Best known for her role as ‘Buttercup’ on Nickelodeon’s series “Knight Squad” the now 21-year-old star solidified her mark in the industry when Kenny Ortega’s “Julie and the Phantoms” dropped on Netflix in the summer of 2020. With a huge following of over 1.4 million across social media, Savannah Lee May has become an inspiration for young adults all over the world. “Showing up is half the battle, the other half is truly training and learning, and knowing exactly what you want to do ” Savannah used her platform to share some advice about success to her fans.
Earlier this April Savannah added her new movie A Cowgirl’s Songto her discography. Savannah recounts her experience on the set of A Cowgirl’s Song, “With A Cowgirl’s Song, that was the first time I was really able to sing the genre of music that introduced me to playing the guitar”.
This coming-of-age story about a young country singer resonated with Savannah. Growing up on the outskirts of Houston, you can imagine that country music holds a special place in Savannah’s heart. While Savannah’s grandfather was a country music singer, her parents’ favorite artists, such as ACDC, Michael Jackson and Eminem, helped Savannah’s playlists grow with a wide range of genres.
Savannah’s undeniable love for country music stemmed from her grandfather, who is battling Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a disorder of the central nervous system that eventually affects the movement of the body, often including tremors. Savannah unfolds her grandfather’s battle with Parkinson’s, “It started off minor but as time went on it’s taken over completely”. Savannah’s grandfather’s slow decline of motor skills took a toll on her family, “It’s something that’s really hard to see on someone that you grew up with, always cracking jokes, teaching me how to play the guitar and singing”. Despite her grandfather’s battle with Parkinson’s, Savannah assures that his heart is still as healthy as an OX.
Savannah’s family has always been supportive of her career, and we can’t wait to watch her career grow right along with them.
On Saturday, the Why Not You Foundation (WNYF) and College Success Foundation (CSF) hosted an unforgettable evening to celebrate scholars, demonstrate the impact of education, and ensure students have the support, mentoring and services necessary to achieve their dreams. The Dream Big: Anything Is Possible event brought together an intimate group of thought leaders from the Seattle community to connect and discuss topics ranging from the challenges underserved students experience to the future of education. The event took place at The Boathouse on the shores of Lake Union and was hosted by WNYF’s Russell Wilson and Ciara and presented by HomeStreet Bank. Funds raised at the event will benefit the Why Not You Academy and College Success Foundation college-access and success programs.
The Dream Big: Anything is Possible initiative was created by the Why Not You Foundation in 2018 as a platform to inspire and drive change for youth in Washington’s diverse communities. Since its launch, the initiative has engaged and supported hundreds of students with programs and scholarships, and welcomed the first students to the Why Not You Academy.
“We were honored to co-host this special evening celebrating the Why Not You Foundation’s partnership with College Success Foundation and the transformative opportunities we’ve been able to provide to students together,” said WNYF’s co-founders Russell Wilson and Ciara. “It’s enduring partnerships like this that have enabled the WNYF to grow deep roots in the Seattle community which will continue to prosper and impact many more people for years to come. Seattle has a special place in our hearts and will forever be a place we call home.”
This ongoing partnership with College Success Foundation is just one example of WNYF’s sustained commitment to the Seattle community where it was founded in 2014. In just eight years they have helped raise over $10M for pediatric cancer research with Safeway Albertsons, opened the Why Not You Academy, a tuition-free charter school, and have inspired countless young people to realize their true potential and pursue their dreams. Alongside co-founders Russell Wilson and Ciara, the Why Not You Foundation will continue to work closely with its partners to strengthen the Seattle community and beyond.
“We are appreciative of Russell and Ciara’s dedication to supporting important education initiatives in Seattle,” said College Success Foundation’s President & CEO James Dorsey. “We prepare CSF Scholars with the academic, financial, social and emotional support they need to be successful in life, beginning in middle school and continuing through high school, college and beyond,” “We’re proud of the more than 11,600 CSF Scholars – and counting – who have graduated from college.”
Despite the extreme challenges facing underserved, low-income students, CSF educational attainment rates remain ahead of national benchmarks in all areas. To combat pandemic-created challenges, College Success Foundation is expanding this year to serve even more students in high school and college through the Rally for College initiative.
