Colleen Schmidt Interning @ Brotman-Winter-Fried Communications

Good-bye and Thank You

2009-08-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

So I'm finally back home in Monongahela, PA. What a ride it has been!

On Saturday, Aug. 8th, it was time to pack everything up and move out of my apartment in Arlington, VA. The idea that I would probably never see all of my new friends at the same time again didn't even hit me until the night before move-out day. A bunch of the other interns from my building and I decided to have a "breakfast for dinner" goodbye-get-together. Everyone pitched in and helped make a gigantic and delicious all-you-can-eat dinner. After finishing up our second and third plates, we all sat down and started reminiscing on all of the fun times we have had together in D.C. It was a really nice opportunity for everyone to be together and to share some last laughs as one whole group.

Later that night, my parents arrived and they got to meet all of friends from the building. For me, it was a pretty special moment for them to finally meet the friends who I had been bringing up in conversations each time I would talk to them on the phone.

After a couple of hours, it was finally time to say good-bye. I went upstairs and started putting all of my belongings in boxes and bins. The next morning, we loaded up the car and began our trip back to PA.

As we started to leave Arlington, I began thinking about everything I had experienced and accomplished this summer. I thought it would make me sad, but it actually made me smile whenever I started to think about it all. I have been so fortunate to intern for an agency that has not only taught me so much, but has also shown me what a great staff is made up of. I have also been very lucky to experience a fun and exciting academic course that has significantly improved my knowledge of D.C. and the cultures it consists of. In addition to this, I have also made some really great contacts and even opened up several opportunities for myself. But in all honesty, the best part of this entire experience has been meeting the people I have met. Everyone from the interns, my roommates, my co-workers, my advisor, my A.M. bus driver, the guy who works the front desk at my apartment, etc., each person I have met has taught me a little or a lot about something.

Moving to D.C. for a summer internship was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. If you had the chance to follow all or even some of the blogs I have posted, then I hope you were able to catch a glimpse of what my summer has been like. For me, it was more than just an internship. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this experience possible and more thanks to each person who has followed along with me during my journey in D.C.!

Press Box with Charlie Brotman, the perfect way to end an internship

2009-08-09T22:21:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, my internship agency (Brotman Winter Fried Communications) holds and plans several different types of events. Their latest event has been the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. For those of you who are not familiar with this tournament, it is one of the top 20 tennis tournaments in the world. Well-known players from all over the world come to compete against one another. This year, players such as Andy Roddick, Sam Querrey, Tommy Haas, and John Isner are expected to attend. Although I had practically no background in tennis and barely understood the game, I decided to sign up as one of the voluntary staff members to help out with the event. During my first day on site, I was fortunate enough to have some down-time in the media center where I was working. Therefore, I had one of the other interns, Jeff, explain to me the entire game and give examples of how it works. After two days of his lessons and Wikipedia-ing “tennis”, I knew the game inside and out (not really, but I had a pretty good understanding of it).

On Friday, my last day at the tournament, it turned out that we were a little short on staff. Normally, there are one or two interns who work in the media center and then another one works up in the press box with Charlie Brotman (the founder and owner of BWF). However, no one was able to work in the press box this day. Lucky me, I got to be “Charlie’s Angel.” This was my first time working the position, but surprisingly I wasn’t nervous, I was more excited than anything! My time in the press box went pretty smoothly. I successfully helped Charlie with the PA announcements and I also got to share a few laughs with him as well. For me, this was the icing on the cake. When Charlie had asked me if I thought my last day as an intern was going well I said, “Let’s see, working in the press box at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic next to Charlie Brotman, I’d say that is a definite ‘YES’!”

What a great way to end my summer internship!

Last Stop, Chinatown!

2009-08-06T10:11:00.001-07:00

This is it, my last week in D.C. Time has gone by so fast. Between my internship, my night class and the TWC (The Washington Center) programming, my schedule has been pretty busy. It feels like I just moved here last week.

