As HC Nottingham reaches the end of its second amazing year, we couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic. This time last year we were saying goodbye to the girls who brought Her Campus to Nottingham – the founders and first ever co-editors, Anna Teale and Maddie Wilson. We wouldn’t be here without them! A year on we caught up with them to share the memories and see what they’ve been up to!
How did you get involved with Her Campus in the first place?
Anna: Maddie and I went on a year abroad with our course, American Studies, and both ended up going to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I first discovered the university’s branch of Her Campus, Her Campus Illinois, in the Fall semester when I was handed a flyer for it. From then on, I would check the website regularly to read the new stories and blog entries. Then, in the Spring semester I plucked up the courage to email the HC Illinois correspondent at the time, asking if there were any open positions. She emailed straight back to tell me about a news editorial intern position, and I managed to get the spot. Without any prior writing experience, I felt like this was my big break! I wrote four articles during my time for Her Campus Illinois as well as helping with a fundraiser, something both Maddie and I got involved in together. I was so thrilled to be a part of something I had admired so much during my first semester in Illinois!
Maddie: When Anna said she was getting involved I thought that it would be a fun thing to try and get involved in while we were in Illinois. I was a social media intern over there which I really enjoyed!
And what inspired you to start your own chapter in Nottingham?
Anna: A girl that I met through Her Campus Illinois told to me that I should start a chapter when I returned to Nottingham for my final year. I immediately thought about the dreaded dissertation we would have in final year and the part time job I had secured, and laughed it off. However, I was aware of the deadline for submitting new chapter applications and as soon as it started getting close to that date I felt like the opportunity couldn’t be missed. I got in touch with Maddie to see if she’d like to open the chapter with me and the rest, they say, is history!
Maddie: In America a lot of students are really involved in things whilst at University, doing internships and joining clubs. It sort of made me evaluate my second year at Nottingham which consisted of TV and Market Bar and I realised that I wanted to be being a lot more proactive. When Anna suggested HC Notts I thought it would be perfect!
What was it like heading one of the first HC chapters in England – were there any pressures or difficulties?
Anna: I think the biggest difficulty we faced was that people didn’t know the name or what Her Campus was about. I remember calling the Students’ Union a month or so before we started back at uni for our final year, and the guy I spoke to was incredibly confused. He ended up telling me that he just didn’t understand what Her Campus was – surely we were a money making scheme? Why on earth would I work for them for free? He didn’t think we could ever get approval as a real society at Nottingham because he was suspicious of us. I think he was a little more narrow-minded than most people, but that was a hurdle right from the start. In America you would never have this problem – it’s so universally known there. Maddie and I worked really hard to get the word out on campus, though, from flyering in student halls (not technically allowed) and asking our friends on other courses to send out emails to fellow students. Awareness definitely grew as the year went on and our growing team were a huge part of this. As the third chapter in England at the time (fourth in the UK), it felt amazing to have turned this idea into a fully-operating online magazine!
Maddie: I was actually really concerned about growing a team as no one would know what Her Campus as a brand was. Luckily after a bit of perseverance we had a lot more people than I’d expected interested which was great and it was such a good team! The only other thing I’d say was a bit problematic was taking an American styled site and making it work for us. Some of the article themes that are popular in America aren’t necessarily going to be appreciated in the UK, but once you understand what works then it’s all downhill from there. The writers were actually always great at picking topics that Notts students would like.
Best part of your HC year?
Anna: I honestly think that the best part of my HC year was handing HC Nottingham over to Sam and Sheetal. Maddie and I had done the job of bringing the magazine to it’s feet but an even harder job was finding the right girls to hand it over to, and knowing that they were fully committed to the task. It was such a relief when we saw Sam and Sheetal’s applications and reading how passionate they were about HC. We knew we’d be leaving HC in very capable hands – and I’ve been so impressed with what they’ve done this year. They’ve taken our success and quadrupled it; expanding HC Nottingham’s horizons massively!
Maddie: I think I would have to agree! I had a bit of a worry starting off with HC in Notts that people wouldn’t really get it. Then without having people to hand over to it would have really all seemed a shame at the end of the year but thankfully that didn’t happen. Following it since we have graduated has been amazing, it seems to have gone from strength to strength which is amazing! I feel like a proud mum!
The exec team handover meeting in June 2013
What have you been up to since leaving Nottingham?
Anna: After graduating in July I worked unpaid in London until November. I did two internships during that time, one in PR and one in marketing. The marketing internship led to a job and I now work at Michael Kors in the wholesale marketing team. It’s extremely hard work but I love the challenge. I do miss being a student with all that free time though!
Maddie: I saved up money and then went to Australia and New Zealand for a few months which was ideal! I’m now working for a media company in London. We actually went back to Illinois recently too and visited the university which was fantastic.
Looking back, what do you miss the most about university?
Anna: I miss spending all my time with the friends I made there and the freedom we had. I also miss Nottingham as a place – the nightlife is great! My uni friends and I actually had a reunion in Nottingham in January and attempted to re-live being students again…
Maddie: Is it weird to say I miss Hallward? I think I had a bit of a weird Stockholm Syndrome going on with it towards the end of the year. I miss Lenton and the sound of sirens soothing me to sleep. Fourth year was so much fun because there were fewer people so you ended up knowing a large percentage of them – I miss the bubble!
And finally, do you have any advice for our HC readers and writers currently at university?
Anna: Don’t panic too much about finding a job by the time you leave university! It would obviously be great if you find one but I spent way too much time worrying about it during my final year. I was home only one month before I started my first internship – things happen quicker than you think. Enjoy every day you have left! For writers, I would seek out internships during the Summer in between uni. There’s nothing stopping you sending a speculative letter to a newspaper or magazine – more often than not they will read it and will reply. That way you could leave uni with a couple of good internships under your belt and some contacts in the industry!
Maddie: For first and second years – soak it all in and I think Anna is definitely right about internships. A good internship over the summer is so helpful to you later on. For final years – Don’t freak out over jobs if it means you aren’t focused on essays/exams because it can all wait. I think most importantly, in the time between finishing exams and leaving Notts, literally do everything possible and have the most amazing few weeks. Those weeks were probably my favourite time in my whole 3 years at Nottingham.
HC Nottingham has just recently held its end of year handover meeting for 2014-15. We welcome Harriet Dunlea as our new Co-Editor along with Sam; Imogen Vance and Joanna Webley-Brown as our new Heads of Social Media, and Kimberley Bond as the new Publicity Manager. Thanks for sticking with us this year – have a great summer and see you in September! xo