About Why Not You Foundation:
Founded in 2014, Russell Wilson and Ciara’s Why Not You Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty through education, empowering youth to lead with a why not you attitude. The foundation supports student access to equal education opportunities, children’s health and food security initiatives. Its mission is to equip today’s youth with the skills and opportunities to become tomorrow’s leaders. In Fall 2020, the foundation announced its first Why Not You Academy, a school that blends real-world applications with classroom learning. Learn more at www.whynotyoufdn.org.
About College Success Foundation:
College Success Foundation is a national nonprofit that provides a unique integrated system of supports and scholarships to inspire underserved, low-income students to finish high school, graduate from college and succeed in life. CSF serves students in public high schools and college campuses throughout Washington state and the District of Columbia. Learn more at collegesuccessfoundation.org.
Featured Photo: from left: Why Not You Foundation co-founder Russell Wilson, Why Not You Academy student Trinity, and Why Not You Foundation co-founder Ciara pose together at the Dream Big: Anything is Possible dinner on May 21, 2022 in Seattle. (Photo by Stephanie Cristalli)
World of Wonder announced RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 on April 13. Eight winners from seven seasons alongside of its spin-offs, have re-entered the workroom for an entirely new interval. It premieres Friday, May 20 on Paramount+. Let’s meet the queens of All Stars 7.
Jinkx Monsoon
Original Season: 5
Seattle’s oldest milf, Jinkx Monsoon, enters the competition as one of the most celebrated winners. She became widely known for her eccentricity and underdog narrative. Notable performances include: her hilarious portrayal of Little Edie in the Snatch Game (one of the greatest of all time), her lip sync with Detox and her Rupaul Roast. Although she excelled at comedy, many fans became baffled with her design and makeup techniques.
Yvie Oddly
Original Season: 11
Yvie Oddly possesses an ecletic drag appeal and choreography, but snatched the crown with their flare for fashion. While making an entrance, she wore an unflattering green dress and confused everyone. Although she didn’t win many challenges, her lip sync with Brooke Lynn Hytes season standout.
The Vivienne
Original Season: Rupaul’s Dra Race Uk Season 1
The Vivienne is notorious for her snatch game. The predecessor of UK spin-off. It was the first time contestants battled it out for cash prize. Her impersonation of Donald Trump will forever be etched in our memories largely due to judge Michelle Visage. Lastly, the torment which heavily sits on her braud shoulders hasn’t lifted, since broadcasting to an international audience is demanding.
Raja
Original Season: 3
Ten years has passed, since Raja graced the runway. This OG fashionista earned the crown and slayed the wig challenge with her Marie Antoinette look. One the episode wrapped, she began hosting YouTube series Fashion Photo Ruview in tandem with Season 2 contestant, Raven. And, the series became an overnight sensation!
Shea Coulee
Seasons: Season 9, All-Stars 5
Shea Coulee, with three wins in a row, almost captured the crown. However, Sasha Velour’s rose petal lip sync derailed her win streak. She excelled various challenges: comedy, runway, makeup skills and fashion–her nylon nude illusion made jaws drop. With a clear and obvious winner in sight, the audience grew uninterested.
Trinity the Tuck
Seasons: Season 9, All-Stars 4
Trinity the Tuck, the co-winner of All Stars 4, held the title for most controversial. She was brilliant in the body, looks and comedy categories. And, Caitlyn Jenner hit a homerun for variety show performance. However, controversy began to bubble under with rumors of her impersonating a black trans, ultimately damaging her chances.
Just prior to the start of season 12, Jaida Essence Hall, became a member of the cast. Celebrated both for her trade challenges and hilarious debate, her seeming unpredictability is what makes people gravitate in her direction.
Photo: (L-R) The Vivienne, Jinx Monsoon, Raja, Jaida Essence Hall, Shea Coulee, Monet X Change, Yvie Oddly and Trinity The Tuck attend as RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 & The Trevor Project light The Empire State Building on May 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for ViacomCBS/Paramount+)
Filipino-Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ylona Garcia reveals a more vulnerable playful side to her with the release of “Vibin” via PARADISE RISING/88rising Music. With a smooth and catchy hook, and a light, airy production matched with Ylona’s crisp vocals, the track is a perfect summertime slow jam.
