Life According to Syd

Featured

finding YOUrself

We all know that in our twenties we just go with the flow and follow around with our friends. I think that I was given the wrong advice of “you will find yourself, it will just happen.” I mean I am 21 but….. I think that I have more years beyond myself because I have been through so so so much. I have had to grow up really quick and learn things the hard way. We can go on for days about this but that is another conversation to have for another day.

I have transferred colleges and I have moved into a brand new townhouse all in one year. I think that I just know what I want for myself however, I think that I do not know myself. I say that with struggle. I wish that I could sit here and tell you more about myself but I could sit here and tell you all of my favorites and blah blah blah. Sorry but that isn’t why we are here right?

I think that when we are put into this world, we start off with education and some of us get jobs while in high school. We are basically taught that we work to live and survive. But……can we normalize that we all have a life with our friends and family?? That is the is the question of the hour. Maybe you could answer that. Some of us have kids, dogs, houses, and etc that we are required to take care of.

As we speak, I am actively trying to find myself. I know that we all are supposed to take care of ourselves in the sense of self-care. If anyone knows me, knows that I am on the run and that my world spins and spins with working and school. I truly have a hard time saying no, we have to accept the answer NO. I know that is hard for some of us– when I say that, I understand how hard that is. We do not have a whole lot of time in this world. We are not guaranteed 100 years to live. Some of us had to learn the hard way. All the negativity has an effect on how we find ourselves and how we chose to live our lives.

I have turned a new chapter since I have moved into my own home and with the new year. I am not going to be the person that screams “new year, new me”. That is not me at all (I am laughing so hard right now, just need you to know that.) I have realized what I need and want to find myself and define who I am in this crazy world. In order for me to do that, I am actively thanking the universe for another day given to me, and for all the little and big things I have. I have actively put out into the universe I will not tolerate the negativity anymore, that is a big work in progress. As I write this, I want to connect with you and understand what has worked for you. Please feel free to share 🙂 This post was a different style for me, I hope that you all enjoyed reading this 🙂

Kill them with kindness baby, you deserve the world.
Susan A. Grannis

xoxo, Sydney

Featured

GOODBYE 2021, HELLO 2022

Well, hello there!

I know it has been a solid year since you have heard from me. It is my fault but hey, I am here now and that is all that matters.

∙ 2021 timeline ∙

∙ January – December ∙

That is 2021 in a wrap with traveling to LA, San Diego, and Florida. I spent so much time with close family and friends. Creating so many memories that eventually became my favorite memories.

2022 has so much in store with my sister and I just moving into our new house! So many memories that need to be created for this new amazing townhouse. January starts off with turning 21! Finally becoming legal! The outlook I have on life now with being on my own has truly made my life easier in a sense. I finally have responsibility for myself. We can say when we lived with our parents that we had responsibilities however, I have much more on my plate now. I truly feel like I am growing up and becoming a “big” girl. I know that is funny because I am laughing now as I type this.

1643011200

days

hours minutes seconds

until

Sydney’s 21st Birthday

One of the goals I have this year for myself is to fall back in love and keep up with writing. I love the sense of stress relief I receive when I am writing, sharing my stories, and connecting with the world. I am becoming more and more comfortable with sharing stories and expressing myself as if I am not already. I want to become a better version of myself and truly live life to its fullest. I have learned that lesson from my mom, she had so much ahead of herself and life is taken for granted so much from people across the world.

Let’s raise one for my momma and live life to its fullest! We miss you and love you so much, xoxo.

Mi Madre

Read one of my favorite blogs I’ve written, xoxo.

“On this new year, be yourself you can admire.”
Pearl Aman

xoxo,

Sydney

P.S. you will hear from me soon, keep an eye out.

