Riding solo
Last year I had the privilege to go on this trip, and one of the most important things I did was take time to do things by myself. I can’t express the importance of exploring the city on your own.
After all, if I do ever end up moving here, I won’t be with 120 of my coolest peers from the ad program, but I will be – as they say – a little fish in a big pond.
Today I went to Central Park after I visited Group M Media. I sat and ate my very overpriced gluten-free bagel sandwich and people watched by myself. Although I love to be social and can and will talk anyone’s ear off, it was nice to get a few moments of quiet time to be alone with my thoughts.
I know for a fact that I am going to want to be in New York at some point. As a first-generation college student, I have not moved around much. Going to school out of state in Oregon was a big move. My whole family has been living in the Bay Area for their whole lives, and I would be the first to leave. Part of me feels guilty wanting to move across the country, but another part of me knows that sometimes it’s okay to be selfish.
I am not 100% sure if I am ready for New York right now, but there is too much opportunity here to pass up.
Eventually I’ll take the leap.
–Kristen Friis
Brand Strategist + Copywriter
“It’s only day 1 and I’m already emotional”
Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift is stuck in my head. I seriously wish it wasn’t.
I am excited to be in the city that never sleeps – a city of so much culture and diversity, so much to experience and talent.
I’m nervous for what to expect – I know that no matter what, I will get some amazing networking experience, however I am usually really hard on myself and have high expectations.
I’m afraid yet eager. My whole life has been school. As my time at UO comes to an end, it’s time to conquer all that the future brings.
After all, I am in the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. So let’s do this.
–Kristen Friis
Brand Strategist + Copywriter
Navigating the city
Going into our trip, I was stressed to say the least. The city is big, Jeremy, Tom, and Dave made it sound terrifying for us little Oregonians, everything was twice as expensive as I anticipated, and so on. I get stress and anxiety almost daily here at home in Oregon, as do most people to some degree, but oddly enough as the days began to pass in NYC, there was a weird sense of mental clarity and belonging that came with all the crazy of The Big Apple and our visits. There was something poetic about hundreds of thousands of people being forced to live their lives in one, tight, shared space we call New York City, many of which wielding a unique sense of pride for what the city and its people stood for. I cannot wait to go back.
Jordan Cordiner | 5.15.19
Purpose + Culture at Translation
My visit to Translation met all expectations I had going into and more. Anybody who knows me knows my deep-rooted love for sports, especially basketball. That lifelong passion is the reason I wanted to go to Translation more than any other agency, as they have done a lot of work with the NBA brand and community.
What took me by surprise was not the incredible work they have done, but the reason they do it. Translation CMO, Chauncer Barnes, gave all of us in attendance a poetic speech on the deep-rooted purpose in everything they do. He exposed, for lack of a better term, the motives and intentions of many participants in the industry, explaining that at Translation, if they aren’t pushing culture and creating new, deeper meaning, then it is not worth doing at all. Some create Ads simply for the money and numbers that come from them, but they have much bigger aspirations.
An important message he shared that stuck with me about personal growth was being mindful of who you are comparing yourself to, essentially saying that if you compare yourself to anybody that is rich or successful, but don’t assess the reasons and tactics by which they reached that success, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Work hard with purpose and meaning and the rest will take care of itself.
Thank you, Translation.
Jordan Cordiner | 5.15.19
Simply Missing It
The past week has really taught and exposed me to a lot. Now that I have had time to decompress with all sorts of emotions, I can reflect back on the impact that New York has made on me. All the fears and pre-conceived ideas I had about both the people, and city were pleasantly proven wrong. Strictly from an experience perspective, the city has so much to offer. It was very apparent to me from day one that while there is a wide range of diversity all over, New Yorkers stand together as one community. Over the seven days, I was exposed to every type of person and language imaginable, and quite frankly it was so beautiful. It was also very cool to see that almost everyone has some sort of side hustle, whether that be an afternoon screenwriting class or selling five dollar umbrellas on the sidewalk.