“Vibin is a really special song to me,” Ylona said, “because it truly captures where I am artistically, and where I plan to go sonically. The track is about meeting someone new and not wanting to feel pressured to define the relationship – we’re just vibin and enjoying every moment as they come.”
“Vibin” follows the success of her hit single “Entertain Me,” which was featured in the wildly popular game Valorant’s launch trailer of new playable character Neon, reaching #1 Trending on YouTube and amassing over 8M views. The single currently has over 15M plays on Spotify alone.
At only 20 years old, Ylona Garcia has set her sights on the global landscape in the next stage of her creative journey. With multiple song releases under her belt already, in addition to appearing on two of the biggest reality/talent contests shows in the Philippines, Ylona Garcia has become one of the fastest-rising, most prominent young voices in the Filipino music community. She currently has over 4.2M followers on Instagram and nearly 1 million followers on TikTok in addition to over 714,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and 212,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel.
Ylona Garcia’s music is released by 88rising’s sister label PARADISE RISING, which was launched in 2020 to help bring Filipino music to the forefront of culture.
Founded in 2015, 88rising has long been a champion of Asian and Asian American talent, stories and culture. The company has gone from a leading record label to a transformative media company and is now the most recognized pan-Asian music company in the world and a leader in music, media and events celebrating Asian culture. 88rising was the first company to launch an Asian-centric music festival in the United States (Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival), the first to have an Asian R&B artist top the Billboard charts (Joji) and the first to launch an all-Asian, multi-genre music radio channel with SiriusXM in December 2020. The brand recently announced a first look deal with Sony Pictures TV in January which allows 88rising to continue their mission of creating stories that center around Asians and Asian Americans through the development of scripted series across all platforms for Sony Pictures TV.
100% Solar Powered Exclusive-Use Villas and Land Cruiser Electric Vehicles
Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. A sophisticated, innovative eco-luxe safari run entirely on solar power, Cheetah Plains provides guests with a personalized, and flexible experience giving you the option to plan your safari on your terms.
Perfect for an exclusive family vacation or a luxurious safari sojourn with friends, Cheetah Plains’ three private villas each accommodate a maximum of eight guests and boast award-winning architectural design and interiors that redefine convention by sensitively translating urban sophistication in the bush. The villas, Mapogo, Karula, and Mvula are named after famous wild cats that have been a significant part of the history of the area, and blend respectfully into the surrounding environment through their modern design and use of natural materials. The location and unique appointment of each is a respectful homage to their secluded, tranquil environment and each safari hideaway provides groups with a unique bushveld retreat unlike any other. Each villa boasts four stand-alone private guest suites and a shared living space that houses an entertaining lounge, living and dining room areas, expansive swimming pool with deck, outdoor boma for fireside dining, fine wine gallery, and fully equipped chef’s kitchen.
“Cheetah Plains indulges guests in a truly unique and personalized sustainable safari experience. The level of flexibility and privacy affords the opportunity for a truly memorable adventure for families and friends. From prime wildlife sightings from (almost) silent Land Cruiser electric game viewing vehicles
(that are Tesla battery-powered) to the incredible natural surroundings from the comfort of your designer villa to immersive gastronomical dining under the African skies. It’s simply unbeatable,” shares Peter Dros, Head of Sales and Marketing for Cheetah Plains.
Eco-Luxe Safari Experience: During a stay at Cheetah Plains each villa is provided with a dedicated hospitality team including an accomplished host, culinary team, lodge sommelier, spa therapist, and even childcare for the duration of their stay. Together, this talented group of professionals and your own dedicated guide and tracker, with a private safari, vehicle deliver a luxury experience of the highest standard and can create a tailored stay to accommodate individual preferences.
Activities during a visit also include guided bush walks, wellness offerings, a fitness gym, and ‘Cubs Club‘ for kids. Each villa provides a platform to showcase Africa’s artistic talent, not unlike a contemporary gallery space, and has been personally and passionately curated by Cheetah Plains owner, Japie van Niekerk. Pieces by acclaimed masters are thoughtfully placed alongside current and emerging talent. Brunch in the bush after a morning game drive includes fresh locally sourced produce. Wine tastings from the 300 bottle wine cellar in each villa and meals are carefully prepared and offered fireside and under the stars, as well as, in the comfort of each villa.
