The Art of Innovation: Monetizing AI Creativity

Section 1: My Journey with AI Art and Cycday

It all started with a spark of curiosity. Could artificial intelligence help create a visual identity for Cycday that resonates with our audience? The answer was a burst of colorful, engaging, and utterly unique artworks generated by AI. By incorporating text directly into images, we could convey our messages in ways that traditional graphics couldn’t match. This method didn’t just capture attention; it captivated imagination.

Section 2: The Crucial Art of Prompting

As I navigated the intricacies of Midjourney and similar AI platforms, I learned that the art of prompting is as critical as the art it creates. Crafting the perfect prompt requires understanding the nuances of language that AI interprets. It’s like composing music for a digital orchestra, where every word plays a note towards the symphony of final artwork. It took trial and error, but mastering this craft became the cornerstone of producing impactful AI art for our campaigns.

Section 3: Gig Work and Image Generation

The ability to generate high-quality images swiftly with Midjourney has been a game-changer. It has opened doors to gig work, allowing me to fund Cycday’s endeavors and explore creative directions without financial constraints. With AI, I could produce a series of designs within hours – what would have taken days or even weeks with traditional methods. This speed has not only been lucrative but has also allowed for rapid experimentation and iteration.

Section 4: Monetization of AI Art

But how does one translate these digital creations into a steady stream of income? Platforms like Joyn.xyz have been instrumental in this regard. They provide a marketplace to sell unique AI-generated art, creating a new economy where creativity is no longer bounded by physical or temporal limitations. This democratization of art production and sale is not just profitable but also paves the way for endless possibilities of creative expression.

Section 5: Revolutionizing Music Videos with AI Video Animation

The realm of visual artistry in music videos is undergoing a radical transformation, thanks to AI-driven video animation tools like Kaiber and Runway. Our group, Cycmob, a collective of artists deeply rooted in the Boston hip-hop underground scene, has harnessed these innovations to create immersive music videos that are as pulsating and dynamic as our beats.

A. From Stills to Motion with Midjourney and Runway: The journey begins with crafting compelling photos via Midjourney, infusing them with the essence of our music. But the magic doesn’t end there. By importing these images into Runway and utilizing the brush tool, we breathe life into our stills, animating them to the rhythm of our tracks. This method offers a seamless blend of visual and auditory storytelling, perfect for crafting music videos that captivate from the first frame to the last.

B. Animating Reality with Kaiber: On the flip side, Kaiber empowers us to take pre-existing footage and elevate it through animation. This powerful tool reimagines our video clips, transforming them into animated sequences that mirror the creativity and energy of our lyrics. With Kaiber, our music videos transcend traditional boundaries, as we morph reality into a canvas of our artistic expression.

C. Showcasing Cycday’s Innovation: To see these tools in action, click here for a groundbreaking music video from Cycmob. This example epitomizes the convergence of AI artistry and musical ingenuity, showcasing a synergy that propels the viewer into the heart of the Boston hip-hop scene.

This fifth section of our blog not only highlights the technological advances in AI video animation but also serves as a testament to Cycday’s commitment to innovation. By integrating these tools into our creative process, we’re not just keeping pace with the forefront of digital art; we’re actively pushing its boundaries. As you immerse yourself in our music video, remember that each frame is a brushstroke of AI-enhanced creativity, a fusion of Cycmob’s raw artistic talent and the limitless possibilities of AI.

Conclusion:

My journey with AI art has been both a personal exploration and a professional strategy. It’s a testimony to the power of innovation and creativity in today’s digital era. As I continue to integrate AI into Cycday and Cycmob’s branding, I look forward to the future of AI art – a future where creativity knows no bounds, and monetization is only a click away. The narrative of AI art is just beginning, and I invite you all to be a part of it.

My Rollercoaster to Overcome that Question: “When are you getting married?”

Born and raised in Vietnam, a Southeast Asian country, I have faced the classic “When are you getting married?” question from my aunties and uncles multiple times during college. 

I am just trying to enjoy my college life, and out of the blue, someone is asking when I am tying the knot. It’s not that I’m against marriage; it’s just that, at the age of 20, my main focus is surviving exams and figuring out life after graduation. 

The Marriage Riddle

In our Asian communities, there is this expectation that you will settle down early, especially when you are a woman, and it’s not always easy to break free from that mold. It’s like explaining why you don’t like a particular food to your grandma – you know it will be a tough conversation. My only desire, as of now, is to explore the world and pursue knowledge. 

I hate family gatherings with relatives. My aunts and uncles have yet to complete high school. They perceived my choice, the first-generation college student and the only girl in my family line to venture 8,390 miles from home to a foreign country to study, as “abnormal.” They asked my parents: “Why do you have to pay that much for college when your daughter eventually ends up marrying someone?”. 

I hate alcohol. My parents, who are owners of a small business without a high school diploma, always got drunk after customer meetings. Alcohol minimized their feelings of inferiority so that they could talk to customers without self-doubt. However, excessive alcohol left my dad with liver disease and my mom with heart disease. 

I hate seeing my mom cry. I can’t remember how many times my mom hugged me and cried, telling me that people look down on them and that even though they want to expand their business, they are full of self-doubt. She said: “Dad and Mom have no idea how to respond when people talk about labor law, human resource management, foreign exchange, or even basic principles of economics”. They wish they could say something, but the only thing they could do was nod their head.

My parents had to drop out of high school not because they hated studying; it was poverty that they had to drop out to earn little money at such a young age with multiple manual jobs to support my grandparents. It made me realize that education inequality persists. Although it has been reducing in recent years, research shows that in Vietnam, by age 19, only a fifth of students from the poorest 20 percent remain in school, compared with 80 percent of those in the wealthiest 20 percent (World Bank, 2020). Also, according to Jayachandran (The roots of gender inequality in developing countries, 2014), the root cause of gender inequality in most developing nations is cultural norms. In those countries, including Vietnam, people believe that advanced education for women may distract them from their traditional roles as wives and mothers.

My Ultimate Goal

Trying to explain that you’re not against marriage is like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle. It’s a delicate dance between respecting cultural values and asserting your own dreams. The struggle to be understood is real. I’ve tried many times to make them understand that I’m not anti-marriage; I’m just not ready. For me, only when I have financial independence and a trustworthy partner who can share common goals and life outlooks, I’ll say ‘I do’.

Yet, I do sometimes question my decision, looking at other cousins already settled down at a young age and looking happy.

My cousin “A”, who married her childhood best friend at the age of 20, is now enjoying her life happier than ever. They get to face all the grown-up stuff side by side – the bills, the chores, and all the adulting adventures. For them, this means growing up together, sharing every twist and turn along the way.

My cousin “B”, who has always loved kids, decided to start a family when she was still young and full of energy. She did so at the age of 19. Although she often complained about her daughter being so annoying and keeping her busy, I can see the joy in her eyes.

Rachel O’Connor-Wiegel, who got married at age 20, although got herself a blog with advice on things she wish she had known before marrying at such a young age, still seems happy: “No matter how frustrating it is and no matter how bad my quarter-life crisis gets, I still get butterflies when I walk through the door after work and wrap my arms around my husband.” 

I must admit that I’m envious of them sometimes. Having someone as an emotional backup is absolutely amazing. Couples who marry young often say it’s like having a built-in emotional cheerleader. Navigating the crazy twists and turns of life feels less daunting when you’ve got your partner-in-crime by your side.

But I got the catch – what works for one doesn’t fit all. Just like picking your favorite ice cream flavor, everyone’s got their own taste. The journey of overcoming these misconceptions is like hiking up a steep hill with a backpack full of rocks. It’s a challenge, but it’s also a chance to reshape perspectives. I’m not here to rebel; I’m here to find my own path while respecting where I come from.

Thus, my ultimate goal is to break the cycle of limited educational opportunities in my family and contribute to bridging the education gap in my home country. I’m planning to enroll in a master’s program which is a pathway to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to make a meaningful impact on education accessibility and equality.

Ultimately, I’ve come to embrace the fact that everyone carries a unique perspective. As long as my parents support me and I’m pleased with my life, that’s enough.

Becoming Professional

Diana Regan

Before starting starting school at Isenberg I had very little professional knowledge and experience. Knowing that in just a few short years I would be entering the workforce was daunting and seemed unattainable at the time. How was I ever going to go from working as a barista and babysitter to a working professional? Over time as I took lots of business classes I started to get a feel for what I would want to do after college. However, it still seemed like a lifetime away. How does anyone really know what they want to do for the rest of their lives? That question seemed utterly impossible to answer until I had an internship experience that changed the way I looked at my future.

