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BLOGS

As part of my 'Branding of Me' class, I wrote these blogs to explore my identity, goals, and personal brand.
It’s like character development, but graded.

If you think playing the spoons doesn’t count as being in a band, think again. As part of Gary Kayye💜 CTS "The Branding of Me," we’re tasked with maintaining a blog and sharing entries here on LinkedIn. For my first post, I’m revisiting my bluegrass roots and the song that started it all—"Rocky Top."


Growing up, I fell in love with the music of the 70s and 80s, despite being born decades later. Now, I’m taking a trip down memory lane—song by song—to explore how these tunes shaped my creativity, inspired my path, and brought me to where I am today. Welcome to "Tracks That Built Me."

​I’m back with blog #2, and this time, I’m diving into a song that’s been a guiding light in my journey— 'My Sweet Lord' by George Harrison. What started as a tune I couldn’t stop listening to soon became a song I felt deeply connected to, as I navigated my own search for meaning and purpose.
In this post, I share how Harrison’s blend of spirituality, vulnerability, and longing captured my own feelings of uncertainty, and how it continues to shape my journey of self-discovery.

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Lucky for you, LinkedIn, you get two blogs this week!
This time, I’m diving into a song that became the perfect soundtrack for my 2024 travels—'Take It Easy' by The Eagles. From Paris to Italy, this laid-back anthem taught me to embrace the journey and go with the flow. In this post, I’ll share how 'Take It Easy' became my unofficial theme song for the year and how its carefree message still resonates with me today.
Enjoy blog #3!

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We spend our whole childhood chasing the next thing.

And then suddenly… there is no next.
Here’s blog #4.

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If you're Gen Z, you probably hear this song and think of that scene in Bridesmaids.
Same.
But beyond the comedy gold, this song perfectly represents the love and loyalty I get from my friendships.
Enjoy Blog #5!

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What if I was a kid in the ‘80s? No social media, no endless notifications—just living in the moment. Would I trade my iPhone for a Walkman? My Spotify for MTV?
For Blog #6, let’s take a trip back to the ‘80s and see what’s changed... and what hasn’t.

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Sometimes, you just have to leap without knowing where you’ll land. In creativity, as in skydiving, the biggest rewards often come from taking risks.

Check out Blog #7 to see how Queen and skydiving taught me to embrace the thrill of the unknown.

 

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To celebrate a day of love, I wrote about how the Bee Gees shaped my standards for romance. What's your favorite love song?
 

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Unconditional love comes with four paws and a tail.
Benji showed me that as a kid. My own pets proved it.
Blog #9 of Tracks That Built Me—enjoy!

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The middle of the semester. It's when all odds are against you. But listening to "Vienna" by Billy Joel might just save you — it did for me. Read my blog #10 on mental health and getting through the lows.

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The theatrical backseat performances of childhood weren’t just melodrama — they were early training for a career in storytelling. An ode to Bonnie Tyler and how Total Eclipse of the Heart shaped my creative approach.
Blog #11 is here — hope you enjoy it!

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Graduation is coming, but I’m not freaking out. Life’s too short to have it all figured out—embrace the mess, the music, and the journey.

Here’s what Dancing Queen taught me about the uncertainty of post-grad life.

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What does bartending have to do with advertising?
More than you might think.
Here’s how my time behind the bar is shaping my future career.

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Spring break is over, and I'm back to the blogs.

Here’s a college survival guide from someone 7/8 of the way to a degree, who knows every word of 'I Will Survive' and experienced UNC beating Duke on Coach K’s farewell tour, including in the Final Four.

Take my wisdom (or lack thereof) in blog #14.

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This may be my favorite blog yet.
Thanks to an 8th-grade teacher, my 14-year-old self wrote an email that was sent to me on the day of my high school graduation.
Now, getting ready to graduate from college, I’m looking back at the version of myself eight years ago.
The past Mattie talks to the future Mattie who is now also a past Mattie while the present Mattie reads.
This is meta.
Enjoy blog #15.

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What started as just another class assignment turned into something much deeper and surprisingly therapeutic. In these blogs, I wrote about things I’d never talked about before. Some I didn’t even know about myself. It’s funny… I’m not much of a sharer. Especially not on social media. And definitely not back when I was younger — I would never play these “older” songs around my friends. It wasn’t what everyone else was listening to. But look at me now. Who knew a LinkedIn assignment — thanks, Gary Kayye💜 CTS and The Branding of Me — would end up being so fun?
And now, as wild as it sounds... I don’t want them to end.
But I’ve always believed you should go out on top.
That’s why Friends only had 10 seasons.
That’s why Michael Jordan only played 15 years.
And that’s why I’m only writing 16 blogs.
So here’s number 16.
And UNC… I love you more.
 

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