Whether you just found this blog or have been around for a while now, you might be wondering who I am and why Gabrielle Nicole Co exists. I’m not always good at being brief, but to make a long story short, Gabrielle Nicole Co exists to provide a sense of comfort and stability when you’re in uncomfortable situations — which, based on my experience, are inevitable but do not have to be unbearable. This means I share advice on your home, college, travel, work, and faith. Still have questions? Keep reading to learn more about how I got here and why blogging has become my new favorite escape.
A year ago today…
On September 29th, 2021 I moved to Cambridge, England to pursue a master’s degree at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. I will forever be grateful for the support I received that helped me get there, though I quickly decided I couldn’t stay. After experiencing the ultimate burnout, I dropped out of my master’s program, moved back to the United States, then to the other side of the country, got engaged, bought a house, and started building the life I’ve always wanted to live.
Becoming Gabrielle Nicole Co
I created a blog the week following my college graduation. My original plan was to document my journey and potential travels that might have taken place while pursuing my master’s degree at the University of Cambridge. I was looking forward to sharing the experience with others who might have thought it sounded unachievable. I also knew I would need to have some kind of creative outlet that would allow me to enjoy writing while under intense academic pressure.
So, the process started in May 2021, but for the next four months I was working three jobs to pay for my prestigious master’s degree and was working an average of 90-100 hours per week. Anyone who has done this before knows how damaging it can be for your physical, mental, and spiritual health. For me, it also made my first (and only) three weeks at Cambridge incredibly hard (especially when the program I had worked so hard for forgot I existed).
For a long time, there was a part of me that wished I could have told you I had stayed. I wish I could say I was spiritually strong enough to endure the challenges I faced when I arrived there. After all, it felt wrong to give up an opportunity like that. At the same time, it felt like a distraction and an excuse to keep putting my life on hold. I thought I had no choice but to go to grad school and get a stable job before gaining the freedom to do what I really wanted to do. I wanted to travel and create art, and it was very unlikely that I would have had the time or money to do that while attending the university and working in my spare time.
Finding comfort in the uncomfortable
When I left the program, I was devastated by the way everything came to an end. I came face to face with my anxiety and depression in a way I had never done before. I also allowed myself to rest without any other commitments for the first time in my life. Since then, I have learned how to overcome disappointment and embrace unpredictability, which brings me here.
I believe everyone can take something away from my experiences. My best advice to you is to find comfort in the uncomfortable — whether you are traveling, building relationships, going to school, or pursuing your dream job. This doesn’t mean you should dismiss your concerns or cease having emotions but rather expect the unexpected and navigate the waves. If you’ve heard the phrase, “calm under pressure,” or have ever been able to perform well in a chaotic environment, you know what I mean.
I believe this can be a very healthy and faithful approach to life. The very disruption that seemed to set me back from achieving my goals sent me speeding towards my longest-held ambitions. I’ve always loved writing and have wanted to lead others in a way like this, but the final push came when something in my life did not go as I had planned. I’m still learning, of course, but I hope that through this platform we can learn from each other and get uncomfortable. My goal is to grow, and we can’t grow if all we do is pursue that which is comfortable.