 It’s been a long time coming, but I can finally say I’m employed at my dream institution, in an amazing position where I’ll be able to continue to cultivate relationships with our nation’s youngest upcoming leaders. However, before I tell you the ending of this story, I think it’s important to reflect on my journey and how I got to where I am today… So, let’s begin on May 4th.
I knew in that moment that this picture was going to mean something to me one day. I had just received an email from the school I was supposed to be interviewing with that following day about the cancellation of my upcoming interview. I was so upset that I burst into tears, but thankfully I had some really great friends around who immediately put me in check (Shout out to PJ, Alexis, Imani, and Dallas, THANK YOU!) Honestly, at this point I was really counting on that second interview to work out because I had just turned down another opportunity the week prior. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Maya, are you really in a position to turn down opportunities in the middle of a global health pandemic?” Well the answer to that question is “yes”, I would encourage anyone who’s reading this to NEVER SETTLE. You have to know what you bring to the table, so if push comes to shove you can & will be willing to sacrifice and eat alone (this goes for all aspects of life—relationships, friendships, etc.). It wasn’t an easy decision turning down my first job offer, but God and my gut told me to just hold on a little while longer, “I’m preparing something even greater for you, but you must be patient and be willing to have a good attitude while doing so.” (Honey, talk about some serious development and maturing.) Anyway, moving forward, my strategic timeline was altered, actually completely thrown off, and I had no other opportunities that were on the horizon at this time. By the end of May your girl was still unemployed, on her way back to her hometown filled with anxiety, frustration, and fear (isn’t it the best when God has a sense of humor). I had moved back home, and at this point I wasn’t too keen on trusting God’s plan at the moment. I wanted my plan to work out so badly that I decided to neglect God’s plan (DON’T DO THIS, it just makes the process way harder than it has to be). If we’re going to call a spade a spade at this point, then my attitude didn’t really reflect my true character. God has always been faithful, he’s always come through and shown out, so what’s the difference now? Just because it didn’t happen on my timeline, doesn’t give me the right to continue to act like a spoiled brat. (We are all still learning, so don’t judge me). So, at this point I had been at home for a couple of weeks, interviewing or at least having a lead each week which kept me motivated, but after about four weeks straight of interviewing (first, second, and final rounds) I became exhausted. I didn’t want to go through this process anymore and I began to get frustrated with God again. I had all the questions in the world. Like why is COVID-19 even a thing? I’ve been a good person, I’ve treated people right, I’ve loved my students, family, and friends, why is this even happening to me? Why am I not employed yet? ----- And right in that moment, I felt like God stepped on my neck, he said “Maya, why not you? Yes, you’re my daughter, yes, I love you, but I didn’t promise you a perfect life, and you know this already, so get it together girl and tighten and up!” After, that stern talking to, I began to approach my entire job search differently. I only applied to jobs where I knew that if they were to offer me the job then I would accept on the spot. Which means the location would be ideal, salary would be great, and the position would challenge me and encourage me to grow personally & professionally. Once I adjusted my attitude, my vision became clearer, and I didn’t struggle with the idea that the position that was meant for me was going to take a little bit longer than I imagined. Over the next few weeks I had several opportunities presented themselves, which put me in a position to be able choose what I would like (crazy right!) So, to recap we went from being in constant interview mode to having to make some tough decisions on how to move forward with a couple of options. You would think that I would be less stressed, but I wasn’t, I didn’t want to turn down any institution especially one that wanted me; however, I knew deep down in my gut where I actually belonged. The lesson I learned through this decision-making process was that there is POWER in writing your vision and actually believing in it. I warn you be careful who you share it with. Some people won’t understand it, some won’t believe it, and some just won’t support it. So be strategic, ask God for discernment about who you should share this with and then go from there.