This past summer I interned at TJX, an experience I found through UMass. I got to work for their merchandising department as an allocation analyst. Throughout the summer, I shadowed experienced analysts and learned all the ins and outs of the supply chain and buying decisions. My team and I became really close and they helped me learn as much as I could about the company and the potential of working for the company. They gave me honest feedback and helped me grow over the course of the internship. They really made coming to work a fun and enjoyable experience and reiterated the importance of enjoying your work and working hard in a comfortable environment. My manager always stressed the importance of having a strong work life balance. I have always wanted to work for a company with a positive culture that values balance. In the business world it can be hard to find jobs that don’t require your constant attention forcing you to work longer hours with few breaks. My manager always made sure we took time out of our busy schedules to step away from our screens. Whether it was a quick coffee break or a walk to the style center she always ensured we were prioritizing our mental health as well.

Over the course of the summer, I had the opportunity to shadow buyers and learn more about their profession. I found this aspect of the internship to be particularly interesting as being a buyer is something I would love to do some day. I learned about the importance of fostering professional relationships with vendors to ensure deals can be made efficiently. I was excited to learn how buyers travel to various cities to meet with vendors and aren’t always working from the office. Their jobs are more hands-on and on the go. Seeing where my experience could take me someday was really exciting. Working as an analyst is the stepping stone to one day becoming a buyer.

I developed my professional skills throughout this experience. Whether that be on meetings with buyers and managers, or learning the skills to ships goods across the country. I also improved my presentation skills. Prior to this experience, I was always very nervous giving presentations in front of the class. I always dreaded the days when I had to stand up in front of 20 of my peers and talk on my own. I was always very shy and would practice these talks numerous times and still be nervous when the day came that I would have to present. However, that all seemed to change this past summer. I was tasked with creating a presentation on men’s shorts to present in front of all the buyers and managers in the men’s division. Upon finding out about this project I was incredibly nervous and didn’t know if I could actually get through it. However, putting together my presentation I was confident in my work and research and really knew what I was talking about. When the day of the presentation came I knew I was ready. After it was over my manager pulled me aside later that day and expressed how proud she was and how impressed everyone was with my work. I was so relieved that I did well and even more so that it was over. Knowing that I could present in front of all my superiors made me realize that it’s not as scary as I always thought it was. 

I learned a lot about myself and my professional presence throughout this internship. I loved all my coworkers and the culture of the company. I’m excited to return this summer as an analyst and can’t wait to see where this experience takes me in my professional future.

When you bet on yourself, you might just win.

If you were a fan of the National Football League, you would be aware that the current odds-on favorite for the League’s Most Valuable Player is Lamar Jackson. He is currently gunning for his second MVP in his career, which would put him on a short list with Hall of Famers before his 27th birthday. He would be the youngest multiple-time MVP since Jim Brown, who some consider the greatest player of all time, did it in 1958, 66 years ago. This didn’t seem plausible only a decade ago. While yes, even at a young age, he could lighten up the field, many colleges didn’t want him to play quarterback. At the same time, he was being recruited rather than using his unique athletic ability elsewhere. Lamar and his family did not want this. He had made up his mind; he wanted to play quarterback, nothing else. Some schools could argue that he had little leverage as he was only a mediocre prospect per some scouts; Lamar did not care. He believed in himself. Then, a notorious liar entered Lamar’s life and sought a second chance. He promised Lamar and, more importantly, his mom that he would play quarterback and only quarterback. 

Lamar had no reason to believe this man. It was Louisville coach Bobby Petrino. Bobby is a person who can typically not be trusted. Just 7 years prior, he abandoned the ship of the Atlanta Falcons, resigning just 13 days into his tenure. His players called him names like “coward” and “hypocrite.” The big leagues were too much for him, going just 3-10. In the next boat, he jumped to, he sank through scandals, lies, and a hilarious picture. When he went to Louisville, the man was looking for a second chance, his last hope and the results looked bleak. He needed a spark. Lamar knew he was talented enough to be not only a quarterback but a great one, and Bobby desperately needed him to be. They may have been the only ones to believe it, but that was all they needed. Lamar wanted to be not just great after getting a taste for the collegiate level but also the best. Once again, no one would believe in him as he opened the season with odds for the Heisman or the MVP of college football at 1100/10, where if you were to bet $10, you would win $1100. 

Lamar played to make everyone wish they had bet on him just like he did and prove the doubters wrong. He made light work of his first two opponents, dropping his odds to 180/10, then 74/10, but his biggest test was yet to come. He can show off when on the national stage and everyone is watching. In comes the number 2 ranked school in the country, Florida State. They were picked as favorites against Lamar’s lesser squad, but many around the nation had not yet heard of the great legend of Lamar Jackson: gambling man. 1 When Lamar was being recruited, I mentioned how some schools had wanted him to switch positions just a short time back. The school that told him that was Florida State, Lamar, would make them regret this request. He took it as disrespectful as he defeated them to 5 touchdowns. The race was on Lamar; odds dropped to 12/10 for the Heisman trophy. The next test would be soon in front of him as the eventual national champions, number 5 ranked Clemson Tigers, would be coming for Louisville. Clemson’s quarterback, Deshaun Watson, was last year’s top quarterback, and Lamar wanted to show otherwise and lead to a duel for the ages. Deshaun’s team would win, but Lamar showed the world again who the best was. To open the season, Lamar was ranked in a lower 100 in terms of odds of winning the Heisman. Deshaun was first; after this game, Lamar was locked in to first, and he would never let it go at 10/21. Lamar Jackson bet on himself, and the few who trusted him did. Lamar knew he was too good for Bobby to jump ship or mess up again. He had Lamar, the athlete so great he teleported with a single juke; he was simply a magician. Lamar Jackson eventually won the Heisman Trophy, coming from a kid having trouble getting recruited at quarterback to the best in the country. His mother and Bobby joined in betting on Lamar, and Lamar proved them all right as he looked to enter the NFL draft after looking to defend his Heisman, only to end up coming in 3rd. 

Lamar still had doubters when going into the NFL, once again asking, can he play quarterback? It came from all over. It was inescapable. Even the same Hall of Famers that Jackson will one day call his colleagues questioned his abilities, suggesting he switched positions. Lamar settled for nothing less, and once again, one team believed in him. It was the Baltimore Ravens; they thought he was so can’t miss they traded for the rights to draft him. They even doubted him by not taking him with their first first-round pick. It did not matter for Lamar. He was happy to be a Raven. He was gambling on himself playing quarterback in the NFL, and the Ravens were willing to take that gamble as well. They would be rewarded handsomely for it. Lamar would start the season primarily behind former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and in front of former Rookie of the Year winner Robert Griffin, a veteran with a playstyle similar to Lamar’s. They would both become Lamar’s mentor after Flacco was hurt. The results paid off immediately as Lamar would go 6-1, losing finally in the playoffs. Now, with some experience and an entire season of starts to go, it was ready for Lamar to prove himself on the world stage. 

Again, Lamar didn’t just want to set out to be great; he wanted to be the best. So begins Lamar’s march to MVP. Once again, they doubted him as he wasn’t even in the top 25 in MVP odds at 800/10. He got to work early again, throwing for 5 touchdowns for a perfect passing rate against the Dolphins, which is not bad for a guy who can’t play quarterback. His odds would shrink to 140/10 and enter the top 10 in odds. They would fluctuate with wins and losses as he went through growing pains. Still, after stringing together a couple of nice wins where Lamar looked dominant, his odds dropped to 150/20; he had a massive test in front of him in Week 9 against the mighty New England Patriots and future hall of Famer Tom Brady, where he was able to outshine the legend. His odds would drop to 63/20, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two more. The next game would drop it even more to second place in odds after highlight play after highlight play teleporting around the field against the Cincinnati Bengals. After playing another top-5 quarterback in MVP voting in former foe Deshaun Watson and throwing for 4 touchdowns, Lamar became the MVP favorite. He would continue the winning streak, not relinquishing himself as the MVP favorite, going on a 12-game winning streak in the process. After gambling on his ability to play quarterback, the Ravens had their successor to Flacco in the new MVP Lamar Jackson. Lamar would be awarded the best player in the NFL with MVP honors. 

Fast forward to this summer, and there was a heap of controversy in the NFL. There were questions again about whether or not the Baltimore Ravens would take another spin at the wheel and gamble on Lamar Jackson. They wanted him to prove it, and he went into the off-season unsigned, a very abnormal thing in the NFL. He trusted that his agent and the Baltimore Ravens would be able to come together on an agreement, but it was tough. Some teams were in the market for a quarterback but needed to be more interested in what it would take to get Lamar. Lamar knew his home was in Baltimore, and once again, the Ravens put their trust in him. His agent got them to agree to bet 52 million dollars a year for Lamar Jackson to be successful. His agent would be rewarded a healthy 8 million dollar check; who was his agent? His mother, who was always in his corner. 

