Sometimes You Have to Pysch Yourself Out
Sometimes you just have to psych yourself out.
Psych yourself out. Rattle your mind. Shake it up. Just do something to it. For the longest time, I wasn’t. I played it safe because safe is comfortable and who really wants to be uncomfortable? I let my mind get comfortable and content. Being creative didn’t originally (and still doesn’t always) come as easily to me as others. Maybe it has something to do with anxiety and my innate shyness. It’s hard to be creative when you don’t want to open your mouth to let your ideas out.
Well this post isn’t as deep as it sounds. Guys, I’m happily past that rut and this trip to New York is the reason. This trip is the crown jewel to and students and it scares the living shit out of me. There is a ton of talent here and a whole bunch of imposter syndrome being felt. But, this is normal right? We all have this sense of not being enough for this creative industry. We all keep treading on anyways. What else can we do? Give up on being creative (ha).
I didn’t let myself decide to come to New York - I didn’t give myself time to. I honestly just started convuluting my mind with every reason why my career, why I, needed this trip. And the list was overwhelming. If I had given myself time to think, I wouldn’t be sitting at the airport debating on buying a $20 neck pillow (seriously, are they worth it?).
John Mayer came alive through my voice in the car ride up here and if that isn’t motivation enough at this point. If you really want to psych yourself out - John Mayer.
Let’s have fun.
Brandon Reichelt / May 4, 2019
Why You Should Walk Slow in NYC
New Yorkers walk fast. It’s a known fact amongst anyone who has visited before. Researchers were curious, “Can this really be true? Do people mysteriously ‘walk faster’ based off their geographical location?” Well, yes. They do. In fact, New Yorkers are the 8th fastest walkers in the world, walking at an average speed of 60 feet in 12.00 seconds (Singaporeans are the #1 fastest, incase you were wondering)(1). So it has been proven that New Yorkers truly do walk faster than most the world. But why? Well, a quick search on Reddit provided me with some solid answers. An overwhelming number of people attribute the quick speed to the need to get places and get there FAST. One user wrote, “After you miss your train by 2 seconds and the next one is in 30 minutes, you never walk slow again.” Others chose a less rational argument, choosing to throw shade on the slow walkers instead of providing any reasons for why they themselves walk fast (2). But I am here to defend those slow NYC walkers. I, myself, am a slow walker, which many of my friends and family love to roast me for. However, I have no shame. Let me tell you why.
I’ve gone to the University of Oregon for three years now– 94 weeks to be exact. I walk across campus, round-trip, approximately four times a day, four days a week. If my math is correct (I really like math BTW), that means I’ve traversed campus approximately 1,504 times (and I’ve done it slowly, incase you forgot). Nevertheless, I’ve never grown sick of these walks and my surroundings. I attribute this entirely to my speed. Walking slow, I am giving myself the time and ability to look around and admire Oregon’s evolving campus, through the seasons and construction alike. Rather than become accustomed or used to my daily route, I’ve become more invested and interested, noticing small changes and differences which others may miss. I understand how the fast walkers would get sick of their commutes. By flying past buildings and skrt-ing through shortcuts, they are failing to really see where they are. Without slowing down to admire the details, the beauty of the commute gets lost in translation. But those details are what I live for– For me, it’s never been about the destination, it’s always been about the journey there.
So here’s my Hot Take™️ on the whole “New Yorkers walk fast” situation: They need to slow their shit down. In the few times I’ve gotten to visit New York City, I’ve left feeling like I only got to see 0.005% of the place! And if I can walk through UofO’s 295 acre campus approximately 1,504 times in the last three years and still notice new things every day, then there is no way New Yorkers can claim to have already “seen” the 193,664 acres of their city (3)(4). Living in one of the most fascinating places on earth, it is a waste to never slow down and take a look around, even upwards, and see what’s there. I get that people have places to be and busy lives to live, but the culture of walking fast in NYC is wasting the city’s beauty. And to get really dark (because why not), with the current rate of climate change and the rising global temperature, NYC may be on its way to becoming an underwater city. So this coming week, if you see a girl with purple hair and white AF1′s, walking real damn slow along the streets of NYC… Hello, it’s me!
