Finding and Succeeding at an Internship

It may seem early in the game to start looking for a summer internship but it's better to stay on top of it rather than push it to the back burner. I've completed quite a few internships and from my experience it's always good to look for internships early because not only does it reflect on you as responsible, but it also gives you a head start. Before sharing my tips about internships, I thought I'd share a little about my own experiences!

In 2016, one of my graduations requirements for High School was to complete an internship and I had no idea what I was doing. I had no idea how to find an internship let alone one that would align with my career goals. At the time I intended on Politics being my future career so I decided to google "Political Internships in Ohio". It took me to the website www.internships.com (this website is a great tool if you don't know where to start in your internship search!) and there I located an internship for my Senators re-election campaign. I sent an email saying I was interested and was referred to the field director in my area. I sent them my cover letter and résumé (this was a requirement for my class, it was probably too formal for just a campaign internship) and got started with interning for the campaign! During my internship, I made a lot of amazing friendships, got to attend lots of campaign events and even met iconic politicians like Paul Ryan and Newt Gingrich. I think I was really lucky to have such an amazing first internship where I got to not only learn a lot but also have a really fun time. Below are just a few pictures from my first internship!

Around this time last year it was a couple months after completing my first internship and I was on google again trying to find an internship that fit with my career goals. During the previous election season, I loved my campaign internship so much I decided to intern on 5 more (I know, I'm crazy right?!). Now after completing tons of internships, I was trying to find the perfect one for the upcoming summer. As a High School student, it's actually pretty difficult finding an internship because most businesses, companies, offices etc. are looking for someone who is in College and has knowledge in a particular field. Since I would be graduating High School before the summer, I figured that might work to my advantage and I may have more options.

Thanks to Google, I ended up finding there were a few internship options at the Ohio Statehouse. I was really interest in the House Page Program they offered but felt discouraged when it said it was for College students only. I called the person in charge and asked them if they accepted those who have recently graduated High School and will be attending College next year. To my surprise, they said they do! I immediately applied and sent in my application to the appropriate person. Before I knew it a month and a half later I had an interview and a few weeks later I was hired! (I should also mention that you don't have to have an internship every summer, in fact I sometimes wish I had enjoyed my last summer before College instead of interning and working, but if you feel that you're very self-motivated and want to get a head start then go for it!)

Finding an Internship

1. If you don't know where to start, there are lots of great websites to help you find internships. Some that I really like are www.interships.com, www.indeed.com, www.idealist.com and www.experience.com. If you have an idea of where you'd like to intern, start contacting places you'd like to intern immediately and ask about internships. Don't contact just one place for a potential internship, contact many since the first place you email isn't a definite yes by any means. Make sure that when you send an email to someone who could potentially hire you, read it once, then twice, then three times and make sure its professional, well written, and there are no typos (sometimes when I would call about an internship, I would literally have a script written out so I wouldn't make a mistake). Your email is the first impression that the employer your contacting will get and if there is even a slight mistake or it's in any way unprofessional, it can reflect poorly on you

2. Once you have a potential internship acquired, it can go a lot of different ways. They could hire you after a quick phone call or they may want to meet with you for an interview. The situation really depends on the internship but typically they'll want to interview you or talk with you, similar to when you apply for jobs. It's important in this situation to act professional but you don't have to be stiff if that makes sense. If you're applying for an internship with a major brand or corporation then the questions they might ask you could be available online and you can be better prepared. Either way, it's important to be prepared, early (if its an interview) and dressed modestly and professionally.

3. Congratulations! At this point you will have successfully obtained an internship. It may be starting right away or in a few months in the summer, depending on what you were looking for. Make sure you have the appropriate clothing for the internship; for example, if its in a professional environment then you'll want to wear business casual, but if its an environment where you'll be doing a lot of hands-on work and there's potential to ruin your clothes or you want to stay comfortable, wear the appropriate clothing.