A Commitment to Sustainability: Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for a zero-emission, sustainable 4×4 luxury safari experience traversing over 20,200+ acres, led by a highly skilled guiding team. Taking a singular approach to sustainability, within their footprint on the Sabi Sand, Cheetah Plains delivers a next-level eco-safari. They have partnered with some of the world’s pre-eminent minds in the renewable energy field to provide clean energy solutions that drive both their hospitality and safari experiences.
The Cheetah Plains experience is ‘off the grid’, harnessing the power of solar to provide a reliable, renewable energy source. Meanwhile, their twice-daily game drives are taken in innovative Toyota Land Cruiser Electric Safari Vehicles powered by Tesla batteries. This bold advance toward zero-emission game viewing is what drives the sustainable safari experience at Cheetah Plains. The quiet, smooth gait of the Land Cruiser Electric Vehicles deliver the highest quality wildlife sightings and include eight comfortable bucket seats, individually set at the optimal recline of 11 degrees, USB ports, and heated seats. Their unobtrusive nature facilitates the most silent approach by vehicle, resulting in an unparalleled safari experience. Onboard, bird books, binoculars, and a professional level camera fitted with a telephoto lens are provided for guests’ enjoyment while out on a game drive.
Bush Walks: For the most captivating safari experience, guests are invited to embark on guided, interpretive bush walks. Accompanied by certified and experienced walking-trail field guides, the opportunity to explore parts of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve on foot is one not to be missed. There is no more tangible way than this to surround yourself with nature where visitors will surely find that a profound appreciation of one’s place within the ecosystem is deeply felt. The duration of walks are easily customized to guest requirements, taking the number of guests, fitness levels, ages, weather conditions, and the preferred game drive schedules into account.
Kids on Safari: Cheetah Plains welcomes families and children of all ages. Highly qualified, relatable field guides and trackers are eager to share their bush lore with young, inquisitive minds. Bush bumbles (game drives of age-appropriate duration) and interpretive walks in their indigenous gardens facilitate a child’s connection with Africa’s wilderness and love of nature. Other kid-friendly activities include baking, arts and crafts, tracking and shooting targets with pellet guns. The villas have child-friendly features such as interconnecting suites and entertainment lounges with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a selection of games, and Netflix. The lodge also provides reliable childcare onsite for when parents are away on safari.
Wellness: The restorative quality of your safari is luxuriously enhanced by personal pampering. Guests are invited to enjoy a selection of massage therapies and beauty treatments in the privacy and comfort of your private guest suite. With Africology as the wellness amenity brand partner, a spa therapist expertly imparts the healing, restorative properties of select African botanicals, offering guests a remedying, calming wellness experience.
Sporting beautiful views out over our rolling lawns and the Tamboti grove beyond, the climate-controlled gym is outfitted with a variety of high-quality, professional fitness equipment in partnership with Technogym. A short stroll from your villa and private suite, the communal-use gym facility at Cheetah Plains is a tranquil environment for weight training sessions, cardio work-outs or yoga, stretching, and core training.
Cheetah Plains is conveniently accessible by a 1.5-hour flight from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport on a commercial or private charter with a 20-minute private vehicle transfer from the Arathusa airstrip to your villa. A safari at Cheetah Plains is best paired with Cape Town, the Cape Winelands, Kruger National Park, and Victoria Falls. Daily scheduled flights are available on Federal Air from Johannesburg to Arathusa and on Airlink from Johannesburg and Cape Town to KMIA and Skukuza. Charter jets can be arranged by Cheetah Plains to Arathusa, or helicopter transfers directly to its private helipad. Rates begin at $2,000 per person per day, all-inclusive, based on four adults with a 2-night minimum and $1,550 per additional guest, or $770 per child 3-12 years of age, or $150 under three years of age. Reservations can be made online HERE.
About Cheetah Plains:
Opened in 2018, Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. The eco-luxe experience includes three private villas with four guest bush suites that accommodate up to eight guests each with its own formal lounge, living and dining areas, expansive swimming pool, and outdoor deck that operates off-grid. Each villa comes with a complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, culinary team, and spa therapist, as well as an expert field guide and tracker dedicated to you for the duration of your stay. Families and children of all ages are welcome to experience their own personalized safari, guided bush walks, wellness offerings, fitness gym, and ‘Cubs Club‘ for kids. Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for zero-emission game-viewing utilizing its own fleet of solar-charged Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicles. A luxury sustainable safari that is beyond expectations.