Now it was time to reward the Ravens for his bet; unfortunately, he would be doubted again for the NFL. He would be out of the top 5 in MVP voting to start the season at 330/20, but Lamar Jackson once again began his march. It got off to a rocky start at 3-2 before stringing together wins in 10 of the next 11. He would eventually cement himself as the MVP favorite, throwing once again for 5 touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins, locking up the number one seed for the Ravens, and effectively locking up the MVP for himself. Since the Ravens gambled on Lamar, they have the second-highest winning percentage in the NFL, winning 75% of the games he plays. He has been doubted all his life, but he has come to answer the call every time. Lamar continues to amaze with his talents, and there will always be doubters, but they will eventually be the losers, while those who bet on Lamar will win. 

Country or City: How our location shapes who we are.

Over the spring I spent my time studying abroad in Paris. As most study abroad trips go, it was amazing, I learned a lot, felt a lot, and made sure to take back lots of life lessons as well. I still hear my professor’s voice at my university; Dauphine saying to me “The only way to know your culture is to throw yourself out of it.” To be frank, she was right. I learned so much about Paris, France, and greater Europe but what I really learned was about where I came from. Perhaps for lack of a better way to understand my experience I felt the need to draw parallels to my upbringing in the United States. Having done so I felt the need to return home trumpets blaring professing how french people are not rude…city people are. I think most people’s experience with French people is derived from trips to Paris where they interact with Parisians, workers in the service industry or strangers when in need of help.

Through these interactions people have found rudeness and dry curt responses. I immediately realized this is equally true in New York or Boston. In fact, while I was in Paris I found rude interactions as well as loving comments of where I am from and how one person “loves Boston because of Good Will Hunting”. My opinion immediately shifted from my learned stereotype of French people being rude to what I believe is the reality of city people being rude. Having left the city several times to explore the french countryside, most times in pursuit of wine, I found great warmth and hospitality from the people I interacted with. It reminded me of my time spent as a camp counselor in New Hampshire.

This little camp set up by a lake in the White Mountains was almost hidden from the world. At night the only sound one could hear was the cooing of the loons and lapping of the waves on our little lake. Living there was like being in a snow globe; quiet, secure and void of chaos. I think these qualities are what drew me to the camp originally. It was so different from the city life I knew.  During these summers in New Hampshire I got to meet many people from many different places. From Spain to Texas the people there varied greatly but one thing was fairly common. It was always common to meet someone from another desolate town as the one the camp was located. I always got the impression that I was more restless than those types of people were but overtime I learned they were just more patient. A life made in the slow environment of the countryside has a lasting effect on an individual. You learn to savor the little moments, grow to accept the 30 minute drive to the nearest grocery store. City life is far from this. There is always a way to do something fast and immediate. I think of New York with its label “The city that never sleeps” in such a city there is no pause. There is no moment to take a breath. I do prefer life in this manner but with that I must prefer the negative effects of immediate reward; rude interactions will come when others do not experience this same immediacy. It took me traveling to a whole other continent to realize this but I threw myself out of my own culture and realized that after looking past the bakeries on every block, Paris is not so different from what I have grown up learning in my own city.

My Study Abroad Experience: Adapting to European Culture

Last spring, I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy for a semester. While the experience was undeniably amazing, adapting to life in a foreign country turned out to be more challenging than I had initially anticipated. European culture is much different than American culture. Aside from basic things such as eating dinner as late as 9 P.M., fashion choices, the prevalence of walking as a mode of transportation, and the absence of tipping at restaurants, there were a few big differences between Italy and the U.S. that stood out to me.

Living in Italy for four months, I noticed that Italians enjoy living a slower-paced life than Americans typically do. In the U.S., everyone is has somewhere to be and they are in a hurry to get there. On the contrary, Italians enjoy taking their time with things to really take life in and enjoy the simple things. Having a work-life balance is important to Italians as they value leisure time and time spent with family and friends. In the US, there is a more demanding work culture. There is a strong emphasis on productivity and success which leads to many Americans working too much for them to actually enjoy life. The pursuit of career success can sometimes overshadow the importance of leisure and relaxation. 

However, this isn’t the case in Italy. The concept “La Dolce Vita” or “the sweet life” is a phrase used in Italian culture which basically means the appreciation of life’s simple pleasures, which I think can be lost in American culture sometimes. Americans are so busy with such fast-paced lives that sometimes we forget to stop for a moment and enjoy our lives. This realization became a cornerstone of my personal growth during my time in Italy. It prompted me to reevaluate my priorities, urging me to embrace the philosophy of “La Dolce Vita.” I find myself drawn to the Italian lifestyle of appreciating every moment and slowing down. This serves as a reminder that amidst the rapid pace of life in the U.S., the true essence of existence lies in cherishing the simplicity and beauty of the everyday.

Another cultural difference that I experienced is the importance of meals. In Italy, meals go beyond just being food; they are social events. Eating is a relaxed experience, focusing on enjoying shared moments with friends and family and savoring the food. This is quite different from the American way, where meals are often seen as a quick necessity, and a lot of time is consumed on the go. Many of my meals in Italy lasted up to three hours long and we even had to ask the waiter/waitress to bring us the check. This would be rare to find in the U.S. as Americans like to keep meals short and usually the check is brought to the table without the customer even asking. Some of my favorite memories of my study-abroad experience were ones at meals with my friends. Spending hours at a restaurant savoring the delicious food and wine and enjoying each other’s company is now one of my favorite things to do. In Italy, there is no rush and you can focus on these moments.

As I reflect on my time in Florence, it’s evident that these cultural distinctions enriched my study abroad experience. I am grateful that these differences exist because it allowed me to adapt to a different way of life while learning so much. It allowed me to have a deeper appreciation for all the many different cultures that exist all over the globe. It broadened my perspectives and showed me the importance of truly enjoying life rather than going through the motions of living. This experience truly changed my outlook on life and I will take these lessons and memories with me forever. 

Evolution of Social Media

Social media has been continuously evolving for a long time, but it was never something that I had known existed until I got my first iPhone in middle school. Before that, I carried around a slide phone for the sole purpose of having something to call or text my parents if I ever needed them. Getting access to an iPhone which had more capabilities than I had ever imagined during a time in my life when socializing with friends was the only thing on my mind, I had found social media. The first app that I downloaded was Instagram as it was an app which everyone talked about and was a fun way to post pictures to your friends online. I quickly opened the app, created an account, followed some friends, and shared the best meme I had on my phone at the time; likely something SpongeBob related. The basic functionality of Instagram during that time made it so that the only real objective of using the app was to share your own pictures and to see the pictures of others you followed. I can recall really enjoying what social media was offering and continued to post parts of my life throughout the years as Instagram remained my favorite.

 Once high school came around, the dynamic of social media slightly changed. High school for many is the first year of feeling intimidated by school, as instead of being around people you have known since a young age, you are now in the same place as everyone in the city. Freshman year is a rush to meet new people and find your way into the right friend group. Because of this, social media changed from posting funny pictures to a few people you know, to sharing more of a social and presentable side of yourself in hopes to meet new people and create a good personal image. During that time, posting on Instagram turned into a game of how many people you could get in your picture and how engaged you could make yourself appear. This competitive and slightly toxic way of using social media was the normal during the early high school years when you are trying to be friends with as many people as possible. My time on social media has reduced as I have matured with time, found a smaller group of loyal friends, and lost interest in forcing an image of myself. I eventually removed all my past posts and now only add a story highlight on Instagram once every few months.

While my personal presence on social media is no longer an interest in my life, I have transitioned to using social media in a different way. Social media is now surprisingly a larger part of my life than ever as I use it to build a following behind a brand in a more professional sense. From starting last year, I have gained over 70,000 organic followers on X (Twitter) and over 10,000 on YouTube within the past few months. Building this loyal follower base without showing my face and only sharing valuable educational content has opened new opportunities for myself. I have made connections with people from around the world, started a SaaS business, and learned many new skills all through social media. This experience is one that I am continuing on and will grow into the future as it is a major part of my life and potentially my career.

This has shown me how social media can be many different things. It can be a source of fun with friends, a platform for negativity, a means of entertainment, or a tool for professional growth; it’s all dependent on how the user chooses to navigate and shape their social media experience.

From Hourly to Salary – Prior to Graduation

In this blog post I would like to share my experience through my internship, and how incredible opportunities and unique business managment has enabled me to secure and work a salary position; prior to my graduation.

The origin of this internship started in the Summer of 2020, during the pandemic. At the time I was working at an upscale pizza restaurant. With the pandemic changing the restaurant industry around us, it became challenging to keep up with the demand of the customers. I live in a tourist town in Cape Cod, during the pandemic more families decided to move down to the cape for the summer. I personally can’t think of a better way to spend your pandemic than at the beach, so I don’t blame them. Unfortunately for me, this meant many more customers; and with other restaruants doors being closed, it bottlenecked the full brute force of the customer base through our doors. I was unhappy with my position. I was making less pay because we were take-out only and I usually bartend. I loved bartending becase I had the opportunity to meet someone new everyday. As I looked at my co-workers I realized that I was becoming older than the majority of people working there. I looked to my peers and they had all started doing internships for prospect companies. My cousin included.