Succeeding at an Internship

• Always do more than expected. At your internship, you'll be expected to complete the tasks that you're told. If you can, do more than whats expected of you. For example, when I interned on a campaign, I was expected to make phone calls. Most people would use 2 or 3 phones but I worked to make sure I could make more calls with 6-7 phones.

• Be professional. It's important to be professional and not immature when completing an internship if you expect a good reference or a future job with this employer. This doesn't mean to be stiff but be professional in moderation and don't do anything that could reflect poorly on you.

• Be early but never late. Punctuality is very important to employers and showing up late is never good. If you show up late, I hope you have a good excuse! This past summer when I interned at the statehouse, I was an hour early on my first day and I'm glad I was because the cost of parking is insane in the city so I searched for a good deal. I remember hearing someone say they had to pay $20 for parking on their first day.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions. One of the best parts of an internship is you get to learn more about your future career. It's good to ask questions about whats going on and it benefits you because the more you know, the lesser chance you'll have of making a mistake on a project.

• Do you research. Learn about who you're interning for if you haven't already. The more you know, the more you'll succeed and impress your employer! It doesn't hurt to take a little time to learn about who you're working with.

• Take initiative. Be a leader and someone who steps up. Employers love to see someone who takes initiative and wants to learn. Taking initiative starts when you apply for an internship. Make sure you show your leadership skills and improve them while interning.

• Put down the cell phone. Depending on where you intern, your employer may want you to do something and if you're on your phone half the time you either won't hear them or won't get what he or she wants you to do completed.

• Be committed. If you have to show up early or stay late, do it. This shows that you're responsible, committed and care about the work that you're doing. 

• Improve yourself. Learn not only from your mistakes but also the mistakes of others. You're around people who have been in your field of interest for a long time; take advantage of that and ask them about what they've learned and for advice.

• Have fun! Don't be so focused on your work that you miss out on the fun. Take the time to make friends with others and socialize. Your internship will be boring and miserable if you let it be but it can be very enjoyable if you make the most of it.

I hope that all of this information was helpful to you and that I was able to provide some insight into the world of internships! If you have any questions that I didn't answer or want some advice, feel free to contact me. I would be more than willing to help you out!

5 Must-Have Wardrobe Prints for Spring

Hey everyone! I am definitely struggling from a severe case of Spring Fever, I just can't get over it! The weather in Ohio has been all over the place but every now and then we've been getting weather in the 50's and it feels so nice! I can't wait for the Spring where the weather will consistently be like that. That being said, I put together 5 of my favorite prints/trends for the Springtime so that you can add some fun prints and colors to your closet! Enjoy!

Snow Day

Hey everyone! I woke up this morning and was so shocked by how much it was snowing. In fact, it's still snowing as I type this! I feel like this is the first time that we've gotten a lot of snow in Ohio in a couple of years. I recently got a puffer coat from J. Crew Factory and was so excited to finally have a chance to wear it out in the snow. Along with my coat I wore a grey sweater from GAP underneath and then paired it with a pair of grey earmuffs and a scarf from old navy. I was so excited when I found my gloves at Anthropologie because they match my earmuffs perfectly! I also wore my green Hunter boots along with some fleece Hunter boot socks. We recently got an English Shepherd (her name is Sulwen) and since we got her she's gotten so big! I went outside and played with her and she had SO much fun in the snow! The weather has been so cold lately so it was the perfect outfit to get bundled up in to go out! Enjoy!

Coat | Hunter Boots | Socks | Earmuffs | Gloves | Scarf | Leggings | Sweater

Whole30: What is it and why do it?

Hey everyone! The New Year always brings resolutions to eat healthier and exercise regularly. That being said, you've probably seen people mentioning something called the Whole30 on social media. The Whole30 is essentially a very strict diet that last for 30 days and it's almost like a refresh or a detox for your body. In general, when doing the Whole30 you can't eat: added sugar, alcohol, grains, beans, dairy, MSG, and baked goods (even treats that have the approved ingredient since it misses the point of the diet). Oh and you can't check your weight either since the your goal in the Whole30 should be to cleanse your body rather than lose weight. You're probably thinking that is an insanely strict diet and you're stuck eating only fruit vegetables and meat. And while it does seem that way, there is actually a lot of great meal and snack options when doing the Whole30. Some of my favorites: zucchini pasta, chicken salad, lettuce wrap tacos, etc.

