girl talk

My first day at Girls’ Life Magazine started, like any other first day at a new job, as kind of a mess.   When I woke up at 9:00, I looked in the mirror on my way to the bathroom – and found that my bangs were flipped straight out in the air.  I guess they were still a bit wet when I went to sleep, so pressing up against my pillow all night had set them into a funky sort of pompadour that doesn’t exactly scream “modern tweens.”  {Mine did not look as cool as that photo, I assure you.}

After stressing about my hair and my perfect "first day of work" outfit {like you've never spent a long time picking out your outfit for the first day of school - don't lie}, I left my apartment around 9:45 and, I kid you not, hit every single red light on the way.  When I was about 3 minutes away, Argonne Drive ended up being almost completely blocked because of a house fire, which did not seem that serious from the road but apparently needed the firehouse’s entire stock of engines to get it under control.  I kept checking the time and getting even more nervous that I would be late - the steering wheel took quite a beating with my anxious taps.

But, somehow, I made it!  I checked in with Cait {the editor who hired me} and she took me on a grand tour of the place: I saw the conference area, beauty closet, fashion closet, everyone’s desks {though I forget a lot of their names already – luckily, they have huge sheets of paper decorated with their names above their computers}, the kitchen, the bathroom, etc.  I walked past the editor-in-chief – which is still kind of a “holy moly” moment for me, since I had read her editor’s letters for years when I was younger.  I also found a really cool light table that they rarely use for issues anymore and that I can really see in my apartment as an unconventional breakfast table.

My very first assignment with my new editor, Katie, was to brainstorm ideas for web articles in different areas, like their “Tressed Out” section that talks about how to follow hair fads and how to fix hair problems.  But this assignment – to brainstorm article ideas for 3 sections and a title for one section of the magazine – worried me as I got to it.  How long should a brainstorm take?  I don’t want to send it right away, because then I’d seem too eager and miss the chance to come up with some really good ideas.  But I also don’t want them to think that I take three hours to generate ideas when they would really like me to only take one.

But I came up with a pretty good balance as the day went on.  And the day itself actually went by fast, since Katie eventually asked me to write the articles for three of the ideas I came up with.  {Since then, I have gotten to brainstorm and write even more articles, plus I’ve learned how to become a moderator on the website – I will even get paid to moderate for four hours on Friday evenings after I leave work!}  I left a little after 5:00 with so much experience after just one day, lots of excitement for my second day, and a few things to remember:

• It is cold in there by the intern table.  My light stripey cardigan was not enough – next time, bring a sweater or sweatshirt so I don’t have to wear my winter coat the whole time.

• Wake up early enough to bring breakfast and lunch {and snacks} with me.  By 11:00 my stomach was growling.  Loudly.

• Green Day makes me much more uncomfortable than I once thought.  Do not sit on the Green Day poster side of the intern table.  Unfortunately, this poster is directly under the NSync at Madison Square Garden poster, which makes for quite the conundrum.  My heart still beats a little bit faster when I think of that concert {which, yes, I still have taped on a VHS} and Justin’s curly, curly blond hair.

• THIS IS COOL.  This mag was my Bible as a tween and now I’m part of it.  My name will even be on the masthead {the page at the front of the magazine that lists the names of all the editors, contributors, etc.}.  I like that.

• Terms like BFF {best friend forever}, BGF {best guy friend}, girlie, omg, crush, etc. are not ok to say in everyday conversation outside of the Girls' Life walls.

• Lusting after the bags, shoes, and dresses in the fashion closet is totally ok.  But never pick one up and see how it would look on you, because you are going to have to put it back eventually and then you will be sad.  Two words: separation anxiety.

• My fellow interns: Meghan, Molly, Lizzie, and Gabby.  Check!

Now, I get so excited the night before coming into work.  When my second day on Friday was over, I was actually bummed that I wouldn't get to come back until Wednesday again.  But luckily, the weekend went by quickly - I'll be back to the office again tomorrow!

Comments

[jhu_michellet]

Your job sounds so cool, Lauren!! Much better than the typical "make copies and fetch coffee" internship. :)

[JHU_Jessica]

You are amazing!!!! I miss you roomie!

[Diane]

I still remember when you were younger how excited you would be to get the new issue of Girls Life in the mail! That you are actually there, in that very office, is amazing! This is awesome for you! Enjoy every minute of it! :)

Love you!
Mom