Featured

Introducing the Life of a College Student

The life of a college student includes adventures, struggles, homework for days, and laughs. I have had my fair share of all of these daily things that happen when you are a college student. I currently am a sophomore at Clarion University of Pennsylvania as a online student. My freshman year was a on-campus experience until the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S hard. I was living in my dorm room with my roommate Kayla and in March, we were forced to move out with all of our education switching to online.

My roommate Kayla and I watching the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers Game.
Left: Kayla and Sydney

The Coronavirus has affected so many things in this world such as jobs, education, economy, plans, and many more things. Overtime, education has always and will be such a big topic in this world. The future is our children. Colleges across the world have been affected with COVID-19, students were struggling whether they did not have a home, a job, money, or wifi. Clarion announced that we were going online as mentioned in this article https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/03/12/clarion-university-suspends-face-to-face-classes/. This affected college students everyday routine such as studying in the library, dinner with friends, classes, working out, and events.

I personally came back to a house with my family, wifi, a job and safe place to be. I had to learn how to use the best of time management and how to grasp all the content in my classes. I had to develop a sense of trying to avoid our procrastination, so I can succeed as an online student. I have always shared my struggles in my educational path with tests. I have always been a horrible test taker. I was so worried that I was going to fail out because of my professors making the classes full of tests.

When switching to online, I wanted to research the best ways to succeed as an online student. I read so many articles about how to work on procrastination, time management, using your planner to your full advantage, and structure. It took time to find the good articles with good advice, understanding what I can do to better myself. This article has helped me with a lot of things that I was struggling with and how to fix it; https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2020/03/18/17-tips-for-people-taking-online-classes/#40ba4d553fff.

Videos have always been a plus for college students, it helps so many things into perspective with any topic. Over the semesters, I always watched videos to help me understand the full context of the subject such as math. Watching the process, it helps to see someone doing the work and how it works out. This video shows tips and best way to use these tips:

1. Treat an online course like an in-person class. As in think of it like homework and self learning with discipline. I am sure many of you already do this to some extent.
2. Break your study time into sections.
3. Practice time management and use your phone to remind yourself.
4. Create a regular study space and stay organized. I recommend making some type of system for yourself that works for you.
5. Eliminate any distractions that would distract you from work.
6. Figure out how you learn best by looking at different methods and pick the best one that works for you in the online environment.
7. Basically follow directions and pay attention to the lecturer as well as interact with the classmates for understanding the material plus prepare for the lecture if they have info for you to read beforehand.
8. Maintain your own pace that works for you, but also catches up with other students when you need too.
9. Take notes that is great and comprehensive. I recommend watching YouTube videos on different ways to take notes. Some are better than others. What works for me will be different for you.
10. Ask for help even if your afraid. Don’t worry if you do ask for help you’re not a loser you’re a winner. After all only losers don’t ask for help when they need it. Who’s likely going to get further on a test? Those who asked for needed help or those who need help, but refuse too? Those who asked for needed help of course.
11. Stay mentally and physically healthy. Get good food/water/sleep.

As for Fall 2020, Clarion made the statement of going virtual for the semester and then as the Spring semester approaches, they will evaluate. I have been doing well so far with all the tips that I know and that I have learned. It takes time to adjust but, it changes for everyone. I wish everyone the best of luck for the rest of 2020 and Spring 2021 semester.

Featured

What gained from my (hearing) loss

Overcoming my hearing loss not only has been difficult, it has been a lifetime of work. Starting when I was in preschool, I was not able to understand what people were saying to me and I was not able to talk all that well. My first time receiving an audiology test was difficult for my parents to hear the news that I was hearing impaired. My parents were shocked and confused. The older I became that more confused I was. It was hard understanding why this is happening to me? But, I could not look at the negative side at all. In high school, I took my hearing loss and put it into a rising positive for me. I have been growing better with my hearing loss.

Overcoming the hard things such as not being able to speak up about not being able to hear my friends, not paying any attention because I could not hear, or simply missing out on so many things in public. It has not been easy, but my goal is not to never let my hearing stop me from doing anything I want. My hearing loss has inspired me to do what I love and that is to help children with hearing loss. I understand what these kids are going through because I have gone through it too.

