This Sunday marks three weeks since I moved into New York City for the summer to be an intern for CBS News. I haven't written much about my experience with CBS, but I did realize I've learned and been reminded of things in the past three weeks that are probably worth noting about my overall and general experience.
Without further ado... in no particular order:
Always leave extra time to get anywhere.
You'd always rather be early anywhere than late. At least I would. So leave early and get to work 15 minutes early. That's what I do. You just don't know when the subway is going to be delayed or too crowded to fit in the car, or how many crosswalks you'll have to wait at. Just be early. Even if no one notices you're early, they'll definitely notice if you're late.
Without further ado... in no particular order:
Always leave extra time to get anywhere.
You'd always rather be early anywhere than late. At least I would. So leave early and get to work 15 minutes early. That's what I do. You just don't know when the subway is going to be delayed or too crowded to fit in the car, or how many crosswalks you'll have to wait at. Just be early. Even if no one notices you're early, they'll definitely notice if you're late.
Nobody really cares about you.
I don't mean this in a bad way. I mean in New York City you can walk down a street and pass a multimillion dollar couple, an interracial father and son, someone who might be homeless and someone who might be crazy. And nobody ever turns their head or thinks twice. That's why weird things happen on street corners and weird things happen on the subway but most of the time people keep their heads down in their books. New York is the media center, the fashion capital, the financial pulse, the theater district and more of the country. Everyone has better things to do than care. It's kind of like high school. Those things you think people care about, they definitely don't.
I don't mean this in a bad way. I mean in New York City you can walk down a street and pass a multimillion dollar couple, an interracial father and son, someone who might be homeless and someone who might be crazy. And nobody ever turns their head or thinks twice. That's why weird things happen on street corners and weird things happen on the subway but most of the time people keep their heads down in their books. New York is the media center, the fashion capital, the financial pulse, the theater district and more of the country. Everyone has better things to do than care. It's kind of like high school. Those things you think people care about, they definitely don't.
Days off are for you only!
Working on a Saturday morning show, my days off are Sunday and Monday. So last Monday, I woke up with a really bad cold and I took a hot shower, made an English muffin with peanut butter, moved myself to the couch and fell asleep. I napped on and off all day and I believe after that I went into my bedroom and watched TV. Your days off are only for you and if you need to spend it napping a cold away, you should do so.
Working on a Saturday morning show, my days off are Sunday and Monday. So last Monday, I woke up with a really bad cold and I took a hot shower, made an English muffin with peanut butter, moved myself to the couch and fell asleep. I napped on and off all day and I believe after that I went into my bedroom and watched TV. Your days off are only for you and if you need to spend it napping a cold away, you should do so.
The best thing about anywhere you work is always going to be the people.
From the Tonys to NBC to CBS to wherever I'm off to next, this proves to be true. Further than that, you're never too old to make new friends. I've been so happy to see what a nice group we've formed of the CBS This Morning interns. We plan to do things together, we ask questions about each others homes and schools and we are becoming friends. No matter that there might not always be enough to do, there might be too much for anyone to do, or any range of situations in between, the truth is that the thing that is going to keep you getting up in the morning and on the Subway to Columbus Circle is that you like making television with really good people who also like making television. Okay, that may be my thing that keeps me getting up but yours can be different.
From the Tonys to NBC to CBS to wherever I'm off to next, this proves to be true. Further than that, you're never too old to make new friends. I've been so happy to see what a nice group we've formed of the CBS This Morning interns. We plan to do things together, we ask questions about each others homes and schools and we are becoming friends. No matter that there might not always be enough to do, there might be too much for anyone to do, or any range of situations in between, the truth is that the thing that is going to keep you getting up in the morning and on the Subway to Columbus Circle is that you like making television with really good people who also like making television. Okay, that may be my thing that keeps me getting up but yours can be different.
Blisters are awful.
But wearing cute shoes is awesome for more than one reason. That's where this one ends.
But wearing cute shoes is awesome for more than one reason. That's where this one ends.
"When people show you who they are the first time, believe them." - Maya Angelou
One of my friends at CBS told me this quote and it took some thinking about to actually find a way to apply it. But now that I've read it over and thought about it, it really is true. If someone says they are going to call you and they don't do it, they're showing you something. I'm not saying things don't come up. This is life and we get busy and our phones die and we forget to call. But don't make those excuses for too long. It's quite possible that the person is the type of person who says they're going to call and doesn't. It's also quite possible they aren't that type of person but there is another thing that I know to be true which is that people make time for those they deem important. If it's important to someone to call you when they say they will, they will call. One more truth in this category: anything that you can imagine being really nice and romantic with a certain person will be 10 times as nice and romantic with a person who genuinely wants to be there with you. I promise. Anything you can imagine being wonderful to share with a significant other will really be 10 times more wonderful if you can share it with someone who wants nothing but to share it exactly with you. Remember here that people make time for those they truly want to make time for and they don't for those who they don't. It's human. Don't try to deny that. It's true.
