As a Virginia Commonwealth University student, I often found change uncomfortable, especially as I am wrapping up my academic career. These moments of transition can lead to unexpected opportunities and help in clarifying your career aspirations – in my case an internship that has shown me what I am interested in.
When considering my next steps in pursuit of a career path, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. Sounds relatable right? When I was searching for internships, my strategy was to be open to a wide array of opportunities, even those slightly outside my main area of interest. What I looked for most was hands-on experience, as I found this more beneficial than virtual positions.
Luckily, an opportunity presented itself when I received an email about open leadership positions in the Public Relations Student Society of America at VCU. Joining PRSSA and immersing myself in it, spending more time meeting new people and making connections, was a crucial step. It was through my active participation in PRSSA that I came across the internship opportunity with Tiramisu for Breakfast. I realized that if I hadn’t joined, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now and you wouldn’t be reading this.
When I walked into the Tiramisu for Breakfast office for the first time, I was immediately struck by its energy. There was a lot happening in the space, and I found myself enjoying the process of observing and taking it all in. It was fascinating because the office seemed to reflect Christina’s personality. Right from the start, I could sense that she’s a creative, spontaneous go getter. The layout and decor of the office communicated that vividly. Sitting down and speaking with Christina, I appreciated the casual yet expressive manner in which she communicated. It felt welcoming and engaging, and it set a comfortable tone for our interaction.
Looking back on the week, I attended the VMFA Art Exhibition Media Review for Dawoud Bey’s “Elegy” with Christina. I see now that it was much more than just another event. Roaming through the exhibition and seeing those impactful artworks, I wasn’t just taking in the art; I was also picking up on the subtleties of how media and public relations play out in these environments.
In my first week at the internship, I really got a grip on some key public relations and marketing concepts. I started off by diving into TFB brand guidelines, along with checking out big names like Coca-Cola to keep their branding sharp and consistent. Then, I wrapped my head around the differences between owned, earned, and paid media. Essentially, owned media refers to the channels we manage ourselves, like our own websites and blogs. Paid media is all about investing in ads on platforms like Facebook or Twitter. And earned media? That’s the awesome, free exposure we gain when our content gets shared by others. I also picked up on how payment works in agencies, which typically happens after a contract gets inked, following our proposal submissions. Something new to me was the concept of “spec work,” which is working without guaranteed pay, mostly for pitches. And finally, I got to know about Gantt charts, which are super helpful for keeping track of what needs to get done in a project. All in all, this week was jam-packed with learning, giving me a solid start in understanding the nuts and bolts of brand management, media strategies, and the nitty-gritty of client-agency relationships and project planning.
During my internship, my primary goals are to gain a diverse skill set. This doesn’t exclusively include the specific tasks I was assigned, but also involved observing and learning from the overall operations of the TFB workplace. It was important for me to bring new ideas, consistent effort, and fresh energy to the office.
I am grateful to gain more confidence and clarity regarding my future career path. I wanted the experience to help me feel comfortable in professional settings and more certain about my career choices. Juggling academic responsibilities, work commitments, and personal life was challenging, but it was crucial for my professional development. Most importantly, excited to grow alongside Christina!
Motto of the Week: Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Read MoreI’m trying to find the recording to share.
Some of my favorite bits from my notes (from what I could read of my handwriting 🤪) The book is “Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness.”
I thought I was prepared because I downloaded the audiobook ahead of the event so I’d know what everyone was talking about… until I got there and it turns out the book is a GRAPHIC novel. Lolol My takeaways:
“Before reading this, I would have told you that lol I was is an issue that comes form outside. I’m not realizing that j have a responsibility in my Lo lines to test vulnerability and authenticity.”
“I don’t think we have an epidemic of loneliness. I think we have an epidemic of a lack of vulnerability and intimacy.”
“We are wired as humans for empathy and connection. How do we return to that?”
“We all get lonely, and in that we are not alone.”
“The longer we are lonely, the harder it is to reconnect.”
“To create community, we need to have a low bar for entry and a high bar for conduct.” 🙌🏻👏🏻
In the q&a, I asked what industries need this message the most. They said policy makers and the media.
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My hope for humanity is that we can all find something to love as much as this man on NextDoor loves the Carytown Publix.
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I love ArtButMakeItSports on X so much.
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We now have TFB tees and sweatshirts in black!
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When Malcolm asked me what I wish I knew in my last decade, my mind immediately went to my disappointment in discovering that there is not, in fact, a period of time after acne and before wrinkles; they actually overlap.
Thank you thank you thank you to Malcolm Venable for inviting me to be a part of this article for Shondaland!!!
Not only was it an honor to be included but even if no one else ever saw it, the greatest gift was being prompted to reflect on this!Here’s the section I contributed, but click through to Shondaland.com to read the full article! “Your 30s are different from your 20s! I’m surprised by that. I thought it was just: You are a kid, and then you are an adult. I never thought about how almost all of your life is spent as an adult, and there are so many stages. I look back on the last decade with rose-colored glasses. I kind of wish 30s me could give advice to 20s me. I look back and see myself as brave and generous and creative and kind.
I wish I’d known that my positive attitude was my greatest asset and that I should do everything I could to protect it. I wish I’d known how transient people’s roles in my life were and are. People change jobs, people break up, people grow and change. Someone might be your boss or client one day, and you feel so much pressure to impress them, but then you get in a situation where you’re positioned more as an equal and a friend, and you see them differently. They’re just a person like you and everyone else.
