Disbelief at a veritable wall of Nutella at Eataly

(Starving) Artist in NYC

I took advantage of this day off to take ballet class this morning at Steps on Broadway with a friend who graduated in my class and now dances with Sarasota Ballet.  Per usual in professional classes with Nancy Bielski, we were accompanied by celebrities in the ballet world, Misty Copeland, Julie Kent and Sara Mearns among other professional dancers and other dancers of all levels.  It was incredible to finally take class again after having taken off several weeks since the end of school with preparing to move to NYC for the summer.  Of course, I will be ridiculously sore tomorrow after a challenging class, but I hope to take advantage of the great opportunity to drop into open classes at Steps throughout the summer!

Enjoying noodles at The Republic in Union Square on a rainy Thursday.

First Day at the Office

After an exhilarating first day helping out at the photo shoot, I knew that Wednesday would bring more work and more writing with less famous people, but regardless, I was anxious to be a part of the journalistic process.   This would be my first real glance at the many steps involved in publishing a magazine.  To my excitement, Eliza immediately gave me the task of brainstorming ideas for sidebar pieces, small blurbs on upcoming fashion- or culture-related events and updates on store openings.  I was additionally asked to request high resolution photographs, for use in the magazine, from the PR managers at various companies.  This was a process I was unfamiliar with: I didn't even realize photos could not simply be taken off websites.  I was soon engaged in email communications with these PR managers.
However, I was most excited by the next task: writing the short bits for the sidebars.  I did not realize that I would have the chance to actually write for the magazine, even if it was only tiny pieces.  This type of immersion provides meaning to an internship in the journalism field; in other words, I would not simply be doing organizational or secretarial type tasks or getting coffee for everyone in the office.  I was thrilled by the influx of small tasks throughout the day, which kept me busy and made the time fly.

A few pictures from the Highline Park in the Sky in West Chelsea.  I took advantage of a day off to explore the city with my aunt. 

So Real or Surreal?

In a word, day 1 was a blur.  But an incredible and awesome blur at that.  Commuting from my friend Meghan's house in Scarsdale (where I'm staying for this first week) on the train, my head was spinning with nerves and excitement: I had been told last week that I needed to report to Bath House Studios for a photo shoot for the next three issues of SCENE Magazine and my job would be to check in guests, take down their clothing credits, provide them with necessary paperwork and order the lunch.  But of course, I was panicked as I peered at the google doc of all the photo shoot guests, ranging from clothing and shoe designers to singer/songwriters to filmmakers, screenwriters and music producers. (I don't want to reveal any names just in case!)  In other words, a slew of successful and interesting up-and-coming artists.  I was starstruck before it even started; having trained in a pre-professional residential program to become a ballet dancer, I can understand the perseverance and dedication it takes to achieve success in the arts.

Of course, with my nerves, I had made extra sure that I wouldn't be late and arrived before anyone else from SCENE Magazine.  If I was not already excited about this day, I almost walked into a photo shoot of the cast of Orange is the New Black in the studio above ours.  Sitting on a black leather couch, peering at the list of guests on my computer and the photographer setting up, I began to worry.   Then, a man in jeans and a T-shirt walked in and immediately introduced himself as Peter, Editor-in-Chief.  I panicked.  Oh my gosh the first person who I'm meeting on my first day is in charge of everything.  It turns out he was incredibly friendly and welcoming and couldn't be more down-to-Earth for a person of his position, a guy who can talk comfortably about speaking with celebrities like Madonna.

The first guest of the photo shoot walked in while I was the only one near the entryway, turned to me and said, "Hi, are you running this?"  I was so shocked that I took a few too many seconds to respond, when I finally said, "Um, uh, no I'm an intern, but I can check you in!"  Of course I had no idea how to "check her in."  I tried to look casual and finally my internship supervisor, the Managing Editor of the magazine, Eliza Krpoyan walked in, but unfortunately with a bunch of other people.  She was busy, running around, helping to get this show on the road, and I was clueless.  I waited patiently and pretended to look busy and like I knew what I was doing.  Thankfully, she soon explained to me that I needed to provide a photo release to each guest and find out the designer of his/her clothing, shoes and any jewelry for the photo credits.

The guests filtered in one after the other and Eliza expressed numerous times, smiling and apologetic that she was crazy for throwing me in on one of the busiest days of the summer, but I couldn't be more thrilled by the excitement of it all.  I mean really, I had the chance to speak to some of fashion and pop culture's newest stars and see their incredible outfits and awesome pictures in person.  After successfully ordering lunch for everyone and then finishing the afternoon/evening group, I was exhausted but still in disbelief of how lucky I was to be present at the shoot.

Eliza said jokingly, "I hope every day you spend at the office will be every bit as exciting!"  Having bonded with other SCENE employees during lunch, including Creative Director Dean and Stylist Jasmine, I said goodbye to everyone and left the studio high on life.  Over the past two years, with a lifelong interest in writing and journalism, I developed the plan of interning for a magazine in NYC over the summer and this incredible introduction to that world left me simply reeling.  At the same time that what I had only dreamed of suddenly became very real to me, it was also surreal in that after months of planning and imagining, I couldn't believe it was finally happening.

Preparations

After arriving back to the place I have most recently called home, Rochester, NY from an incredible freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis, non-stop preparations began almost immediately for my upcoming summer in NYC.  From doctors appointments to shopping for business casual attire to completing paperwork for receiving school credit for one of my part-time internships, I can't say I have had much time for relaxation.  Luckily, I'm happiest when I'm busiest and the rest of the summer should prove to be equally busy.
During my spring break, I visited New York City in order to interview at several publications and social media agencies that were looking for summer interns.  I secured a part-time internship with SCENE Magazine, the style, pop culture and art magazine of The New York Observer and also a part-time internship with Spoon University, an online publication that deals with all things food for the college student.  Additionally, I will be taking an NYU class entitled "New and Social Media Marketing for the Arts" as well as attending open dance classes at Steps on Broadway.  As a huge lover of all things arts, I can think of no other place I would rather spend my summer than New York City, where I have access to the highest quality performances and museums and the ability to continue taking dance classes to keep up my ballet technique.