When I am meeting people with hearing loss, I instantly am putting them first and listening to their story. I have always been out and in the open about my hearing loss but it is a big insecurity of mine. I have worked my way around it and I have had such a supportive family. They have always backed me up.

I genuinely do not think people today truly understand what it is like to have a hearing loss. My Dad and I were in New York visiting my sister at the time and we stopped at a gas station because I wanted a drink. I grabbed this little thing of Diet Coke. I asked the man that worked there how much was it? He answered but I did not hear him neither did anyone else. I asked again. He started screaming at me and instantly my dad and sister defended me but he does not clearly know what the feeling is like.

I was traumatized by this man who just started yelling at me for no reason.

I wanted to do something that was defining who I am for my first tattoo. I picked it out and I got a tattoo with I love you sign language for my hearing loss. My parents and sister always make this sign.

The thing about hearing loss is that no one can see it. Most people are so impatient; they just assume that the person with hearing loss is being rude, or slow-witted.
Marion Ross

Xoxo, Sydney

Featured

Change of Mind

Starting with the first semester was hard for anyone walking into college for the first time. Building a routine is key for success with all of the classes you take including tests, assignments, and essays. The pile of work never ends but that should not be one of the reasons on why you want to change your path.

I truly enjoyed my time as a speech pathology major because of my classmates, the work and professors. I changed due to not seeing myself in this for 8 years then finally starting my job. I really love audiology and speech pathology with all my heart because of my hearing loss.

I saw myself doing something with people for sure and I love social media! I researched more and more and found myself fond of Communications with Marketing. Learning more with social media, I am minoring in it and hopefully take more classes with this in my future after undergrad.

But, it is okay to change your mind! It happens, people change their mind all the time which is normal!

Two of my college friends changed as well, we spoke about it tons to make sure that it was the move that we wanted. It is hard if you switch later in due to credits and all that nonsense…. which is important but your happiness is more important rather than not loving your job in the future.

Wishing all college students the best spring semester yet! If anyone comment on your input, please do!

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
Andy Warhol

Xoxo,

Sydney

Featured

College Life

As some of you know, I am currently a freshman at Clarion University and I just started classes this week. I currently have some weight on my shoulders and looking into the future. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always wanted to be an Audiologist due to my hearing loss. Nursing has came across my mind and I wanted to be a nurse to follow my mom’s footsteps. I know that I do not want to see BLOOD. I know I am a baby still when I get shots. Nursing was a no go for me. I am currently taking Speech Pathology and Audiology.

My Girls 🙂 This my roommate Kayla and I’s little living room.
Top: Kayla, Bridget, Kenzie
Bottom: Me ❤

Living about hour and a half away from home can be tough. Considering my situation, with losing my mother. I learned that I always am around my family and friends. I hate being alone. This is really coming into play about now, I miss my family more than ever right now. I was going to give myself six weeks to come home. Well, I already broke that. Since I sprained my foot and ankle, I was exempted from all the activities. I missed out on one day of all these events. I decided that I was going to go home because I was in need of my dad taking care of me.

I drove home to have my dad take care of me and I could use my own bed. This is one of the first times that I have been so far away from home. I did not know exactly how to cope with it. I cried on move in day which I knew was going to happen. I did not cry leaving home from visiting. I was okay, I just needed to see my dad and sister. If I would have never gone home, I think that I would have been not okay. My cure to homesickness is just go home for one night and I am good to go.

Classes have started and it is going very well. I think at least. Taking my major classes is exciting. Especially the audiology section, I am so thrilled to take this.

Building a routine is very important for your classes, your mental health and YOU. I now get up around 8:30 or 9:00 on most days. I want to be able to have the time to get ready and possibly take a peak at my notes. I want to be able to chat with a few classmates possibly.