Paige Price | 5.4.2019
1. https://empirezone.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/the-8th-fastest-walkers-in-the-world/
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/AskNYC/comments/9djbt9/why_do_people_here_walk_so_fast/
Intimidated
Seeing the incredible work of the agencies I’m going to be visiting has been insightful, but also raise a lot of questions for me. These questions mainly revolve around the idea of the gap between the quality of work I’m producing now, and where the industry standard is. It feels, and looks, like a ginormous leap. Because of this I’ve been drafting questions for the professionals I’ll be connected with, but it’s a tiptoe between wanting to gain valuable knowledge and not sounding completely not confident in myself. Working on it!!
Bryer Hataishi | 5/4/19 | Post #1
Inner Ramblings
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to go on the trip and am looking forward to seeing the inner workings of different agencies, but part of me is nervous as well. It finally hit me that I am graduating in a couple weeks and I will be moving to NY after for an internship! I am ready to explore the city I am fortunate enough to call my home for at least three months and visit the agency I will be a part of too. I’m interested to hear how people currently working in ad found their way to NY and what they wished they knew at age 21 (tips about living in the city and about the industry itself). 5/3/2019 | Nita Bhojwani
Friends in Unexpected Places
They said that New Yorkers are rude, unfriendly, and callous. They said to keep moving, keep your head down, don’t talk too much to people.
I was nervous to take my first steps out of the airport. I didn’t know if I was going to take a Lyft, a taxi, or the train in to Manhattan. Lyft was going to cost over $100, so train it was. Google told me to catch the AirTrain and then transfer to the subway. I had no idea where to go.
I wandered around a bit. People rushed by all around me. Finally, I caught the eye of a small woman wearing a headscarf. I recognized her from my flight. I took a chance and asked if she would mind helping me find my way.
It turns out we were heading in the same direction, and she went out of her way to lead me from one train to the next and make sure I knew how to buy and use a metro card and that I got on the correct train and got off at the correct stop. She was such a nice person and meeting her was a great way to start my adventure here.
She definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. I heard so many things about New Yorkers that made them seem cold hearted with an every man for himself mentality. I’m not going to try and make friends with everyone I see, but meeting her made me feel a lot better about moving through the city on my own for a few days.
Maddy Kinsella 5/4/19
You’ve Got This
I’m writing this blog post on the plane on the way to New York. And I’m absolutely terrified. But thankfully, I’ve figured out exactly how to calm myself down. If you or someone you love is also experiencing some stress about this experience, let me tell you how to do calm down and prepare, too.
1. First, I’ll tell you why I’m terrified. As we continue to barrel towards the biggest city in the U.S, I find myself feeling like I’m not going to make it. I’m not good enough, intelligent enough, excited enough, or extroverted enough. I’m too nervous, I’m too hopeful, and I’m too tall (although that’s a super personal problem, and probably not as relatable).
Now, here’s my thought process I used to calm down.
2. Remind yourself, simply and honestly, it’s an incredibly cool experience and humungous privilege to be able to go to New York in the first place. No matter what comes out of this next week, you’re going to have an amazing time. You’ll be having a blast, learning a ton, and experiencing entirely new parts of the city you’ve never seen before.
3. Next, remember that this trip isn’t about getting a job. Of course, if you get one, that’s great! But that’s not the main goal, and you’re not a failure if you don’t get an offer. You’re here to learn and soak up as much knowledge as you can from extremely experienced industry professionals who are there to help you grow and be the best worker you can be.
4. Understand how cool it is that you’re going to be learning so much and in such a different environment than we’re used to. We’re used to sitting in classrooms and learning behind desks. These are opportunities that are new, big, and full of information we’ve never heard before, from folks we’ve never met before. Soak it up.
