This Wednesday, I celebrated my last week in the city with my fellow commies (Kate & Brianna) and Sarah. We ended up going bowling at Bowlmor Lanes, enjoying some mixed drinks, and finishing the night off with the most AMAZING cupcakes from Crumbs. Not a bad way to say goodbye to the city :-)
I feel like a broken record, but this summer has gone by sooooo fast! Today is my last day of work, and tomorrow I'll be leaving NYC for good ol' Pennsylvania. It's a weird transitional time for me. On the one hand, I don't want to leave the city (or even JPMC) because I feel very independent here (I'm in the "real world"). Plus, there's always something exciting to do! For instance, I saw Jason Mraz perform live this morning (I pass where the Today Show is filmed on my way to work), and I can't think of a better way to start the day :-)
On the other hand, I'm anxious to move on to the next thing. I really want to get home, see my family, relax with my friends, move into my new apartment up in Syracuse, and start classes. I'll also have some more time to work on other creative projects! The first order of business when I get home is going through my room and getting rid of all the random crap I've accumulated. It's an ongoing battle with myself to not collect and save things that I don't need. I'm not always successful, which is why a purge is necessary. I love organizing anyway so it should be fun :-)
My parents are coming tomorrow to pick me up and then we're going to the MoMA and this really great rice pudding place called "Rice to Riches" Yum.
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
The First of The Last
Today marks the first day of the last week at my internship with JPMC. Part of me is so excited to be finished and heading back to SU, but part of me really just doesn’t want to leave New York City. It’s been very empowering to live here on my own, and I know now that I can make it anywhere! I wouldn’t have traded this internship for the world.
That being said, I am still slightly anxious/agitated about going back. I think what worries me most is the thought that I haven’t changed as much this summer as I initially perceived. I imagine that if I was to go back and examine the “Pre-summer Me” and the little moments that lead up to this “Present Me,” I would find a great difference, but as it is, I’m just illogically worrying about something I have no concrete way of gauging for myself.
I guess I’ll just hope that these changes are for the best!
Great Things Awaiting Yonder:
1. Moving into our new apartment with Allie, Margaret, and Marco!
2. Seeing everyone again at Syracuse before classes start
3. Senior Year
4. Playing soccer / being active again (been a bit lazy about the exercising thing, and it’s made me somewhat antsy this summer :-P )
5. Having time for creative endeavors (AORQuidditch…wouldn’t you like to know J )
That being said, I am still slightly anxious/agitated about going back. I think what worries me most is the thought that I haven’t changed as much this summer as I initially perceived. I imagine that if I was to go back and examine the “Pre-summer Me” and the little moments that lead up to this “Present Me,” I would find a great difference, but as it is, I’m just illogically worrying about something I have no concrete way of gauging for myself.
I guess I’ll just hope that these changes are for the best!
Great Things Awaiting Yonder:
1. Moving into our new apartment with Allie, Margaret, and Marco!
2. Seeing everyone again at Syracuse before classes start
3. Senior Year
4. Playing soccer / being active again (been a bit lazy about the exercising thing, and it’s made me somewhat antsy this summer :-P )
5. Having time for creative endeavors (AORQuidditch…wouldn’t you like to know J )
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Our topic for today (PGD)
A fellow CommDesigner Brianna and I were discussing the pros and cons of working in a corporate environment, which inevitably led to the creation of a list of what we'd (hopefully) like to have, in our future jobs. Here is her top ten list for our Future Fictitious Company (verbatim) with added commentary provided by me:
1) Come to work comfortable.
Why does the corporate world assume that people work better in high heels and constricting dress pants? In college, we do some of our best work while wearing sweatpants. Why? Because we're not confined and we’re focusing on our work instead of our wardrobe.
Me: Worrying about the creases in your pants is not conducive to creativity.
2) You don't have to be there at nine a.m.
Hours need to be flexible at jobs, especially if you have a family. Nine to five every day is exhausting, especially if you're up all night with little kids. Flexible hours mean better-rested employees, which means happier and more productive employees.
Me: Agreed. In the design world, work schedules are hopefully a bit more flexible? However, there are some days (around deadlines obviously) where it might be necessary to work overtime.