If anyone has advice or comments, please comment them below 🙂 I would love to hear what you have to say.

Success comes in a lot of ways, but it doesn’t come with money and it doesn’t come with fame. It comes from having a meaning in your life, doing what you love and being passionate about what you do. That’s having a life of success. When you have the ability to do what you love, love what you do and have the ability to impact people. That’s having a life of success. That’s what having a life of meaning is.
― Tim Tebow

Featured

∙Bucket List∙

Talking about what I love to do and what I want to do with my life is my favorite thing to do. I know it sounds a little selfish but I just love talking about me and my life. I was raised to love my life and just recently, I had to learn the hard way to live life to the fullest.

I love traveling and one of my dream trips is to go to Bora Bora 💕

I have always wanted to write a lifestyle book, I love writing all sorts of things but my favorite it lifestyle

I have taken Spanish my entire high school career and I would love to go to Cuba or the Dominican Republic. I love the old fashion cars in Cuba!

I have always just wanted to go on an adventurous road trip with my sisters or friends! I want to drive up the coast of California and just take in the views.

I would love to go skydiving in Sydney, Australia

I have so many other things I want to do before I die. I encourage everyone to live life to the fullest and be happy. Your mindset on life effects how you think. I always try to continue to be happy and let the negative roll off my shoulders. Tell me some of the things that are on your bucket list in the comments below!

Xoxo, Sydney

Featured

Birthday Week Begins…..

Today is Sunday, January 20th, 2019. The start of this girl’s birthday week! I actually celebrate for like a full month. This birthday is a little different. I am turning into an adult. I am happy and sad! I already registered to vote!!!! Now, I really have to pay bills and taxes….. I am not a fan lol! My birthday is Thursday, January 24th!

I am going to share a little childhood story now that I am turning into an adult. When I was like 5 years old, my family and I would always go to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It is about 2 hours from our house, we would drive there and get a hotel, spend a couple of days there. At 5, you can’t ride a ton of rides sadly, unless you are super tall. I was a short little girl, still am. I used to go on the snoopy roller coaster in the kids park. My dad and I would go on it, I loved the ride so much! I thought it was the scariest and best ride ever in the world. That is what 5 year old Sydney thought, I was a little crazy. I do miss this a lot.

As I had gotten older, we kept going. I went on the big kid rides with my sister and my dad. I was excited because I finally could ride with my sister and dad. One of my first roller coasters was the Top Thrill Dragster, it is like 400 ft tall and 120mph. The first time we were in line, I was like “No, I don’t want to ride this and please dad lets go on something else!” He said “Just ride it, you will love it and you will be an official big kid.” Well, I was saved by the bell. The ride broke down!!! How exciting! It was not running all day! The next year my sister, dad and I rode it all together, I was crying in the picture going up and coming down I was smiling! It was the best ride I have ever rode.

As I look back, I am truly glad that my dad forced us to ride coasters and not to be scared of anything. Looking back, I truly do miss being a little kid. I do miss all the Cedar Point and many other places we went trips.

The lessons that my Mom and Dad taught us are so important to me and I am so grateful for them. They taught me and my sister so many life lessons that we can use everyday. My moral is cherish your childhood and remember all the good times<3

The memories we make with our family is everything.
Candace Cameron Bure

Featured

Where do I stand with my life?

I’ve told you about me, my friends, family and much more. But honestly, I could talk about that for days and days. This is my life, goals and how you can better yourself.

I am a few weeks shy of turning 18 and I could not be happier and a little bit sad. I am finally going to be an adult but it comes with a lot of responsibility such as bills, college, and much more.

Speaking of college, I start college in August at Clarion University for Audiology and Speech Pathology. It is a four-year program and after I graduate with my degree, I plan to go to University of Pittsburgh to receive my Doctorates in Audiology.