5. Finally, know you’re going to do amazing. We were chosen to go on this trip for a reason, and we’ve been trained in the ways of advertising as an industry and as professionals from the UO. We’re an intelligent, accomplished, excited, and kind bunch of folks. You’ve got this – we all do!
Abby Mizera | 5.03.19 | #1
Moving Out of Your Own Way
To all my fellow students with anxiety: we stand in our own way daily. And it’s mainly out of fear. Fear of the future, fear of the past, fear of success, or fear of failure– you name it. My favorite term for this is “Paralysis by analysis,” at which point the only answer is just to jump in.
I considered that this post might be a little late comparatively. That perhaps this would have been more useful before most or all of us had left for New York, but honestly, I don’t believe it is ever too late to be reminded that you need to step out of your own way.
Even as this week begins, as people are both prepared and not, take a couple of seconds for a deep breath — not a quick in and out, not sarcastically, not superficially–but a deep breath that swells your lungs, extends down to the most rooted pit in your stomach, and up to the very tip of your darkest thought. It is never too late to be reminded of the power of fresh oxygen.
Then, Google it. Google whatever you feel you don’t know, about whatever it is you don’t know about. And if you don’t want to do that, ask a real-life person, they still exist and may have some answers. The information is out there regardless, and it doesn’t hurt to know a little more about the people and places we are going and the people we are meeting– again, it is never too late.
Lastly, have some faith in yourself. That is it. We have all worked hard to be here, and doubt will not accomplish your goals and has no place in your dreams.
Here we go,
LaDara
5.4.19
Emma Pindell’s Couch
Grey. Homey. A little cleaner than I was expecting. New York, I mean. Maggie and I are living with Emma (so so kindly I might add) before hotel time. We’ve just been walking around a lot and finding ourselves in random buildings. We also walked across the Brooklyn bridge. About halfway through I took a moment to just look out into the brick and cement void. Although I want to end up in Los Angeles, it was an interesting feeling thinking that I may have just scanned my eyes over a future home or workplace.
We also walked along to High Line where we saw an anti-Trump display on one of the houses. I heard a guy call it “Socialist shit that belongs in Venezuela.” Lol.
I played some ping pong at Rokkan when Emma let Maggie and I visit. A freelance designer and I made a dynamic duo. I genuinely think that the advertising industry is 10% work and 90% ping pong. In other words, Maggie J Elias will not survive.
Michael Robelli #1, 5.4.19
Thinking small before heading to the big city.
In preparation for the whirlwind that will be next week, I’ve found that preparing for the small stuff has helped prepare me for the big stuff. Small stuff for clothing: lint roller, a couple hangers, pantyhose to rub off the inevitable deodorant mark on my black shirt. Small stuff for shoes: light enough sneakers to bring in a bag for tired feet relief, wipes for dirty shoes and bandaids for blistered heels. Small stuff for everything else: compact rain jacket, nail file and whatever screams out to you on the last look of your room. I brought a lot of things with me, half of it will be untouched. I’m ready though and can confidently say I am prepared for this week with a 48 lb bag at my side.
Hailey Woram
5/4/2019
To Prepare For This Trip I Went Camping
I got off work Wednesday night and drove an hour to Mcreedee hot springs, set up a tent, got a fire started, and spent the night. While I was sitting knee deep in the mud pit that is Mcreedee hot springs, I ran into a lady that said she’d been there for an entire month. She was a classic Oakridge character with backwards overalls living out of an RV. She said she spent her time reading the entire Harry Potter series, and was very bored. I’d have to agree, it sounds extremely boring. I love cities. I like the diversity and action that tends to happen when thousands of people jam themselves into a tiny space. I am excited to spend the next week and a half in New York City, but I also knew I needed to be somewhere quiet without cell service for a night before the trip.
Clare Malone 05/04/2019