And the Rio 2016 games are off! I’m showing off American pride in my Team USA Olympic style with Nike. Let’s stand up for progress together and go for gold!
After four years, the summer Olympic games are back with this month’s Rio Olympics. In my excitement, I just had to put together a Team USA style post to express my American pride and support our Olympic athletes as they follow their dreams and chase for gold.
I also want to tip off my hat to Citi Bank’s social media Stand for Progress campaign, which encourages us Americans to share our personal goals – be it athletic or otherwise – across social media, while supporting our Olympic athletes and pursuing progress together. When I think about progress, the Olympics do fit right in. The games are all about hard work, ambition and the American dream. #StandForProgress
With progress in mind, I revisited my grade school track. After all, it’s hard to think about progress without thinking first upon where you began. On this track, my junior high and high school aged self ran and stretched my heart out at practices, cheered from the sidelines at football games and gathered with friends at pep rallies. I was an aviator and together we made up the Sycamore Aviators – aka, “Aves” for short. We wore green and gold, splashed our faces with face paint and wore colorful ribbons in our hair. While school certainly had its ups and downs, we were no doubt a spirited bunch.
I totally wish I had a throwback photo of 7th grade me parading around in her cross-country uniform, but apparently that didn’t qualify as a “Kodak” moment because there are no shots in the family photo albums. That’s okay though, because Team USA Olympic Style with Nike is perfect enough. I really wanted to find the PERFECT 2016 Olympic gear and no one does it better than Nike.
It’s a perfect combination as it turns out, because Nike’s signature tag line is the anthem for progress: Just do it.
Whatever your goal may be – stand up, put in the time, do the work and do it. No dilly dallying. No moping. NO complaining. Just do it.
Side note, I also picked up these matching shades on a weekend trip to Target. Who knew Target has such a diverse collection of sunglasses?
My ‘Just Do It’ leggings aren’t part of Nike’s official Olympic gear, but I felt they matched perfectly. Don’t you? They’re certainly empowering to wear!
From Junior High to Adulthood.
For me, 2016 has been a year of trying to hone my talents and put a lot of thought into where I want things to go in the next 5 years. When I think back to my junior high days, it is amazing how much I myself can see the growth.
Things that used to get to me so much don’t bother me anymore. I no longer feel awkward and uncomfortable in my skin. I used to be so shy when it came time to talk about myself and the things I wanted to do with my life, because when it boiled down do it I just didn’t know. I was unsure of not just myself but my place in the world. Now? I feel like I’ve evolved into a much more confident and self-assured person who isn’t afraid to voice her thoughts. Talk about progress!
It felt good to revisit my grade school and feel like I’m standing on solid ground. While I may have gone through my awkward adolescence years there, the fundamentals I learned are still with me today. When we’re young, I don’t think we realize how great an impact those formative years of your life have on you as a person – and I’m grateful that I did attend a terrific school that offered lots of opportunity. I feel at heart, I’ll always be a Sycamore Aviator.
No doubt, the Olympics have definitely arrived at the perfect time. Summer 2016 has been a bit chaotic and it’s great to stand up and take pride in being an American and celebrate the pursuit of our dreams! Thank you so much for reading and I hope this was a little bit inspiring and encourage you to reflect on just how far you too have come since your junior high years. Here’s to personal progress! *cheers*
#StandforProgress
If you want to join Citi Bank in standing up for progress, share your story on social media using the tag #StandforProgress. There are some pretty inspiring posts out there and you should definitely add yours to the conversation!
Shop the Post
>Nike Official Olympic Rio 2016 Team USA Tank ($30)
Nike ‘Just Do It’ Blue Athletic Leggings ($25 *on sale*)
Target Women’s Blue Sunglasses ($19.99)
As always, stay stylish and keep chasing your dreams!
XOXO
Kelly
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