The Bridge to Bliss

I just want a ticket outta town A look around And a safe touch down --- Major key: holding yourself accountable is a crucial tenet of healing. - Click here to Tweet. Now, I get it. We do live inside our bodies, and so it's much easier to analyze where Sam can improve and what Sally did wrong. But sometimes (actually, more than sometimes), we need to step outside of ourselves and see how Sierra needs to check herself. It isn't easy. In fact, it's actually pretty freakin' hard. No one wants to see how they've been toxic or hurtful to others. No one (should) ever want to be that person. But the reality of everything is that everyone is that person at times. And what's more important than owning up to this is making right by it as well. Because, as I learned on the playground in 5th grade; if you don't check yourself, you will wreck yourself. It's physics. Kind of. But seriously, think of a person who only finds fault in others while refusing to t...

What lies ahead of me scares me -- despite all of those faux-inspirational tweets saying it should be a good, inspirational feeling instead.  I've always been the person to plan. I decided where I wanted to go to college at the age of 15, and did everything in my power to assure I would be here. I read the career trajectory of everyone in the journalism business who inspired me, and can probably tell you what Amy Dubois Barnett's Wikipedia page reads verbatim. Even the most seemingly simple decisions have come after gruesome planning, much to the surprise of others. I could say planning comes to me as a "first nature" because I am ever-confident in my abilities. I could say I am sure of my very own trajectory and am merely acting on it. I could put together any flowery statement to describe my plans. All of these would smack me in the face with the full strength of lying karma. I over-plan because of fear. Yeah, I said it. I was and still am more than qualifie...

Though I be yet a sophomore, I have learned so much about myself in my time at Northwestern. It's actually borderline unbelievable to think of the difference between Sierra now and Sierra a year ago. Or even 3 months ago. There are certain characteristics, certain inherent traits about myself that have shown themselves to me...thus opening my own eyes to me. I am a giver.  I have an indescribable need to fill into someone else what they may be lacking. I help when someone needs to be helped. I encourage without being asked. I go the extra mile for someone else's well-being. ...But, I am reluctant to receive. I'm not sure if it's because I was taught "giving > receiving," or something else (still learning about myself), but when I am empty...I'm not as open to let someone fill into me. It's tough for me to let someone help me or even offer me advice. Even getting complimented feels weird at times. I have an immense fear of rejection. And thu...

It's been real, Bridge to Bliss. That statement encapsulates my experiences since I've...abandoned...this blog. It's been real. You know what's hilarious about life? It gives you the best it has. Full throttle. What are you talking about, Sierra? Since I've been gone (cue Kelly Clarkson ), I've been living! I finished my first year as a Northwestern Wildcat. Crazy! How many of you remember when I was blogging about how I soooooo badly wanted to get in? How many of you remember the blog post of when I found out about my acceptance ? Yas. I started my internship with the #1 African American newsweekly in...the world!! The prestigious and iconic JET Magazine thought that I (lil' ol' me) was special enough to join their team this summer. Am I excited? No. I'M PSYCHED!! I am living my dreams! If you know me, you know I LOVE black people and I LOVE writing! They married and had JET. Want to read my stuff? Go to JET here ! I rekindled an affini...

My natural hair!! Yes, today is the 1st anniversary of when I went natural, A.K.A. my "naturalversary!" It's been a long, long time coming but I am proud of myself and my hair endeavors. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, going natural-or returning natural- can be defined as: When a woman (or man) with naturally curly, coily or kinky hair wears their hair in its natural state after having been wearing it straight or chemically altered for any amount of time. While we're at it, it's probably best that you know what a perm is if you already don't, so click here! So basically, on February 24, 2013, I threw away all of my harmful hair products, put away my straightener/flat irons, and attempted being natural. What can I say? It was horrid.  When I first wore my hair natural (left), and today...actually yesterday (right). Big difference! Not only did I have no idea what I was doing (it was supposed to be a twist out )...

How many of you all have had struggles when it comes to those three little words? No, not the cliché "I love you," I'm talking about some with the same amount of...if not more...power. I trust you. Actually, we can even shorten them and come to the same root. Trust. What is it? Search it in Google and you'll get Firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. Well, dear Blissers, though I live a life that I cannot complain about, I have had my fair share of issues with trust. People let me down. People walk away. People straight up have just done a 180 degree switch up on me. And after observing others in their lives (aka their social media pages), I see that I'm not the only one. What better place to talk about it than the open forum of the B2B? How easy it would be for our foreheads to have signs saying, "I trust you," and then not be let down by others. How easy it would be for mutual feelings to...

