Keep Reaching, Kid

When I was a junior in college, I applied to a bunch of internships within the creative field. One of the businesses happened to be the advertising agency that was the whole reason I selected my major. You see, they did this career exploration community outreach event when I was a senior in high school. I remembered being blown away by all of these adults actually having fun at work. And that's how I decided, hell or high-water, I was going to be a creative professional when I grew up. 

As I got out of class one afternoon, I received a voicemail from that advertising agency stating they had received more than 100 internship applications and I was one of five chosen for an interview. Yeah, I think you know how I felt. 

Interview day came, and their office was beyond my wildest dreams. They had a ping pong table in the middle of it! Stars in my eyes, I met with the creative director, a position I hoped to someday hold. He asked me what was my five-year plan, and as I excitedly told him all my hopes and dreams, a smirk creeped across his face. He waited until I finished and said,

“You may think you understand this industry, but it’s not all fun and games. Then again, maybe it is, and I’m just jaded.”

Like a storm rolling through a sunny day, I felt my world darken just a little. I finished the interview, thanked him for his time and was sent a nice note letting me know they had selected another candidate. Crushed, I accepted the only internship I was offered that summer — promotions intern at a radio station.

It was the best summer I ever had, and about a year after graduation, I landed my first full-time gig in radio doing promotions. My high school dreams were taking shape. I woke up every morning to go to fun and I loved it. Sure, there were the bad days that happen with every job, but most days I was pretty stoked about how I spent Monday through Friday... and most Saturdays, because that's radio, baby.

Eager to learn more about all aspects of the industry, I tried to get my foot in the door as an on-air talent. When I told this to someone I considered a mentor, I heard:

“Over my dead body will you ever be on-air.”

That was it. No steps I could take to get there, just a door slam. Eventually I did make it on-air, because everything that I lacked in talent was overcame by persistence, reliability and willingness to show up to work at pretty much any hour of the day. It was utterly exhausting and worthwhile all at the same time. I felt fortunate to find my purpose so early in life. But my life had other plans and shipped me and my big dreams overseas. 

I did my best to keep my skills sharp, volunteering to wake up early once a week to host the hour-long radio show for my work. It wasn't the same, but it was what I could do with what I had — making lemonade if you will. 

I loved my time in Japan, if anything this entire site is a screaming endorsement for the country, but when I found out I would be moving to Las Vegas, I saw my dreams coming back into focus. Just like triple 7s, luck was on my side. There were openings! I shared the great news with those I trusted, eagerly looking for advice only to be met with:

“Baby, that’s big league. Major market.”

As in, you're not there yet, sweetie. As in, we let you play up here in the small market. So I sat at my computer, hovering my mouse over the submission button on the application for nearly an hour. Maybe they're right. Maybe that was something I did, and not something I do. But I had to know. I needed a no.

Which I did get...for that job. Eventually though that no turned into a yes, and once again, it happened. I made it on-air in a medium-sized market. Once again, I loved what I did. And after awhile, it was time to move on; however, this time was different. This time I didn't seek advice from those "mentors." This time I had new people in my corner. This time they didn't question whether or not I belonged.

So I guess the point of all this is to keep reaching, kid. If you have the dream and drive, nothing will stop you from getting there. Don't listen to the haters. Keep showing up. Keep doing the work. If you get honest, constructive feedback, put your ego aside and listen. Learn from it. Use it to help you grow, to make you stronger. Understand things may not happen on your timeline and that's okay. But they will happen as long as you stay focused. All the jaded comments, the castaway daggers, the false mentors are just noise.

And if a kid, hell, anyone trying to make her way for that matter, comes to you for advice, encourage them! I don't understand when or why it became acceptable to tell young people what they can or can't do, but stop. Stop pinning your hangups, your rejections, your tiredness, your jadedness on the next generation. Dust the cobwebs off your own history and remember when that was you — all piss and vinegar with nothing but adrenaline getting you through life. At some point, someone looked into your dream-filled eyes and gave you a shot, even though you were probably grossly under-qualified. That person saw something underneath all of that and took a risk. 

Now is your chance. Help the kid. Tell them what to work on, show them the steps to the end goal. Yeah, it'll require some extra work on your part and may be frustrating at times, but the way I see it is some day that kid will make it. Look at history, that's how these things go. And when that kid looks back on her life, you'll either be the person she thanks or the one she succeeded in spite of. Who do you want to be?