Getting fired is something that no one wants to go through, but unfortunately it still happens to most of us at least once in our lives. Of course it's always preferred that your workplace provide you with a two week notice, but sometimes you could be fired right on the spot with or without severance! You might be stable in the other areas of your life, or your life could be unstable. There's a million different situations in which you could be left in after being fired, but below are some of my tips and tricks on how to cope and get through this time until you find your next career move!

Make a Budget 
If you get severance or not, it's important to look at all of your assets, income, and bills. Make a budget where you list all of your bills and daily expenses, and then compare that with the amount of money you currently have. How long can it hold you over for? What's the length of time until you'll be out of money? Making a budget prevents you from blowing through your funds and helps you create a timeline. With that timeline, you now have a feasible goal by which you need to get a job by. 

Take the Time to Prioritize and Reevaluate
It's completely okay to use your newfound free time to relax and enjoy being not busy. But make sure that you carve out some time to prioritize the other things in your life. Figure out what's most important to you and where you want to spend the majority of your time. This will help guide you in your decision when picking from all of your job opportunities. 

Don't Shut Yourself Out!
If you're really struggling with the loss of your job, I think it's extremely important to stay in contact with your friends and family. Talk to them about what happened and continue to talk through your feelings to help deal with the loss. Your friends and family will remind you how amazing you are and will probably help you gain back your confidence. Also be sure to ask them if they know of any open positions! Remember, when it comes to finding work, a big factor includes the people that you know. 

I think it's also beneficial to look for networking groups and connect with other people in your field. You never know who you'll meet and the opportunities that might arise. I've been to a few networking groups like "Content and Connect," and at the end of the day I've made new connections, have ideas for new content, and a bunch of cool pictures to look back on. 

Start Prepping Right Away
Even if you don't want to start working right away, start prepping immediately! Update your resume, make sure your listed references are up to date, and throw your resume on job websites. You don't have to start applying if you're not ready, but when you are, at least you know you have accurate information and that in reality... you really are ready!

Be Patient
Be patient when it comes to finding a job. Be patient with your emotions as you go through the loss.
And if you have the money and the ability, don't be scared to take advantage of the time off. Use that time to rediscover what you want and spend it doing the things you love. Spend time with your family and do your best to TRULY enjoy this time off. Remember, be patient. Don't waste this time stressing out over the loss of your job or a finding a new job. Use the time to be patient with yourself and enjoy your life. Life is not about working your butt off all day, it's about doing the things that you love.

Sincerely, 
​Alana
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My first National Convention as AREAA's Event Coordinator was a success! Of course it came with its highs and lows but that's expected with any trip let alone a work one. Through moments of stress and doubt, it was my coworkers and friends who kept me motivated to push through the negative thoughts and make this the best convention ever! 
The event consisted of 19 breakout sessions, 1,200 attendees, 3 keynote speakers, and a variety of networking events that celebrated our sponsors, members, and our incoming leadership for 2020. My most memorable parts of the event all include being able to participate in the networking events. As an event planner, nothing is more fulfilling than seeing the event come together and hearing about how much everyone enjoyed it. 
I'm so grateful to have developed so many friendships within AREAA already, to the point where it's okay that they poke fun at me because I'm constantly working when they see me. They know it comes with the job though and are willing to wait up for me to celebrate with them. I loved that I was able to bring my best friend Maddie with me because she was a life saver. It's also nice to have someone you know well help you through the mental process of planning and hosting an event. 

Towards the end of the event, I began to get sick from lack of sleep and stress, and probably the cold air, but it was all worth it. What was super helpful was that Maddie made sure that I took care of myself and other AREAA friends would bring me little care packages with either medicine or food. I am so grateful to have the best support team! I guess it takes a village in all stages of your life!

I wasn't able to get out of the hotel and explore the city until after the event. Fortunately for me, my Uncle John lives near Boston, so he and his family were able to show me around and take me to the local spots. Of course they gave me the tourist spots first, showing me around the Freedom Trail, North End, and Fanueil Hall, but my favorite part was going into the local pubs and being able to catch up with family that I haven't seen in over a decade. 

