Another Ones

DISCLAIMER TIME: The experiences I write about here are just mine (which I'm sure is perfectly obvious). It's just that in my conversations with people who've been to LA I've heard as many opinions about a semester here as you can imagine. I just don't want everyone thinking their experience should be or will be like mine. PLUS, I don't want people here thinking I'm misrepresenting the place because I'm sure there are people who hate it here.

HAVING SAID THAT, here are some things I think people can do to make sure they have a fantastic time when they are here. And, but ofcourse, this ALSO is just MY opinion.

PRIORITIZE: This to me is a pretty important one. Everyone has different priorities. Some people are here to socialize, some are here to beach-tan, some are here to study and some are here to make contacts or work... whatever, you get the picture. YOU really need to decide what is it that you want to do because you'll just have to make choices all the time. If you know what you want to do, you can go easy and decide without feeling guilty about it. If its between going that extra day at the internship or taking this one credit course they are offering, you need to decide. I mean, both are good but what is it that you're looking for from LA. If its between that premiere at work or being regular and going to class, or if its between the beach and working that weekend on this commercial, which one you going to choose. No right answers but you gotta make sure you have no regrets either.

NOW SHOULD BE TOUGH and TOUGH ISN'T BAD: I know most people wait to get to LA because this is their chance to chill out. This is their PARTY semester. I also know that this semester, like all others, zips by REAL FAST. It's over before you know it. So you just need to be aware of these two factors. If you wan't to eliminate that regret factor, I really think you should stick with these two things. I've spoken to lots of people and if they regret their semester, its because they didn't get enough out of their internships. No one likes to sleep 3 hrs a night and be out in the cold working, but there is just something awesome about coming home late at night and just crashing to sleep because you can't move a muscle in your body. You know you've stretched yourself and just done everything you can to make that shoot better. You've left a good impression on people at work, learnt more about yourself, had fun while doing it and really have been true to why you came to LA. The other thing: ITS NEVER TOO SOON to make this semester tough on yourself. Just accept those opportunities NOW, NOW should be TOUGH, and THOUGH isn't bad.

SECOND BEST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH: This will come up again and again. At your internships or when you're even choosing internships.
Step One: Okay, there are a billion places I want to work, bam bam bam I sent in all my applications.
Step Two: Waited for employers to get back to me; for my phone to ring.
Step Three: Heard about my roommate and everyone else getting interview calls, and saw my phone not ring at all.
Step Four: FREAKED OUT. FREAKED OUT MORE. GOT WORRIED SICK.
Step Five: Caught myself almost sending out an application to work at EXXTRA!!
Step Six: Finally those calls came.
Step Seven: Accepted the first offer that came my way, at a job that looked kinda cool.
Step Eight: Went to work every single day, hoping the next day would be better than today.

This is a pretty standard pattern with interns. It might be true, I dont know, but even the professors here told us that this would happen. What they said though, is that this is okay. Internships are always boring at first and the more time you spend there, the more work they give you adn the more it starts to become worth it. While this may be completely true, I still think for every ten internships that are like this one, you need to find the one that is completely mindblowing and perfect for you. when you interview at a place where you think you are not good enough to work, that's the place you should gun for. Until then, JUST HANG ON. I know Jazmin Correa who is in LA at the moment. She didn't accept her internship till almost three weeks into the semester. This is crazy because everyone had started going to theirs at the end of week one. Try and imagine the insecurity you feel when you're sitting at home while everyone else is at work, coming back every night in office clothes, etc. You start to imagine you're not good enough etc etc. Well, things worked out for Jazmin coz when she finally got it, she got kick ass internships that actually pay her and stuff like that. I almost accepted sub-standard, secretarial internships too. But, you know what, this is going to be your place of work for the next FOUR months, EVERYDAY, for long hours. If they don't AMAZE you, completely BOWL YOU OVER in the 15 min interview, do you REALLY want to be working for them FOR FREE??? If you're going to do this, might as well go with the BEST POSSIBLE INTERNSHIP out there. It's possible. It's ALWAYS around the corner. Just hang in there.

Do NOT settle for what you have: PART TWO:
Even once you start your internships, do not settle for what you have. You just HAVE to keep pushing your luck and fighting for more knowledge. Don't settle. Also, again, you'll feel like it's too early to start asking for things. People in the LA program definitely don't advise it. It might vary from office to office, but there REALLY a way of getting more responsibility, of doing better at your internships and just, in general, being more satisfied with your experience. People at work DO NOT understand your telepathic hate messages of "im so DAMN bored". You gotta speak to them. Everyone likes people who want to take work off their backs. I know it sounds ridiculous, but really!! :)

MIX IT UP
You're here for four months, think about all the things you want to learn, and REALLY try it out. I'm on my fifth internship at the moment. NO is just not an answer, and, its up to you to make things happen. No fairy godmothers waiting in the wings to make things happen for you. You've paid a lot to be here, now get in their and make it work.

Aight, sign out. Sds