As I sat at my little desk job on campus, I spontaneously typed “Fashion Public Relations Internship, Locations Los Angeles” into my Google search box. Not over thinking or expecting anything but hoping for everything. I needed a change, I needed a breath of fresh air and I needed to step outside my small college town of Carrollton, GA. Who would have thought that a little daydream would have turned out to be my reality.
After a lot of preparation and anticipation, my best girlfriends and I excitedly embarked on the 36 -hour car ride to Los Angeles. It was fun, long and exactly what we needed to set the tone for our summer adventure. What I didn’t realize those long hours in the car is how much I would change, grow and learn in the 3 months ahead of me.
It all started the first day walking into a top fashion Public Relations firm as an intern. It was a dream come true that quickly turned into a reality check. It was scary, exciting, and intimidating all at the same time. It was nothing the classroom or textbooks can prepare you for. Everyday on the job I learned that you have to take initiative, ask for help when needed, put yourself out there and be confident in your abilities no matter what! It’s a fast-paced, competitive industry, and I accepted the challenge! Everyday there was something different to work on and someone new to help. Getting to experience real world PR work in the fashion industry is something that I will forever be influenced and inspired by. I was able to reach out to some of the most influential bloggers, mock up content for some of my favorite brands, and make relationships with some amazing girl bosses! I think back to so many memories like getting to know my fellow interns on our daily lunch breaks at Bristol Farms, trying to navigate myself thorough LA traffic for magazine runs, trying not to pull my hair out at the daily printer issues and managing my way through the very unorganized shoe closet! Looking back on my experience even the pull-your-hair-out moments added up to make this internship an exciting learning experience that will stay with me forever!
When I wasn’t spending my days in the office Monday-Thursday, you could say I was living the California dream! We planned weekend getaways, explored Catalina Island, celebrated our 21st birthdays, and had late night dance sessions in our tiny house.We were living our best lives-not to say there weren’t struggles in our paths and deficits in our bank accounts (sweat face emoji). Our adorable little wooden home was in the heart of Silver Lake, one of the hippest and coolest little hole-in-the wall neighborhoods! It was different then we expected, but it became our happy place in the big city! We were in walking distance to so many great restaurants and shops including Millie’s Cafe- a great brunch spot and of course our favorite 99Cent store on the corner of La Cienga Blvd (you can literally find anything your heart desired in this place).
They say people come to California to find themselves, and I truly believe it after the three months I spent there. The Los Angles lights, the people, the palm trees, and the energy-it is all full of life. You cannot get an experience quiet like it in any other city. I will never forget one of our last days of the summer. We drove out to Malibu on Pacific Coast Highway, blaring music and taking in the fresh warm air. We spent the day hiking up sandy dumes, lying on the beach in our T-shirts and truly enjoying the beauty that surrounded us. We ended our day at a Malibu winery with some music, laughs and a lot of Rosé. Driving home later that night, I remember looking out the car window at the glowing city lights and at the moment I truly took in the uniqueness of the city and all of the amazing memories I had made. This trip became more than just an office internship or resume builder, but an adventure of a lifetime.
My hope with this article is to encourage anyone and everyone to do something they never thought they would do! GO NOW! Pack your bags, take a trip (except, maybe don’t skip classes). Don’t give up on chasing your dreams! Wither it be an internship in Los Angeles, dating a new person, or taking a big risk, when you learn to step outside your boundaries and try new things, you learn more about yourself, your passions and your abilities!