Without diving into too much detail, my cousin is my best friend. We spent every summer together since I was born. He is a couple years older than me so he always felt like an older brother.

As I said before, in the Summer of 2020, my cousin had secured an internship at a Design & Build Architecture firm in our summer town. I was happy for him, but it made me think that I should be looking at internship ventures of my own.

Fast forward 2 years. I was approaching the end of my spring semester at UMass in 2022. I began to think about how I would be spending my summer. Would I just go back to the same restaurant? Or would I look for something new? I started job searching in my area, but unfortunately, marketing internships were hard to come by within reasonable commute distance. One day, I decided to vent my toubles to my cousin, who at this point had a salary position as an architectural designer at the same company that he interned at. He told me that the marketing department in his company was becoming too strained, and they could use the help. So later that day I went on their website and applied for a marketing internship. The very next day I got a call and scheduled an interview for a date after the semester ended.

The interview went great, and I was able to learn much more about the company. To my surprise, the local Design and Build firm had transformed into something much larger in the span of two years. The owner of the company had started 7 more business ventures. Some from the ground up and some purchased. It turns out that his marketing department was a single man, marketing for all 8 of these companies. So they jumped at the opportunity for help.

The name of the umbrella company that owns all these businesses is called “Waterside Group”. These businesses include Longfellow Design Build, South Peak Resort at Loon Mountain, The Tides Hotel, Timber Axe Bar & Bowl, The Flying Bridge Restaurant, Flying Bridge Marina, Vineyard Home, Three Suns Real Estate in Captiva Florida, Whales Tale Waterpark and Alpine Adventures.

All of the sudden, I was tossed into the deep end of the pool. I was just a 22 year old kid studying his undergrad in Communications. I had a knack for graphic design, photography and videography; so when I showed them my portfolio they realized they needed my help. Plus it helped that my cousin worked for the company and vouched for me.

I had to learn a lot on my own, how to use specific software, how to address co-workers, knowing who to ask questions to. It was overwhelming at first, but I quickly got into my groove. I felt like a rockstar. I was putting in so many hours a week that I was actually making more than I ever did working in the restaurant. I was extremely happy, considering I was working a position that could turn to a career.

As time went on and the summer ended, I talked to the owner of the company about continuing my work at school. I knew that he was not a fan of remote work. He liked the work that I had produced so far, so he allowed it. All of the sudden my internship expanded into a part time remote position while I was at school. It was perfect. I ran all their social media accounts while I was away, and through that I made my spending money every week.

After the following year ended, I returned home to continue my internship. When I entered the new office for the first time in May, I was greeted with multiple heads of the company, and a piece of paper with a salary job offer. I was ecstatic, but nervous. I had a separate conversation with the owner of the company and made sure that he knew that I still was not finished with school. He basically told me that he values portfolios over anything, and that they need my skillset. We made an agreement that I would work full time, hybrid from both the office and school until my graduation.

After I accepted the position, the owner started taking me on business trips for me to understand and explore his other ventures. One in particular that I will never forget is going to Captiva Island, Florida. After the hurricane last year, Captiva, which is usually a vacation spot, was torn to shreds. He had started work to rebuild many homes down there, as well as buy some real estate for a new venture. Rentable Vacation Homes. I was there during the construction of a gorgeous, multi-million dollar house right on the water. I took photos and videos of the progress and got to experience what it is like to live down there like a local. It was the owners belief that I wouldn’t be able to properly market for a business if I didn’t know the in’s and out’s myself. From that experience I was able to create a social media campaign, website and tv and radio ads.

Overall, working at this company has given me so many opportunities through so many different avenues of business, ranging from hospitality to retail to construction. I will always be so appreciative for these opportunities at such a young age and hope to always continue learning and growing into the position that I have been graciously offered.

The Complex Puzzle of Life

by: Stephanie Amoako

  Over the years, as I’ve grown older, my perspective of the world has undergone numerous evolutions. As a child, I held the belief that my thoughts would remain unchanged throughout my life, but I’m truly grateful that I was completely wrong! There was so much I was unaware of, and there’s still a vast expanse of self-discovery and understanding of the world that I have yet to uncover. I view life as a complex puzzle, and with each passing year, I find myself fitting another puzzle piece into its rightful place, slowly revealing the full picture. Yes, I know it sounds a bit cliché, but it holds true for me. I’ve grown significantly, evolving not only as an individual but more specifically as a young Black woman.

But first, let me pause and rewind.

At eight months old, my parents sent me to Accra, Ghana to be raised by grandma and to join my siblings. I lived in Accra for five years and then moved back to Massachusetts. Due to my young age, I don’t vividly remember much but I’ve always remembered what it felt like. I felt at home, I felt safe and seen by those closest to me, and above all, I felt like I belonged. Moving back to Massachusetts was both exciting and terrifying. To be with my parents felt just right but also intimidating because I was in this foreign place that was so unfamiliar to me. Imagine at five years old standing in an airport of a country you don’t consciously remember trying to process your new reality. That was me I stood there frozen not knowing how to react.

My first day of kindergarten marked a pivotal moment for me. As I walked into the classroom, all I could see were white little girls with silky, long blonde hair and beautiful blue or hazel eyes. In that moment, I became consciously aware that I was the ‘different’ one. From then on, my perception of myself began to morph and distort due to my environment. I consistently felt like an outsider, believing I didn’t belong because there was no one I could resonate with.

This experience taught me that to be part of the crowd, I had to conform and be like everyone else. Consequently, I would talk, style my hair, and dress the way they did to integrate myself into their group. However, everything changed when I met a special person.

My second-grade teacher, Mrs. Maramma, changed my world. I became extremely close to her because she saw and understood me more than I did myself. In the 1950s, as a little girl, she contracted polio and became paralyzed from the waist down. This resulted in her having to use a wheelchair to get around. Despite these challenges, she showed up to school with a smile on her face and taught a class full of kids.

With her as my teacher, I began to change the way I thought about myself and realized that I needed to be accepting of who I am. As the year went on, I started to wear my hair out in its natural state, dress the way I wanted, and speak more, even though I had a slight accent.

One individual drew me closer to self-acceptance, helping me to embrace all aspects of myself. She revealed the missing puzzle piece and guided me to place it in its rightful place. Today, I stand confidently in my identity, and ironically, that’s what the people in my life love and appreciate about me the most.

My Take On The Film Babylon

Babylon, the 2022 movie directed by Damien Chazelle- director of La La Land and Whiplash- is a loudly exciting and seemingly nonstop movie regarding Hollywood featuring a stacked cast including Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, and much more. La La Land is a romanticized view of Hollywood, while Babylon is a more cynical view of it, however Babylon is loosely considered a prequel to La La Land which can be seen through several parallels such as the notorious soundtrack of La La Land being reversed in some scenes in Babylon. However, La La Land was nominated for 14 Oscars, while Bablyon seemingly fell off the face of the Earth after being released, and it was under harsh criticism for its parallels with the Bible and religion and how exhausting it is to watch (over 3 hours). Although this is true in its own relative ways, I don’t think the exhaustiveness was a fluke, and I think the parallels of using the Bible and religion as references created a very unique way of showing how dark Hollywood really can be, a great juxtaposition to the cliche ‘work hard and make it big’ old Hollywood has stressed to us ( La La Land’s approach).

Starting off, the opening scene is a 30 minute long excessive Gatsby-like party, except more vulgar, there’s drugs, alcohol, and much much more (even a character dressed as the devil). We are introduced to Margot Robbie’s character, Nelly,  a beautiful woman trying to become an actor, and Diego Calva’s character, Manny, a man working at the party who has a dream of becoming a director. The two immediately hit it off,  Manny is enamored and infatuated by Nelly, who is confident that she will be a star one day. We can foreshadow very easily that this will most likely be Nelly’s fate, even when she enters the party as a ‘nobody’, people seem to worship and automatically be drawn to her, especially while she’s dancing and the crowd holds her up. Throughout this movie the two’s dreams eventually come true, taking them on different routes but ultimately bringing them back in the end. 

In ancient Babylon there was a symbol itself called “the whore of Babylon ”, who essentially had a trait of being worshiped as if they were a God- which is automatically wrong and considered extremely sinful in many religions. Nelly is worshiped this way when she rises to fame, and we see the foreshadowing of her  being carried as if she is God-like by the crowd of partygoers in the first scene, an illusion to how they worship her. This was a criticism and parallel to how fans idolize and worship celebrities, almost treating them like God-like figures when in reality they are people just like us. Her character eventually goes on to break when Hollywood seemingly turns its back on her and she develops a gambling addiction which ultimately ends her. We see within the span of the 3 hour movie her climb and rise to fame, how she was idolized and loved by fans, and then how once she shows flaw (a human like trait, not a God-like trait), she is chewed up and spit out from Hollywood, as if she never existed. When she soon after dies at age 34, her obituary is a tiny little square in the newspaper, showing just how fast she became irrelevant..