3) Don't have a killer commute.
This kind of goes along with flexible hours in that commutes often are stressful and add an extra hour to two hours onto someone's day that is rather unnecessarily frustrating. Work somewhere you can get to rather easily, whether that's a short amount of time or not too many changes of transportation.
Me: Door to door time should be less than an hour.
4) Breakfast food and snack food are always appreciated.
They really are.
5) Job titles should be concise and make sense.
We have a test in CMD called the Ken Hine test: if you can explain your idea in three words, it's a good one. The same, I believe, is true for job titles. Too specific a title and I think your purpose is a bit murky. You should be able to say what you do without having to explain in detail what you do.
Me: I would also prefer a more creative job title…Imagineer perhaps?
6) Everyone is important and everyone contributes.
That's not to say that leaders or managers are obsolete, but that a good idea can come from anywhere.
Me: And it shouldn’t have to be passed up a huge chain of command. A company should not be so big that the person with the idea cannot contact someone with the authority to make it happen.
7) No PowerPoint.
For the love of all things good and holy in this world, can we please come up with a more creative solution to how we present material? It's just depressing, people.
Me: What’s even more depressing is PitchPro, which takes away the slight amount of creativity involved in picking backgrounds and colors for PowerPoint.
8) Work in a fun, active, comfortable environment.
This one sort of goes along with the clothing thing, in that you should be comfortable. But not only in your clothes-- in your environment, as well. Sitting behind a desk all day can be mind-numbing. Instead, have a ping pong table to play on or an open space to just get up and move around in. It's a nice, refreshing break from staring at a screen or a paper all day.
Me: Eliminate cubicles. For some jobs I suppose they’re necessary, but for a design job, you need to be able to collaborate with those working around you. Also, people are always telling you to “think outside the box.” I imagine this ability is in direct proportion to the shape of your workspace.
9) Enjoy your coworkers.
Part of having a fun work environment is not just the physical space, but the people in it. Make friends. They'll help you keep your sanity when a project goes awry.
Me: Company’s should provide activities to make bonding with coworkers easier. Dodgeball league anyone?
10) Work on projects that interest you.
If you care about what you are doing, your work comes out better. 'Nuff said.
Me: Do what you love, love what you do :-)
1) Come to work comfortable.
Why does the corporate world assume that people work better in high heels and constricting dress pants? In college, we do some of our best work while wearing sweatpants. Why? Because we're not confined and we’re focusing on our work instead of our wardrobe.
Me: Worrying about the creases in your pants is not conducive to creativity.
2) You don't have to be there at nine a.m.
Hours need to be flexible at jobs, especially if you have a family. Nine to five every day is exhausting, especially if you're up all night with little kids. Flexible hours mean better-rested employees, which means happier and more productive employees.
Me: Agreed. In the design world, work schedules are hopefully a bit more flexible? However, there are some days (around deadlines obviously) where it might be necessary to work overtime.
3) Don't have a killer commute.
This kind of goes along with flexible hours in that commutes often are stressful and add an extra hour to two hours onto someone's day that is rather unnecessarily frustrating. Work somewhere you can get to rather easily, whether that's a short amount of time or not too many changes of transportation.
Me: Door to door time should be less than an hour.
4) Breakfast food and snack food are always appreciated.
They really are.
5) Job titles should be concise and make sense.
We have a test in CMD called the Ken Hine test: if you can explain your idea in three words, it's a good one. The same, I believe, is true for job titles. Too specific a title and I think your purpose is a bit murky. You should be able to say what you do without having to explain in detail what you do.
Me: I would also prefer a more creative job title…Imagineer perhaps?
6) Everyone is important and everyone contributes.
That's not to say that leaders or managers are obsolete, but that a good idea can come from anywhere.
Me: And it shouldn’t have to be passed up a huge chain of command. A company should not be so big that the person with the idea cannot contact someone with the authority to make it happen.
7) No PowerPoint.
For the love of all things good and holy in this world, can we please come up with a more creative solution to how we present material? It's just depressing, people.
