Welcome back! If you missed last week’s issue, find it here.
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your bad date stories and thoughts on this week’s headlines by replying to this email.
What They Don’t Tell You
I asked you ladies for “the best piece of career advice you ever received” last week, and boy did you deliver! Here is what you said in no particular order:
“When I was in college, one of my professors told me that the best thing young adults can do in our early career is to plan on becoming a subject matter expert in an emerging field. In other words, he said that proactively working towards expertise in something ‘new’ now will be invaluable in the future. While this ‘thing’ will vary from field to field and person to person, it's so important to remember that expertise and knowledge is the end goal!” - Kayla Panchak
“My first *serious* internship was for a state legislator in Pennsylvania and I was a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed college sophomore who wore pantsuits every day to the office. One time, the legislator herself asked me a question and I nervously replied ‘Oh, I’m just a college student, I don’t know!’ She cocked her head and told me that she asked me a question, therefore she valued what my answer would be. Discounting my opinion not only showed that I didn’t have confidence, but it wasted her time. Now, I always try to confidently give feedback and realize that if someone asks me for feedback, they value what I have to say, so I should own it.” - Karly Matthews
“Just because you’re young doesn’t mean your opinions and ideas are not valid! The biggest turnoff in my old job for me was being undervalued because of my age (mid-20s???). I was constantly called ‘kiddo’ by those only 10 years older, who I KNOW were once in my position. And I listened to them say people in their 20s know nothing. Especially in politics, when a lot of people are young and up-and-coming in the world… how else are we supposed to learn? It spoke volumes when I interviewed for a new job and they made sure I knew I was valued even if I was younger and made sure I knew not to settle for someone who undervalued you because they think you’re a “kid”. I often lacked the confidence to speak up with thoughts/ideas until that was told to me (and now I’ve been with that company for the last year!).” - Cathryn Kaiser
“The best piece of career advice I’ve been given is to find your tribe. I work in a male-dominated field and the single most important thing in everything I’ve done was finding my core support group. Having a group of people in your field who understand the issues you go through is so valuable. Being able to rant, bounce ideas off of, and have support through tough times is so critical to surviving and thriving in your chosen field.” - Jillian Kinder
“If you really care about doing well in a certain field, ignore the people who constantly talk about work-life balance or self-care. They don't care about getting ahead. Prioritize what's important to you like faith and family, and then give your all to what you want to succeed in.” - Mary Margaret Olohan
“Make sure you regularly check in with your quality of life and ask yourself if you are overall happy with your day to day. If not, make a change!” - Katrina Haydon
“Get experience over degrees… In the field of journalism, and especially so much of DC, it’s about what you’ve done and who you know. Branch out. What do you enjoy doing? I find your twenties are when you really test the waters and find out what you like to do, and then you need to start narrowing that down as you get into your thirties… I did a bunch of different things in my twenties — radio, producing — and as the market became more clear, I figured out what I enjoy doing.” - Beverly Hallberg
“Over the course of several years I've worked several different jobs, ranging from jobs in the back of restaurants, at amusement parks, to even just office jobs. Some of the best career advice came from a chef that I was working under at the time. She told me that whether I planned on being a chef, baker, yoga instructor, teacher, or reporter I had to remember that I have to start at the bottom in order to reach the top. And, honestly, that's some of the best career advice that I've received and that I think people tend to forget. We all want to reach the top and accomplish our goals. In order to do that we may need to start at the bottom and do the work that we may find unappealing. Starting at the bottom gives us a way to learn and grow along the way.” - Elizabeth Faddis
Didn’t get a chance to submit your career advice? Send it to me at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com for a chance to be featured next week!
Interview with Natalie Seales
Every week, I introduce you to a woman who knows the ins and outs of DC. This week, that woman is Natalie Seales, who is known for bringing sunshine and warmth to everyone she meets!
What does your life look like right now?
