New job, new outlook

It's hard to believe that it's been two months since I started my new job at Impulse Creative (wait, did I ever mention this new job?!)

Hold on.  Let's back up a second  After I left my job at ITVantage/T3, I spent a week in Minnesota with my family.  When I got back, I started my new job at a marketing and branding agency in Southwest Florida called Impulse Creative.  I work as an inbound marketing consultant to create remarkable content (blogs, social media, emails, website content, etc) for a set of clients.  My job is pretty sweet...I'm not going to lie.

The best part of my job is that even on the worst days, I still love going into work.  The worst part is that I have to go home at night.  I love what I do, and I'm proud of the work that I produce for my clients.  It's not always perfect, and sometimes it doesn't always work the way I had hoped - but that's how you learn.

Three months ago, when people told me that their job didn't feel like work, I thought they were full of shit (excuse my language).  But now, I get it.  I have a job that doesn't feel like a job, and it certainly doesn't feel like work.  It feels like I'm learning while doing something that I love.  I'm so thankful I was given this opportunity, and I can't wait to see where this takes me.

Thanks For The Memories

Today marks my last day at T3 Communications/ITVantage.  I have mixed emotions about all of this.  If I could describe how I feel in one word, it would be “bittersweet.”

After graduating with my master’s degree, I spent months looking for a job, and eventually I was hired as the marketing coordinator for T3 and ITVantage.  The job came with a lot of difficulties and struggles, and at times I just wanted to quit.  There were days where I thought “I can’t take this anymore.”  But at the end of the day, it all made me a better marketing professional. 

I was forced to step outside of my comfort zone to learn all about telecommunications and IT (two fields I knew nothing about).  I was tasked with projects that most entry-level coordinators would never see, like writing content for an entire website.  But I did it all.  I pushed myself to learn new skills and to implement those skills on the job.  I wasn’t perfect, and I certainly made my fair share of mistakes, but I never gave up.

I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given at T3 and ITVantage, and I’m so thankful that my boss took a chance when he hired me.  I can only hope that I didn’t let them down, and that my work mattered.  I want nothing more than to see them succeed (and to be ranked #1 on Google).

I’m excited for this next chapter of my life, but it’s bittersweet leaving my first job behind.  Thanks for the memories, T3 and ITVantage.  You’ll be missed.

Regret (verb): To think of with a sense of loss

I never used to believe in regrets.  I always believed that something good could come out of something bad.  I truly believed you should never regret anything because it can only make you stronger.

But recently, I've had a change of heart.  Going to grad school at Alabama...that's my biggest regret.

Sure, I got to experience a beautiful campus, amazing campus life, and a campus full of history and tradition.  But at what cost?  I risked so much coming here, and although I didn't lose it all, I lost something I fought so hard for for so many years - my happiness.

When I left Florida, I was in a fairly new relationship.  We had only been dating for six months when I moved.  Things were great.  I was in love for the first time in my life, and I felt like I had found the one I was meant to be with for the rest of my life.  Now, 10 months later, we're still together, and I'm so grateful for that because I know he didn't have to stay with me.  But honestly, our relationship is tough.  In a long distance relationship, you rely solely on verbal communication.  And at times, it puts a lot of strain on the relationship.  You fight more often, you run out of things to talk about, and you begin to feel distant.  I've grown so jealous and insecure in this relationship, and I've never been that kind of person before.  It's put unnecessary strain on our relationship, and it's certainly caused a lot of fights. This past year has gotten the best of us, and I almost feel like my relationship is a daily battle.  Some days, I wonder if we're going to make it.

I've struggled with my happiness from the moment I left Fort Myers.  The first few days I was in Alabama I cried every moment I was awake.  It was torture.  Over time I cried a little less, but every now and then, I break down.  I still hurt every day because I feel like I left something something great for something terrible.  I took a gamble, and it backfired.  Each day it hurts to be here, and it's a battle to get up in the morning and work hard.

I'm 68 days away from graduating, and it seriously cannot come soon enough.  I believe in living in the present and enjoying each moment, but right now, I wouldn't mind time speeding up a little.  I'm ready to have my master's degree and move back to Florida.

I don't regret much.  In fact, I can only think of one or two things that I regret.  Every hardship I've experience, every heartache, and every low point in my life has only made me stronger.  Maybe six months from now I'll have that same outlook on this experience.  But right now, I regret coming here.