Furthering an ever-evolving narrative, the House presents Gucci Blondie – a line of handbags that draws inspiration from an archival style defined by a rounded rendition of the signature Interlocking G, as seen in patent documents from 1971. The emblem takes center stage on the collection’s distinctive silhouette, as Alessandro Michele continues to traverse time, gently drawing out the threads of storylines waiting patiently to be found and given a new voice.
The Gucci Blondie, which first debuted within the Love Parade fashion show in Los Angeles, reflects the Creative Director’s ability to effortlessly bridge eras through his creations. This temporal resilience is reflective of an essence that is both chameleonic and charismatic, a combination that allows the line, like many others of the House, to remain contemporary, no matter the year. The modern-day iteration is a stylistic progression of the original, infused with striking details that speak to a free-spirited and independent persona.
The Gucci Blondie offering spans sizes, silhouettes, and details, from a versatile messenger that can be worn on the shoulder or across the body with the included Web or leather straps, to a smaller day-to-night style whose included chain strap can be tucked inside to transform it into a clutch. A miniature version, also featuring interchangeable and adjustable leather and Web straps, rounds out the selection. Designs are available in leather, suede, and GG canvas, with a varied palette for both the bags and the Web straps.
The Gucci Blondie is presented through a new campaign, envisioned as a love letter to New York, as a cast of characters are captured against the backdrop of some of the city’s most celebrated landmarks. Reportage-style shots evocative of an analog age are filled with candor and spontaneity, portraying impromptu moments of heritage in motion and dynamically converging past, present, and future in every frame.
Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury fashion brands. As the House marks its 100th Anniversary under the Creative Direction of Alessandro Michele, with Marco Bizzarri as President and Chief Executive, Gucci moves forward into the coming decades with an ongoing commitment to redefining luxury, while celebrating the creativity, innovation, and Italian craftsmanship at the core of its values.
Gucci is part of the global luxury group Kering, which manages the development of a series of renowned Maisons in fashion, leather goods, jewelry, and watches.
K-pop stage-breakers SEVENTEEN are back with their 4th studio album Face the Sun.
Arriving 2 years and 8 months after their last full-length album, Face the Sun taps into the 13-piece act’s candid ruminations on their fears and aspirations in reaching for greater heights.
By likening their greatest fear and simultaneously their ultimate goal to the ‘Sun,’ SEVENTEEN boldly express their determination to venture forth through the lead single “HOT.” The accompanying video for the hip-hop based track is packed with intricate motifs and snippets of the song’s riveting choreography, raising anticipation for the high-caliber performances of the track to come.
Including “HOT” and the act’s first English single “Darl+ing” released in April, the new album consists of 9 tracks in total: “DON QUIXOTE,” “March,” “Domino,” “Shadow,” “‘bout you,” “IF you leave me” and “Ash.” As one of the team’s main producers and the leader of its vocal team, WOOZI co-wrote all 9 tracks.
Face the Sun set an all-time high pre-order sales record for SEVENTEEN early on, surpassing the 2 million mark a week ahead of its release.
The K-pop performance powerhouse will showcase live performances of selected tracks from the album during their comeback show on HYBE Labels’ official YouTube channel at 7 PM KST on May 28.
About SEVENTEEN:
Racking up 2 billion streams and selling 10 million albums, SEVENTEEN—comprised of S.COUPS, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUN, HOSHI, WONWOO, WOOZI, THE 8, MINGYU, DK, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON and DINO—has rocketed to the forefront of the music scene fueled by a fiercely independent spirit and a nonpareil in-house creative ecosystem. The group’s innovative structure hinges on the interplay of three units: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. Living up to the title of “K-pop Stage-breakers,” SEVENTEEN has unassumingly made history and become one of the biggest groups ever due to their world-class synchronization, jaw-dropping choreography, and tight teamwork. Moving at an unparalleled pace, the K-pop stage-breakers made their U.S. television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden in January 2021 and followed it with unforgettable performances on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and MTV’s Fresh Out Live. SEVENTEEN’s latest EP Attacca debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and No. 13 on the Billboard 200. It sold over 1.3 million copies in the first week of release, earning the K-pop superstars the “quintuple million seller” title as it joins their last four consecutive releases—An Ode, Heng:garæ and ; [Semicolon], Your Choice—in selling over 1 million copies each.