This past Wednesday was our last time to meet for my class (A Taste of D.C.). To make this time memorable, our teacher wanted to take us to one of the most exciting and well-known areas in D.C., Chinatown.. or as some call it, “The New Times Square.” During our visit, we first met up at “Teaism.” This is a little food diner that is located just a block or two away from the Chinatown metro. Their selection of food is pretty interesting. For my order, I got the Turkey and Brie sandwich with a side of Miso soup. It was delicious and also very filling! After eating, we then proceeded down the street to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This is located right across from the Spy Museum and the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. While we were here, Dr. Gueli began explaining the history of this area and how it has evolved into what we see today. Recently, there have been more apartments and housing lofts being built right along the main drag. For years there had never been any kind of housing vicinity. After capturing some of this information, we then headed toward the Verizon Center. This is where many concerts, entertainment and sporting events take place. One of the students in the class, Christian, even gave a short speech about the site and famous people who have visited.

After passing the Verizon Center, we also got to see some of the latest stores and restaurants that D.C. residents and tourists go to. Some of these places include: the Regal Theatre, Chop’t, Bar Louie, Dunkin Donuts, and more. For me, this was really exciting because I had only gone to Chinatown one other time and it was only to grab food real fast.

In my opinion, I think Chinatown was an excellent choice for our final class. I really enjoyed the area and its atmosphere. I’m hoping when I come back down to D.C. to visit sometime I will have more time to see and explore the area and all that is has to offer.

It's almost time to say goodbye...

2009-08-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

This particular week flew by so fast. On Tuesday before I went to my internship, I met up with this guy Marc and did an interview with him. A few weeks back, he had given a presentation at one of our TWC programming events. Not only did he provide helpful tips about the field of communications, but he also shared some of his personal experiences. I felt like I had really learned a lot just from listening to him for 30 mins. Therefore, I met up with him after the presentation and chatted for a bit. Eventually, I worked up the courage and asked if he wouldn't mind meeting up sometime for an interview. He replied with an immediate "Yes" and said he would love to answer any questions I had.

During the interview he gave my some advice about graduate school and how it may become a benefit to me if I work 1-2 years before attending (in order to gain work experience). He also gave me some advice about traveling and finding jobs in communications/public relations. The interview went extremely well in my opinion because a lot of my questions and concerns seemed to be at ease afterwards.

On Wednesday, I had a very packed schedule. When I first arrived at my internship, there had already been a list of tasks that I needed to complete (i.e. post an event on web calendars, email several clients, get pricing for a balloon purchase for one of our upcoming events, draft a press release, etc.). After I completed all of my assignments, I then had to catch the bus and make my way up to Bethesda, MD for my night class.

Thursday just happened to be our vice president Brian's birthday. One of the other interns Dana and I decided last minute to surprise him with a little treat (2 cupcakes and some candles). Also, one of the other executives ordered pizza for everyone. This was a happy day for everyone, who doesn't love a free lunch!?

For me, friday was a lonely day at work and an eye opener. I finally realized that I only have one week left in D.C. Almost all of the BWF interns have left already (Josh, Jeff, Nick, Steve, Kelsey and Dana). I can't believe this internship is almost over. I feel like I need another month here before I'm ready to go back home.

Life In Bethesda, MD

2009-07-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday I was able to get a taste of what it's like to live in Bethesda, MD.

If you have been following some of my previous blogs, then I'm sure you are familiar with the night class I am currently taking, A Taste Of D.C. It is by far the most exciting academic course I have ever taken. Each week, our class visits a neighborhood in or around the D.C. area. Some of the locations we have seen thus far include: Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Alexandria and more! This week we visited good ol' Bethesda, MD. Prior to our visit, I had only passed through the area once. It was kind of hard to get a feel for what the neighborhood was like, but from quickly glancing at the buildings and streets, it seemed like a quaint little town.

On Wednesday July 29th, I was given the chance to really explore and learn about Bethesda. My class and I met up at the Bethesda metro stop. Once we were all together, we proceeded down Wisconsin Ave and then eventually ended up in a little shopping/restaurant area near Woodmont Ave. For dinner, our teacher let us go off individually and select the restaurant of our choice. My friends Joelle, Karen and I decided to try an entree at a placed called Lebanese Taverna Bethesda. This was actually my first time trying Lebanese food. For my order, I decided to try the chicken shawarma. It was incredible!

Once we finished up with our meals, we met back up with the rest of our class and then proceeded up Bethesda Ave and stopped at a little rest area next to Barnes and Noble. This is where my classmate Megan gave her presentation on Bethesda. After listening to her speech, I found out that Bethesda is actually where the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novel takes place. I also learned from Megan's presentation that the average income is around $110,000/yr and the average house costs about $900,000... perhaps this why I became so fond of the neighborhood?!

