start the new year, and to finish the final chapter of my collegiate career.
I'm hoping to fill this journal with doodles, song lyrics, as well as quotes and other momentos of 2015.

Now...to find a journal and a New Year's Eve outfit, wish me luck!
xoxo

Happy Reading and Sage Advice

Christmas Tradition

Currently, it is 10:30pm on Christmas Day 2014. My family and I per tradition are competing to see who can be the most lazy. Currently, I'd have to say it would be a tie between myself, and my mother, who has been napping on the couch on-and-off since 3:00 pm. Christmas, for us, was celebrated early this morning, (midnight, if you want to be exact) and since than we've been enjoying our presents, and quality napping time. 

That being said, one of my presents was Amy Poehler's book "Yes Please" and although I'm currently preoccupied with a whole other list of books (see my previous post, in case your wondering what list I'm talking about), but I couldn't help myself and had to read a few pages.

Amy's Advice

With Christmas coming to an end, and the New Year around the corner, it's natural to start thinking about next year, after all 2015 is a big year for me. Graduation, adulthood, complete panic at "officially entering the real world" It's strange, knowing that four years has gone by so quickly, but it's exciting at the same time.
I have successfully avoiding answering any prying personal details to my extend family, managing to mumble the general, "Oh I'm a Journalist Major...Oh I go to school in Aurora...I'm graduating in May.." all while having the great internal battle that one more cookie I eat won't spoil my Christmas dinner.

While reading the first few I'm reminded how much of an idol Amy Poehler is. Granted, I finished Parks and Recreations fairly quickly so I may be a little biased on my "Amy Poehler Appreciation" but that is besides the point here.

My point being, is that within the first chapter of the book, Poehler shares the hard truth- writing is hard. Life is hard, and messy and complicated, and becoming an adult is really scary. At 22, and an almost-college-graduate, I'm already sick of being asked "what are you going to do when I graduate?"

Within my first couple of pages of reading "Yes Please" I was given the best answer I could ever hope for via the great Amy Poehler. "...we should stop asking people in their twenties what they "want to do" and start asking them what they don't want to do. Instead of asking students to "declare their major" we should ask students to "list what they will do anything to avoid." It just makes a lot more sense..."

And it does make a lot more sense, and makes me so much more excited to start reading.

Happy Holidays!
xoxo

Bookworm Forever

Between two pages; my favorite place to be.

I'm a lover of many things. Music, obviously. Of comfy socks, and superheros, of pizza and good coffee. Most importantly, I am a lover of books.

Growing up, I wasn't the athletic type. I didn't actively compete in a sport until my senior year of high school, and even now, I'm limited due to a knee injury. I was always someone who kept to myself, and was rather on the shy side. (A complete opposite of who I am now.) With my mother always working late hours, I often found myself looking for things to keep me entertained. That entertainment usually came in the form of music and television (which resulted in my vast knowledge of pop culture), but most importantly: books.

While my main focus of this blog has primary revolved around music, and my experience at my music-industry focused internship, I cannot shy away from another big part of my life. Books, much like music, have always served as an escape. A journey, and always an exciting adventure.

Currently, my internship with Cumulus Media (owner of 101.1 WKQX, 97.9 The Loop, and 94.7 WLS) has come to an end, (as all good things must do) I find myself with an endless amount of free time. Something, that since the semester started, I have not found myself having a lot of.

The Challenge 

With this vast amount of free time of my hands, I have done two things: scan the vast cyber world of Pinterest, and shamelessly binge watch various television series on Netflix. Currently, I am working my way through NBC's Parks and Recreation, and Gilmore Girls. As I made my way through Gilmore Girls, a show I had watched during much of my adolescence, I was reminded why I admired Rory Gilmore. She was beautiful, quick-witted, and intelligent and held a such a high admiration and knowledge on music, books, and pop culture that I could only dream of achieving

Her graduation speech alone nearly moved me to tears. Partly because of the close connection to her mother, much like myself, and partly because, I, much like Rory, have always loved books.

With that being said, I came across the massive list of books referenced in Gilmore Girls. The grand total: 339 books.  I have taken it upon myself to begin this, "Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge", because, what else do I really have to lose?

I'm a firm believer that if the time I'm wasting isn't due to sleeping, it best be wasted due to reading.

"...I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I’ve been a resident of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann’s Way. It’s a rewarding world...." Rory Gilmore; "Those Are Strings, Pinochio" (Season 3, Episode 22)