Hello everyone! Today is the first day of February. While usually that would be unnecessary and arbitrary information, today it means that it is Black History Month !! Though some may argue that there is no need for it while others harp on the fact that it is the shortest month of the year, it is here and I will be recognizing! The point I hope to make this month, regardless of your stance on its existence, is that BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS AMERICAN HISTORY!  I won't preach or lecture, but it is essential that we know our history, y'all.  So with that, I want to honor this beautiful woman! This, ladies and gentlemen, is Ida B. Wells-Barnett! Where do I begin? Ida is one of the very first black journalists! She decided to write for a cause, forsaking mainstream news for topics that were not being paid attention to! Among these topics were lynchings, women's rights and women's suffrage. Excuse the colloquium, but Ida is the bomb! She exemplifies everything I ...

Hello to all who have come across this blog! As per usual, I haven't blogged in some time. Oh, the shame! But I'm here now! Happy New Year to all of the blissers! This is the first post of 2014! Wow, as eventful as 2013 was, it's over now. In 2013, I: Turned 18! Had my last AKAteen ball, and cleaned up with awards Graduated from High School and went to senior prom! Started school as a freshman at Northwestern University ...and tons more However, I have no doubt that 2014 has even more in store for me. The title of this post, "Peace & Blessings," is what I wish for. It is derived from As-salam alaykum ( السلام عليكم ), which is an Arabic greeting. I wish for peace and blessings for you all! ALSO! I missed it on the actual day, but I launched the B2B a whole 3 years, 1 month and 10 days ago! (Who's counting though?) To think it has come this far is crazy! Here is the link to my very first blog post: click here . Wow, crazy. I'm super...

And I still haven't gotten the hang of things... haha But alas, my first quarter (not semester) of college has finished and it wasn't too "shabby"! Big 10 Football can't be beat! Fun events helped me become closer to others and gain friends! My handy dandy partner-in-crime, MY ROOMMATE! I've had such a wonderful experience here at Northwestern. Through chasing down random people for interviews, writing "speed ledes" and reading the AP Style book until I can't anymore, I've become a much better writer and journalist. Through being myself and being real, I've gained some friends that I can see staying in my life for a long time.  Through hard work, I've finished the quarter with grades to be proud of. Through dedication, I'm proud of mentoring I've done this quarter and the impact I've made on others' lives. Through trial and error, I've learned what it means to be independent and not run to...

Purple? So, just in case you're wondering, the countdown until Northwestern is 3 days in total. Many times, when I tell others that I'm a Northwestern Wildcat, I get the following responses: Wow! You're smart. Northwestern?? Big 10 Northwestern? That's a hard school to get into, woah! Wooooooow! Congrats and the seldom but equally amusing; Oh. (unfamiliar with the school and its prestige) However, for me, and others that look like me, after making it known that we attend a prestigious school, some may think it's because we are black. Or Native American. Or Hispanic. Or a female. Simply, some believe that due to programs like Affirmative Action, people who are unqualified get into schools over those who are qualified.  Here's a question for those people: What does the world look like? When you step outside of your home into the world, you don't see just one type of person. You don't see programmed robots who all only know how to d...

As of today, I am starting the #31WriteNow Challenge for August!! If you read that last sentence and went, "Huh?" Then make sure to check out my last blog post. So...what is there to talk about? I'll give some insight on my natural hair journey: So recently , I found out that I have low porosity hair. Low porosity? Well, it means that my hair shaft strands are closed, so that barely anything can get in them. So simply put, every time I add a glorious product or even water, it just sits on top of my hair and doesn't get into it to condition it. Many girls like me with low porosity hair will probably complain about having dry hair, but it's just the strands! After finding out this condition, the journalist inside of me went to work on finding out how to GET INTO my hair strands. I'll stay in touch with my endeavors and the results!  Oh! And I also started a Go Fund Me campaign today!! That's right! And if you click on this link:  http://www.gofundme.com/3smo...