Me: What’s even more depressing is PitchPro, which takes away the slight amount of creativity involved in picking backgrounds and colors for PowerPoint.
8) Work in a fun, active, comfortable environment.
This one sort of goes along with the clothing thing, in that you should be comfortable. But not only in your clothes-- in your environment, as well. Sitting behind a desk all day can be mind-numbing. Instead, have a ping pong table to play on or an open space to just get up and move around in. It's a nice, refreshing break from staring at a screen or a paper all day.
Me: Eliminate cubicles. For some jobs I suppose they’re necessary, but for a design job, you need to be able to collaborate with those working around you. Also, people are always telling you to “think outside the box.” I imagine this ability is in direct proportion to the shape of your workspace.
9) Enjoy your coworkers.
Part of having a fun work environment is not just the physical space, but the people in it. Make friends. They'll help you keep your sanity when a project goes awry.
Me: Company’s should provide activities to make bonding with coworkers easier. Dodgeball league anyone?
10) Work on projects that interest you.
If you care about what you are doing, your work comes out better. 'Nuff said.
Me: Do what you love, love what you do :-)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Mid-Performance Review
It’s hard to believe I’m already half-way through my internship here at JPMC. I officially hit the 5 week mark before the 4th of July holiday, but it still feels like I just started. The summer is really flying by!
My Mid-Performance Review went very well, and while I don’t particularly see myself working here after graduation, it’s nice to know that I am in the upper range of interns being considered for employment.
So far working for JPMC has been a sort of crash course…
Welcome to the Real World 101, with topics including:
How Not to Starve or Overspend
Navigating the Underground
Living Without Mid-day Naps
Cost of Living in NYC & Taxes (a.k.a. How not to cry when you receive your first paycheck)
Personal Growth and Development
My Mid-Performance Review went very well, and while I don’t particularly see myself working here after graduation, it’s nice to know that I am in the upper range of interns being considered for employment.
So far working for JPMC has been a sort of crash course…
Welcome to the Real World 101, with topics including:
How Not to Starve or Overspend
Navigating the Underground
Living Without Mid-day Naps
Cost of Living in NYC & Taxes (a.k.a. How not to cry when you receive your first paycheck)
Personal Growth and Development
Monday, June 22, 2009
Highlights from this Weekend Include...
Meeting up with Kate (a fellow CommDesigner) in the city and having dinner at The Heartland Brewery. Kate lives in Long Island and commutes into the city twice a week for her internship, so it was exceedingly nice to see her and catch up.
Helping my cousin Cathy move from her apartment in Hoboken into her new place in NYC. Her family came into the city as well, so I was able to spend some time with my Aunt Silvia, Uncle Ray, and other cousin Chris.
Going to Panchito’s for Margaritas (apparently they are “1 of the 6 Best Places in NYC for Margaritas!”) with some new friends.
Getting in for free to the MoMA. I just discovered that because I work for JPMC, I can get free tickets to most of the major museums (except the Whitney for some reason) in the city! I spent most of Sunday there with Jackie (who is a museum studies major!) and her friend Sadie before going to the Central Park Zoo.
Doing laundry Sunday night and watching the new NBC show ‘Merlin.’ Not terribly exciting, I know, but increasingly important! Plus, sometimes it’s nice to have mundane activities to focus on and unwind from an exciting weekend!
Plans for this week include: TRANSFORMERS on Wednesday after work with Brianna and Kate, lunch with Jackie on Friday, and dinner with Simi. I love NYC!
Helping my cousin Cathy move from her apartment in Hoboken into her new place in NYC. Her family came into the city as well, so I was able to spend some time with my Aunt Silvia, Uncle Ray, and other cousin Chris.
Going to Panchito’s for Margaritas (apparently they are “1 of the 6 Best Places in NYC for Margaritas!”) with some new friends.
Getting in for free to the MoMA. I just discovered that because I work for JPMC, I can get free tickets to most of the major museums (except the Whitney for some reason) in the city! I spent most of Sunday there with Jackie (who is a museum studies major!) and her friend Sadie before going to the Central Park Zoo.
