SPECIAL EDITION OF THIS IS LIFE UNFILTERED: Vaping is killing young people across the world. Specifically, vaping with THC or CBD. @alexa_curtis is diving down into the nitty gritty of vaping to examine what is actually causing people to die and why you should be cautious about vaping/your children who may be vaping. Listen to this special episode of TILU with Dr. Irfan Rahman on all streaming platforms or below. #livelifeunfiltered
Being in the entertainment industry is so funny. You meet people who started YouTube channels and eventually got cast in a major movie, and you meet people who sang their entire life and are now popping up in every TV show. People certainly wear many hats in this industry.
I always wanted to be an actress when I was growing up. I remember making a resume for my acting career called “Alexa Curtis Is Going To Be Famous” and it was the silliest resume listing all of the plays and commercials I had ever been in. I loved acting and wanted to be involved in more in my middle school but the options were limited, especially since I wasn’t in a city like Manhattan. Everything seemed more geared towards singing and I couldn’t convince my parents to move to NY so I could apply to a school like LaGuardia Arts. I applied for scholarships across the globe to get accepted to acting camps so I could pursue acting there, but unfortunately many camps are quite expensive and never offered travel even if they gave you a scholarship.
I attended Atlantic Acting School in NY for a few summers in a row (I always got scholarships) and it was the place that I realized I loved to act. I landed a big role in The Crucible which is a pretty intense play to act in for someone my age (at the time I was under 16) but I fell in love with the craft. From Atlantic I went on to attend Stagedoor Manor where my mom was the nurse so I could attend for free, and that camp was where I made some of my closest friends. I went to Stagedoor with tons of kids’ of celebrities and people who had been cast in the biggest network shows and movies. It was a surreal experience. Though they focused heavily on music and less on acting, so I only went one season.
As I’ve ventured more into being on-screen and pursuing that side of my company, I’ve been realizing how a lot of what I do is act. I’m memorizing lines for interviews, I’m coming up with ideas for videos or I was when I was producing Fearless Everyday and I’m also going on TV with certain lines I have to say. So I took the leap this week and signed up for a prestigious acting course in LA that my manager suggested I take. I’m nervous but excited. I had an incredible year being on radio, but I never really expected myself to stay on radio for longer than 1-2 years. I thrive when I’m in front of the camera and that’s where I feel most comfortable, which I knew when I first was offered my first big show. You have to view everything you say yes to as a stepping stone to your long-term goal and that’s what I’m doing!
#FearlessFridays
Going back to school can be hard. You’ve just had an amazing summer where you got to spend your entire day outside enjoying the sunshine and living your best life! Now, you have to go back to spending the majority of your day in a space with people you may not enjoy being around, and a teacher lecturing to you about a topic you don’t find that interesting. It’s hard, and I remember when I had to go through this. It wasn’t fun and I often had a hard time adjusting. I remember climbing back into my shell when school started. I rarely spoke to anyone outside of class, and I barely spoke in class. I felt alone, and tormented by leaving my house before sunrise and coming home after sunset.
S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder) is real, and it can be hard to deal with.
I am here to tell you that it gets better. While it may be hard to make friends at first, there will always be like minded people in school with you, and you will gravitate towards them. After a few weeks you will have a group of close friends you enjoy being around. Together, with each others support you will be able to fight through the storm that are the first few weeks of school. Soon enough, you and your friends will be exploring the campus and making all kinds of discoveries.
One discovery you are going to make is your spot. Your spot is the spot on campus where you can go hang out hidden from the prying eyes of teachers, and unwanted guests. Your spot can be a staircase, an unused classroom, or even a table in the dining hall. In this space you will be able to vent freely, play the kind of games you want to play, and be able to relax. Once you find this spot, your days at school will get much easier. A great thing to pair with your spot of relaxation could be your new book or a simple two dollar deck of cards.
When I went to school, the person with a deck of cards was always queen of the free period. The other kids would flock to them and we would play games like President and Penutbutter. The competition is a great way to let out frustrations and destress. The coolest part about card games was that all were welcome, and I never felt like I didn’t belong! It’s a great way to bond with people in your class and for you to make new friends.