World Football Challenge

2009-07-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

So, how did you spend your Friday night... See a new movie? Take a road trip to the beach? Have dinner with some friends?

I spent my Friday at the Raven's Stadium in Baltimore, MD! For what you ask? The World Football Challenge of course! For those of who are not familiar with the WFC, it is a competition for international club football (soccer) teams. The teams come from both Europe and North America and each team plays the others once in a round-robin tournament format. I had the privilege of watching the game (between Chealsea and AC Milan) from up in the press box with all of the media and photographers! This was a real treat!

For those of you who still aren't quite sure of just how HUGE these teams are and how big of a deal this event is, David Beckham once played for AC Milan. You know, David Beckham, one of the most popular athletes in today's sports. FYI, he was the world's highest-paid footballer (soccer player) in 2004.

If this still does not impress you, then I don't know what will!

Anyway, the reason I was able to attend this event was because of my internship with Brotman Winter Fried Communications (BWF). BWF handles some of the public relations work for this event. When BWF mentioned they would need interns to help with the WFC, I volunteered immediately. I'll admit, when first signing up to help with this event, I didn't really know much about it. In fact, I didn't know a whole lot about football (soccer) in general. However, I love trying new things and this seemed like an interesting opportunity.

After watching an amazing game and attending a intense press conference afterwards, I really think I'm starting to take a liking to professional soccer. I even found myself rooting and booing for some of the calls that were made.

Who knows what's next, maybe I will make the initiative and purchase tickets for an upcoming game!

Welcome to The Torpedo Factory!

2009-07-24T11:17:00.000-07:00

It was finally my turn to step up to the plate! This week was my week to give a presentation for my night class, A Taste of D.C. As part of the assignment, my requirement was to select a landmark or historical site and conduct research on some of its history and its significance to the neighborhood we were visiting that week.

On Wednesday, our teacher took us to Old Town Alexandria. I had only been there once before and it was for a short amount of time, so I wasn't very familiar with the area and its landmarks. After looking up some of the local tourist attractions, I came across one building called, "The Torpedo Factory Art Center." The name really stood out to me and the building seemed to have a lot of valuable history. After reading a few articles and reviews about the site, I found out that not only was it a torpedo factory in the 1920s, but it also served as a storage space for: art work and dinosaur bones from the Smithsonian, government documents from Congress, and even German war films and records from the Military. I was really fascinated by the information I found and so I decided to focus my presentation on this historical landmark.
Prior to giving my presentation, my class and I had met up at Chadwick's Restaurant. This is were we gathered together and talked about some of the places we have been able to visit while living in D.C., as well as the places that we still hope to see and experience. For me, my two favorite visits were to the Georgetown Waterfront and Adam's Morgan. As for the two places that I still hope to see, one would have to be Kenilworth Park and The Aquatic Gardens, the other would be the National Zoo.

I am actually planning to visit one of these two sites within the next week. Hopefully my plans will work out and I will be able to share my experience with everyone!

PS. The informational interview that I have been talking about for a few weeks now is going to take place this Monday at 11AM. Check back next week to see how it goes and what kind of feedback Marc (the gentleman I am interviewing) provides.

It's Salsa Time!!

2009-07-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Before I talk about my "Dancing With The Stars" moment (not really), I want to explain what led me to taking salsa lessons.

Each and every Wednesday, I meet up with the students from my night class, "A Taste of D.C." Each week our teacher chooses a new neighborhood for us to visit and to learn about its history. This week we went to Adams Morgan and explored the neighborhood. Just to give you a brief history about the area: President John Quincy Adams had actually owned estates and land on the countryside here. During this point in time, the area was known as Adam’s Mill. Okay, back to the story. So, my class and I met up at Columbia and 18th street. We then proceeded from there and stopped at some places like: Madam's Organ and Julia's Empanadas. One of the students (Joelle) gave a short presentation about Madam's Organ and explained its history and its contribution to Adams Morgan. After that, our whole class piled into Julia's Empanadas to grab some of their delicious treats!

After we ate, our teacher decided to take us to this place called, "Habana Village." This is where we were going to learn how to salsa dance! Once we all crowded into the room, our teacher started to explain some of the basic steps. By the time the class was over, I was "1,2,3"-ing like a pro (not really, but I'd like to think so). Anyway, I really had a fun time and I enjoyed learning how to salsa! A lot of my friends from the class and I decided we should go back a day and perhaps take the intermediate class. That should be interesting to see!

