Presenting, Exploring, and Pausing in Seattle
Seattle from above — a solo pause between presenting research and exploring the city below.
Solo & Soulful Series
📍Seattle, Washington | 📅 January 15-18, 2025
🛏 Hilton Motif Seattle
Seattle welcomed me slowly.
I arrived late in the evening on January 15, 2025, traveling for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference while still a doctoral student at the University of South Carolina College of Social Work. After checking into the Hilton Motif Seattle, I ordered Uber Eats and let the night end quietly — a soft landing before several full days ahead.
The next morning began with volunteering. As a member of the SSWR Doctoral Student Committee, I spent a few hours supporting the conference, reconnecting with familiar faces, and meeting new ones. Afterward, I shifted into attendee mode: attending sessions, networking, and catching up with fellow doctoral students.
Presenting at SSWR
By midday, I stepped out to explore the city on my own and at my own pace. Lunch was at Serious Pie Downtown, known for its wood-fired pizzas made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. From there, I wandered through downtown Seattle, saw the first Starbucks, and moved through the energy of Pike Place Market. It all felt lively but not rushed.
Throughout the trip, Frolik Kitchen & Cocktails, the hotel’s restaurant, became a familiar anchor. I had both breakfast and dinner there, appreciating the consistency — good food, skyline views, and a quiet sense of grounding between full conference days.
January 17 marked the heart of the trip.
After breakfast at Frolik, I presented research from my dissertation work that was supported by one of the University of South Carolina’s student grants and the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW) Doctoral Award. Standing in that space, sharing research I had spent years developing, felt steady and affirming. Not flashy. Just a clear marker of growth.
With the presentation complete, I returned to exploring the city. I visited the Space Needle, taking in sweeping views of the city, then walked next door to Chihuly Garden and Glass, where light, color, and scale invited a slower kind of attention. Lunch followed at Tyger Tyger, a relaxed, family-run Sichuan spot near the Seattle Center.
Later that afternoon, I rested before dinner with faculty and fellow doctoral students from my program at Alder & Ash, a warm, modern space serving New American fare. The evening continued with university receptions connected to the conference, a blend of professional connections and shared celebration.
One of my green-screen "sky-high selfies" while visiting the Space Needle
I left Seattle the following morning.
This trip held a balance I’ve come to value — presenting and pausing, structure and wandering, work and leisure. Exploring Seattle solo, while marking professional milestones, felt grounding and quietly affirming.
Thanks for reading! You can find more moments, memories, and adventure over on Instagram: @_GracefullyWandering