Manny’s character, on the other hand, eventually becomes a successful Hollywood director, and is always there to pick Nelly’s character up and try to help her. When Nelly’s character is incredibly in debt and faces the possibility of being killed if she cannot pay Tobey Maguire’s character back (Mackay), Manny quickly thinks of something. When he goes with the money to pay Mackay  back – Mackay’s unsettling character insists he show Manny and his friend the party of a lifetime before he leaves. Unwillingly, they agree, and Mackay leads them into a dark cave, where there are thousands of people with unsettling mannerisms. Manny is clearly out of place, but frightened, as he continues to follow Mackay down staircase after staircase into another room more inhuman and evil than the other. This is representative of hell, and Mackay- a successful man in Hollywoods normalizes it with fascination and awe, while Manny is disgusted and terrified. Mackay could be representative of the devil, as he also attempts to make deals with them, and clearly did with Nelly, which eventually lead to her demise (representative of signing your soul to the Devil). When an incident occurs in the dungeon-cave-party and Manny runs away, he is hunted by a hitman who takes mercy upon Manny and tells him to never return to Hollywood. Manny without another word flees to Mexico, but at the end years later, after he’s married and has a child, he decides to go back to visit hollywood and sit in a movie theater by himself, to enjoy a film. The movie ends there, but was able to portray temptation in the end, how even  when it came down to life or death, his character was ultimately forever tempted by glamor and love of art and Hollywood. In the very end we can see how Hollywood essentially ruined all of the main characters, and although I could go much deeper into the symbolism and parallels, from my view this film wasn’t poking fun or criticizing religion, rather it was a criticism on how dark Hollywood is beneath the glamorous side we are shown, and how people such as Nelly go in with the naive hope to be a star and the one thing they want is the thing that eventually kills them. The long seemingly drawn out and exhaustive nature was representative of how exhausting and nonstop this lifestyle is, a seemingly drawn out rat race when the same unfortunate ending awaits everyone in the end.

Sports is the key to discipline 🔑

Discipline isn’t just about sticking to a routine. It’s a mindset, a way of life. My journey as a basketball athlete wasn’t solely about dribbling or shooting a basketball. It was a mastering discipline that now showed on the court.

Being a young athlete, discipline was instilled in my daily routines. Early morning practices, late-night gym sessions – each demanded strict commitments. Setting the alarm for early morning workouts wasn’t always easy, but it gave me a sense of dedication that showed to my game.

Basketball taught me the value of setting achievable yet challenging goals. Whether aiming for a certain number of successful free throws or perfecting a new move, clear objectives fueled my discipline. Off the court, this translated into setting academic or professional goals with the same focus and determination.

Failure is an inevitable part of any athlete’s journey. Missed shots, lost games – they weren’t defeats but opportunities to learn. Embracing failure as a stepping stone to success honed my discipline to bounce back stronger, with a resilient spirit that extended far beyond basketball.

Being part of a basketball team emphasized the importance of accountability. Discipline wasn’t just an individual effort; it was a collective responsibility. Holding myself accountable to my teammates and coaches taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork, creating discipline through teammates.

The mental strength required in basketball is tough. Discipline wasn’t just about physical training; it was about cultivating a strong and focused mind. Visualizing success, staying composed under pressure – these mental exercises honed a different level of discipline.

While my basketball days might be behind me, the discipline ingrained during those years remains a guiding force. Translating the principles learned on the court, I’ve cultivated a disciplined approach in my personal and professional life.

In the workplace, discipline isn’t about making baskets; it’s about meeting deadlines, respecting commitments, and continually improving. The same is applied to perfecting a shot is now channeled into mastering new skills and elevating performance.

Basketball wasn’t just a sport; it was a classroom that taught me discipline. From the hard work I put on the court to life’s diverse arenas, the lessons learned endure. The ability to embrace routine, set goals, rebound from failure, work as a team, strengthen the mind, and adapt these principles has made me the disciplined individual I am today.

In the symphony of life, discipline isn’t just a note; it’s the rhythm that orchestrates success. (Get it.. rhythm while your playing basketball)

Navigating the MCAT: Facing Challenges and Staying Persistent

Preparing for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) felt like entering a big, unknown adventure toward my dream of becoming a doctor that I have held since I was a little kid. I was excited and determined to tackle this test that would not only check what I knew but also teach me how to handle tough situations. Although anxiety-inducing, I jumped at the opportunity to showcase the abilities I held and prove to myself that I had what it takes to conquer this test on the road to medicine. The MCAT wasn’t just about memorizing lots of content, but also similar to solving a tricky puzzle. Split into four parts – Chemistry/Physics, CARS (Critical Analysis & Reasoning), Biology/Biochemistry, and Psychology/Sociology – each held different content, but much of the strategies had to be personally molded to fit each section’s needs.

Since the MCAT covers material learned in introductory undergraduate courses, much of the content I had already been familiar with, so mastering it was the true challenge. Moreso, my preparation in the later stages was built around understanding and answering the questions themselves and how they were asked, which was different from regular studying. On top of this, courses do not cover everything in college, so there were a few topics I was totally clueless on before I started studying that I had to learn from scratch by myself. Every day, I had to deal with memorizing new words and concepts.

Doing practice tests felt like riding a rollercoaster…a seven-and-a-half-hour rollercoaster. Getting lots of questions right was amazing but getting several consecutive problems incorrect felt extremely demoralizing and made me feel like my studying on some topics was all for naught. The biggest thing I learned was to trust my gut feelings and intuition because in the moments of taking practice tests, I was so focused that I didn’t have time to consciously think, which is a statement that may be very hard to understand, although I’m sure many have felt in the same zone when taking standardized tests.

As test day got closer, I felt more nervous. The first couple sections went alright, but during the break, I found myself worrying about some earlier questions that I had second-guessed myself on. I had to remind myself to focus on what was coming next and have a short-term memory, as dwelling on the past few hours could only hinder my remaining hours’ performance in the test session. The second half of the test was like a big mental race. I felt nervous as I went through the questions. Each one needed not just knowledge but also stamina mentally. The clock made me feel both pressured and pushed me to keep going, as each minute that passed was another minute towards completing my goal of taking the MCAT. When I finished the test and left the room, I felt a mix of feelings – relief that it was over, pride in what I’d done, but also a bit of uncertainty. It was intense and left a big impact on me, showing that the MCAT was more than just studying, but also about staying locked in psychologically.

In hindsight, balancing my heavy college courseload in the spring semester with my MCAT studying was super difficult. I even needed more time, so I delayed the test by six weeks after my initially scheduled date so I could take it during the summer. It wasn’t a setback, but it helped me get more ready and confident. Finishing the test wasn’t just the end; it was the start of a journey filled with challenges and a big stepping stone towards personal growth. I truly believe the MCAT is an accurate representation of a student’s ability to critically think. Every problem made me stronger and shaped my ability to reason, which helped me last fall in my college courseload, which felt a lot easier especially after preparing for the more strenuous MCAT in the previous semester. Overall, I am proud of the work I put in to prepare for and complete the test, and I can’t wait for what is in store in the future towards my journey in medicine.

Be-The-Blogger Eli Slovin

During my time at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, I have been incredibly fortunate to have had a plethora of unique opportunities and experiences, many of which I reflect on fondly, others… not so much. With that being said, I try to be a pretty positive person so for the sake of this blog, we are going to have a chance to take a look back at one of my favorite moments as a student and how it relates to where I am today.

Over the course of my college career, my professional and personal lives have been relatively intertwined given that my role in a professional setting is largely in front of the public as the In-Venue Host for UMass Athletics. In having such a role, I have had the chance to meet and connect with a number of incredible people on a more personal level, something that I will always be grateful for. However, to the contrary, there have also been more than a few occasions in which I had been in, what I would call, less than comfortable situations after having been recognized as a result of my role at UMass Men’s Basketball and Ice Hockey games.

Oftentimes people would recognize me and say, “Hey you’re THE GUY!” or “Are you that guy?” my response would always be an uncomfortable, “Uhhh I am a guy, I don’t know about the guy” and then somehow in a roundabout way it would get to the point that the connection would be made as to what they were talking about, but I always kind of felt like a nameless face which was certainly tough at times. In hindsight I should have just always introduced myself and asked for their name, that is what I do now, but it was a different time.

You might be asking yourself, “What does any of that have to with what this guy initially said this blog was about?”