Seriously though, if you ever get the chance to take salsa lessons, I really think you should. It's a great experience!

That was ALMOST a typical day

2009-07-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was ALMOST a typical day for me, but there were a few twists and turns along the way. I woke up at 8:11AM right after my fifth or sixth alarm went off (I always hit the snooze button a lot, my roommate Lexy tends to get a little annoyed, but I can't blame her. It's okay though, she now laughs every time I swear that I'm going to stay awake after the first alarm).

Anyway, so I woke and got ready for work/my internship. Unfortunately, I was running a little late, so I wasn't able to make breakfast or prepare a lunch. As soon as I was done fixing my hair and putting on my outfit, I grabbed my bag and my phone (without realizing that I did not have my keys), headed out of my apartment and down the elevator, then quickly walked across the street to my bus stop. As I was riding on the bus, we approached our stop at the East Falls Metro Station. After sitting there for about 5 or 6 minutes, I was waiting for the bus driver to depart from the station. However, there was no sign of leaving. The next thing I heard from the bus driver's mouth was, "Something is wrong with the bus, sorry everyone!" She explained to us that she had called for another bus to come and pick us up, but it would not arrive until 10:15AM. This is not exactly what I enjoy hearing whenever I know that I have to be at my internship at 9:30AM. I had to think fast and so I ended up deciding to walk the rest of the way. Walking a long distance in 80-something-degree weather and with blisters in high heels is not my ideal commute to work. However, I had to do what needed to be done and I actually ended up arriving on site 20 minutes til 10AM.

Surprisingly, my day actually went pretty smooth after that. I started my day off by collecting and organizing a list of online articles that focused on an event my agency put together for one of our clients. After finishing that, two other interns (Jeff and Alex) and myself helped out Steve, the president of BWF. The project we were working on required us to engage in some in-depth research and to utilize our cleaver and creative writing skills. I really enjoyed working on this particular project because it I think it was one of the larger tasks that needed to be completed and, as corny as it sounds, I really felt like I was making a difference with my work due to the fact that it was a major publication.

My day had ended very well. I completed just about all of the projects I had been working on and when I left the office, the sun was still shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. One of the other interns (Dana) and I even decided to stop by Z Burger after work to enjoy a free burger and one of their delicious milkshakes. I think everyday should be as good as this one (minus the broken down bus)!

P.S.
The interview that I had mentioned in one of my previous posts was set to take place yesterday (July 14th). Unfortunately, the gentleman had to cancel the interview due to a last minute business trip. However, we are currently planning to reschedule for Monday. Stay tuned for details!

"A Taste of D.C." Continues...

2009-07-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

Where did I leave off? Oh right, my Wednesday night class ("A Taste of D.C." is the title of it) and Mr. Brown's presentation.

After Mr. Brown's presentation, my class and I walked down the street a little and stopped in a place called, "Busboys & Poets." It was an interesting little place. Not only does it serve as a restaurant and lounge, but it also has a popular book store inside where a lot of locals and tourists catch up on some good reading materials.

Once everyone was done scanning through book pages and admiring the funky art, we all headed back toward the metro station. Before I got onto the metro, I met up with my professor and asked her where she would like me to interview her (F.Y.I.- I had spoken with her the day before to see if she wouldn't mind doing an interview with me). The interview was originally for an assignment that each intern/student must complete, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I wanted to interview her for my own benefit. Some of the questions that I asked my professor focused on graduate school, her personal experiences and some of the challenges she has faced. All of the information she provided turned out to be very helpful. I really enjoyed getting her opinion about some of the graduate-school questions that I had rolling around in my head. It was also intriguing to hear about her accomplishments and some of the locations she has traveled to. I found this interview not only to be informational, but I also believe it was very inspirational and uplifting.

While I'm on the topic about interviews, I actually just sent out an email tonight that confirmed another interview to take place with a gentleman who gave a presentation at one of the intern program events just a few weeks ago. After that presentation, I spoke with him and told him that I would love to hear more about his ideas and would appreciate any advice he could give me. The interview will take place on Tuesday, July 14th. Therefore, I think I will spend some time tomorrow preparing questions and points that I would like to mention in the interview.

Check back soon to see how everything goes!