When I travel, I always notice similarities and differences between other places that I've been to. The streets and roads reminded me of Paris, and in some sense, the older architecture did as well, especially the gold dome on the Capitol building. The modern buildings reminded me of San Francisco and how condensed these tall buildings are built within the city's landscape. Seeing the old architecture hidden in the shadows of the modern skyscrapers were pretty inspiring as well. I think this contrast and blend of architecture throughout the city will be what makes Boston stand out to me. 

Our last day in Boston, it was just Maddie and I. We explored on our own for and headed down Newbury St and visited Fenway Park. Overall, it was a great trip and Boston is an amazing city. It wasn't as cold as I was expecting, which was good, but still chilly nonetheless. I am definitely planning on coming back to spend more time learning about the city and visiting the sites. 

Part of me wants to go in great detail about every second of my trip, but the other part wants to leave these parts to myself and let you see the pictures and videos. You tell me! What do you think of Boston based off the pictures and video? Have you ever been before? Let me know what your favorite places are!

Sincerely, 
​Alana

You've read about my experience with Heiva for the Friendship Photoshoot, but this week is about my experience with IslandEdge Designs! 

This shoot was extremely memorable as I got to work with some of the most amazing people. Also, this was my first time doing a catalog style shoot so it took me a step out of my comfort zone.

The day after the pageant, Alex, my best friend Maddie, and I drove up to LA where we met Aunty Venise (the mastermind behind IslandEdge) to model for her new line of clothes. One of her Aunty Venise's close friends was the photographer, her niece was her marketing consultant, and her nephew modeled the male line. And like how Alex was there for me, her nephew's girlfriend was there for him. Everyone on set was so genuine, supportive, and down-to-earth. 

Because catalog is out of my comfort zone, I needed some help posing and there were moments when I would be stuck in my head. But the team quickly helped me relax and if I was stuck, they would make me laugh or tell me how to pose. 

We left that day with some great shots and lots of love.

About a month after the shoot, it was so bizarre to jump on Instagram and see pictures of me posted by Heiva and IslandEdge back-to-back on my feed. I'm so grateful to have the experience to work with not only great organizations, but also amazing designers and companies who are uplifting the Pacific Islander community every single day. 

Click on the button below to shop IslandEdge Designs!

Sincerely,
Alana

Basically since I've been living on my own, I've been with Alex. We began dating right before summer and that's when we spent most of our time together going through the honeymoon phase. It's crazy to think about but we've created so many summer traditions that we look forward to every single year. It's easily one of the many reasons why summer is my favorite season of the year. 

Of course some of our summer traditions include PIFA, going to the Del Mar Fair, and some kind of vacation, but one of our most underrated traditions is going to Wonderspaces. The first year that Wonderspaces came to San Diego was in 2017, a year after Alex and I started dating. There wasn't a theme their first year but in 2018 it was 'with creative license' and this past year it was 'in common'. It's been special to see Wonderspaces grow and begin its legacy and footprint in San Diego. You might've heard of it or seen it on Instagram since it's one of those really cool aesthetically pleasing exhibits that lots of people go to just for the pictures. Of course we grab some cool pictures while we're there but we really try to piece together the meanings of the pieces and how it ties into the overarching theme.

Coincidentally, we also seem to go every year before we head on our summer vacation. This year was before our trip to Spain, last year was before our trip to San Francisco, and 2017 was before our trip to Costa Rica. It's a pretty amazing send off/ last thing to see in San Diego before participating in our epic summer adventure. If you're in San Diego during mid-summer, I definitely recommend taking the time to check out Wonderspaces and getting in touch with your inner artist. A pretty cool feature is that they always include a VR exhibit that takes artistry to the next level. There's other interactive pieces that connects and brings out some of your interpersonal thoughts. It's 100% worth the cost of a ticket and a very cool summer tradition. 

Sincerely,
​Alana

By now, it's no secret that for the third year in a row, I lost the Miss Pacific Islander of San Diego pageant. Does it suck?... YES. Does it hurt?... Of Course! Is it hard to talk about?... Hell yeah! 
But I want to share my honest and most vulnerable thoughts surrounding the event and the outcome. 

Let's back track to last year. I felt humiliated. Never in the history of Miss PIFA has someone ran twice and not won the second time (so imagine how it feels to do this three times! Hey... at least I set a new record). I took the loss way harder than I thought I would last year and wanted to come back stronger and better than ever. My grief and embarrassment is what created Sincerely, Alana. 