Going back to school is hard, and none of us want our summer to end, but it is inevitable. It does get easier, and in the future, you will miss the days of your life when homework is your biggest concern. Enjoy the time you have with your friends and teachers in school, you have it now and you’ll never get it back. So live it with a big smile and don’t look back.
A few weeks ago I was asked to appear on The Rhode Show in Providence, RI to talk about helicopter parenting! If you’re not familiar with helicopter parenting, it’s when the parent becomes too involved in the life/lives of their child. When that occurs, the child ends up rebelling and partaking in activities that aren’t the best for them. The reason that happens is because when your parent/ close guardian involves themselves into your personal life, you end up feeling uncomfortable and “watched”. You don’t have the freedom to learn and grow from your mistakes if someone is following, commenting and embarrassing you on everything you post on social media!
I won’t give the full segment away…so watch it above to hear my advice for how to avoid being that helicopter parent this back to school season!
Fearless followers, it’s September and school is back in session! With school comes the anxiety of keeping your social media pages up to date with the latest trends, viral videos, and challenges. Have no fear because I am here to help you navigate the digital world with a quick list of what to do and not do for your school season when it comes to social media.
I want to remind everyone that social media is a public forum. What you post will remain online for the rest of your life. It is only a reflection of a part of your personality, so you should always put your best foot forward. For my first do of this list, always proofread your post. Since what you share with the world will be there for a long time, make sure to show people you are well spoken. Even if you delete a post, someone could still have screenshot or captured the post. Including a potential employer! It looks good when your post is easy to read, and your point comes across clearly.
Secondly, you never know who is looking at your feed. I was going through a college feed the other day and saw a few pictures of students who actually posted themselves with alcohol on their feed and tagged the school. Personally, I wouldn’t suggest anyone do that. It could be your crush, an employer, or a long lost relative who is looking at your profile. So, don’t post anything your mother wouldn’t approve of. Before you post something, take an extra few seconds and ask yourself if you’d like your boss to view this. If the answer is no, don’t post it. Whether it’s your opinion, the latest meme, or a vacation photo, if your mother or boss wouldn’t want to see such a thing, keep it to yourself and share it with your friends IRL!
We know social media is a virtual reflection of the outside world, and the outside world is full of scary and hurtful things. The benefit of social media is that you can customize your page to only show you the things you want to see. So, before you follow a page or join a community, be sure that what you are about to follow brings you joy in life. Social media is an escape from reality. If you love puppies, find a group that’s about puppies and join. If you notice someone is posting creepy or hurtful things, you have to power to unfollow them, and you should. No one needs that kind of negativity in their life.
Speaking of negativity, we’ve been scrolling through our newsfeed only to see our streak of memes be interrupted, by an aggressive essay like post of someone shouting their political opinion into the social media. Don’t be that person. Social media is not a political forum. Secondly, you don’t know who you are going to offend, so it’s best just to stay away from those topics on social media. I try and voice my opinion when it comes to politics more IRL than online. They will only cause unproductive fights in the comments section. If you want to discuss politics, the classroom is a much more acceptable and productive setting.
Moral of the story, you should be liking your friends posts and tagging them in things you find funny. Social media is a great place to tell jokes and keep up with old friends. So, for my final Do, never stop being social, engage with your friends, and use it to share and make new memories.
The first day of school can be scary, but it’s also the first time you are seeing your friends in person after a long summer vacation. Don’t let the hoopla of social media distract you from the people around you. When you are on social media, remember these tips. Always proofread your post, don’t post anything you wouldn’t want mom to see and only follow things that make you happy. Have a wonderful semester!
Shot by Tina Shoots in Hartford, Connecticut
I’m always talking about how important it is to realize that you are your brand. Before you stop reading this article because you think I’m only talking about entrepreneur’s, hold on a second. I’m not talking only about business owners, I’m talking about everyone. Yep, that means you too. You don’t have to own a business to take yourself seriously. When you’re a consumer brand, you’re always selling something. You may have a cheese company and you’re selling cheese to make people happy who enjoy eating cheese. Or you may sell socks because socks keep people’s feet warm…but what about if you’re looking for a new job opportunity? You will be bringing something to the company as an employee just like you would be bringing to the consumer who is buying your socks.