Well, at risk of providing too much context for who I am, where I come from, and how it all ties back in, here goes nothing:

Growing up in Amherst, I have always been a diehard UMass sports fan, going to games with my family for what has essentially been my entire life.

During that time, there have been plenty of incredible athletes that have come and gone, as is standard procedure in college athletics. There has been no single more influential player as it relates to a program, and the history of the university at-large, than Cale Makar who spent two years competing for the UMass Hockey team leading the team to a Hockey East Regular Season Championship as well as the program’s first appearance in both the Frozen Four and the National Championship. Trust me, this is relevant.

Sitting in my bedroom during my senior year of high school, just one year removed from the Cale Makar era, I looked around my room while facing the decision of what school to attend and all I saw was UMass gear and memorabilia everywhere. Finally my eyes landed on a gift I had received, it was a mini-stick that had been signed by Cale before he left to play in the NHL. Few people have represent the University better than the former number 4 overall pick, and that was when it hit me: If UMass, a place I have always loved, was good enough for someone who will someday be consider one of the best to ever do the thing they did, then it was good enough for me.

Fast forward two years later, I found myself standing in the Conte Forum at Boston College as my mom and a few of my friends and I had made the trip to see UMass fans take over the arena like they always do. After having run into a few different people and going through the standard awkward interaction that I had not quite yet figured out, I found myself standing with my mom at a point where the concourse opened into the main bowl. I recognized a voice behind me from Cale’s Hobey Baker award ceremony a few years prior and immediately I knew who was behind me. None other than the legend himself, Gary Makar, Cale’s father. With him was his wife, I turned around to introduce myself, Gary surprised that I recognized him, but even more surprised was me when I realized that he knew who I was.

“Oh hey we know who you are! You’re Eli!” Gary said with a smile, without a doubt one of my favorite moments as a student. The guy that had raised THE GUY that (along with the pandemic) ultimately solidified my attendance at the school I had always loved. A full circle moment that I will never forget.

How Cold Calling Changed My Outlook on Life

I always knew I was going to get into sales. It was just a matter of time. My dad is in the medical industry selling medical lasers and my sister does sales at Google selling cloud software, so it runs in the family. When I declared marketing as my major when coming to UMass, my mom wasn’t surprised and told me I was destined to be a businessman. She said that when I was younger, in elementary school, I would come back home from school hungry with a rumbling stomach. She kept thinking to herself, “This is weird. I always pack him more snacks than any other parent,” and each time she’d brush it off and give me more food. One day she finally stopped me and asked how I could eat all my snacks and lunch yet still be hungry right after school. I pulled out loose change and a wad of cash from my backpack and explained that I had been selling all my snacks because everyone knew I had the best ones. She was shocked to hear that and see how much money I had accumulated from selling bags of Doritos and Oreos to my peers. She told me that, clearly, I was my father’s son.

When I first imagined sales, I didn’t even think of cold calling. I was going off of what I had seen my dad do growing up — emails, meetings, flying around the world, and attending tradeshows. I also thought I would be selling some fancy products, like my dad as he sells expensive medical lasers for hair and fat removal. I didn’t think I’d end up cold calling and, on top of that, working at a staffing agency, not a product. My friend had referred me over to a company named ALKU, where he had interned there and loved it. I was hesitant at first, but, after weighing out my options for a summer internship, I chose to go with ALKU. The only downside of choosing this internship was the fact that I had to work in person in the Amherst office over the summer, meaning I would live alone in my college house in Amherst for over 11 weeks. To make matters worse, my family lives in Tampa, Florida, making me feel even more distant and alone.

Having minimal cold call experience, the first week was a challenge for me. I was awkward, nervous, and even shaking before some of my calls. Reaching out to people I had never met in person was a totally new situation for me. Interestingly, I loved it. I was able to hold and lead conversations with people up to twice my age, leaders of companies, and make more money in the summer than I ever anticipated. I learned that the only way to receive respect and credibility over the phone is through confidence portrayed in your voice and words. I began to think of each call as a game of chess. I took whatever was given to me and led my sentence based off of what I believed would lead me to the best outcome. With each call and repetition, I felt more confident in my abilities. No matter how bad I felt I did on the previous call, the current one was completely new, and, if I let my bad feelings from the last call carry over, I wouldn’t see success. I reworked my brain into adopting a new go-getter mindset, thinking less about what I did and more about what I was going to do. You could get hung up on one call, and then the next call could close a deal. It taught me to never give up and to keep chasing what I want. I challenged myself each day to make more commission than the last and to put in my hardest work by the time I clocked out.

As I saw more success with my calls and earned more recognition with the company, I began to feel more confident outside of work. I had taken the lessons I had learned from my time in the office to my time out of it. I felt like a new person like I had come out of my shell, all from something as simple as sitting at a desk making calls to strangers.

I know cold calling is not a glorified job, but it has taught me some serious life lessons that I’ll hold with me for the rest of my life. There is never a dull moment with each call and I love that about it. I’m looking forward to continuing my work there after college and discovering more about myself professionally and personally along the way.

Exploring an Industry – Into the Depths of Hollywood

Introduction

As a marketing and film studies double major, my aspirations center around a career in the film and television industry. Throughout my college journey, I’ve actively sought ways to immerse myself in this world, to better understand its dynamics as well as make industry connections that might one day pave my way into Hollywood.

Last summer, I took a pivotal step towards this dream by embarking on a journey to Los Angeles to participate in a student program housed at UCLA that delved deep into the inner workings of the film industry, particularly in the city of L.A., the epicenter of film and television.

This blog post serves as a portal into my immersive experience within the realm of Hollywood and its inner workings. Throughout my time in L.A., I had the invaluable opportunity to converse with seasoned professionals, gaining insights that illuminated the intricate mechanisms driving the film industry. I also was fortunate enough to visit various studious and important locations to the film industry in L.A.

My aim here is to capture and share the essence of those moments, the lessons learned, and the revelations that reshaped my understanding of the film business. Join me as I unravel the narrative of my journey through the captivating world of Hollywood’s cinematic universe.

Exploring the City

Having never visited L.A. before last summer, I was not sure what exactly to expect from the city of L.A., although growing up right outside Boston I had a good idea what to expect from cities in general: tons of traffic, lots of people, constant commotion. After landing at LAX I realized my general assumptions were in fact true, L.A. felt both familiar and overwhelming, reminiscent of cities like Boston and New York but on a grander scale.

As I explored the city further, I also realized that it truly is the hub for the film industry. Visiting iconic studios in the industry like Universal, Sony, Disney/Marvel, and MGM was eye-opening. Talking to industry executives and witnessing the impact of WGA-SAG strikes deepened my grasp of how the film business operates. The film industry is just like any other major industry, it can be cutthroat and filled with controversy, but also offers immense potential and upside for those who want to be successful.

Other than studio tours and speaking with executives I also got to walk down Hollywood Boulevard and the walk of fame, and even got to see the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to learn more about film history and how the industry has evolved and transformed over its 100+ year existence.

As I delved into LA’s film culture, I realized how deeply ingrained it is in the city’s essence, serving as the beating heart of the film industry. These experiences ignited my passion to explore more of Hollywood’s intricacies and dive deeper into the world of filmmaking.

Getting to Know the Business & The Art of Making Films

Interacting with industry professionals from major studios like MGM, Disney, and Marvel were some of my personal favorite experiences during my time in L.A., and they also offered crucial insights. Their advice emphasized the importance of versatility, urging us to explore various roles within the industry and ultimately make the move to LA for a career.

I also attended workshops and seminars held at Penske Media Corporation headquarters which provided practical understandings of the industry’s complexities. Engaging in discussions with professionals like the COO/CMO of Variety Magazine, Dea Lawrence, and lunch seminars with writers, directors, and producers such as David O’Leary and Patrick Friend, broadened my perspectives and allowed me to learn the backstories of these extremely successful individuals so I could try to understand the decisions they made in their life that helped get them to where they are now.

A particular standout experience for myself was a pitch workshop with industry expert Darrien Gipson, where we fine-tuned our project pitches. These sessions honed not just our creative skills but also helped us understand the business acumen required in Hollywood in these still mostly creative elements. I really enjoyed this seminar because I was one of the students chosen to pitch their project, and after initially being scared to death to pitch, I eventually overcame that fear and gave one of the best pitches out of all the students according to Darrien. It really encouraged me to continue honing my craft and gave me the confidence that maybe I can do this.

Through these interactions, I gained a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of film production. Learning about the diverse roles behind the scenes and the importance of adaptability has shaped my approach to forging a path within this dynamic and constantly changing industry.

Conclusions & Reflecting on My Journey

Reflecting on my journey in LA, this experience has been instrumental in shaping my career outlook. Initially I was strictly focused on writing or a marketing oriented role in the industry, I now see the industry’s vast landscape offering diverse opportunities that I should be more open to trying.