I'm ready for the worst year of my life to be over.  I'm ready to take the "long distance" out of my relationship.  But mostly, I'm ready to be happy again.  I'm ready to smile and laugh and enjoy life...and really mean it.

Fight Hunger this Thanksgiving with PTE

A year ago I was trying to do it all- taking a full and heavy course load, being Senate Secretary/ Superhero, having an internship, and trying to have more of a social life than I had ever had before. During the thanksgiving holiday season, everyone has food drives. Last year was no exception. With everything going on, it was hard to know who to help and where to turn.

A year ago I was interning for Pushing the Envelope (PTE), a mixed marketing communication firm in Fort Myers, FL. I served as their social media intern, which was the best learning experience I had during my undergraduate career. Around this time, Samantha came in with the idea for a food drive called "CAN IT! Putting Hunger in its Place this Thanksgiving." All of the food would be donated to Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI). The whole team got on board, including the two interns, and even though it turned into an internal competition, it was about so much more than that. In six weeks, the team donated more than 500 cans to CCMI. The internal winner? Alex Fernandez. The guy who is now my boyfriend.

This year, Pushing the Envelope is doing it again.  Welcome to CAN IT! 2012.

Even though I'm in Alabama working on my master's degree, I'm still determined to make a difference and donate to the CAN IT food drive. Not just because I want my boyfriend to have continued bragging rights, but because I know the difference it makes in the community. I know the difference one can or box of food can make. That's a meal. And one meal makes the difference between going hungry or having a full stomach when you go to bed. It really does matter.

I know there are a million different food drives going on this Thanksgiving, but if you're not donating to other food drives, donate to CAN IT! And if you really want to be awesome, donate on behalf of Alex and help him win again :) But in all seriousness, I urge you to help in any way you can. In Alabama, I'm going to be participating in a canned food drive called "Beat Auburn Beat Hunger," but when I make a trip down to Fort Myers, I'll be making a stop at Target so I can donate to CAN IT!

Pushing the Envelope works hard for their clients, but they also work hard to make a difference in their community. As an intern, I appreciated the hard work they put into CAN IT last year. I think it's awesome that they're doing it again this year...and that they have a bigger goal.

PTE's goal this year is to collect 1,000 cans for CCMI, and they have several drop-off locations around Southwest Florida. For drop off locations and more information, visit the CANI IT page on their website.

If you're like me and have a pantry full of food you'll probably never eat, donate those extra cans and non-perishables to PTE's CAN IT food drive. Also, take advantage of those BOGO deals at your local grocery store. With all of these opportunities, there's no reason for people to go hungry this Thanksgiving. Give others the opportunity to go to bed full and help those in need this holiday season.

If you want to get involved by donating or hosting a drop-off location, call 239-221-2858 or email info@getpushing.com

Two weeks until the end

Two weeks from today will be my last day at my internship.  It's an incredibly bittersweet moment, and I've never been so sad for something to end.

Four months ago, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do after graduation.  I still don't, but I have a better clue.  I'm more sure of myself and my future.  I have a sense of where I want to be five and ten years from now.  I can actually see myself in the field of public relations.

When I started my internship back in August, I didn't have any expectations.  I was desperate and needed an internship.  But interning at a PR agency was my dream.  Never for a second did I think it would be a reality for me.

I didn't have a typical PR internship experience.  I never wrote a press release or worked directly with the media.  I never wrote PSAs for a nonprofit or coordinated an event.  But the experience I had was unique, different, and life changing.  I wrote blogs and scheduled tweets.  I updated content schedules and Facebook pages.  I created paper.lis and

There were days where I got so mad at myself because I felt like I couldn't do a single thing right.  There were days where I wondered if I was cut out for this.  There were days when I took way too long to complete a task.  But there were days when I walked in and was told, "You did a great job."  There were days when tasks finally got accomplished.  Moments like that made it all worth it.  It made me realize that though I was nervous about the work I was doing, it was paying off.  It wasn't perfect, but people were happy.  Clients were happy.  That made me happy.

I can't even begin to list all of the things I've learned.  This internship has taught me far more than any of my classes have.  My time at Pushing the Envelope has been incredible, and I truly have nothing to complain about.

I'm going to take these next two weeks to be the best intern I can possibly be.  I'm going to push myself a little harder, work a little longer, and enjoy the time I have left with my co-workers.  The experience would not have been the same without them.