One of the biggest challenges I faced throughout this trip was putting myself out there to all those agency professionals. I started at the UO as a transfer student and never felt like I connected with the people in our department. I’m still graduating with only a couple of good friends after 2 years. So, seeing many students/peers know these alumni/professionals already was very intimidating. Knowing that they may have taken classes or were just friends in the past definitely made me feel like I was behind or lacking that “hey, I know you for somewhere” moment. You need to be pretty extroverted in this field sometimes and those characteristics I am still working on. Even when I did talk to them, I felt like I was lacking something, not leaving much of an impression because I don’t really know how. That self-doubt started kicking in when I saw conversations flow, pictures taken and exchanging of numbers happen. Maybe I am just not like the people in our department? I am still trying to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing for me personally. That is no bash on anyone in the SOJC, I just feel very out place in this ad agency world.

Olivia Whittaker | 5.19.19