So that’s exactly what I did, I wrote down that I was going to be hired by the University of California, Santa Cruz campus as the Student Government & Leadership Coordinator & if it was in God’s will then he would make it happen. AND HONEY guess what?! He did! I got way more than I could even ask in every way — location, position, and salary etc. I’m going to close with this “Stay focused, be encouraged, and don’t you dare settle for anything— not a job, a man, nor any of your future plans!” I have a lot more to share but that would just be too much in one post, so I hope you enjoyed!! Besos for now, Maya A. Mapp
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 So, right now I’m sitting at one of my favorite restaurants in Milly “The Reel Grill” if you haven't been there you must check it out, Ben (the manager) is absolutely phenomenal. I come here about once a week to just release, enjoy a good drink, amazing food, and big laughs with friends. This past week has been pretty trying, and I’ve tried to keep a positive attitude; however, I’m human and I’m far from perfect so I definitely have my days. Anyway, while I’m sitting here I started to reflect on my most recent beach trip to Tybee with my younger sister Sarai. We had the best time, and it was just what I needed to reset. I think it would be fun to share about our beach trip as well as some tips we implemented to stay safe while visiting our favorite summer spot. First and foremost, choose the beach you attend strategically. I knew when deciding between which beach, we wanted to go to that we were going to automatically steer clear of Florida for right now. So, when thinking about Georgia our options are quite limited, which in hindsight is pretty beneficial. Second, leave your house super early in the morning, so you can beat the crowd (if there is one). Third, pick a spot on the beach that is the furthest away from everyone else. Sarai busted out laughing at me, when I started fake coughing to ensure that no one would come near us. I know this isn’t the best idea, but we are trying to make sure we stay corona free. Random insert, as I’m sitting at the table typing this, a couple was headed to their car from the restaurant, and I see the wife start to slow up to see if her husband was going to open the car door and guess what he didn’t! I know that this isn’t a big deal to some but remember that no matter how long you’ve been married, you never stop dating. Grab the dang door men! Okay, back to the beach trip, the fifth thing to remember is too pack a lunch instead of going out. This limits interaction with other people other than those that you traveled with. Sixth, don’t forget your favorite drinks. I go to the beach to reset, talk to God, enjoy his creation, and to relax; so white claws are my drink of choice, but hey, bring whatever you like. Last but not least, just relax and enjoy the dang sand. Our world is filled with so much chaos and tension at the moment, so when you have the opportunity to get away safely, then do so. Life is too short, and living life with any regret would honestly just suck at the end of the day! XOXO, Maya Mapp
 Now I know what you're thinking "what the heck is Maya Mapp talking about today?" Well, I'm glad you asked! The idea that we're always supposed to be performing and meeting a particular standard that's set for us by society has thrown many of us for a loop; a loop filled with stress and anxiety. So, I'm here to explain why you should hop off of that rollercoaster and join the one called "PEACE".
Progression Not Perfection is a platform that is equipping and encouraging millennials in their daily walk with Christ. God used Brittany Bartholomew as a vessel to create this movement. Brittany is a good friend/ colleague I met during my time at Valdosta State University, and within our first interaction we just clicked and started talking about God for hours. Honestly, it wasn't what either of us expected but I'm glad it happened. Now years down the road she felt led by God to reach out to me and ask me to be apart of the project. SN: I always find it ironic how God tugs on you to do something, especially when you're in the middle of your own mess. Enough with all the chatter, the link is below take a look! https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAamyxuF3Au/?igshid=ngxq4dbv6l3l It's been a full week since I've graduated from the University of Georgia, WOW! Can you believe it? I can't! Many have asked what am I'm up to nowadays, and the answer to that question actually varies depending upon the day if I'm being honest. However, to generalize what my typical response is I state "I'm walking through each day with more & more grace." This past week I was having dinner with some friends and I asked them would they appreciate it if I decided to share what I'm currently going through or should I hold off until I know what is happening next in my life. They all chimed in with differing opinions, which obviously led me down a rabbit hole. Nonetheless, I've decided to be as open and as transparent as I can during this part of my journey. As I walked up Stone Mountain yesterday this thought came to my mind, "Everyone is always posting pictures about being on top of the mountain, we rarely see pictures or videos about their journey going up the mountain. You'll never know how much your process could bless someone else unless you share it!" With all that being said I'm excited to be able to spend quality time at home with my parents (riding bikes & go fishin'); to cook & workout; spend time leisurely reading; plus spending more quality time with God; and also becoming more intentional with my friends. So, yeah that's what I'm up to nowadays (FYI-- I am still applying for jobs!!! If you have any connects, let me know :) Anyway, enough with my rambling (hahaha) below you will find more grad pictures I have yet to share. Be on the lookout for more blog post soon & RECIPES! I cooked some BOMB Balsamic Chicken w/ Goat Cheese + Sun-dried Tomatoes tonight (this will be uploaded by tomorrow morning)!!
Can you believe how fast the month of April flew by?! It's May 1st and I'm believing that this is going to a life changing/ spiritually altering month for many of us. Before diving into the blog, I would like to say THANK YOU again to all the health care workers. I genuinely appreciate your sacrifice. Please know that there are people out here who care and are praying for you! So, how about a few quick life updates:
Alright, alright, alright!! I know you guys come here for new food ideas and recipes! So I'm excited to share that with this new blog release there is also TWO NEW recipes being uploaded tonight. GO CHECK THEM OUT and tell me what ya think?! Please like, share, & comment on this post! I would also love for anyone to share any life advice with me or new recipe ideas!!!   Well hey guys! It's been about a month since my last blog post, so I figured I'd check in and say I'M SORRY for my MIA-ness!! It's been super tough trying to finish school, find a job, and stay sane during all this craziness. I'm not really sure where I'm headed next at least professionally, so that's been a journey and realization within itself. Attempting to finish my last two assignments has been no easy feat either. Before, I say anything else I must state this: for those of you who work from home on a regular basis, I genuinely believe that you're AMAZING! I miss my office, I miss my students, and I really miss my routine; however, I know that this is apart of my growth during this season. This will be used to prepare me for my next journey. I've asked God for more, so this is just the "stretching or growing pains" that come along with it. You never know, having the discipline to work from home may come in handy down the line one day (side hustles are a must, multiple sources of income.)