On the flip side: from a career perspective, what more could you ask for. To be able to work in the Mecca of advertising, truly where the big leagues are. There is so much room for opportunity, but with that being said, those doors can only open if you work hard enough and allow them to. Given that there is so much inspiration that the city can offer, it was great hearing from industry professionals about how they are constantly drawing inspiration from new places all around them. Furthermore, it was very reassuring to see just how large the network of Ducks we have in the industry is, and how willing they are to help. I will definitely remember the advice and guidance they offered when I am in their shoes. Overall, I miss you New York; but don’t worry, I’ll be back.
Ethan Aliste| 5-15-19
Pay It Forward
Now that I’m back at school, I realize this trip benefits the whole program rather than just the ones who went. I’ve had some underclassmen ask me about what I saw, who I met, and what I learned. I get to give tips about what agencies look for and what the industry is like in New York. Also, many of the younger students I talk to are first-generation students of color like myself. Students who have similar experiences like mine, the end goal after college looks blurry and unclear. A reason for this is because we don’t know many college graduates in our personal lives. Going on a trip like this, I come back with a better sense of direction, and I’m able to share that knowledge with others who are in the same boat I was in a couple of years ago. I’m very thankful for the industry professional who took the time to share what they know with us. Once I’m in their shoes, I want to make sure I take the time like them to pay it forward.
Luis Sevilla | 05/15/2019
Confidence
The biggest piece of advice I can give for going to New York is to have confidence. Confidence is critical in this industry and life in general. Adjusting to the lifestyle of New York can be difficult. Have confidence as you walk down the street. Once I started to look like I knew where I was going, tourists would come up to me for directions. Fake it til you make it.
Be confident in your skills. You were chosen to go on this trip for a reason. Be confident as you go into agencies and make connections. Think about the way you carry yourself in these situations. Make sure you show your appreciation for their time but also make sure to get your questions answered. And of course, have the confidence to ask questions.
And lastly, have confidence in yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others on the trip. Everyone is on their own path. Have the confidence to take control of your own future. Your future is unique to you. Take risks on opportunities that interest you.
Dana Norder 5.15.19
Networking Takeaways
Prior to this trip I always knew networking was very important for one’s career, but I guess I never really knew how important. Coming from such a notable school like UO with so many people eager to help you start a career was something I didn’t consider as valuable now as I did before the trip. A lot of hiring in agencies comes from referral, which is why it is crucial to make good connections with people in school now and people currently in the work force because you never know where someone will end up or when a position will become available.
Takeaways from networking:
- Reaching out on LinkedIn is always a good idea. People are usually happy to talk to you and give you any advice you’re searching for, and if they don’t respond you just have to know they’re probably just busy and don’t have time.
- Keep in touch and try not to burn any bridges, you don’t know who could be working at the agency or wherever you want to work one day
Allie Bruno 5.15.19 #5
Behind the Scenes..
[photo is not related to post, but I liked it :)]
One of the coolest parts about this NYC trip was visiting Sound Lounge. At first, I’ll be honest, I was a little confused as to why I was going there, being that I had no interest in doing voice overs and being a mixer etc. During my visit there, however, everything started to come together slowly. Although I am not going to pursue a career in this particular area, these artists are master minds at what they do, and ad agencies/brands themselves hire them all the time to help them improve their own work. The people here specialize in every perfecting every sound that goes into the specific ad, and it is truly amazing the work that they do there. It was incredibly intriguing to see the behind-the-scenes work that goes into the ads they have created, and it was an amazing way to gain insight into this element of advertising.
Katy Schwarz l 5.14.19 l #2
Do I Have “What It Takes”?
I’ve been experiencing the strangling hold of Imposter Syndrome since the beginning of my senior year.
Going in to the New York Experience, I was convinced that the trip would provide me with the validation, solutions and resolutions to all my fears, questions and anxiety about graduating.
I was wrong.
The agencies I visited left me feeling less confident than when I walked in. I felt even more incompetent and unsure than when the week started.
I felt I didn’t ‘fit the bill’ for what it takes to be a young creative in the industry. When questioning if I’d be willing to sacrifice my home life to “make it”… my answer is no. The attitude I often felt presented with was “Work-Life balance is a privilege earned.” The problem is that I’ve met the senior creatives who’ve “earned” that work-life balance. And many of them still don’t have it.
And apparently, many consider that just a part of “agency life”.
If that’s “agency life”, I’m not sure I want it.
Summer Ketchum + 3.14.19