Favorite NY memories

Looking back at the week spent in NY, one of my most memorable visits was to Radical Media. I remember having watched the Ted Bundy Tapes documentary on Netflix before doing my own research on Radical, and finding out that they produced it was crazy! Having the opportunity to go inside their office and seeing the board with all of the different events in Ted Bundy’s life (which was essentially the pre-production for the series) was even crazier. Another great trip was Starr Media. I loved that since they are such a small company, they allowed us to try out using their equipment, showed us around their offices which were in a WeWork, and were very patient with us, making sure to answer any questions we had. After these two visits I realized that I would be a great fit to work someone small or medium-sized since I like to be really involved in the projects I work on. This visit also made me realize that it’s not impossible to start your own company one day. Starr Media was founded by two people, and although they are still a relatively small shop, they work on big brands and travel often for video shoots. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility for any of us.

Natalie Cedillo | Post #5 | 05.24.19

Confused? Don’t worry

It’s totally okay to be confused about what you want to do with your career, your life, etc. College can be a confusing time, especially around graduation! The New York trip gave me a lot of clarity and made me realize the path I should be heading in. My advice to confused students is to go on this trip!! Not only is it great for those who know exactly what they want to do in the creative industry, but I believe it’s even better for those who are unsure because being in the environment you’re thrown in for this trip allows for a lot of self discovery, not to mention all of the amazing life and career advice given by industry professionals and UO alumni. Basically, don’t stress being unsure of your future. In my mind it’s actually very exciting because you never know where you’ll end up and what you’ll be doing a year from now!

Natalie Cedillo | Post #4 | 05.24.19

Advice for future NY trip students

When planning this trip I thought I would have a ton of time for extra activities like visiting museums and visiting shops, etc. I found that the transportation took more time than I expected, and that doing all of the things on my NY bucket list wasn’t going to be feasible in only one week. My advice is to do your research on some places you really want to visit (1-2). If you’re going to finish the day with an agency visit in SOHO for example, take that opportunity to look at shops that evening. Absolutely do accept opportunities to meet with industry professionals, other UO grads working in NY, or any other awesome opportunities that arise while in the city as long as it doesn’t interfere with your agency visits. When will you have that same chance again? 

Natalie Cedillo | Post #3 | 05.24.19

Flock Yes

Going into a male dominated industry as a both a woman and a person of color is something that I’ve worried about when thinking about my future career. Knowing that there is a support system of women waiting for me after college takes away some of the intimidation and fear about starting my career. I am so excited that there is this strong community of women that wants to lift each other up and I can’t wait to see what Flock does next.

Devin Roux

Ducks in NY

One of my biggest take aways from this trip was just how many UO alums are working in agencies in New York. It was inspiring to see so many people who were in the same place I was just a year or two ago having successful lives in the city. Experiencing this was both motivating to keep pushing and a good reminder that we have an amazing program that sets you up for success in the real world. On the other hand seeing so many thriving young professionals was a bit daunting and getting to the place I want to be still feels incredibly out of reach for me. While I had some discouraging moments on this trip, overall I was so excited to see the possibilities in the industry even just a year out of college.

Devin Roux

Thank You, Flock.

Seeing a group of women stand together and support one another in a city because of one common connection calmed my nerves about the possibility of moving to NYC. It was inspiring hearing their stories and how some of them struggled and hustled into the roles they have now. Being a woman in the industry can be hard but I am ready to know my worth and work my ass of wherever I land. 

Allison Surber

The City of Advertising

One of my favorite things about New York was seeing the thousands of ads, EVERYWHERE. As a media planner I appreciate the creative placements of advertisements all throughout the city. The Times Square Shuttle takeover was awesome to see as an opportunity to takeover the station. This is something I would strive to do with clients that I would see fit. Now my only question is: How much did this cost? 

Allison Surber

I love New York, but….

I am still an LA person. I went to New York with an open mind thinking that it could possibly be an option for me post grad. I loved the agencies I visited and could definitely see myself living there for a few years. But the hustle and bustle would exhaust me. The draw of open buildings and dog friendly offices is pulling me in. So now, as I continue my post grad job hunt I have decided to go back to my roots of Southern California but New York, I might be back for you. 

Allison Surber

Fuck Off -> Fuck Yes

When I saw that Virtue was one of the agencies I was visiting, I was ecstatic. I also was surprised granted I am not a creative. Upon walking in I could feel the energy of the agency and the hustle and passion they put into their work. As someone who continuously bounces between whether I want to focus on strategy or media planning this agency showed me the value of strategy in a big campaign. Virtue’s new strategy for Urban Decay turning the brand from “Fuck Off” punk vibes to “Fuck Yes” and doing whatever you want with makeup felt genuine and smart. I felt privileged to see this campaign and speak to the people behind it. I can’t wait to see what else they do for this brand. 

Allison Surber

Post-exhaustion thoughts.

2 weeks later and I miss the hustle and bustle that New York has. I was interested to see how I felt about the week and time went on. When you are there it seems so hectic, you want to do as much as you can in the short week. Or at least I did. I’m not good at “stopping”, there is always a go, go, go mentality for me which I channeled, even more, when we were there. Coming back to quite Eugene was much needed to really think about all the powerful information that was shared with us. I have spent a lot of time since we have got back looking at the notes I took, and thinking about how this information can be used in my work, in my interviews, and generally in my everyday doings. Once the sleep deprivation wore off, I had the ability to truly appreciate the experience that was provided for us, and be even more grateful that I had the chance to learn, network and explore crazy New York.