Transparency Moment: The job searching process is a FULL TIME job within itself (why didn't anyone tell me this?), especially during a health pandemic. There's been so many scheduled then cancelled interviews in my process; I'm currently learning why it's so important to keep my eye on the promise. Don't get me wrong, I am really excited to be embarking on a new professional journey (who knows where yet), but getting there and trusting God to lead me has really forced me to self-reflect on my faith & purpose. Many of my mentors have shared with me "If you're going to worry, don't pray & if you're going to pray don't worry, Maya!; "Be where your feet are."; "Once you make your decision, it will be the right one for you." Well, let me tell you these pearls of wisdom are so true. Faith & Doubt cannot co-exist, they automatically cancel what you speak out in faith, so in this season I'm learning to get those two feelings in check. Some days are better than others, but hey I'm human so what do ya expect. So, what's currently happening in my life: I am in good health and I'm extremely grateful. I attempt to work out everyday with my Burn family; this is one my self-care initiatives. If I workout, I feel better and I look better. I'm still in the middle of a job search, and I'm preparing to move. Graduation is right around the corner, so there's definitely pressure to get to everything completed. I've been cooking more and sharing recipes on Instagram, but not on here:( Not my smartest move, I will definitely get back on it because I genuinely miss using this platform regularly. Be on the look out for new recipes, and more blog posts soon! Yes, I know this post has nothing to do with food, but I thought it was important to get a little more personal tonight. I love you guys, I promise we will talk about food or something related to food next time! XOXO, Maya Mapp P.S. Thank you to ALL THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS for helping protect and support this nation not only during this time, but at all times. You are appreciated and loved!  First some Encouragement!!!
Wow!!! So a lot has happened since my last blog post. We're currently facing a global health pandemic, job loss, economic downfall, school closings, and much more. However, I genuinely believe that there is still an upside to all this chaos (THERE IS A MIRACLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MESS). When you've reached your lowest point, it only means that there's no other place to go but UP! In the midst of it all, we are going to bounce back from this stronger than ever. So, I would like to encourage you to turn that frown upside down, and be grateful that you're ALIVE & WELL. We still have so much to look forward to this year. Even though many graduations may be cancelled, some job searches postponed there is a still a purpose and sound reason in this season. I can't wait to see how we come out on the other side of this. Your attitude and outlook matters during this time, SO KEEP IT POSITIVE! NOW, What would like from me?! I know that we're all confined to our houses right now, so you have no choice but to cook. So, what would you like to to see from me? Meal Prep ideas? Fun activities to do with the kids? Easy dinner meals in 45 mins or less etc.? Quarantine Ideas that will help keep you sane:
XOXO, Maya Mapp  Traveling and spending time with friends is one of my most cherished past times. This past weekend I got the chance to go to Disney with my sisters and we had the best time!!! (Despite what's currently happening in the world with the corona virus) However, we did learn one major lesson: WE ARE GETTING OLDER, AND OUR BODIES NEED TO RECOOP AFTER WALKING AROUND A PARK ALL DAY HAHAHAHA. So, let's jump into the details of how we planned this trip. Originally, this trip was scheduled for September 2019; however, Hurricane Lorenzo said "nah sis, y'all need to wait!" Luckily, Disney has one of the best customer service teams I've ever had the chance to interact with and they had no issue with moving our trip to later date. So, we decided to move the date back to February 2020, and let me just say trying to coordinate four different work schedules of an account, teacher, advisor, and news manager is tough, but we made it work. We purchased a two-day park hopper pass, which allows you to hop from park to park at any point in the day. We thought that this would be best option because we all wanted to get the chance to see everything. After purchasing your tickets be sure to select your fast passes immediately. In my personal opinion, if you don't have them your time will be very limited at each park. Furthermore, if you know me, I can't plan trip without a really nice dinner. So, I made reservations at Del Frisco's the day we arrived, so all the girls got the chance to dress up, drink some wine, and let their hair down. Friday was just considered to be a relaxation day, so Saturday and Sunday were Disney days! Below are my MUST RIDES & EATS for each Disney park. Day One: Hollywood Studios: Rides- Tower of Terror, Rocket Roller Coaster, and Little Mermaid Show Food- Funnel Cake Magic Kingdom: Food- You must get a turkey leg & apple pie w/ butter pecan ice cream Rides/ Activities- Space Mountain, President Hall, and the Haunted Mansion Day Two: Animal Kingdom: Rides/ Activites- Safari, Gorilla Exploration, visit the country of Africa Food- Haramba Chicken & Rice Bowl Epcot: Food- Go to