My #BeReal guest today is Kate Tilton.

I am so appreciative of the response I’ve had with this series.  I hope you guys are enjoying getting to know some new people.

I have to thank Rachel Thompson for today’s guest. Kate is an inspiration to other 21 year old women looking to change the world one new friend at a time.  Please take some time to say hi.

By being YOU the connections you make will be more genuine!

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I believe that I can do anything. I believe that you can do anything, too. I believe that as long as my heart is set on the goal, as long as I fight for it, beg for it, work for it—I can have it. I believe that anything is within reach as long as I make the effort to get it. I believe that you can achieve your dreams and reach your goals, too. It is this belief that has led me to where I stand now, to who I am today.

No matter how many times someone tells me no, I still believe. I believe that we are all capable of reaching untold wonders if we would only believe we could reach that high. I believe that if only we were to never take no as an answer to our dreams, if we were to fight for what we believe in, if we were to go beyond our limits to prove to the world that we can, then I believe we would reach what our heart desires most.

Having this belief does not make me any better than anyone else. In this world we all struggle, but I know in my heart that everyone can achieve what they fight for, work for, and believe in. I know that if you truly set your eyes on the prize at the end of the journey there is no obstacle that can stop you. Whether your goal is to pass a math class or change the world, I believe that you can do it. I know that you can do it and I know that I can do it too.

This belief is at the core of everything I do. And it is bigger than looking for fame and fortune. Because at the end of my life, when I’m old and frail and have nothing left to give to the world, neither fame nor fortune will be of any use. At the end of my journey on this earth, the thing that will matter is who I helped along the way. So when you are struggling with the world telling you that you can’t, remember there is someone out there who believes in you.

What does being real mean to you?

I grew up in a small village and was homeschooled at a young age. After my parents’ divorce I entered a public school system where I didn’t have any friends. I tried to earn friends by following the popular trends. Rubber bracelets were a huge trend so I got as many as I could and wore them daily. And those bracelets weren’t the only trend I tried to follow. But with time I learned a very important lesson. True friends wouldn’t be bought by the latest trend. Once I realized my efforts were pointless, I learned to just be me. Luckily this happened early in my life, in sixth grade, so I’ve had years of bliss being able to show the world my true colors, and let the chips fall where they may.

It has become more difficult as I have aged. People expect certain things of you the older you are. But as I sit here writing this at the age of 21 I still proudly say I’m a crazy cat lover, and I love plushies and cartoons. I play romance sims and have a list of fictional boyfriends a mile long. And yes, these things make me weird. They aren’t common to 21-year-olds. But they are me, and they bring me joy. And the coolest thing in the world is when I connect with someone who feels the same way.

How do you think people see you when they only have an image to go by?

I think it depends on the image they see. I use a professional photo for my social media channels. As a business owner I believe it is important to be professional and show that professionalism in all aspects of life. But I enjoy sharing the personal side too. I find that when I am open about the things I love, that is when I connect with people in a real and meaningful way. So hopefully when someone sees an image of me they see the joy of life. Because life is a pretty wonderful thing.

And what do you think people are most surprised to discover about you?

It amazes me that people always seem surprised to learn what a geek I am! Maybe being at the top of my class and running my own business makes people think I’m super serious (I am when I need to be!) but overall I’m a pretty geeky, quirky girl. If someone comes up and wants to talk comic books, that’s all I need to make a brand new friend.

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Bio:
Kate Tilton has been in love with books for as long as she can remember. A relatively new voice in publishing, Kate has been serving authors behind the scenes since 2010. Founder of Kate Tilton’s Author Services, LLC, Kate works as an author assistant, social media manager, and speaker with the mission of connecting authors and readers. Kate is the creator and host of #K8chat (Thursdays at 9pm Eastern on Twitter), a contributor to BadRedhead Media, and has appeared on popular media such as Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, The Book Designer, Kobo Writing Life and Rafflecopter. A cat-lover and fan of many geeky things, Kate can likely be found curled up with the latest Doctor Who episode, plotting world takeover, or connecting authors and readers in any way she can.

Links:
Website: http://katetilton.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/K8Tilton
Instagram: http://instagram.com/k8tilton

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If you like the idea of the #BeReal campaign, and want to share your views on it, please link up with us. You can help make this a bigger, brighter movement than it already is.

All opinions welcome – it’s about being real, after all!

To help spread the message, read and share one another’s posts.

And remember – be YOU! #BeReal.