When I go to college, I know that I am going to be homesick but I know that I will push through it because my goal is to stay busy so I do not think about it. This is the key thing in life, pushing through to succeed, to stay strong, and to better yourself.

2019 has been nothing but positive for me. I created a vision board with my family. I wake up everyday and talk to my mom, I look at my goals and say “I know that I am going to achieve these!” I absolutely love quotes and positive vibes. That is what my 2019 year is going to be full of. I plan to make my blog big and post at least one or twice a week. I want to make an impact on life and make people want to read my blog.

This photo is from New Years Eve with my family and I was excited for a new year because 2019 is the biggest year yet for our family with my sister and I going to college, graduating high school and finally doing what I love…writing about what I want to.

Look at this and think of the goals that you have this year. Comment and tell us your goals this year! If you have more than three, add them! If any of you guys want to talk about goal setting and goals, please feel free to message me via facebook or my email! 💕💕💕

These are some of my goals this year and I am thrilled to accomplish them this year!

The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.
Melody Beattie

P.S. Read last post called Mi Madre ❤

Featured

Mi Madre

As I have told you about many other people in my life, they are important people who have helped shape who I am. However the most important woman who has shaped me, taught me to be as strong as I am today, and taught me self-love. My Best Friend. My Momma. My mom touched each person’s life as they walked in her life.

Some of you know that my mom has been gone a year and 2 months. I have never had such a hard time understanding life until I lost one of life’s precious people. Losing a loved one can be difficult but losing the person who raised you, taught you everything and is your 24/7 therapist is hard for a young teen. I never experienced death that much. I lost my grandfather when I was young but I do not remember it. November 8th, 2017 changed my life. This date is never forgotten in my head. This date is engraved in my head.

**This is my science showcase in 2nd Grade ❤**

I was so lucky to grow up with a stay at home mom, she was able to be at everything for school and she was able to watch me grow up. She was the classroom mom, she always would come to school and bring me lunch and eat with me. For my birthday, my parents would bring cupcakes for all my classmates and we would celebrate my birthday. My classmates always say Mrs. Grannis and Mr. Grannis are the best. Mrs. Grannis is our class mom.

In high school, I took Spanish and my Spanish teacher said that I was top in the class. She awarded me an award for Spanish. I remember that my mom was so proud of me and making the biggest deal of it as she did with anything. This was my favorite thing about my momma. She made everything bigger than it was.

Grieving is not easy because going through something this hard at a young age, you have so many questions and you just want to hold and be with the person. My mom’s funeral was so busy, tons and tons of people came. My mom was such a baller when she was in high school. The stories that we were able to hear just made my heart full.

My family started going to Highmark Caring Place. Not only did this change my life, it changed my dad and sisters life. The people there understand truly what you are going through. They make it clear that kids do grieve.

I met the most amazing people in my life because we both understood each other. I was a broken flower and my group helped me become a blooming flower. I still go to this day with my family, we go every other week and we love going because the people that work and volunteer make us want to go back. Our groups make us want to go back.

I have grown into a strong, smart woman who never gives up and who pushes through everything because that is what my mom would say to do. Everything I do is for my mom and dad. They have pushed me to be the best that I can. They have pushed me to pursue my dreams even if it is going to be hard. As I say everything, my journey is with an angel following me everywhere I go and pushing me to do it. 💕💕💕💕

In loving memory of Susan A. Grannis 💕

The world is yours for the taking honey so take it sweetie.
-Susan Grannis

Xoxo, Sydney

Featured

The Final Year…..

As I write this, I am in my second nine weeks of my senior year and I am a little emotional. Senior year as been going by really quick. I truly can not believe that I am a senior. This year things changed big time for me by my family and my classes.

This was the first school year without my mom. I promise I will touch the subject with my mom when I am comfortable with it fully. Being that it was my senior year, it was more emotional because it is your last year and my mom was not there to cry as she would. I have been going to my dad with everything for school and it is weird. I am in such a routine with going to my mom for everything. As time goes on throughout the year, it has been getting easier and easier.