China and explore their sushi options (they are great!) Drink- Go to Italy and France and just drink!!! BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET!!! Estimation for Disney Trip: (ask your friends if they want to go, and make it happen!) Tickets: $301 (two day park hopper pass) Hotel: $400 divided by four people, so really $100 a piece Plane:$200 roundtrip Food: $250 for food (this includes a nice dinner; however, this is dependent on what you what to spend personally) Lyft: Split between 4 people the average cost will be $35 Miscellaneous Items: $30- $100 (Mickey & Minnie Ears, shopping at outlet mall)  Well, well, well.. Valentine's Day has come and gone and I must say that this has been the best one yet. Originally, I had no plans but then at the last minute I decided to switch it up and do something. My V-Day celebration started the night before at the AMC Dine- In movie theater; I went to watch "The Photograph" and I ordered one of my favorite treat meals a juicy burger w/ thick cut fries lol. Honestly, if you guys could see my face right now you would see my eyes rolling to the back of my head. The burger just hit the spot, the patty was well done, the bbq sauce was spicy, and the lettuce was so crispy & don't get me started on the fries!!! A quick little review of the movie: The movie was good, I could sort of see it becoming a classic, like Love Jones or The Best Man. It's a modern black love story with the realest depiction of what a first date actually looks like. During that scene I got butterflies in my stomach; I was like "dang man I remember them days lol". The chemistry between the two actors was electric (they could really be dating in real life). However, I have to say that the pace of this movies was slow. I dozed off for like 2 minutes, but I think that was due to me just being tired. THIS IS A MOVIE EVERYONE SHOULD SEE!!! Moving on to my actual Valentine Day plans: I decided to treat myself to lunch at "The Pine"; because I enjoyed a burger the night before I decided to get a salad but not just any ole' salad, I got the transformer salad; and yes, this salad "transformed" my life! It was topped with a variety of root vegetables, sweet potatoes, peppers, and a quinoa cake." I've never had a quinoa cake before that moment, but let me just say I will be bringing the new recipe to the blog this week!! Ladies I wanted to share this because it doesn't matter whether you're in a relationship or not, you should treat yourself. Valentines Day is NOT a COUPLES ONLY holiday, it is for EVERYONE. If you're uncomfortable doing things alone, get your girls together and host some Galantine festivities! You are in your current season for a reason, appreciate it and use it to sow some fruitful seeds for whats to come. XOXO, MP P.S. I would've included a picture of my meal, but for some reason it won't upload at this time:(  During this month I will be featuring recipes that you guys decide to share with me from your childhood experiences!!!! Hey guys! Just wanted to check and discuss this important topic and month on my blog. I've had several people reach out and ask if I was going to talk about this major celebration on here, and I said of course! As a young African American female, I've had the privilege of being surrounded and poured into by phenomenal women from various backgrounds, especially by my mother and my aunts. I am grateful for all the lessons they have taught me and the wisdom they have shared through the years. Black History Month began originally as "Negro History Week". This week was created by Carter G. Woodson in 1926. It became a month long celebration in 1976; the month of February was selected because of the correlation with many notable events that happened historically during this month. Black History Month honors the many contributions made by African Americans who influenced and changed U.S. history for the better. The celebration of this month continues to pay tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with my adversities. With all of that being said, I'm extremely proud of my heritage, its richness, and of the ancestors who came before me. In 2008, America elected its first black president, Barack Obama. Yes, this was major accomplishment, but the election of a black president doesn't erase years of slavery, segregation, and adversity. We are still healing from those things today, and unfortunately in today's current social and political climate (on BOTH sides; democratic & republican) there are still forms of prejudice and inequalities. We as "humans" have to be willing to address these things and use our own privilege to extend new opportunities to others who lack access to education, money, and status. Use your privilege, don't be afraid to speak out when you see injustice. In conclusion, America still has a long way to go when it comes to provide equality and equity to all people, but I've learned throughout my time on this earth to still be filled with HOPE. Love will conquer all. Let's remember moving forward that America is a melting pot for ALL people, and that's what makes this country what it is! P.S. I will also be sharing recipes this month that I feel represent African American culture (i.e. from my own personal experience, NOT anyone else's).  |
Why I Blog?This is just the space where I share my personal thoughts on life and cooking. I hope you enjoy! Archives
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