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I THINK, THEREFORE I BLOG. THOUGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY MY OWN.
So You Want to Get a Ph.D.? Word on the street is you want to get a Ph.D.? I mean, that’s why you’re here, right? Or maybe you’re just a little intrigued or motivated by my journey. Either way, welcome! Glad to have you! If you’re thinking about a Ph.D. CONGRATULATIONS! It takes a lot to wrap your mind around the idea of getting a terminal degree of any kind. The first step to achieving the goal is to make a conscious decision to seek it. Step one complete! Now, I’m not an expert in all fields, but I know a little something-something about the Ph.D. journey. I wrote a list of five quick tips for the process. They may seem small now, but they are what helped me transition from Arianna C. Stokes, M.Ed. to Arianna C. Stokes, Ph.D. Purrrr.
Getting any type of terminal degree is not a race. They didn’t stop conferring degrees after they made the first one. There is room for you. There is time for you. Trust the process. If necessary, I’ll be here.
Good luck and God bless!
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You know how rappers drop a mixtape and the world goes crazy? Let's just say "I feel like I'm Gucci Mane in 2006!". This blog is about the amazing team of creatives that joined me in cultivating my vision for my grad shoot. I want to showcase the amazing skills and artistry of these black women and men who made me feel like the hottest artist out. This process lasted MONTHS - we started in May of 2020 to be exact - and the experience will forever be unforgettable. Now let's get to the good stuff! The Stylist @tobekeir on IG I started looking for a stylist in May 2020. I originally wanted my grad pictures to debut when my degree was conferred, August 3, 2020, but after connecting with Keir, that completely changed. She's the bomb! Not only is Keir a complete joy to be around, but her eye for fashion from head to toe is impeccable. We discussed pieces I already had, budgets, looks, feelings, locations, I mean EVERYTHING! What was most important is that she understood I wanted to tell a story. I wanted these pictures to have meaning and not just be me posing in outfits. The items that were chosen for me were very intentional and I appreciated having a stylist who saw my vision and shared it with me. We decided that I should wear a suit. My blue wide leg pant suit was from Fashion freakin Nova! I bought it over a year ago to wear for class, and I ended up just putting it on ice. The suit was symbolic of who I am now at 27 with a Ph.D. An executive - powerful - a woman. We later discussed me never having any graduation pictures where I was wearing school paraphernalia. I didn't want to just go to the bookstore and grab a shirt, so we brainstormed and looked at vintage concepts for a sweatshirt design. Lastly, I told Keir looking snatched was important, and my girl delivered! She found a bunch of dresses and shared with me ideas about how to pair them. The white dress I ultimately wore was from House of CB and photographed so well! SHOOT DAY! Do ya'll know this girl DROVE TO JACKSN FOR MY SHOOT! Completely in awe - STILL! The energy was through the roof. Keir is super talented. Check out her work and get styled! The Photographer @koolwill on IG Will is no stranger to me. We met through work totally unrelated to photography. Back when I was in the classroom, he subbed sometimes and whenever he would be in the building we'd chat and we clicked immediately. He told me back in 2019 that when it was time for me to graduate that I needed to hit him up and that was all that needed to be said! The photography process started around May or June. We did a mood board and we talked about how I wanted to look. I kept telling him I wanted to look milky lol. He brought out all the whistles to make sure my vision came to life. I remember a meeting we had and Will said "We gon' eat the girls" AND WE ATE!! I told him I hadn't taken studio pictures before and we discussed what looks would look best in what location and symmetry and other aesthetics. He truly made me feel like a model in front of the lens. He knows his craft and he does it well. From lighting to posing and positioning, he was a great coach behind the lens and the chemistry between the three of us - me, Will, and Keir - was completely unmatched! Hair - Makeup - Nails Hair: I went back and forth about hairstyles. Initially, I wanted a different hairstyle for every look - EXTRA. I had neither the time nor the patience for that process though. Ultimately, I decided on a bob with the help of my stylist and photographer. Chasity snapped on my hair. Book her! @AdonisWorld on IG. Makeup: I had no idea how I wanted my makeup for real. I was thinking old Hollywood, then I wanted "barely there".. a red lip. I was all over the place. On the day of my appointment, I told Amaris to give me something soft but that I needed my little eyes to pop. Let's just say I looked milky and dreamy! Book her! @Mua_GlamByAm on IG. Nails: Rissa is my permanent nail girl! Period. I started going to her around August 2020 and she went crazy on my birthday nails. I knew then she'd be doing my nails for my grad shoot. I told her I wanted them to look icy gave her a color, and she took care of the rest. I'm typing with a fresh set she did. Never disappoints. Book her! @RissaDidEm on IG. SPECIAL TOUCHES The Sweatshirt In the process of creating a look, a vision, and a representation of myself, I wanted something custom. I wanted an original piece of clothing that would fall into my "This is Me" kinda look. I stressed the importance of a vintage JSU concept and integrating red into the design. Most importantly, I wanted it to be unique - it couldn't have been seen on anyone or anything else. I found a FAMU designer @innatelab on IG and loved a concept she created. My designer revamped it for me with JSU in mind. Check out the final product below. Featured Designers |
AuthorI write. I blog. I research. I read. Thoughts are obviously my own. <3 Archives
May 2024
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