Furthermore, challenges I faced like overcoming initial hesitations and timidness in engaging with industry figures, turned into valuable lessons. As my confidence grew I learned to advocate for myself, a crucial skill in any field but particularly this industry where you no one will notice you unless you force them to.

Armed with a broader perspective on the industry as a whole as well as a deeper understanding on roles like directing, distribution, or various production aspects, I feel equipped to chart my own course in Hollywood.

In conclusion, this trip was a pivotal moment in solidifying my passion for a career in the film industry. The connections made, insights gained, and the invaluable advice received from industry stalwarts have instilled in me a drive to pursue my dreams relentlessly. The mandate to eventually make the leap to LA has become clear—it’s not just a destination; it’s a crucial step towards achieving my goals in the cinematic universe.

Owl to Minuteman

Today I thought I would talk about my thought process and experience of taking a year off from school and then transferring to a new school. This was back in the year of 2019; I was at Keene State College which is in the town of Keene, New Hampshire. I was playing the sport lacrosse there and I was studying occupational safety and hazard. It wasn’t my dream school, I decided to go their because they had a good lacrosse program, and I knew some people who went there. While I was there, I had a tough time adjusting to the atmosphere and the change of living at school. I also felt that I had a tough time fitting in because of the lack of common interests with my peers. There were ups and downs but what really kept me there was lacrosse. During my sophomore year I was really thinking about leaving but I felt that if I did, I would be letting down my parents and myself. It was also scary to think about leaving because then I didn’t know what I else I would do. I would just get a job and that would be it for the rest of my life. Eventually during winter break on my drive back to school I decided to not go back and take time off. At first it was felt very weird to be at home when most of my friends had just moved back to school. I was nervous to tell them because I thought if it told them they would think something is wrong with me. I felt the same way when I would see family, I was almost reluctant to tell them because I just would think of all the negativity that might come from it. As time went on it got easier to talk about it and accept it. Something that helped through all this was that I kept reassuring myself that I was doing the right thing and that everything would be okay. Looking back on that I’m glad I did because it made it a lot easier in the long run.

I found a job at Lowes, but it only lasted for about a month because COVID came and shut everything down. Something of value that I got from that job was that I knew I had to go back to school. After about a year I started taking classes at a community college. It was weird getting back into the swing of school, but it was easy, and I enjoyed it. It gave me more structure to my daily life which I thought was important. After two semesters at the community college, I decided to transfer to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I was excited because I knew it was a great school, but I also began to feel the same fear I had when I was at Keene. There was a lot of uncertainty and fear that the same thing that happened at Keene might happen again at UMass. To help with this, I kept telling myself that I was doing the right thing and everything would be okay. When I got to UMass it was better because I had already been through the process before, and I had grown up a bit since my time at Keene. Towards the end of the semester, I realized I was happy with the decision to go there. It is a great school, and I had a great time. Now after my second semester, with one left to go, I look back at that experience and I realize that it may have been the best thing for me. I was in a bad place while I was a Keene, and it took taking time off from school to realize that I had to make a change. Even though taking time off was tough in the end it was good for me, and I learned a lot about myself and the world. 

Becoming Obsessed: My Battle Against OCD

Throughout my life, I have had to deal with and overcome numerous obstacles. These challenges have ranged from my parents getting divorced, dealing with extreme bullying, and even losing one hundred pounds in order to improve my health. All of these were difficult in their own way and they all involved numerous setbacks and tough moments, but there is one challenge that stands out from the rest. 

It is no secret that 2020 was a difficult time for nearly everyone in the world. A global pandemic struck and this lead to not only an increase in physical illnesses, but also a sharp increase in issues related to mental illness. Mental struggles were not new to me, I had already been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. However, there was one major issue that had not been addressed. 

Growing up there had been a few peculiar experiences that I had, but did not pay much attention to. I would repeatedly check to make sure the doors were locked, I’d check my bag numerous times even though I knew my computer was in there, etc. These didn’t bother me much, but rather, were just annoying tasks. 

In February 2020, before COVID became widespread, I was sitting on the couch talking to my brother while we were watching TV.  At one point he scratched his leg, around his knee. I then proceeded to tell him that he needed to wash his hands. Understandably, he was very confused, and thought I was just joking. These situations became much more common and troublesome not only for me, but for everyone else in the house. About a month later I brought the issue up with my therapist, who then brought my mom in and explained that I was dealing with OCD. 

As the pandemic worsened, so did my condition. I would not touch anything that other people touched and if I did I would wash my hands, sometimes for multiple minutes at a time, because they did not “feel” clean. Whenever someone else in the house touched something, I would demand that they wash their hands too. If they did not comply, it often led to intense anger and frustration. My thinking continued to become more distorted as well. I was worried that I could get COVID through the television, and there was one instance where I was concerned that I could have contracted rabies because there was a raccoon on the screen. These might seem silly and absurd now, but at the time it felt so real. 

There was one particular day in April of 2020 that I remember more than any other. There had been a mouse in our house, which was bad enough because I have an extreme phobia of rodents, but having the horrible OCD flare up only made it worse. I was in my bed, and would not step off because I was afraid I had mouse germs on my feet and did not want to spread it. I couldn’t use my phone because my phone touched my blanket, which had touched the floor. My hands were red and the skin was dry and starting to crack from the excessive handwashing. I still remember the sharp burning sensation whenever the back of my hand touched a surface. I could not eat or drink anything because I could not (mentally) get up and leave my room. I had been having my mom and brother help me get food and drinks because I did not want to touch the packaging, so I couldn’t have them bring it to me because I could not get up to go wash my hands. I stayed on my bed for nearly a day and a half. By that point, my uncle called, and told me that if I did not get off the bed that he would pick me up and bring me to the emergency room for treatment. Eventually. I got up and went back to living what was my normal life during that time. 

This went on for a few months, until I was admitted into an outpatient program for OCD. Thankfully that program really helped me and since then I have been able to live a normal life and I hardly ever get the obsessive thoughts, and when I do I am able to resist giving into the compulsions.

Talking about this time is not enjoyable, and I prefer not to think about it. I do feel a sense of accomplishment when I think about how I overcame it. In many ways it was a battle against myself. It also gave me a lot of perspective on what things are actually daunting tasks versus what seems like a daunting task. I thought I would never be able to live a normal life again, and giving into compulsions is much easier than sitting with the distressing thoughts and not doing anything to reduce them. I would never change that experience though (at least for me, I would change it for everyone else who had to deal with me during that time) because it made me stronger and taught me that there is no obstacle or situation that is impossible to overcome. Anxiety disorders run in my family, and I think having this experience has helped me understand how they feel (even if they have different anxiety symptoms or expressions) and I can help them through it. I know someone who is anorexic which has a lot of overlap with OCD, it is centered around obsessive thoughts related to a distorted body image and compulsive behavior that involves restricted eating. While I do not have an eating disorder, I have a good sense of the mental experience that she is likely going through and in a way we can speak the same language with regards to the anxiety and thought patterns. I see it as turning a negative experience into something productive and helpful for someone else

I hope you found this blog post interesting and I’d be happy to answer any questions or read any thoughts you may have. I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

Physical Media Collection in the Digital Era:

Given that my parents are Baby Boomers, my upbringing combined pre-digital revolution traditions with being witness to the digital technological revolution. One aspect of my life that perfectly encapsulates this overlap is my passion for collecting vinyl records and CDs. Growing up with Baby Boomer parents differentiated me from my peers in that my childhood was steeped in nostalgia for an earlier era of music. My parents’ stories of attending Talking Heads concerts and collecting vinyl on its release day takes me back to a time when music was a communal tangible experience rather than a solitary pursuit shaped by the cultural dominance of individualism. Unfortunately, my parents did not predict the resurgence of vinyl collection among younger generations, as they gave away their record collection before I was born and long before the widespread implementation of the subscription service model. While I did not have the privilege of inheriting their vinyl, I managed to get my hands on my father’s CD collection and adopted my parents’ taste in music. This collection serves as a physical representation of his journey through different genres of music throughout his adulthood, and thus was a greater source of value than the sum of the individual parts of his collection. 

As I entered my teenage years, where, as someone socialized as female, my identity mostly pertained to my consumption patterns, my fascination with music grew. This encouraged me to explore CDs and vinyl on my own terms, that is, to venture beyond my parents’ taste in music and find my own joy in curating a collection. Each record or CD I collected became a tangible piece of art that would always be my own. The act of opening cases in thrift stores to check if the CD inside was scratched or missing became second nature to me. In addition, sourcing second hand brought an additional layer of satisfaction as an alternative to financially supporting Spotify in the long-run. The process of carefully placing the needle on each record I played or delicately handling a CD case brought an extra layer of significance to the music-listening experience. In a world where digital convenience is on the rise, I continue to revel in the deliberate act of enjoying physical copies of music and try to make listening a collective experience. Through owning media, I have a more symbolic connection to the music I am passionate about, which starkly contrasts my temporary relationship with streaming services.

