Hi, My Name is Nichole!

Hello Readers!! Guess What! This week we are taking the chance to introduce ourselves to you in a little more depth than before! So sit back, relax, and enjoy our Team Member Showcase!

~ Defying Shadows Team

What defines you as a person? Who are you?

Tell me a little about yourself…. Oh how I dread those words. I always feel like my answer is an inadequate one. Of course it’s not, but tell that to my inner voice that screams the lies of not being good enough. Well… Here I go.

Hi, My name is Nichole. I am a Marketing Student at my local college; I am just approaching my second and final year. I work as a Social Media Marketing Manager. For those who are curious, I am the person who creates content, schedules posts and analyses online traffic patterns to create the best marketing strategy for the company. I am also a Mental Health Advocate and the founder of Defying Shadows.

Someone asked me on Twitter today to answer the question, “Why do you write?” I feel that my answer to the question also defines why I blog at Defying Shadows and really defines who I am as a person. I write to be an encouragement, inspiration and a support to those who are struggling and the people supporting those who struggle. I just love helping people, whether it is giving advice, fixing a problem or helping find a solution.

What is your personal “motto”?

When I was a young girl and I had a problem or I was upset my mother would ask me this series of questions. “Will this matter in five minutes from now? What about tomorrow?” “Will this be upsetting to you in a week?” “Will you remember this in a year from now?” My mom had a knack for putting things into perspective. These questions have become my mantra. When things get difficult, upsetting or scary, I take a deep breath and then ask myself these questions. Most times the answer is no, and I am able to put things into perspective and move past it.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Those who know me personally can vouch for me and say that I can be incredibly awkward. I would like to publicly blame that on the fact that I am an introvert. I can handle people from a distance a whole lot better than I can face to face. I think that’s why blogging became such a big part of my life. I thrive with a pair of headphones blasting music, a pair of comfy pants and a laptop. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing my friends and going for coffee, but after my visit I feel as though I need to recharge. They tell me this is normal for an introvert. Anyone relate?

What is your biggest fear?

As someone with Anxiety, I have many fears; Most irrational. My biggest fear has already been lived last year. (You can read my story here). My biggest fear is that I will hit a point in my life where I won’t want to live anymore, or will feel like there is no end in sight for my struggles. Every time my depression gets the best of me, my brain takes over and jumps to the worst possible situation. Learning to talk myself through irrational fears was a very big part of my recovery process and is put to practice every time I have a “sad” day.

What’s your biggest dream?

I have sat here for the past hour trying to figure out what my “dream” is. I know what my plan is…. and I suppose my dream would be to fulfill that plan. The dream/plan is to graduate from college, get a full time job working in social media marketing, pay off all my loans and be able to launch off into the world on my own. Of course part of my dream is that my illness will continue to be manageable and become less existent over time. As much as I would love to wish away my mental illness, I don’t think I would be who I am without it. Nor would I have a heart to help people through it.

What motivates you?

If there is one thing that motivates me, it would be lists. I work well with lists. I like knowing what I need to do to accomplish everything I need to do. When working on a project, my motivation lies on the list of steps and tasks that must be completed. These lists can be for simple things like my morning routine, to more difficult things such as launching a potential company! One can never have too many lists! Right?!

What makes you happy?

Waking up at a reasonable time (anytime after 10am), sitting down with my list of things to do, and accomplishing all those things and some more tasks really makes me happy. Being successful and feeling like I accomplished a lot makes me happy. I like keeping busy and I love knowing that what I am doing is helping other people, even in the smallest of ways.

If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be?

If I could go back in time and change one thing, it would be how I moved away from home. I would talk to my parents and voice my reasoning for wanting to move out on my own. I now know that they would have helped me make that happen and would have supported my decision if I had allowed them the chance. Not only did I damage my relationship with my parents, but I set a very bad example for my younger siblings. Thankfully my relationship with my family has been repaired and we are all together once again.

Where do you see yourself within five years?

Five years from now, I see myself working in social media marketing full-time; either working for another firm or on my own in a small office. I see myself with no student loans, living a fulfilling life and maybe even in a relationship if the right guy comes along. If I was dreaming big, I see myself living in my own apartment that has an indoor pool so I can go swimming every morning.

What does defying shadows mean to you as a person?

Defying Shadows means so much to me. It means taking a stand against all the things that could tear me down and not allowing these things to move me. It means protecting myself and others against suffering of any kind. It means not allowing myself to become discourages. It means reminding myself that I am not alone in my fight; I am loved, no matter what happens; and I am special and worth fighting for.

Nichole is a Social Media Marketing Manager, student, daughter and friend. She’s working on her Marketing Diploma and has a Certificate of Christian Theology. She is an avid coffee lover who enjoys a good movie or book. She takes great joy in organizing, scheduling, and volunteering. Her passion for volunteerism extends specifically to those who are hurting, whether it is emotionally, physically, or mentally.

Nichole is certified to provide Mental Health First Aid, which means she can provide immediate support and guidance in a safe environment, comfortably have a conversation about mental health related issues and offer professional and other supports. This does NOT make Nichole a psychologist, or a counselor. It simply gives her the tools to direct people to the help they need.

You can follow Nichole on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, and Linkedin.