I’m about to board my plane to New York for my second go-round in the city. It feels as though everything’s happening at once; my peers are landing incredible jobs and internships, the highly-anticipated New York trip is finally here, and graduation impatiently waits right around the corner. I’m proud to say many of my peers have already secured internships all over the country (some even in NYC!). Many more are still searching, but each of us is eager to see the city and experience agency culture. I’m looking forward to a great week of learning, networking, and exploring the city!
- Sam Coffaro, 05.04.2018
New York City is one of those polarizing places that everyone seems to have ideas about. Having never been to New York, my imagined version of the city is an odd collage of stories from guest speakers and alumni, 1980’s NYC pop culture, Gossip Girl, and New York sports rivalries. T-minus about 24 hours until I get to discover just how right or wrong that mental image is. I’m so ready to see, hear, smell, and feel my way through this personally uncharted territory and (hopefully) leave feeling like one day I’ll call it home.
- Leah Kennon // 5.4.2018
I just want to start off by saying how much of a privilege it is that my first time going to New York will be with a big group of inspiring and creative individuals. On top of that, we’ll be greeted by some generous people.
In around 24 hours I’ll be leaving Eugene and my West Coast bubble. I’m ready to go soak up some knowledge, hear stories, and enjoy the city. I’m also ready to push myself outside my comfort zone, even though it can be scary. Luckily, I’ve been getting better every day at getting outside my comfort zone. I even took a class for it called Confidence. In that same class we were given a quote, and I’ll be thinking of it a lot throughout the trip because I know it will pertain to me, and probably to others as well. It’s from Marianne Williamson, and if you’ve seen Coach Carter, you’ll know it.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.”
I’m ready for you NY.
- Luis Sevilla | 05/04/18
New York City is one of my favorite places in the entire world and I can’t believe I’m going to be seeing it in an entirely new light. I’m amazed, not only by the fact that our program has the chance to learn about the industry from some of the greatest minds within it, but also by the fact that we get to do so in a place that is so rich in diversity, culture, and opportunity.
I’ve been to New York a few times in the past but never with the amount of freedom and responsibility I have this time around. It’s both overwhelming and exciting to know that the world is our oyster and what we get out of this trip depends entirely on what we do here and now.
As someone who entered the advertising program later in my college career, there have been times when I felt I was too far behind to make my mark. When I found out I was going on this trip I felt shocked and excited knowing that despite my “lateness to the game” (if you will) I still had the potential to do great things in advertising. I see this trip as my chance to be fully immersed in the real world, explore the world of strategy, and discover new things about myself, my peers, and the professionals I hope to work with someday.
All in all, I can’t wait to be back in the greatest city in the world, it’s time to get busy!
- Savannah Nucci 5/4/18
In less than 48 hours I will begin my NYC journey with the SOJC. Nearly six years ago, I was able to visit New York and create so many vibrant and unforgettable memories and I am looking forward to revisiting the city that sparked my interest about a career in advertising. With bright lights, millions of people, and some sort of art everywhere you look, I am excited to experience these things over again. I am even more interested in being in this city as an adult who is about to begin her career in advertising. I cannot get over the feeling of how lucky I am to be able to visit some of the top advertising agencies in the world and network with some of the most brilliant people in the industry. I am ready to gather new insights into the world of advertising, gain a better understanding of what life is like working in advertising, and absorb all the words of wisdom that are offered. I cannot wait to see what my peers and I take away from this incredible and rare opportunity.
Casey Kromer
May 4, 2018
Just created a fresh batch of thank you cards. Unlike other cards, when painting strokes of watercolor stains on these cards it made me think… The recipient of the card could be a future mentor, friend, or even a coworker. They’ll blow a breeze of inspiration if not a tornado that changes the way I see everything. It’s a goofy feeling making a card for a recipient without a clear headshot. There are jitters but it’s also a good anxiousness. I’m looking forward to addressing these cards and reciprocating the heart that they showed to me. To my future mentor, friend and coworker, thank you in advance and I look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely, David Choe
05.04.2018
Bullet journaling has become a surprising source of joy, relaxation, and creativity for me. It’s portable, relevant, and personal. It’s also designed exactly how I want it because I get to make it myself. It keeps me accountable in a way nothing else has. Through it and to improve it I’ve learned calligraphy, watercolor, some collaging, and I’m looking into turning some of my art into stickers. All of this is possible because of skills I’ve gained not just through bullet journaling, but throughout my entire time soaking up information at the SOJC.
New York is my bujo inspiration this week. Like many of my peers have already stated, this trip is a tremendous privilege and I can’t quite believe the it’s finally here. And now, my cheesy tag line that matches this week’s theme to wrap this all up– New York is going to be out of this world!
-Marina Cimarusti 5/4/18
When I was growing up, the east coast (Rhode Island, New York & Massachusetts) were my home second to Half Moon Bay. I would return with my family frequently and being there felt like second nature, and quite frankly it still does. But, as I return this time, it feels different. This time I feel like a fish out of water– an excited fish, but a fish nonetheless.
I’m unbelievably excited for what this week may have in store for myself & everyone on the trip. I have been at a point in my college career where, after 3 major switches, a whole lot of tears, and the rediscovery of my artistic side, I’ve ended up here in on the art direction path. I can only be thankful all the trials and tribulations have lead me back to my second home and to this amazing opportunity.
SO, now the question is what next for this fish out of water who is more than ready to swim upstream to the next step in this amazing process?
This best is yet to come and it’s more than grand.
-Darragh White
-Brenna Fox
May 3rd, 2018
New York feels different this year.
At this time last year, I was getting ready to visit New York for the first time. I learned so much during UO NYC 2017 and fell in love with the agencies and sites I visited. This year, I’m visiting different companies with the exception of two: Rokkan and our annual visit to Wieden+Kennedy. I’m excited to look at these agencies from a new light and eager to explore what my other visits have to offer. As my second trip to New York approaches, I feel like a different person with different goals and questions to keep in mind.
I work for the Career Services department in the business school and my boss often compares the career exploration/development process to a spiral. Early on, maybe even in high school, one starts at the outside of the spiral and slowly spirals into what they finally specialize in during their career. It’s not always a perfect or direct spiral.
My spiral looked something like this: 1) interest in business/communications, 2) application and acceptance into the University of Oregon, 3) acceptance to the School of Journalism and Communications, 4) focus on advertising, 5) focus on design/art direction, 6) focus on starting my career in an advertising agency. Last May, I was still on Step 6 in my career exploration process. A year later, my path is more defined but still in need of guidance to get to the center of the spiral.
As a junior last year, I was a sponge who was taking everything in. By the end of the week, I had a better sense of the City and advertising opportunities, from small to large agencies. This year, I still want to be a sponge, but I want to think even more strategically about where I want to be and what I want to do. Here are three general questions I plan to evaluate and focus on throughout the week:
1) What size agency do I see myself working at within the next year? How will this affect the range and type of projects I’m working on?
2) What kind of design/art direction work do I want to do, and what type of brands do I hope to work on for the most part?
3) Is New York City truly a place I want to move to, or am I the type of person who does best when I’m just visiting it?
I plan to touch base on these three questions later next week. All that said, I can’t wait to step foot in Manhattan and explore Brooklyn once again. New York, here we come!
-Emily Foster
5.03.18