From time to time, one comes across a galaxy of new talents. NSB is the acronym for North Star Boys. The name for the group derives from the essence of The North Star, known as the anchor of the northern sky. Those who follow it often find new direction, leading to a certain destination.
Since ancient times, many Asians have followed the North Star as it represents both a beacon of inspiration and hope for the future. Thus, Oliver Moy and Sebastian Moy commend the advice of their mother. Mama Moy encouraged them to follow their ‘North Star;’ and she was convinced it would lead them to their dreams. Oliver maintains that, “I always wanted to be an inspiration and a voice for other Asian Americans, so I thought it was a perfect idea to call us the guys from North Star.”
Conjured by the Moy brothers, NSB is the first Asian American mixed media septet. The group consists of seven cronies: the Moy brothers, Ryan Nguyen, Regie Macalino, Kane Ratan, Darren Liang and Justin Phan. Furthermore, upon meeting Tyler Bray, at an industry mixer, he immediately witnessed potential and signed them to his management company. After all, they became an overnight internet sensation adored by millions.
Oliver wrote and produced the highly anticipated debut single, you are my star. This song is a hit! Approximately composed in 30 minutes, he recalls, “It was quite easy to write about how I feel at this point in my life, so after putting it together I went straight to recording on a computer.” Upon its release, it achieved instant success after being marketed by HitCo Entertainment–an imprint co-founded by L.A. Reid and Charles Goldstuck. The label’s immediate directives: artist development, innovativeness and multi-platform content creation. Lastly, HitCo possesses an impressive roster: Big Boi (Outkast), Dinah Jane (Fifth Harmony), Dixie D’Amelio as well as French Montana.
Soon after their inauguration (August 2021), they quickly achieved notoriety–largely attributed to their charisma, content fabrication and fan engagement.
Six months later, they far exceeded expectations and attained millions of followers across various social platforms: TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
During their 360 chat, NSB acknowledges Tyler as an extremely successful enterpriser. Subsequent to being saluted by Forbes 30 Under 30, Tyler wanted to formulate a collective of like-minded individuals whose sole directive is to “inspire and be the Asian representation in the media that they did not see growing up.”
Holding firm to their convictions, NSB hosted their inaugural meet and greet in Times Square for their devoted fans, affectionately referred to as Stars. “We had a great impact, because we expected 200 people to come and more than 1,500 came,” they tell us.
Behind the album release, NSB plans to embark on a major city concert series in The Big Apple, Chicago, Dallas as well as a world tour that kicks off in the Philippines.
Skill alone does not make you impactful at work, school, or life as a whole. You need qualities that will help you inspire and impress others and fulfill your role to the best of your ability. One such quality is professionalism.
Professionalism definition is consistently achieving visible and invisible high standards regardless of the role or profession. In other words, it is how you accomplish a task and not just about the task you do. It is about your approach to a role and not how prestigious the position is. Professionalism means you hold yourself accountable to maintain a high standard in assigned tasks.
In our world today, the way you work, complete assignments, carry yourself, and the attitude you communicate to others create an impression. Although many of us would want to think we are professionals, bridging the gap between our personal and professional values is not the easiest. In this article, we will discuss how to be a professional in every sphere in our life.
How professionalism influences learning
Imagine you come to class late and turn in an essay assignment on the last day of submission as a student. But somehow, you always end up with one of the best scores. Are you brilliant? Yes. Are you professional? No.
Professionalism in school is not a checklist of things you want to achieve. Say, for example, get the highest grade. Instead, the concept is a way of living that cuts across your communication, appearance, manner, approaches, skills, approach, and willingness to improve.
Professionalism requires that you identify the importance of your role and what you must do. This way, you can act in the most acceptable way. Imagine you need to turn in a 100 points paper sample to demonstrate your level of comprehension in the classroom. The best way to reach professionalism papers is to submit the assignment on time and ensure it does not contain any form of plagiarism, cheating, and academic dishonesty.
