Today I wanted to share an interview with one of my closest “real life” friends Katie Snyder! Not surprisingly, Katie and I met through our mutual love of books and all things reading when we were volunteering as Reading Pals a few years ago. Since then we’ve become close friends and love chatting all things books, Terrace House, and life. Without further ado, meet Katie!
First + Last Name:
Katie Snyder
Location:
Gainesville, Florida
What is your industry or job title?
Higher Education
Education: School/Major
History
What led you to your current career/job/path?
After doing a year of service with AmeriCorps, I realized I did not want to be a teacher. I moved to Gainesville for family reasons and out of circumstances found my first job at the University of Florida.
Do you have any side hustles/projects/hobbies?
Yes! I recently discovered #bookstagram and love to take pictures of books, review them, and share my love for reading on Instagram.
What is a typical weekday like for you?
Getting to work by 7:30am to beat traffic, working a full-day then coming home and if the weather is nice, talking a walk! Then I usually have dinner, catch up on my latest Netflix show, do some homework, and read a book for fun in bed until I fall asleep.
What advice do you have for millennial’s who are struggling to figure out their next step in career or life?
Stop comparing your life to others. In this day in age, it is so easy to get wrapped up in what everyone else is doing on social media, but just worry about yourself! And sometimes you might not get the “dream job,” just yet. Make the best out of what you have and try to find happiness in where you are.
What books, quotes, or ideas have most impacted your life?
As stereotypical as it sounds, the Harry Potter series had such a profound impact on my life (honestly, it still does). I had always enjoyed reading as a child, but Harry Potter took it to a whole new level, where I could escape and go to a different world. Then came the movies, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and it seems the magic just keeps coming! I love the idea that good triumphs evil and that we can all make it through this crazy thing we call life with the help of friends and family. Besides books, I recently discovered Stoicism and one of my favorite quotes from Marcus Aurelius is “What is your vocation? To be a good person.” I am working on making this true.
What tools or habits help you to stay organized at work and home? (For example: a particular planner, pomodoro method, etc.)
I am a huge believer in planning, prioritizing, and time blocking. When people ask me how I can manage to read so many books while working full-time and going to graduate school part-time, my answer is simple; I make it a priority and I set aside time for it. Even if I only get in thirty minutes of reading at night, that is enough for me and it helps keep me sane! I also love the rock, pebbles, and sand analogy from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, highly recommend looking it up for time management advice.
What are you most excited about or looking forward to in your life right now?
I am most excited about graduating from grad school! I am not sure what the next step is after that, but I am hoping to take a new direction in my life.
If you had $100,000 to take a year off, how would you spend your time or what would you do?
I would spend my time reading as many books as possible while traveling the world!
If you enjoyed this post and want to connect with Katie Snyder you can find her on Instagram @Katieladyreads
