Looking back on my experience with C&IS in LA, I could not have imagined it going any better. From touring my favorite sets at amazing studios to meeting many useful connections to spending my days in a different yet memorable scenic of Los Angeles, this summer has by far been my best one yet. When I first arrived, I was honestly super nervous; a girl born and raised in Alabama abruptly moving to Los Angeles for a summer when she hasn’t even been further west than Colorado. Talk about a change of pace. But through my two internships at two cool companies and through the various activities, I became more comfortable with the lifestyle and grew as a person overall. Also, yes, I said two internships. Some days I wished I only stuck with one to give myself a small break, but looking back I’m happy with my decision. By having two internships in two areas that I’m interested in (music management and post-production), I got a taste of both areas. I learned that both aren’t too shabby, but they also both have their cons. I also learned a lot from the adventures I was able to embark on while on these internships, which became two of my highlights of the trip. One, I was able to visit the Disney Photo Archives to collect research on the new Disney Imagineering documentary by Iwerks and Co. They let me look through the original pictures of Walt and his journey to creating the Disney company. The other adventure I went on was VidCon. Studio71, the internship site where I worked on digital music, is known for its YouTube and social media talent; therefore, I got to meet some awesome web celebs such as Jenna Marbles and Savannah Outen. These experiences, as mentioned before, gave me a taste of the two worlds I plan to maneuver through during my career.
But coming to LA was not just all work. During these past two months, I got to see and do so many cool things with some really awesome people. Since I only have 500 words to express my summer, I will just speak on a few instances. First, one of my favorite memories was visiting Warner Brothers. We got to go on an exclusive 6 hour tour of the sound stages and sets, and I even got to see one of my favorite shows, Pretty Little Liars, be on set (along with Fuller House). We even had the opportunity to hold an Oscar at the end, something I definitely took advantage of. The other memory I am very fond of is having my parents and best friends come visit me for a couple days. First my parents came in June, and we went to some fun tourist places, like Hollywood Blvd., the Chinese Theatre, and Santa Monica Pier. Then my best friends came to see me in July; We went to some of the same stops as well as Mulholland Drive, Rodeo Drive, a hidden beach in Malibu, and Taylor Swift’s house (we are a little obsessed with her, so we had to do it). It was so great to see my loved ones, and because they both came at different times, it helped me have something to look forward to get through the summer when I missed them dearly. Finally, the other two memories I loved were from places that aren’t even located in Los Angeles: the Golden Gate Bridge and Disneyland, which were both amazing and fun places to visit. That’s the beauty I’ve found about California. It has so much to offer as a state, and adventures stay fresh even after two months. There is always something to do.
I am sad to see the summer go so quickly, but I would not change anything about this summer. If you are reading this and can’t decide whether living in LA is for you, you should do this program. I feel so much more comfortable and at ease about my future, and I know I will carry these memories and lessons with me for a lifetime.
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