If you remember one thing, remember that family is everything.

2009-07-10T09:48:00.000-07:00

Think of something that you've always wanted to learn how to do. What is it? Play an instrument? Learn another language? Learn how to juggle?

For me, something that I have always wanted to learn is how to create and edit videos. I have always loved taking pictures, but there is one problem that I always run into... you can only hang up so many! I think learning how to create and edit videos would be so helpful and it would also allow me to view and show off all of my pictures that usually remain stored away on my computer.

Help has arrived! This past Monday, the students from my TWC program and I attended our weekly programming. For this activity, we were taught how to create and edit our own videos! The computer program we used was very basic, but it was also very helpful and it allowed me to learn the fundamentals of video editing.
(After I finish perfecting my skills, I will post one of my videos)

Moving on... For those of you who don't know a lot about DC, if you ever happen to visit here, there are a handful (or 2 handfuls) of local restaurants/diners that every visitor must experience. One of these places is called, "Ben's Chili Bowl." This local food joint has been around for quite some time (50 years and counting). It was one of the very few businesses that survived during the 1968 riots (whenever Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot). My point is, Ben's Chili Bowl has a lot of history behind it and it is even a historical landmark. My first time at Ben's occurred this past Wednesday. During my visit, I was not only able to enjoy some of their delicious food, but I also had the privilege of meeting a close friend of Ben Ali (owner of Ben's Chili Bowl), his name was Mr. Brown and I also got to sit in on a very inspirational, as well as informational, presentation that he gave.

One thing that Mr. Brown kept stressing throughout his presentation was that, family is everything and that you will not overcome challenges or major issues without the love and support of your family.
Always remember that!

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than to share it with someone you love?

This weekend my boyfriend Terry came down to visit for the holiday. Before he arrived on Thursday, I had already created a list of places and sites that I wanted to take him to. In my head, I was thinking of how we would spend our first day in D.C. together... getting dinner at a local restaurant, going to a museum, maybe visiting the Lincoln Memorial at sunset, you know- cute things. Well, that's not what exactly happened.

After I was done with my internship work on Thursday, I eagerly hopped onto the metro and headed toward the capitol (where Terry was waiting). When we finally met up, neither of us could stop complaining about how tired of walking we were and how hot and humid it was outside. As a result, we decided to save all of the exploring for the next day and to just spend the rest of the day relaxing in the air conditioning and eating chinese take-out.

The next day came and it was finally time to sightsee! We woke up early (11AM is early for me) and got some brunch in Chinatown. After a delicious meal, we walked a few blocks and ended up at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment (check out the pictures!) Once we were finished there, we then headed over to the National Archives Building where we got to see historical documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Although the line took us at least 2 hours to get through, it was still really interesting to see and well worth it.

After we were done exploring, we hopped back onto the metro and headed back to Arlington.

The next day we got up and headed down to the National Mall. While we were there, we went and visited the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the White House.

After we were done sightseeing, we headed back toward the Washington Monument and found a little grassy area where we got to sit and see the fireworks! They were outstanding! I honestly had an amazing experience and I was so happy that I was able to share my Fourth of July with someone I love.... along with 600,000 others at the National Mall!

Don't Blink, Time is Flying!

2009-07-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

I know I have been keeping you waiting... this week has been so busy, so lets see what all I have so far this week.

On Monday we had our bi-weekly programming. For this event, all of the interns had to meet at the Capitol Building Visitor Center. My program advisor was taking all of us Communication and Media students on a tour of the Capitol Building. Before I go any further, I have to talk about an embarrassing moment that happened to me right before I started my tour. So, I was going through the security check-line and one of the security officers asked everyone if they had any weapons on them. I of course said, "No" and then proceeded to place my bag onto the moving scanner. After walking through the sensor, one of the officers said, "Excuse me mam, what is this?" I looked at him and my eyes lit up, I completely forgot I had my mini-mace spray on my key chain. I apologized to the guard and told him it was an honest mistake, I really wasn't trying to smuggle a weapon inside. He looked at me very seriously and then laughed and told me to go put it outside. I felt relief whenever I was able to walk away.
Now we can pick up with the actual tour. So, I met up with my group and our group leader took us all throughout the capitol building. The tour was very interesting, but it was kind of difficult to hear all of the information about each room because there were so many people talking and walking around. After the tour, we headed to a hotel down the street. This is where the second part of our day was going to take place. This event was called the, President's Lecture Series. This is where four politicians (two Democrat and two Republican) came in and talked about their experiences and shared some of the challenges they've had to face throughout their career. This part of the program was also very interesting to hear, but I think I would have had to know a little more about political science in order to fully appreciate their perspectives.