This year, just like last, one of the first thoughts that run through your head is "why am I not good enough?" That thought and doubt is one of the most painful feelings and it's one that I've experienced too many times throughout my life. The difference with this year was- that negative thought only lasted for a brief second. I knew at that point that there was nothing more that I could've done and that I did EVERYTHING in my power to be the best version of myself that I could be. I will say that the experience after it was announced was one of the most bizarre moments in my life.

Almost nobody clapped and everyone looked around bewildered. Of course I had friends and family that came up to me, biased, who said I should've won. But then Teini's family and multiple board members started saying the same thing. Everyone looked just as confused as I was feeling. And this is not to take away from Teini's win - this is just my experience. People left and right were literally crying. To hear the immediate out pour of love and support and reassurance was heartwarming but it didn't take away the pain or embarrassment. 

There's this cycle of emotions that you go through when something like this happens. Embarrassment, sadness, anger, rage, humor, and then a sliver of hope and positivity. Then it repeats until you gather enough positivity about the situation that the rest of the cycle dissipates. I had lots of plans for PIFA this year that I know no one will be able to execute the way that I would. And those plans might not happen. But one thing that's helped is that I have a good feeling about Teini and what she can accomplish with the title. People have asked me if I'll run again and my immediate answer and feeling is no... however this isn't a definite and my feelings might change. My plans for PIFA aren't for me or my ego or the title, it's for the community. I keep running for the title because when you have a position of power, it's easier to get certain things done. 

The last part that has helped me move on and stay positive, is Sincerely, Alana (SA). Without failure, this platform would've never been created. When I first began this journey with SA, it made me truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Losing sucked and it still does, but a part of it also makes me excited to see what this reason is. To see what else I can create from this downfall and how I will get back up. It's crazy to think about, but after the pageant it began raining (at the end of June in San Diego). And I just know that was Alex's Grandma Lorraine (aka Grandma Rain) watching. Then there was a double rainbow, and I knew that was my grandma. Both of them were there cheering me on, crying with me, and cleansing me of all the negative thoughts that ran through my mind. 

I guess you can say that over the last year I've grown a lot. A lot of humility, confidence, and personal security. I know that I've contributed so much to the community in such a short amount of time because it's what I love to do. I know I will continue this journey, maybe not as Miss PIFA, but as Alana Godoy. 

Sincerely, 
Alana

As a lot of you know, I went straight from high school to Southwestern Community College. In the beginning, I wasn't thrilled about the idea of community college- there's still a HUGE stigma surrounding not going to a 4 year university. Community college, trade school, and no school are essentially frowned upon in mainstream media and society. After the first semester, I quickly learned that going to community college was the best decision that I could've made for myself.

There are lots of pros of attending a JC that you can look up on Google. But the following are my personal beliefs for why attending community is way better than going straight into a 4 year. ​

1. You save a TON of money! Most people who attend JC also qualify for the BOG Waiver. Because of the BOG, I didn't need to come out of pocket for tuition or class registration. You're basically only paying for your books/ class materials, and school parking... and even parking rates are discounted!
2. Taking GE classes forces you to find what you like. I went in thinking that I wanted to be a business or psychology major, but taking those classes, I learned that I didn't enjoy those topics as much as I thought I would. It was through GE classes (and not having to choose a major right away) that led me to find my love for anthropology and sociology.
3. Staff members are far more understanding and present. At universities, most of your professors don't have the time to be attentive or personally help you. Community college professors on the other hand only want to see you succeed. In my experience, they've all been extremely caring and take the time to help you if your willing to ask for it.
4. This one is for my P.I's and other family oriented people- you have the ability to stay close to home. Although you might want to move away eventually, attending JC allows you to stay close to home while you and your family get used to the idea of moving away or not having as much time to spend together due to the college load. You still have a lot of homework, but you're within enough proximity that if your family needs you or you need them, it's not hard to see each other. 

Like I said, there are way more pros than what's listed above, but these are the ones I found most important and that have made me so successful. Southwestern has provided me with a stable foundation and over the summer, I graduated with a Double Associates in Anthropology and Sociology with Honors. 

It's been one hell of a journey but it's all been worth it. I'm happy to announce that I will be attending San Diego State University in the fall to earn my double Bachelors. 

I can't wait to bring you all along with me on this new chapter of my life. 

Sincerely, 
​Alana