This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Leeds chapter.

How to become a #Girlboss

Whether you are at uni and you want to be the best student or you want to stand out as the best candidate for an internship, it does not matter if you do it with passion and give the 100%! Being a #Girlboss is not (only) about having your own company and building and empire, is about the attitude. Lena Dunham herself, said that #Girlboss was a movement, that tries to empower women to be the best version of themselves.

As sometimes the pressure on students today can be overwhelming, especially in the last year, and then when you finally do finish uni, you don’t know how to break into the industry you dream to work in. Here is a compilation of things that can help you to be motivated and focus along the way.

Role Model

Having a role model is so important when you are looking for inspiration. It is also a good way of remembering that you can do whatever you want in life. Obviously, everyone is different and is unpractical thinking that your life will be exactly like someone else (that is never going to happen), but looking up to someone is a beautiful way of recognizing the strong points of a person and using them as a goal. Finding a person to admire is easy but, a role model is more than that, because you also have to connect with the values and the way of approaching life of that person. It does not have to be someone from your sector (although is easier), it can be from your family or even a friend. And remember, is better to focus on a few good ones, less is more.

Mine:

1. Sophia Amoruso, for building a beautiful empire that started in a nasty room from her computer. And for writing the amazing book that made me write this post.

2. Elaine Welteroth , the editor in editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue that is using her position to increase the political and social conscience of the Young American public.

3. My grandma, the most hard-working woman I know who has fight stereotypes all her life by being feminist and empowered.

Take Initiative

If you struggle with finding your way, don’t worry everyone does at some pint. Doubting is good, as Descartes said “Cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am.)”. Reconsidering if you really like what you though it been your dream can only be good: you either confirm it or find a new one. There is no better way of finding your passion than trying loads of different things.

Also, in the professional path experience always goes first, so make sure you do courses, volunteering and internships. Those three things are the key of personal and professional success.

Therefore:

1. Check the course portal of the universities you like, with the aim of finding something that goes with you.

2. Keep an eye on the job portal website where the company that you like post updates. Look for the portal that is specific for your sector.

3. And last but not least, follow the influential people of your sector on social media, this will give you valuable information, you will always know if they are looking for a personal assistant.

Get Inspired

Do your research, read books, watch interviews, documentaries, TED talks. Everything that provides you with valuable information about the things you love should be welcome. It can sound boring but the more you invest in learning new skills or culture the bigger will be the gap between you and any other candidate for the same position. The idea is to a Little every day in order to be constantly growing.

Tips:

1. Try to read those books that your role model recommends on interviews.

2. Instead of watching fun/makeup videos on Youtube, look for tutorials on how to run a business/how to build a portfolio, or whatever thing that you need to learn.

3. There are some websites like “Edx” that offer online courses from the best universities in the world for free.

Hoping you all find these tips useful for being the best version of yourselves, I will leave you with some quotes that helped me through the way.

By Silvia Calvo Sanz

1- https://www.pinterest.es/pin/558516791263542476/

2- https://www.pinterest.es/pin/306174474653669131/

3- https://www.pinterest.es/pin/332633122472404981/

4- https://www.pinterest.es/pin/482870391278114914/

5- https://www.pinterest.es/pin/461337555569204308/

6-https://www.pinterest.es/pin/325525879294425016/

7-https://www.pinterest.es/pin/271412315021546948/

8-https://www.pinterest.es/pin/380272762277364671/

9-https://www.pinterest.es/pin/481603753892834995/