Conversations with Riley Mekcley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Mekcley.

Hi Riley , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t start posting because I had some huge plan to become a content creator. I just wanted to be myself in a space where most people try to pretend like they are somewhere else. And that space, is social media.

Hi, my name is Riley and I am a 22 year old teacher from Long Island, New York. In college, I started posting my outfits as I was experimenting with my style. After some time, people started watching my posts.

Some people watched for my outfits, but I noticed how my videos became more than just ‘’what I’m wearing today.” I started to talk about confidence, showing up as your authentic self, and not caring what other people think about you. People would comment and DM me saying how brave it was for me to show up as my real self.

I found this surprising, Shouldn’t everyone want to be their real selves? For anything, it would be more difficult for me to fake a different personality or life that wasn’t my own. Being real on social media allowed me to realize how many people are struggling to love themselves.

Now, I am in my early 20s and working full time. While I post about a positive mindset and confidence, sometimes I find it hard to maintain.

I’ve had things not work out. I’ve failed many of my goals. I’ve compared myself to other people. I’ve questioned what I want to do with my life and I’ve changed my life plans.

I’m still figuring it out. And I think that’s exactly why I post.

I don’t want to stand on the other side of the screen pretending that I have life completely figured out and telling everyone else how to live theirs. I want to be the person figuring it out alongside you.

I want to talk about the weird parts of growing up into an adult that nobody really prepares you for. Trying something and failing. Caring too much about what people think. Building confidence. Going after a goal when you have no idea if it’s going to work. Learning how to invest and take care of your money. Making it a habit to appreciate the ordinary things in life. Changing your mind about what you want your life to look like. Dating, Traveling and so much more.

Fashion was what got me to start posting. But somewhere along the way, I realized my clothes were never really the point…The point was having the confidence to wear them.

And now I want to help other people build that same confidence. To truly love who they are and not be afraid to go after what they want in life.

I’m not here because I have all the answers about how to succeed in your 20s as a young adult, I’m here because I’m living it too, alongside you. My hope is that we can both create a life we love.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The main struggle I’ve had in the last year was figuring how to balance work, friends, exercise, social media, dating, hobbies, and everything else I want to accomplish… there never seems to be enough time!

I’ve had to learn that sometimes balance isn’t about doing everything. It’s about deciding what matters most in the moment and accepting that other things may have to take a back seat for a while. That’s something I’m still learning, but I think that’s part of growing up. Different seasons of life will allow you to give more focus to certain things than others.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I teach middle and high school social studies (history) on Long Island, which is what I wanted to do since I was in 7th grade. Every once in a while, I have to stop and remind myself that I am actually doing what “younger me” dreamed of doing.

As much as I love teaching, I don’t want my career to be what I am known for. I am so much more than what I do for work. Social media has given me an outlet to explore other parts of myself, share what I am passionate about, and connect with people who I may not have met otherwise. I am incredibly grateful for that.

I think one of the most exciting parts about growing up is realizing that you are allowed to change your mind and have new dreams. While I am still honoring a goal that my younger self has set, I’ve developed new goals for the person I am today. One of my new dreams is to become a writer and a published book author. I’m actually working on a children’s book series right now, and having something completely new to work toward has brought so much excitement and purpose into my life.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest piece of advice is to talk to more people, especially in person. Sadly, we live in a time where so much of our interaction happens through a screen, and I think we sometimes underestimate how powerful starting a conversation can be. Talk to someone at the store, compliment someone in a waiting room, introduce yourself at an event, or be the person who invites others to hang out.

Don’t always wait for things to happen to you. Go out and make them happen.

I’ve joined an adult soccer league and a line dancing group, which have introduced me to so many new people. I’ve reached out to people from high school that I hadn’t spoken to in years and formed new friendships. I’ve even DM’d people on social media just to start a conversation. Whether you’re looking for friends, professional connections, or a mentor, sometimes you just have to be willing to make the first move. The worst someone can do is not respond.

I also think it’s important to become your own best friend. People will come in and out of your life, but you are the one person you’ll spend your entire life with. Keep promises to yourself, speak to yourself kindly, and learn to enjoy your own company.

Build relationships with other people, but don’t forget to build one with yourself, too.

Contact Info:

• Email: alwaysdressbest@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysrileymeckley/?hl=en