Now you're probably thinking, "Why would I do that? Is it really worth it?", at least that's what I thought when I first heard of the Whole30. Looking into it, it didn't seem that awful since I already eat gluten free and I try to avoid dairy when I can so I decided to just go for it. After all, I heard good things about the Whole30 and it couldn't hurt to try it. Let me just tell you, it made a HUGE difference in my daily life just after doing it for about a week. I felt insanely better, I had way more energy than I'd had in months, I was doing so great in school and I just felt happier and healthier. Don't get me wrong, I definitely missed having a sweet treat or some carbs here and there but I was also shocked by how much better I felt, I didn't really want to stop.

After 30 days, my body definitely felt detoxed and I had tons of energy but I also missed what I would normally eat. I went back to my normal diet but with a healthier spin, only having sweets, carbs, dairy, etc. every now and then. Since doing the Whole30 a while back, I've definitely fallen back into the eating habits that would make me feel exhausted and would give me a lack of energy. I've seen a lot of friends talk about how they're doing with the Whole30 and I thought maybe I should give it another go myself to have more energy and kind of get back into the swing of things. As a College Student working two jobs, I definitely see the benefits of just grabbing something quick to eat rather than taking the time to make something healthy. I think that by doing the Whole30, I'll have more energy to wake up early and make more time in my day to make healthier meals and snacks that are Whole30 approved.

Right after completing the Whole30 almost a year ago, I raved about how amazing and life changing it was to anyone who would listen. It was that good. My advice to you if you feel constantly fatigued, drowsy, or you just don't feel good, is to try the Whole30, Especially after the Holidays where we eat even worse than normal and with the time off that we have we let ourselves be lazy, its very hard to get back into the swing of things with work and school. Doing the Whole30 is a great refresh and a great way to start off the year which is exactly why I'm starting it today and if you think it's something that would benefit you, go for it! And let me know how it goes! I've also shared some of my favorite Whole 30 Recipes below and the shopping list that I use religiously to make sure I'm eating Whole30 approved foods.

Link to the Shopping List: Click HERE

Some of my favorite recipes:

Chicken Salad Wraps

Lettuce Wrap Tacos

Zucchini Pesto Noodles

Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry

Burger Bowl

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Best Brands for Petite Clothing

Growing up I was never able to find clothes that fit quite right. My sleeves would be too long, my jeans would look funny and I'd have to roll them up, my shirts would look too long, etc. It was a constant struggle to find clothes that fit me just right which not only made me feel conscious about my body but it was also very disappointing because I loved fashion and I felt like since everything fit funny, there wasn't a lot of clothes that I could wear. It wasn't until just a couple years ago that I realized I need to wear petite clothing and that's when everything changed. I was able to wear jeans that were the right length, sweaters that fit and coats that had the right length and sleeves. Now don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean I can't walk into a store and find something I like that fits me but every now and then I do struggle with a shirt being too long or pants looking funny. That's why I've found some of my favorite brands simply because they sell petite clothing that fits and looks great. I wanted to share with all of you where I find some of my favorite petite clothing since it can be a huge struggle.

• ASOS - I was hesitant at first to buy petite clothing from ASOS since I'd never bought anything from them before but I was very pleased with their petite clothing. I bought a skirt from them and the length was perfect. Rarely do I find skirts that fit great so whenever I see something from ASOS that I like, I always check to make sure they have it in petite first!

• J. Crew & J. Crew Factory - I've always been a big fan of J. Crew and J. Crew factory in general but when I realized they sold some of their clothing in petite sizes, I became an even bigger fan! Two of my favorite coats were purchased from them in petite sizes and I wear them constantly. If you're looking for a petite coat, definitely take a look at J. Crew.