Doing laundry Sunday night and watching the new NBC show ‘Merlin.’ Not terribly exciting, I know, but increasingly important! Plus, sometimes it’s nice to have mundane activities to focus on and unwind from an exciting weekend!
Plans for this week include: TRANSFORMERS on Wednesday after work with Brianna and Kate, lunch with Jackie on Friday, and dinner with Simi. I love NYC!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Practical Things Learned in NYC So Far...
1. Always wear comfortable shoes. One of the best things about being in NYC is walking around and seeing the various stores and restaurants. If you’re traveling a few blocks, however, taking the subway will be much quicker.
2. Have your Metrocard at the ready. The method that’s worked best for me so far is to put the cards I use most frequently (NYU Housing Card, Metrocard, JPMC ID) in a separate, slim wallet that I can keep in the front (zippered) pocket of my bag.
3. The 30-day unlimited Metropass will save you a ton of $ and you won’t have to worry about refilling it.
4. No matter where you go (movies, festival, out to eat), you will have to wait in line, so leave early! (This one is something of a no-brainer, but it caught me off-guard when I went to the movies.)
5. New York City is made up of 5 boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island). Most people, when they visit, go to Manhattan, which is home to the theatre district, Central Park, Times Square, Ground Zero, etc.
6. The subway system is color-coded and each color represent a different line. The lines run along a certain avenue, so for example, the numbers 1, 2, and 3 are red and they are the 7th Avenue line; the A, C and E lines are blue and they run along 8th Avenue (this is what I take to get to work).
That's all I've got so far, but I'm sure there will be more to come!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
New York, New York! (sing it!)
Status Update: I got the JPMC Internship!
My first day on the job was June 1st, and the internship runs until August 7th. I am working with the Corporate Branding and Strategic Marketing team at JPMC with the official title of "Corporate Branding and Strategic Marketing Analyst." IT IS A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Luckily, I was able to find housing with NYU, and I am living in a dorm-style room, downtown, in a beautiful part of the city (right across from Washington Square Park). I have one roommate, Sarah, who is a soon-to-be senior at Vassar. She's from Pennsylvania, we get along very well, and she is studying English and Literature and working for a non-profit Law organization that deals with Human Rights cases (very cool).
Since I've only been to the city a few times on day-trips with the fam and school field trips, I've never really thought about what it would be like to live in the city. In all honesty, I really thought that I would hate it, but each day I'm discovering something else that I love about it.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!
My first day on the job was June 1st, and the internship runs until August 7th. I am working with the Corporate Branding and Strategic Marketing team at JPMC with the official title of "Corporate Branding and Strategic Marketing Analyst." IT IS A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.
Luckily, I was able to find housing with NYU, and I am living in a dorm-style room, downtown, in a beautiful part of the city (right across from Washington Square Park). I have one roommate, Sarah, who is a soon-to-be senior at Vassar. She's from Pennsylvania, we get along very well, and she is studying English and Literature and working for a non-profit Law organization that deals with Human Rights cases (very cool).
Since I've only been to the city a few times on day-trips with the fam and school field trips, I've never really thought about what it would be like to live in the city. In all honesty, I really thought that I would hate it, but each day I'm discovering something else that I love about it.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Irony and Orientation
Status Update: I got the JPMC internship!
My first day of work consisted of an entire day devoted to Orientation for all of the JPMC interns. Now, there are approximately 200 JPMC interns in New York City alone, and 50 of us are from Syracuse University. Of those 50, 48 of the SU interns are from either our Whitman School of Management, the iSchool (Information Studies), or the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Now, I’ll have to do the math later, but what are the odds that the first person I meet, in the room of 200 interns from all different schools, would be a Syracuse University student from the College of Visual and Performing Arts!?
My first day of work consisted of an entire day devoted to Orientation for all of the JPMC interns. Now, there are approximately 200 JPMC interns in New York City alone, and 50 of us are from Syracuse University. Of those 50, 48 of the SU interns are from either our Whitman School of Management, the iSchool (Information Studies), or the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
Now, I’ll have to do the math later, but what are the odds that the first person I meet, in the room of 200 interns from all different schools, would be a Syracuse University student from the College of Visual and Performing Arts!?
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