Becoming an Intern

Being an intern has been both a challenge and a great learning experience. I would highly suggest to all college students to be sure to complete an internship before they graduate.

When you are searching for an internship, my advice is to put your resume on a job search website like careerbuilder.com or monster.com. I received an overwhelming amount of calls from businesses that pulled my resume. I sifted through them and called back the ones that interested me the most. No matter the skepticism you feel, give them a chance. I didn't know what the company I currently intern for was when I first called them back, but they were ready to give me all the information I wanted and I asked enough questions that it eased the uncertainty.

When the company initially called they were looking for a full time employee, but I was already employed and not even looking for other work. I gave it a chance anyways and got to talking with the admin about where I'm at in school and work and what I'm looking for after school. After talking a little she informed me of an opportunity for an internship. I had always heard that I needed an internship sometime in college and I always told myself I would figure all that out my senior year. Now that this opportunity came knocking on my door, I was excited to explore it more and scheduled some meetings to learn more about the company. I'm not one to turn down opportunities so when I was offered the position, I accepted even though I didn't have a very clear idea of what I was getting into.

I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to intern and further my education outside of the classroom and I don't regret taking the chance on an experience that I was unsure about at first. Interning has been a very rich experience. I have learned so much about business, sales, networking, having goals and motivation, teamwork, and so much more. I am lucky enough to receive university credit for my internship, but even if I didn't I would still do it. I have figured out that there are some areas of business that I may not pursue as a career and I've also learned about many aspects that I am interested in.

My advice for anyone looking for an internship is to keep an open mind about the business and position. I think most internships have great knowledge to offer even if it's not exactly the career you want after college. It doesn't have to be a career, that's why it's an internship. Sometimes, you are lucky enough to develop your internship into a career after it's over though so make sure to work hard and make a lasting impression!

"Why Not You?"

This weekend I went to a conference in PDX for business leaders with the company I intern for. It was my first conference of this kind and WOW! It was great! If you're interested in being successful in your business career I'm going to sum up for you, the inspiring advice I was given (bullet points included of course!).

Even without the exceptional speeches and public speaking skills, the success that the speakers personally earned in their careers, spoke for itself. Each of them had started at entry level and worked their way up to the top. I'm not nearly as successful or charming as the individuals who spoke, but I will do what I can to convey their messages. Using the notes that I was frantically jotting down as they spoke, here is some of the advice I was able to retain:

• Terminate your limiting beliefs. Empower yourself and believe without limiting yourself. As the great Russell Wilson said, "Why not you?" (GO HAWKS)

• People buy people, not products. A product can't really sell itself. You have to sell it and someone is going to buy you and your help as well as the product. 

• Live your life with integrity-do the right thing when no one is watching. Sometimes that entails doing the exact opposite of what you don't want to do. Sorry!

• Understand the goals and fundamentals of your business to be successful.

• Focus on controllable factors when an uncontrollable happens. Create a solution from there.

• Stay ahead of your competition.

• It's not what you say, but how you say it.

• Manage your state-if you feel like shit, you'll perform like shit. So change your attitude if you need to. You are the one that controls your state of being.

• Visualize your goals. One of the speakers in the conference, Ali Alami, said, "see things as they are, not worse than they are and visualize things better than they are."

• Be committed to your goals instead of just interested in them. Be willing to endure adversity. Bad days define you; embrace them and learn from them.

• A goal without a plan is just a dream.

Losing is unacceptable

Passion is unquenchable

Quitting is unthinkable

Committment is unquestionable

Victory is inevitable 

Here's one last message from the great Super Bowl Champ DangeRUSS Wilson that can change your life:

Being Happy While on the "Pursuit of Happiness"

I think it's safe to say that college students have a lot on their plates at all times. Being an intern, an employee, and a student, the stress is all too real and my plate is definitely full 7 days a week. I am not a superhuman by any means. If I didn't take certain measures to make sure I am enjoying the ride, I would surely crack under the pressure.
As we get older, life passes us by at a much faster speed it seems. The weeks, days, months all fly by in the blink of an eye. Next thing I know, I am turning a year older without even taking a solid breath since my last birthday. I have learned to cope with my life moving so quickly a few different ways. I'm here to pay it forward and pass it on to you because one time, this one guy said something that turned into an annoying cultural phenomenon...

So here are some things I make sure to do so that I can enjoy life while I'm extremely busy trying to build one:

• Take a day to sit on the couch and watch episodes of your favorite shows on Netflix (I typically do this on Spring Break or get my homework done extra early one week so that I have a full day off)
• Take a night off. Go have a drink with friends. Go to a movie by yourself. Do WHATEVER you want with your night. I like to get drinks with my boyfriend and friends and we have a blast.
• Listen to music while you get ready in the morning-there is nothing better then rocking out in the shower and while you straighten your hair. Sets you up for a great day, every time!
• Paint your nails (ladies specifically, but guys feel free?!) I always feel so much better about my appearance when I have nice nails. I feel like I'm ready for anything and nail polish is the one beauty item that you don't have to re-apply daily.
• Don't do your hair on the days you don't have to. If you aren't going somewhere that requires professional dress, just don't do your hair. Save the time, energy, effort, and the damage to your hair for another day. 
• Take care of yourself. On the days you don't have to leave your house, put your hair in a hair masque (I use coconut oil) and put an exfoliate on your face and show yourself some TLC.
• Put on lipstick (again, ladies!). You will look as sexy as you feel and it takes about 10 seconds.
• Get your tasks done early. I know as college students we are the Kings & Queens of procrastination, but I'm telling you that if you get in the habit of doing your tasks early in the week, you will find your stress level significantly lower.
• Write a list of goals/ambitions/priorities. This makes you feel good as you watch yourself achieve your short term goals and make progress towards your long term ones.
• Sleep. Go to sleep early. Sleep in on the days you can. You aren't missing anything late at night. If you did what I mentioned previously and have your assignments done early, you won't need to pull all nighters right?
• Get distracted and sit on Pinterest, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Wanelo, or any of those good sites that show you beautiful things. 
• Ignore social media. There's a high chance that the annoying people you went to high school with are still annoying. Enjoy the people right in front of you. Why would you take attention from them to give it to people on social media? 
• Take a second to acknowledge someone that loves you. Stare at your dog, cat, children, spouse, anyone. Appreciate their love and the fact that they choose to love you. Don't be too busy to let something you love take away your stress and remind you that no matter what you're feeling, there is a living creature that loves you unconditionally.
• Walk through life knowing that everyone you meet is fighting a great battle of their own. If we were able to see what every other person is going thru, we would realize that our own problems aren't so bad.

Here's the view of my dog while I try to do pilates. How could you not just stop and enjoy that face of love?