• Old Navy, GAP, Banana Republic - If you're petite then you know how insanely difficult it is to find a great pair of jeans at the right length! I was stuck rolling my jeans up since I could never find a great pair but I decided to take a risk and order some jeans from Old Navy (I hate ordering jeans without trying them on) and I was so glad I did. The length is great and they fit perfectly, I highly recommend checking out old navy, GAP, or banana republic for a great pair of petite jeans!

• Ann Taylor & Loft - Ann Taylor and Loft are great options for petite clothing, especially business casual clothes. They are great if you're looking for a nice coat or if you're looking for some great basics. I am very particular about what I like when it comes to clothes but both have options I love!

• Express - One of my favorite pairs of pants that I own is actually from Express believe it or not! Express isn't my go to brand for pants but I definitely am a big fan of some of their clothing. They have great staples that you can buy in petite and they are so comfortable.

• Brooks Brothers - If you're looking for quality staple petite clothing, Brooks Brothers is the place to go! While they don't have a lot of petite clothing, they have the very basics like buttons downs and nice pants. Brooks Brothers is great for high end petite clothing!

• Talbots - I love Talbots because they have all different sorts of styles within their clothing brand. I'm a huge sucker for their sweaters and they come in petite! If you're looking for some cute tops that you can get in petite, I suggest going to talbots and taking a look. (They also have some of the cutest spring & summer dresses!)

Hope this helped if you're looking for places to buy petite clothing!

Goals for 2018

Waking up to a new year means new beginnings and new adventures. Every time the new year hits I'm so excited for whats to come and who I'll be at the end of the year. In fact, at the start of every new year I write in December at the end of my planner, Who am I now? It's crazy how much we change ourselves within just one year, it always seems like it has been so much longer.

1. Enjoy the time as it goes instead of just waiting for it to fly by. I'd like to take the days I have off from work or school and make the most of them. I'd also like to take more pictures, something I noticed I didn't really do this past year.

2. Focus on self care. It's important to take care of my skin and body but it's so easy to take the easy way out when you're busy. You grab something quick to eat that isn't the healthiest or you go to sleep with make up on without taking care of your face. I spend a lot of money on skin care products but find myself not using them on a consistent basis since I find myself tired and just wanting to get to bed. I'd also like to eat healthier on a consistent basis because I find when I do that I have a lot more energy and feel a lot better. I plan to do the Whole 30 more often since that is a diet that really works well for me. If you want to learn more about it, click here!

3. Read instead of watching Netflix. I love reading but I always found Netflix to just be easier. I've already started buying plenty of books to read this year because it's something I really enjoy. I'd like to end the day with reading a good book before going to bed. (If you have any good book recommendations, let me know!)

4. Stick to a schedule. I always let time go by as it pleases and really miss out on a lot that I could be doing. I'd like to stick to a daily schedule so I can wake up early and get a head start on the day while also going to bed at a decent time and getting enough sleep. I think that sticking to a schedule will really help me feel a lot better and get more done.

5. Unplug more. While I'd like to take more pictures, I'd also like to unplug more. Yesterday I logged onto my social media and these days it seems as if people are just so unhappy and have a very negative view. It made me want to delete my social media apps (specifically apps like twitter and Facebook) but I also know that's how some people stay in contact with me. I decided this year I won't log onto the apps very often and when I do, I'll only be checking to see if people contacted me.

6. Spend more time blogging. I said this in my New Years resolutions but it's something thats important to me. It brings me a lot of joy and happiness. I don't see it as an obligation but a hobby I really love. I plan to have plenty of outfit posts this year and I am especially looking forward to spring and summer outfits!

I can already tell that this year is going to be a good one. That doesn't mean there won't be the ups and downs but I can tell that it's definitely going to be a life changing year and for the good. I'm looking forward to the many adventures and beginnings I will experience and hope that I'll get to create memories I'll never forget. Here's to the new year!