I recently got new headshots taken with a photographer in CT (who I adore!) because I’ve had the same headshots for almost 2 years now that I got taken in LA. I’ve matured as a person AND a brand, and I’ve used the same 6 pictures for so many press opportunities and places. Since I consider myself the brand behind my company, it’s important for me to always live by what I stand for. During the Be Fearless Summit at Drexel, I had a photographer taking headshots free of charge because I know how important having a headshot is. You can use these type of pictures for social media, your LinkedIn and your business card! Start thinking of yourself and what you can offer someone or the company you want to work for (until you’re at the top!) and I promise you’ll have a new perspective on your purpose and what you want to do.
All views are my own. I am a Democrat and I stand by my personal views but that doesn’t mean you have to agree with me. I advise you to think about future generations and which President will make the best decisions going forward. If you’re a Democrat like me, here’s some helpful pointers.
November 2020 is not here YET but the Democratic debate happened a few weeks ago. I watched both nights and made my own opinion on who I think should win. As long as Trump doesn’t stay in office (can you believe this is even a potential option?) I’m happy. I’m nervous if not enough people vote that he has a pretty high chance of staying in office and that’s why I want all of you to start researching and thinking about who you might vote for. This is an important election and you don’t have to spend hours researching candidates to decide to AT LEAST vote!
Kamala Harris vs. Joe Biden:
Kamala Harris grew up in California and Joe Biden grew up in Pennsylvania and then Delaware. Biden has a bit of an edgier side to him that the public has seen (including what happened to Anita Hill, the reason my mom decided not to vote for Biden in 2020) Kamala Harris has kept a cleaner track record. I won’t go into detail on Anita Hill, but I encourage you to research on your own. As the former VP, Joe Biden has been through the rounds of everything relating to politics. He knows what it means to be in office. He also maintains that he is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump. That’s up for debate depending on who in the party you are going to vote for!
Kamala has always been involved with politics and was a longtime prosecutor before entering the race. She has fought for abortion rights (I believe strongly in a women’s right to choose) and equal pay. If you’re a women, you may be able to associate closely with Harris’ viewpoints. Since she’s the first African American and Asian woman to run, Kamala speaks about racial injustice. However, since I’m familiar with the justice system and how corrupt it can be, I’m biased when it comes to discussing prosecutors. Harris wants to close the pay gap between prosecutors and public defenders which I stand by. I wouldn’t mind having a female in office FINALLY!
There are many other candidates out there who may take your vote over these two! Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker are just as strong as the two I discuss above. Comment below who you are thinking about voting for and why you want to vote next year.
Sara Happ starting making lip balm in her kitchen when she was 25. While working at ESPN in CT, Sara flew out to LA to try and sell her lip balm. Each boutique eagerly bout Sara Happ products in bulk. Loved by Goop and more…When I sat down with I could think of one word throughout our interview: resilient. You see, she was willing to knock down doors & use almost all of her savings to bring a product to market that had never been done before. Now THAT is what defines an entrepreneur.
I’ve never been a person who was into comics. I’d rather read a story about something happening to someone in text, not in pictures. Last week I officially hired someone new onto my team (YAY!) to help with my Be Fearless Summit and podcast strategy, and during our meeting he suggested I look more into comics. I’m always interested by new avenues that young people are paying attention to, and when I started researching more about comics I came across Loryn Brantz. She’s worked on art production at Sesame Street, and both of her books have become best sellers. Though she’s not a mom (from what I know…) Loryn’s captivating books have interest and love from top authors like Roxanne Gay, who claim that her first book is a perfect read for kids and adults alike.
If you’re looking to introduce your child to feminism and girl power, Loryn’s books are the ones you’ve been looking for! Buy them here.
Thank you for your empowering work and for never letting the magic behind comic books disappear!
More often than not, you have to work a “stable” 9-5 job to be able to afford to run your side hustle all the time. Whenever I present at a college or speak to eager high school students who are looking to start their own companies, they all want to jump right to being uber successful but don’t realize there are steps to follow to get to that level! Don’t rush the journey.
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There is no shame in having to work a corporate job (ever) but definitely there is no shame in having to do two things at once to reach your end goal.
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@janine_delaney stopped by @tilupodcast today to talk with me about finding online fame a little later on in life 😉 and why she’s never been ashamed to work two jobs to be able to pursue entrepreneurship full-time. Listen now on all podcast streaming platforms 🎙 #livelifeunfiltered