Maya Angelou said, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” Teaching a university class and starting a business in my 20s taught me that my voice has power and that speaking up for what’s right makes other women feel like they have permission to do the same.
I wish I’d known that laser hair removal (and really any beauty treatment that’s going to save me time) is worth it. I wish I’d known to have a default nail color. Just get a ballerina gown dip polish every time. I wish I’d known that I could just get the car I wanted instead of feeling unhappy and self-conscious about driving an old, messy car. I love my little black Buick SUV with beige leather seats. I wish I’d known to spend my money and time on facials and exercise instead of listening to the women at the makeup counters trying to sell me something.
I wish I’d known that I can be the person who goes to early morning exercise classes. I didn’t see the point in waking up early, but I now see those hours as a gift to myself. I wish I’d known that procrastination is not laziness. I needed to look deeper to find the issue instead of blaming it on myself. Was I missing resources? Did I need help from someone or more information? I wish I’d thought without judgment about what was keeping me from doing what I wanted or needed to do.
I wish I’d known that if I didn’t want to be around someone, it didn’t make me a bad person. There was probably a reason something felt off, and it’s fine to trust myself and my instincts.
I wish I’d known that when I can’t stop thinking about something, I should just take action. It’s totally fixable if I make a mistake or regret my decision, but it’s a waste of time to ruminate. I don’t need to feel guilty about really leaning into doing things I love and indulging because it gets harder and harder to get in touch with what you want at your core. It’s not selfish to do what you want; that’s actually what really should be guiding you through life. As generic and clichéd as it seems, being yourself really is the ultimate goal.
I wish I’d known to go see Britney Spears in concert. It doesn’t matter how much it would have cost. I could have figured that part out.” Read More
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The McDonald’s and NASCAR teams worked together to create a fan-focused event with Bubba Wallace at the Richmond Raceway McDonald’s the day before the big race.
DJ Lonnie B and Kelli Lemon joined us for music, giveaways, and lots of autographs.
Thanks to all who made this event super fun, including On Three Photography, who helped us capture the event. Thanks to Richmond Times Dispatch and BOOMER Magazine for helping us spread the word!
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We’re celebrating Grimace’s birthday!
We know birthdays at McDonald’s have a certain magic. Whether you’ve attended an epic party at the PlayPlace or swapped the fancy dinner for what you were really craving, birthdays at McDonald’s restaurants hold a special place in our hearts.
So, starting June 12th, we’re inviting everyone to create new birthday memories with us… this time, in honor of our very own fan favorite, Grimace.
Starting next week (while supplies last) fans can get in on the festivities with the Grimace Birthday Meal – featuring a limited-edition purple shake inspired by Grimace’s iconic color and sweetness.
The meal also comes with the choice of a Big Mac® or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®, and our World-Famous Fries®, and of course, we encourage all partygoers to order this meal in the app, via McDelivery or Mobile Order & Pay for an even better party experience.
For those just realizing how little you might actually know about your purple pal… here are a few fun facts about Grimace!
Grimace is from Grimace Island and comes from a huge family – including his Grandma Winky, Aunts Millie and Tillie and his Uncle O’Grimacey.
Our timeless bestie has become a fan-favorite known for his signature fuzzy purple look, friendly and playful personality, love for shakes, and of course – ambiguous nature.
What exactly is Grimace? Perhaps we’ll never know…
We can’t wait to see all the ways you celebrate Grimace’s birthday with us and with our customers!
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FEMALE PROMOTER BRINGS FIRST TITLE FIGHT TO RVA
(RICHMOND – MAY 15, 2023) – Liz Cane, the Managing Promoter of River City Promotions, is excited to announce Richmond’s first WBC title fight on Friday, May 19th at The Renaissance Room.
Ermal Hadribeaj, the WBC international super-weight champion from Albania, will defend his belt against Leonardo di Stefano Ruiz at the “Road to Glory” Pro-boxing event in Richmond, Virginia. The event will feature 8 total bouts (7 undercards & 1 main event).
Eric Ash and Marc Cheatham are the commentators for the evening.
Liz launched River City Promotions in March 2023. “The Road to Glory” is the organization’s inaugural event, with another fight scheduled in July 2023.
This is a historic event & a massive opportunity for Richmond, which has never before hosted a title fight. Her hope is that the international attention drawn to Richmond through these events will be massive & put our city on the map as a destination for professional boxing.
Tickets are available now at www.rivercityboxing.com.Don’t miss out on your chance to attend this historical event! TICKETS
DATE, TIME, & LOCATION:
Friday, May 19th, 2023
The Renaissance Roosevelt Ballroom107 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 5:30 p.m.: Doors Open
7:00 p.m.: First Bout Kick-off
PAY PER VIEW
The fights will be available in person or on pay-per-view through FITE TV.
AFTER PARTY
After the main event, River City Roll will open its doors & patio to all event ticket purchasers 21 & above for an exclusive afterparty where all food & drinks will be complimentary. Cocktail attire is highly encouraged.
PARTNERS:“The Road to Glory” will be catered by Sedona Taphouse, with beer distribution from Bingo, Circus Vodka, & bourbon whiskey through Reservoir Distillery. SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook Event
River City Promotions on Instagram
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INTERVIEWS & MEDIA PASSES
For questions, interview requests and media passes to the event, please contact:
Christina DickTiramisu For Breakfast Agency
christina@tfbagency.com.
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