Name: Lissette Calveiro
Major: Public Relations and Leadership Studies
Hometown: Miami, FL
Relationship Status: I call my boyfriend Marshmallow; he calls me Lily pad.
Campus Involvement and Extracurricular:
• The IGNITE Party Campaign Manager: won all 44 of legislative and executive branch seats this spring!
• Student Government Association Press Secretary: served as the voice of SGA at FSU for two consecutive years.
• Florida Senate Intern at Senator Evers’ office: from publicity to legislative duties, serving in our state government has been a favorite.
• FSU Service Scholar: a group of 10 to 12 students are selected prior to starting at FSU and are offered a scholarship on the basis that we complete more than 75 hours of service every semester. Through this, I’ve participated in various service projects and executive boards across campus and the Tallahassee community (The Big Event, Oasis Center for Women and Girls, PeaceJam Southeast, et cetera).
Her Campus (HC): You’re always so stylish! Describe your everyday style:
Lissette Calveiro (LC): Most recently, I find that comfort triumphs extravagance. Working at The Capitol requires that I maintain myself in a business professional manner. Around those hours I’m commuting on and off campus for classes and extracurricular activities, meaning that the tight pencil skirt and Jeffrey Campbell pumps combination are a no-go. However, I always make it a point to include a statement piece: a necklace, patterned blazer, leather piece, bright lipstick, et cetera, to let [my] personality stand out. The most important thing I’ve learned from this is that fashion is not about luxury; it’s about self-expression and using clothes as a vehicle for making people feel great about themselves.
HC: Who (or what) is your style inspiration?
LC: I pick up inspiration from the people around me. One can say this is the reason I’m drawn to big cities; I’m surrounded by people all the time. There’s no better feeling in the world than jumping on a subway or strolling down a busy street full of creative, unique people and their style. I find myself thinking, “I like how she did this, I like the way her pants are rolled up, I’m going to try tucking my shirt in like that next time, et cetera.” When I’m hibernating at home, I pick up the latest Vogue and Elle magazine copies, developing inspiration from their editorial — I try to ignore the advertisements.
HC: What’s your favorite thing about being a student at FSU?
LC: Something I really appreciate about Florida State University is the power of the student. Being involved in Student Government Association, I’ve witnessed students shift social norms and stimulate positive change. From lobbying in Washington D.C. to sitting in on meetings with important administrators, the student voice at FSU sits at the top of the hierarchy. And, of course, I absolutely love being National Champions!
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HC: What’s your dream job?
Right now I’m torn between working as a publicist in the government or entertainment sector; I am incredibly passionate about advocacy and the arts. I interned in New York City last summer working as a publicist for Broadway and other major entertainment entities and loved that, although we are working on the production’s image, we [also] work closely with the actors, producers and directors, making sure they are attending the right events, hosted on the most relevant media channels and that their ‘image’ is in tip-top shape. The same goes for working with press at The Capitol — we are really working on the ‘image’ of our politicians and the issues they advocate for. Being in a big city is a requirement, the fast-paced life keeps me productive, and working directly with people to increase their publicity, or shape their brand, would be ideal.
HC: Who’s your celebrity crush and why?
LC: For a while, James Franco has been my celebrity crush. Not only is he incredibly attractive and talented, he’s ridiculously smart. While winning Academy Awards and filming household classics, Franco wrote independent films, taught at New York University, is a PhD candidate at Yale University, and works to advocate for the arts.
HC: Do you have any quirks to your personality?
LC: I don’t know that I can answer this question for myself, but I think it’s interesting how much positive energy I have. I’m ‘that girl’ that wakes up at 7 a.m. with a smile on, watching the sun glisten through the window, telling all her girlfriends to put a smile on. Come midnight, I’m still ready to go, making people laugh and encouraging them to enjoy their night. Fun fact: I have something I call ‘the 1:30 a.m. windfall of inspiration,’ meaning if I’m awake at this time I’m probably writing a short story, working on new ideas for my organizations or talking to others passionately — it’s pretty quirky.
HC: What’s something most people don’t know about you?
LC: I need a cup of tea to survive the day — 96 percent of the time it’s green tea. Due to health complications, I had to stop drinking coffee early in 2013 and I learned to cope through tea. It’s even become a hobby collecting teas or finding new ways to consume it; my favorite lately is mixed in with smoothies. In my apartment, I have a wooden box full of teas I’ve collected through personal purchases or gifts. I know what leaves give you energy or put you to sleep, and even some specific to alleviating negative symptoms throughout the body. Can you tell I’m tea-crazed?
HC: I know you’re like an internship guru, any advice for people looking for an internship?
LC: Landing the perfect internship requires a lot of planning ahead, research of your industry and its key players, finding creative ways to stand out among the other applicants, making backups for the backups, and loving the journey. Aside from all this, I think the most important thing about finding an internship is remaining passionate. By the time you start thinking about internships, you should have an idea of what you want your life to look like. You need to have an idea of what or whom you are willing to work long (sometimes unpaid) days for. I strongly believe that if you’re passionate about something you will jump through hoops to reach your goal — this resilience is key during the internship hunt!