As my media collection grew, the widespread presence of subscription services did as well. Streaming services promised an infinite library of music available at our fingertips, yet this convenience created a sense of disposability at the expense of the tangible connection I have with my collection. I began to consider whether the monthly expense for this service came at the expense of expanding my physical music collection, but found that convenience proved too great of a digital trend to fully avoid conforming to it. Now, I am forced to reckon with the idea that music may no longer be revered or collected on a wide scale, rather, it could become lost in the never ending supply of digital content aimed toward capturing the attention of consumers. I experienced a real eye opener on Spotify wrapped day 2023—a campaign that effectively markets Spotify’s collection of consumer data in a positive light. On this day, my listening behavior was categorized as “the roboticist” meaning I have a tendency to listen to playlists generated using the Spotify algorithm. The curated playlists and algorithm-driven recommendations felt like a departure from the genuine connection I had with my physical music collection, yet I was drawn to these playlists due to their convenience on my phone.

This realization made me want to strike a balance between the world of algorithmic playlists and the emotional nuance of discovering and enjoying the physical music listening experience. In spite of the rise of subscription services like Spotify and Apple Music, my commitment to collecting CDs and vinyl remains unwavering because it is a deliberate choice to preserve the tangible and meaningful aspects of consuming music. As the world continues to evolve, I can find solace knowing that I own the music I am listening to, rather than paying for the temporary opportunity to do so. The value in permanence instilled by my Boomer parents has encouraged me to continue collecting physical copies of music as a tribute to its timeless value despite living in a convenience driven digital era. In a world of algorithms and instant gratification, my collection of CDs and vinyl remind me that some traditions are worth preserving in spite of and often because of relentless change.

Digital Well-Being: Prioritizing Mental Health by Limiting Social Media in 2024

Social media has significantly changed how we interact and perceive the world, providing great connectivity but also causing distraction and a focus on superficial validation. Reclaiming the power of presence is crucial in this digital age to counteract the negative effects of excessive social media use.

As we move into the new year, I have been reflecting on my social media usage. Like most college students, I am very active on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook. While I do not have a notable following on any of these apps, I am realizing just how much of my life revolves around them. I have found that while I am going out with friends or exploring a new city, taking the perfect picture for Instagram or capturing a Snapchat story-worthy photo is always at the back of my mind. Even on an app like BeReal, which sends off a random notification every day to capture life’s realest moments, I will try to make what I am doing at that moment look more exciting. No matter how much I try to be present, I notice these performative moments.

I have been on social media since I was about 10 years old. I remember how excited I was to create my Instagram account when I was given my first iPad. At that time, there was almost no pressure to make a “good” post; I posted any random (albeit embarrassing) photos I wanted to share with my 20 followers. Soon, however, celebrities changed the game and became the first “influencers.” They determined what was trendy in clothes, makeup, and music. Since then, social media has evolved to the point where people can do it as a full-time job. 

Trends have changed, from casual posting to taking elaborate photos and videos back to casual posts. But at the end of the day, that’s what they are- trends. The most recent movement to “make Instagram casual again” is still a trend; my latest “candid” Instagram photo was selected from 50 other posed photos I meticulously examined until I was sure I had found the one. Social media has overtaken the collective mindset in such a way that we will never truly be able to casually post ever again like we did in the early days, as we are always subconsciously aware of what is trending and what will get the most engagement. Ultimately, I know I can never get back the no-pressure social media my fifth-grade self once knew. For 11 years, I have been comparing my body to those of the celebrities on my Instagram Explore page, thinking about how my vacation outfits would look in a new profile photo, or wondering why my makeup never turns out like my favorite beauty influencers. Quite honestly, it has been exhausting. I recognize that it is time for me to change my social media habits for my mental well-being. 

Rediscovering Life Beyond Social Media

After all this reflection, I am left wondering how to change my social media usage in a meaningful way. In many aspects, social media is great. I love to connect with friends and family I do not see often, keep up with the latest fashion and beauty trends, and share my fun memories and accomplishments with my followers. Therefore, I do not want to permanently delete the apps from my phone and live a totally unplugged life. I think many young people are also grappling with navigating the digital landscape while trying to live in the present. The new year is the perfect time to set some goals for living in the moment and reducing time spent on social media. 

In 2024, I want to make a conscious effort to disconnect and redirect my attention to reality. This will help to strengthen my relationships and enhance my well-being. Here are some ways I plan to practice mindfulness and be more present this year:

• Set daily time limits for social media apps
• Reduce overall screen time
• Unfollow people I don’t know or engage with regularly
• Keep phone away during meals with friends and family
• Take photos with a physical camera while traveling or going out
• Journal daily and write down three things I am grateful for each day
• Find hobbies like learning a language or reading during free time

The journey of being present has the power to transform our lives, leading to a more fulfilling and authentic existence. Although social media helps us stay connected, its impact on our mental well-being is undeniably negative. Moreover, it often diverts our attention from what truly matters in our daily lives. Looking ahead to 2024, let’s aspire to appreciate the unfiltered and unshared beauty of each present moment, rather than experiencing life solely through a camera lens.

Twig to Tree Trunk: My Fitness Journey

Growing up, I was always a skinny kid. No matter what I ate, and lemme tell ya, I ate a lot, I didn’t seem to gain any weight. I was always just a tall, skinny, soccer-playing kid. My first time ever going into a weight room and “working out” was my junior year season of volleyball surprisingly enough. We just got a new coach, and he was big into weightlifting. Coach C, we’ll call him, would hold voluntary workouts before or after practice depending on other sports teams’ schedules. Since I was a captain, I felt it necessary to show up to the workouts but also wanted to get into working out anyway, so it wasn’t a hassle. I would show up, put in some effort, and fool around a lot. I know I should’ve and could’ve put in more effort, but it was high school, and I was a young kid just wanting to have fun. I didn’t see any progress throughout the years of working out, but the seed was planted. Seeing Coach C rep 225lbs like nothing was inspirational, and I knew deep down I wanted to be able to do that. If I remember correctly at the time, I would struggle with a 45lb bar and 25lb plates on each side, which is a total of 95lbs. I knew I was weak, and I didn’t like knowing that, but I moved on and graduated and was off to college. No more Coach C to get me into the weight room.

My second time attempting to get into working out began the first semester of my freshman year of college when I attended UMass Lowell. I had a group of friends, and we would go to the rec center on campus at night and do our normal workouts, and group core sessions, I would occasionally lead the workouts because of my previous gym experience but it still wasn’t clicking for me. We weren’t the most disciplined and would go about 3-4 times and not even on a weekly basis. I wouldn’t eat properly either, which I know is how you get big. We did this for 1 semester and then… Covid hit, and we were all sent home. With schools and other businesses closed, my fitness journey nearly came to an end.

During the panoramic (I know it’s pandemic, but this meme will live on), reality was on hold. I had online classes and did all my work at home in bed and sometimes did a few Instacart orders a week. I felt myself getting lazy and losing weight. One day I just decided to make a change. I started going on walks and sometimes even full-on hikes. Before class, I would do at-home workouts. This consisted of various pushups, dips on a coffee table, different grip pull-ups on a door frame pull-up bar, core workouts, I even bought a 10lb and 30lb dumbbell for other various workouts. After the workout, for breakfast, I would make around 4 eggs with cheese scrambled and have 5 strips of bacon and oatmeal. This period of time is when I first started seeing progress, I could see my abs more, my biceps started to sneak out a little bit, I felt myself getting stronger and the workouts got easier. I was consistent with this schedule. During this time, I also rekindled an old flame with a friend of mine who went through a crazy physical transformation via weightlifting before the pandemic and we planned to gym together once they opened again.

6:00 AM EST, Crunch Fitness Hudson. I stepped foot into my first commercial gym with my friend Nicky. We trained together consistently Monday through Friday at 6 am for a few months. He taught me basic and advanced body-building workouts. He taught me how to eat at a calorie surplus to put on weight and to focus on getting protein and carbs in. All it took was 2 weeks consistent to see progress and once that happened, I haven’t quit since! I started working out at around 156lbs body weight. I got up to an all-time high of 215lbs and I am currently 200lbs. Eventually, Nicky and I parted ways as gym partners, and I started getting into powerlifting with some other friends who went to the same gym. Powerlifting focuses on three lifts Squat Bench and Deadlift aka SBD. My all-time PR (personal record) numbers for the lifts are 345lb squat, 270lb bench, and 425lb, I hope to one day hit those numbers again and surpass them. Today, I am still powerlifting, and I plan on starting my new program created by Dawson Windham this Friday, January 3^rd, 2024!

335lb squat, hitting depth