After graduating from George Mason law, I decided to move one metro stop away to Clarendon, because that’s always where we went to have fun! My life right now feels like recovery from the entire bar exam process (I passed!), so it’s a lot of quiet nights, cooking, and enjoying not studying. I work on First Amendment issues, which is what I dreamed of doing when I applied to law school. My favorite things lately have been experimenting with my new espresso machine and air fryer/grill, as well as spending evenings reading with some herbal tea. If anyone is interested in some non-fiction books, my current/recent reads are: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund; When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simmons; Lincoln on the Verge by Ted Widmer; The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre.
What's your favorite coffee shop in the DC area?
There’s a little coffee shop in Old Town Alexandria that’s run out of Fontaine. John Ryan is the owner and barista (@roasteetoasteecoffee), and he’s the kindest soul. Not only is the coffee impeccable high quality (John Ryan sources and roasts the beans himself!), you’ll be equally hooked on conversations with John Ryan whose warmth and kindness keep you coming back. As for Arlington, Kaldi’s has the best lattes and a surprisingly killer salmon salad.
How would you describe your style?
Born out of the necessity of constantly operating at a time deficit, it’s about the delicate balance of looking effortless but also put together. I’ve named my style “soccer mom chic,” even though I’m not a mom or really into soccer. I just realized with my extensive athletic skort and loafer collection, at any point in time, I could probably blend in at a PTO meeting or children's soccer game.
Professionally, my wardrobe is much less exciting because the legal profession doesn’t lend itself to too much excitement, and I kind of like that. Kate Middleton is the ultimate style icon for me—she transcends time and space (if you don’t believe me, look at her portraits to commemorate her 40th birthday). Honorable mention to Amal Clooney and Reese Witherspoon, who deserve icon status in and of themselves.
What's the biggest life lesson you've learned during your time in DC?
I moved to DC for law school three and a half years ago, and I quickly learned that if you don’t know who you are, the city will tell you (and change its mind a lot). Anchoring your identity to something that doesn’t fluctuate, like your job or friend group, is pivotal. For me, that anchor point is my faith. Having a church family and biblical community has proven time and time again to be pivotal for not getting caught up in the riptides that the city can bring.
The Haps
Lana Del Rey, Army Recruiter?
In another disturbing episode of “Uh Oh, Twitter Is Kind Of Real Life Now,” the U.S. Army shared a random quote attributed to Lana Del Rey and a photo of a female soldier in a tweet earlier this week. People were not amused. “Our Army is doomed if a Lana Del Rey lyric is supposed to bring in recruits,” wrote conservative commentator Jason Rantz.
But that wasn’t the end of it — director Dylan Park said he was actually approached to work on a military-themed music video for Lana, but she ended up nixing the idea. “Lol years ago I was going to direct a LDR music video. The theme was WWII to present-day military Americana. Like some Marilyn Monroe USO shit. The Army was going to finance it. Tanks, helicopters, the works. But Army wanted to use the video for recruiting and LDR said fuck that,” Park wrote on Twitter.
Peloton Is TV’s Favorite Villain
Cruella De Vil, Captain Hook, and…. Peloton?! The high-class stationary bike company is in turmoil as not one but two popular TV shows have depicted characters dying or nearly dying while exercising on a Peloton (I guess there are no water cooler conversations among Peloton employees about who’s seen the latest episode of “And Just Like That” or “Billions”). Mairead Elordi breaks down what’s going on in this article. No beloved characters are safe.
In case you’re wondering what I’m reading lately, I want to highlight two pieces from Mica Soellner. Make sure to give her a follow on Twitter and read my interview with her here!
When I left home for college, I lost touch with my Japanese heritage. As an adult, I’m reclaiming it: Mica writes about understanding how our identities shape us for The Lily.
I Learned Hallmark Movies Were Right About Small Town America: Mica writes about her experiences working as a journalist in small town America and the big city for Evie Magazine.
Congrats & More
Make sure to wish Angela Stuedemann a happy birthday today (Jan. 27)! Congratulate her on Twitter.
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously!
I can’t promise to have all the answers, but I will consult with the experts, a.k.a. the plotlines of my favorite 2000s romcoms.