I have always taken the advance level of classes since ninth grade year. I have taken honors, advanced placement, and college classes. Believe me they have been hard but I like having the challenge behind it. The positive side of it is that I get a preview of college sort of. This year I am taking College Spanish 4 and College American Government and Politics. My government class has been very interesting but it is harder than I thought it would be. I do not have a lot of classes this year. I have about 6 classes I am taking but in second semester I will have a few more.

The whole college thing is there right now. I got accepted into Clarion University for audiology and speech pathology. MY DREAM! I am hearing impaired and that is where I get my passion from. I feel so far ahead like I am ready to graduate! I am sad that I will be leaving my family but I am close enough but far enough and I am okay with that. Choosing my college list was hard for me.

My college list was long but I was so nervous to apply to all of these schools. Well first, I had to take my SATS twice which sucked big time. I am such a bad test taker and I studied but not enough now that I think of it. I scheduled my ACTS which I take Dec 8th! Wish me luck guys! I look at college as the craziest thing. When I got my acceptance letter, I was literally bawling and my dad says “why are you crying and screaming?” I was like “I GOT ACCEPTED!!! OMG DAD!! READ THIS!! READ! IS THIS TRUE??”. I could not believe it one ounce!

I have so much positive vibes throughout this year because the “hard” stuff is out of the way. My mom always said to me that you do what YOU want to do. I always say that to myself and she wanted me to go to my top school for my dream major and I am doing this for her!

My advice today for all high school students and college students: DO what YOU want! You need to put in the effort to succeed. Do not be afraid to send in the applications and scores. Just do it because it will help you. Visit places that you would not consider because it is close or something. Look at a list of all colleges that have your major and apply to as many as you can.

Xoxo,

Sydney

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good for the great.”

–John D. Rockefeller

Featured

The Journey Begins

As I am typing this it is late at night, this is the time where I do most of my thinking. I just want to thank you in advance for taking the time to read my blog. I will tell you that I have had so many personal life experiences happen to me that I want to give advice to the people who may need it or for the people that need to hear what the reality is like. I want you to read this and relax. I typically do not read blogs because I always see the mom blogs but there are really not any teen or young adult blogs, so I want to start by making one. This blog is really for anyone but I will have stories and advice for the teens and please feel free to contact me if you need any advice or if you want me to touch on a subject for you.

Here’s a kickoff for us to get started! I am going to tell you 17 facts about me so you can get to know me a little! I chose 17 because that is how old I am lol!

I am currently a senior in high school and I love it!
I absolutely love pineapples! Do not ask me why, it is just a little obsession I have!
I am hearing impaired so I have hearing loss in both of my ears. I do wear hearing aids!
I am accepted into Clarion University for Audiology and Speech Pathology! My hearing loss is where I get my passion from to study audiology.
I have one older sister who is Lindsey and she is 25 years old! Little fact: She is my best friend!
I do have my driver’s license and my own car but I just realized just a few months ago, I am not in favor of driving all the time.
I am very close with my family and I love being close to them.
I am a very good student, I receive honors typically!
I am not a fan of books! Sorry!
I just started brush lettering and calligraphy!
I love makeup, just kinda started doing it like a year ago.
I have an obsession with shopping and spending all of my money!
I am in love with the beach! If I could be there everyday, I would!
I love the Pittsburgh Penguins! We are season ticket holders!
I do work but I honestly am not a fan of working while in school, sometimes it becomes stressful! I bet we can all relate am I right?
People say I am my dad’s twin, I am just like him! He is my bestie!
I love taking pictures because you have that moment forever! I have tons and tons of pictures through out my room. I current have 11,000 photos on my phone! That is why I do have any storage!

I plan on posting on here a few times a week. I will sometimes post day after day or every other day.

I will see ya next time!

Image result for a black heart

Xoxo,

Sydney

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu

post