Savor every moment.
We go through life taking things for granted because of the routine nature life takes. It's totally normal and we all do it. But I had a moment while sitting in Linda Ellerbee's living room where I became keenly aware of the fact that this moment would most likely never repeat itself. Last year, I was lucky enough to meet Linda under the same circumstances since she meets with the UMiami Summer Interns each year. But this is my last year interning in New York City as next year I'll hopefully be employed. But I realized in just one moment while she was speaking about not one thing in particular that the chance I had that night might never come again. You just have to enjoy every single second there is.
We go through life taking things for granted because of the routine nature life takes. It's totally normal and we all do it. But I had a moment while sitting in Linda Ellerbee's living room where I became keenly aware of the fact that this moment would most likely never repeat itself. Last year, I was lucky enough to meet Linda under the same circumstances since she meets with the UMiami Summer Interns each year. But this is my last year interning in New York City as next year I'll hopefully be employed. But I realized in just one moment while she was speaking about not one thing in particular that the chance I had that night might never come again. You just have to enjoy every single second there is.
The best money you could spend will always be on bringing people you love together.
I've said this before and it's still one of the few things I know with all of my heart to be true. Money spent on travel or transportation to see people you love, food to eat with those people or any expenses related to bringing friends and family together are always, always worth it. Being together is the best thing in life there is.
I've said this before and it's still one of the few things I know with all of my heart to be true. Money spent on travel or transportation to see people you love, food to eat with those people or any expenses related to bringing friends and family together are always, always worth it. Being together is the best thing in life there is.
Stranger things have happened.
On my very first day at CBS News I ran into an old friend who I last saw three years prior and actually never expected to see again. The chances of this particular run-in at my place of employment on my very first day have to be infinitesimal. I quite honestly would've expected seeing a news anchor from another network in a mascot costume cheering for a sports team that doesn't exist before I would've expected to see this person. But he was there and I did, so the new motto became "stranger things have happened." It's a small world and it only gets smaller.
On my very first day at CBS News I ran into an old friend who I last saw three years prior and actually never expected to see again. The chances of this particular run-in at my place of employment on my very first day have to be infinitesimal. I quite honestly would've expected seeing a news anchor from another network in a mascot costume cheering for a sports team that doesn't exist before I would've expected to see this person. But he was there and I did, so the new motto became "stranger things have happened." It's a small world and it only gets smaller.
Make plans!
It's just the truth that if you don't make plans for yourself, you will find your weekend has come and gone and all you've done is drink wine and watch Netflix. I'm just saying. Maybe from experience. I found I didn't like leaving work because most days when I don't have meetings, I go home alone and am alone until I return to work the next morning. Sometimes, this is totally fine and it's exactly the time I need to recharge but other times, it's nice to have something to look forward to during the day. For most of us growing up, there are always people around at home, especially if either of your parents don't work. So for me, living alone is definitely an adjustment from what I do love about home- the people who are always around! Try to meet friends for dinner occasionally and definitely fill your weekends with things that will make you happy to do. (See: Days off are for you only!) This goes back to the Maya Angelou quote but a nice time to place it in: don't wait for people to call!
It's just the truth that if you don't make plans for yourself, you will find your weekend has come and gone and all you've done is drink wine and watch Netflix. I'm just saying. Maybe from experience. I found I didn't like leaving work because most days when I don't have meetings, I go home alone and am alone until I return to work the next morning. Sometimes, this is totally fine and it's exactly the time I need to recharge but other times, it's nice to have something to look forward to during the day. For most of us growing up, there are always people around at home, especially if either of your parents don't work. So for me, living alone is definitely an adjustment from what I do love about home- the people who are always around! Try to meet friends for dinner occasionally and definitely fill your weekends with things that will make you happy to do. (See: Days off are for you only!) This goes back to the Maya Angelou quote but a nice time to place it in: don't wait for people to call!
Take lunch.
I'm still working on this one. I always eat at my desk and I like to eat my desk. Even though I stay at my desk for lunch, I usually stop working on something and do another thing that's mentally refreshing for a few minutes while I eat. But my boss at CBS is really about taking up to an hour for lunch. On one of my first days in the office I ate at my desk (as usual) and she said "make sure you take a lunch!" and I said "oh, I already ate!" and she said, "no, like... go take lunch." And it just happened today that she said, "what are you doing eating at your desk?" I didn't know what to say except "...eating at my desk." But I promised her I'd go take a walk.
I'm still working on this one. I always eat at my desk and I like to eat my desk. Even though I stay at my desk for lunch, I usually stop working on something and do another thing that's mentally refreshing for a few minutes while I eat. But my boss at CBS is really about taking up to an hour for lunch. On one of my first days in the office I ate at my desk (as usual) and she said "make sure you take a lunch!" and I said "oh, I already ate!" and she said, "no, like... go take lunch." And it just happened today that she said, "what are you doing eating at your desk?" I didn't know what to say except "...eating at my desk." But I promised her I'd go take a walk.
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