NetworkingNetworkingNetworkingNetworking

It's key for pretty much every profession. It might be a harsh reality to live with, but it's true. It's not always about talent/brains/intelligence/skill, you need to know the right people, too. I'm not saying that all those great qualities won't get you anywhere, because they definitely will. But you can't simply depend on your own personal achievements and abilities to get you that amazing job. You need to network, market yourself, market your abilities, use any and every connection you have ever made to your advantage. Also, on that note, never create negative feelings between yourself and someone who is involved in the professional business that you want to be involved with and in which you want to start your own career - that definitely will not be helpful and may actually be harmful for your future. Networking. It's something I started to do this past summer at my internship and is something I'm trying to continue to do.

Last night was ASK Night here at Puget Sound. I wasn't able to go because I had a mandatory dress rehearsal for Dorians. I was upset because ASK Night is when a bunch of alumni come to answer any questions that current students may have about a specific career. There are people who graduated with degrees in a wide array of majors and are currently working in very impressive fields. It's basically a great opportunity to create connections and, well, network. Students give out resumes, receive business cards, and create open lines of communication with these professionals. When I looked up the list of alumni who would be at ASK Night, I found one person who I really would have LOVED to have met. Her name is Gretchen DeGroot, she works for One Reel. I've been looking into One Reel since this past summer and am really hoping to apply for and get an internship with them this coming summer. One Reel is the organization that sets up the intern programs for music festivals in the Pacific Northwest such as Bumbershoot. I would LOVE to have an internship with Bumbershoot. It would be so incredible and I feel like I would gain so much amazing experience and so many great connections [networking, right?]. Especially since one of my dreams is to organize my own music festival someday, it would be such a great opportunity to get a solid idea of how things work. When I interned at the Ojai Music Festival this past summer, I got a small taste of the behind-the-scenes life of a music festival and it was awesome. But being a part of something that's so much bigger would provide me with even greater knowledge.

Anyway, so I was bummed that I couldn't go to ASK Night and I was in the Cellar with my friend, Taylor, getting pizza after rehearsal when Serni Solidarios came up to me and told me that he wants to introduce me to someone: Gretchen DeGroot. I was so happy to meet her and told her that I had seen her name on the list of people at ASK Night and really wanted to meet her - I also explained why I wasn't able to go. They both also explained to me that Gretchen had graduated with the Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival: Jeff Haydon. Serni decided to take a picture of me and Gretchen to send to Jeff; I thought that was funny. All these crazy connections among people at Puget Sound just blow my mind. Gretchen gave me her card and I expressed my interest in interning with One Reel. I just sent her an email. I hope things work out well, I hope I get an amazing internship this summer, - I'm applying for 3 so far - I'm so excited for this summer and it's barely October. I just want to start applying for internships already and start my summer! Oh well, I'll have to get through my Sophomore year first and then finally start the fun stuff.

Whichever internship I end up getting will be amazing. I'm hoping to be able to return to Ojai this summer to do that internship again. I loved interning there so much this past summer and all the other interns were so great, it'd be nice to be able to hang out with them again. I'm also applying for a few NPR internships; I'm interested in getting involved in radio in the future so that would be a great experience. They have offices in Culver City, CA and in Washington D.C. I'm not sure if we can choose at which one we'd like to have an internship, but if I could I think I'd choose D.C. I mean, I like being home and I love my mom and sister, but I feel like I really need to push myself to learn to live on my own because, at this point, I don't know if I'll even be going back home after I graduate; I really don't think I will and I'm already planning on not going back for the majority of the next few summers. And I love the east coast, I think it's has so much character and is just thriving, so I'd love to be in that environment for a few months. In addition to those internships, like I said, I'll be applying for an internship with One Reel for Bumbershoot. Who knows where I'll end up? I'm just going to do what I need to do in order to be qualified for these internships and we'll see what happens.

To sum it all up, I'm just so excited for any options that may be available to me this summer. It's all about networking. Get out there and meet people who are involved in the field in which you are interested. Keep in touch with past connections made, stay friendly, and don't create animosity. That's my advice. Take it or leave it, after all I am just a 19-year old college student who is so unsure about so many things; I don't sound like a very reliable source of information or a wise adviser. This is just what I've gathered from my own experiences and by observing the experiences of others. Network. I really don't have anything else to say.