The punishment for cheating or plagiarism varies in severity depending on the rules of the college. So, you should do your best to check your written work for grammatical errors, typos, and related mistakes. Then, you will package it in the best possible way and submit it to your lecturer. A student with this type of consciousness knows there is no room for late submission or a mediocre mentality. Here are ways you can mark yourself as a professional.
● Display competence: match your abilities with the requirement of any role to produce exceptional results.
● Update your knowledge: Strive for mastery in your field by always adding to what you know. Even if you won’t need it, the confidence from your knowledge will ultimately help you succeed.
● Stay conscious: set high standards for yourself to show that you care about your education. Also, hold yourself accountable for your actions and words.
● Show integrity: don’t compromise your value as a student when things get tough. Instead, show that you are true to your word so that everyone can see you as genuine. Honesty will align your belief and your behavior.
● Respect everyone: professionalism is not trying to impress anyone. Distinguish yourself as a role model with good manners by taking the needs of others into account.
Why professionalism at work
There are only a few things that employers value more than employees who display professionalism while they fulfill their duties. You will come off as reliable and credible. Professionalism is performed in a context. That means it requires you to identify what is vital and necessary for each role.
In organizations, you will work with people with different levels of knowledge, personalities, and background. Also, there will be levels of hierarchy and status. Therefore, a professional must see himself and his role in the contexts of organization, department, and team. This means you must respect the organization’s hierarchy and structure.
A professional obeys codes of conduct, policies, and ethics when at work. However, you must ask for clarifications, especially in places that contrast your personal values. More importantly, you must always pay attention to detail, commit to upholding agreed values and practices and show respect. Below are how to be a professional in every sphere in our life
Values
Again, professionalism is about how you do the work and not about the work. So, you don’t do things because you are told to do. The best way to get results at an organizational level is to let your professional values mix with intrinsic motivations. They include:
● Sincerity, patience, honesty, integrity
● Equality, respect, trust, discretion, and justice.
● Hard work, balance, dedication, commitment, and perseverance.
Willingness
You must be willing to perform a task at the highest standard. For effectiveness, you should be open to learning and developing in a particular role. After gaining mastery, you must present yourself as confident without being arrogant. A professional is open to constructive criticism so that he can learn from his mistakes. Not only your mistakes, but you should learn from others as well.
Professionalism is the willingness to do a bit extra by taking creative initiative. You should also display a willingness to see from different perspectives to yours and accept feedback to improve. Ask for help and listen to the advice. Also, learn to work individually and as a team.
Behavior
As a professional, you must set boundaries through your conduct and behavior. This means keeping your personal problems out of your work life. Also, you must be able to calmly make decisions and deal with problems. Unlike others and how they are behaving, a professional must maintain professional standards. Stay flexible, versatile, and collaborate with others rather than compete to show yourself a worthy professional.
Conclusion
The importance of professionalism at every stage of our life embodies a commitment to continual development. Therefore, you must seek to improve your competence and knowledge to gain a deeper insight into how things work around you. An awareness and acceptance of your weaknesses and strengths will help you grow and evolve into any role.
Multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter/dancer Tate McRae releases her highly anticipated debut album i used to think i could fly today via RCA Records (Listen here).
The album will be released on May 27 via RCA Records and showcases Tate at the top of her game. The album features All-Star writing collaborators and producers including Greg Kurstin, Finneas, Charlie Puth, Alexander 23, Blake Slatkin, Louis Bell and more. The album will feature already released tracks “feel like shit,” “she’s all i wanna be,” “chaotic,” “what would you do?” and more. “she’s all i wanna be” has over 230 million streams and is currently in the Top 12 on the Top 40 chart.
Last week, Tate teamed up with Sony Electronics for an album launch event in conjunction with the arrival of their new LinkBuds S headphones. The event kicked off with Tate performing on a private jet followed by a livestream concert via Amazon Music with Z100 and Instagram joining the festivities. Just yesterday, Tate was revealed as the most recent digital cover for UPROXX Magazine as well as appeared on Billboard Magazine’s 21 Under 21 list for the second consecutive year.
Tate just wrapped her 2022 North American Tour and is currently headlining dates in the EU with dates in the UK and Australia later this summer. Starting in September, Tate will tour as the special guest on Shawn Mendes’ Wonder: The World Tour 2022. For more information, please visit www.tatemcrae.com/tour.
