Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Maggiore
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My path began about six months after I left college. I had graduated in November of 2020 when the world was very uncertain and uneasy. There was no graduation. It was a matter of finishing online classes and moving out as quickly as you could before the holidays. There was no closure I was forced to jump right into the plan I had for myself after graduation without much preparation. I had moved to a new city all on my own. I was navigating jumping from my first job to my second and was living alone for the very first time. I had been through so much change in a matter of six months.
My outlet for handling what I was going through was writing. I started writing about different lessons. I was learning in the post-grad life. These were life lessons like how to find a job or what to do in a certain relationship situation. As I started writing, I began thinking that maybe this should be a book. But I continued to doubt myself and thought there was no way anyone would be interested in reading about my life or what I had to say. But after writing a good amount of pages about what I had been through and what I had learned, I decided to take the plunge and write my own book. It was not a consistent process. There were times of three and four months where I did not touch it because I would look at the page unable to think about anything related to the subject. There were other times where I could not type fast enough to get all of my thoughts onto the page. It took me a year and a half to fully write the book. I designed it myself and poured my heart into it. Going through all the steps of getting it self-published took a lot of researching grit, but I was able to hold my story in my hands. This is what made all of the hard work and questioning if I should do this worth it. I never thought that I would be able to hold my story and give it out to people. I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about something so incredible.
Once I had the book, I started doing local events in the Dallas Fort Worth area to gain some exposure. Also, of course, taking social media to try and gain some traction for the brand and the entire post-grad life. I worked hard to be able to design a brand that meant the world to me. I am very proud of my book to this day and enjoy talking about it with others.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. There are some struggles that I continue to battle like being diligent and dedicated enough to give the book the proper attention and finding new ways to get in front of potential readers. I try my best to come up with as many creative ways as possible for people to learn about my book. But marketing is ever-evolving and so this is a challenge that I face quite frequently. I also have a full life outside of this book, so it does not always get the time it deserves. I have learned to plan out my time a little bit better so I can give the book my energy.
I thought publishing the book would be the hardest part of the journey, but I was wrong. It is actually getting it out to people and making people aware of the book. I enjoy interacting with people through social media about the book and talking about it with people that are going through post-grad life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for my book, called What College Didn’t Teach Me. Enjoy creative writing, and also making a story out of my life. I want people to learn from my mistakes, and from what I have experienced in the years following college, so that they have an easier transition into the real world from their small bubble. I am most proud of how open I was in the book and how much I was able to speak my mind and thoughts on post-grad life. I was also very humbled by the number of people read my book and who gave me incredible feedback.
My book is different because there’s nothing else that shows the nitty-gritty of post-grad life. I want this to resonate with both college students as well as young 20s so that everyone can take a little nugget from the book. I also like how I was able to design the entire book myself from scratch and put my own touches in it.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think the most important lesson I’ve learned along. The journey is not to compare myself to others. It’s very easy to compare myself to very successful authors is or people that are doing more than me in their post-grad years. But if I put my head down and really focus on what is important to me. I will be able to go down the path that is meant for me. Comparison is the thief of joy, and I have learned to not down myself, or even idolize someone else. So that I can stay focus on what I want to do. I encourage everyone to do what they want to do without worrying what others are doing around them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whatcollegedidntteachme.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatcollegedidntteachme/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatcollegedidntteachme
- Twitter: https://x.com/collegedidnt?mx=2