On Wednesday I went to my night class after I finished up with my work at my internship. I really enjoyed this class because we got to go to Eastern Market and see all of the old neighborhoods and even a local food market! (see pictures below)

On Thursday I probably had the best "work" day. The agency I intern for was helping with an event for one of their clients, Z-Burger. This wasn't your typical event, this was a burger eating contest! Not only did I get to meet and talk with the contestants, but I also got to be one of the "models" for the contest (f.y.i- it was only because two of the models didn't show up, but that's okay- it was still fun to do!)

How many people get to say, "I was a burger model!"

BWF Mid Atlantic Classic (Mac) Soccer Fest

2009-06-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

What did you do this weekend?!
I spent my entire weekend preparing, planning and implementing my agency, BWF's (Brotman Winter Fried Communications), largest annual event, Mac Soccerfest. For those of you who are not familiar, this festival is basically a large soccer tournament where hundreds of teams (ranging from age 5 to age 50) come to compete against one another. During this tournament, we have other activities and events going on (i.e. inflatable obstacle course, autograph signing, music, etc.).
Friday was the day to setup and prepare for the two-day event. All of the interns took on a variety of jobs and responsibilities in order to have everything ready and organized for the game days. It was a very busy day. After unloading the truck, moving tables and chairs and then setting up the music system, I came to find out that my day was only half way over.
However, Saturday was the true test to see if we had really planned well. In the morning, it was a little crazy because of all the teams checking in and registering at once. Thankfully, everyone worked very well together and the entire BWF staff managed to pull off a great first day.
On Sunday, the day actually ran much smoother than we had planned. We were expecting the day to consist of a lot of chaos and confusion (because we had a smaller staff), but we ended up with surprisingly less confusion. The registration went fast, all of the field marshalls communicated well with one another, and we even ended up leaving earlier than expected. According to the big guys, we all did a great job! Personally, I was very happy with how everything had turned out. All of the interns got along and we all worked as a team. People were not afraid to help out one another. I think this event made our staff stronger as a whole. Not only was it a great working experience, but it also allowed everyone to sort of open up a little more and let our personalities shine through.
I think this event really brought the BWF staff and interns closer. It is a great feeling when you can wake up and HONESTLY say, "I enjoy what I do, I enjoy where I work and I really like the people I work with."

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

2009-06-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so let's recap:
Monday I had my weekly programming for The Washington Center. For the program, each intern had to attend two different workshops of our choice. The two workshops I selected focused on how to apply for graduate school and also how to prepare for it . The workshops also provided valuable tips, a 12-month timeline, and examples of graduate application essays. At 5 o'clock, the workshops had finally come to an end. Immediately after, several of my friends and I met up at Cosi's for dinner. It was a great way to end the day, with new friends and great food!
Tuesday was a pretty ordinary day. I went to work and completed a number of tasks: created media lists, contacted some clients and prepared for BWF's upcoming weekend event (MacSoocer Fest).
Wednesday turned out to be less stressful, compared to my typical Wednesdays. This Wednesday my night class had been cancelled and moved to the following Saturday. It was really nice to be able to go to the gym after work and also have some free time to sit and relax.
Thursday was the complete opposite of Wednesday. It ended up being a very busy day at work because we had to do all of the last minute projects for BWF's weekend event. The MacSoccer Fest is a very large soccer tournament where multiple divisions of soccer players, ranging from young children to adults, come to compete against one another. Also at the tournament, dozens of local vendors come and set up tents to display and sell their products and services.
Friday (today) I spent the entire day in Poolesville, Maryland. The BWF interns and myself spent hours preparing for the big event. We built soccer goals, helped setup and organize the registration tent, we also learned about the music technology and helped setup the music system!
Tomorrow and Sunday are the big days, this should be very interesting! All of the staff have to arrive at the field by 6:30AM! I'm pretty sure this means I should have went to bed 2 hours ago...

Take me out to the ball game!

2009-06-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

This past Friday, the entire Washington Center Media and Communications Program and I went to a Washington Nationals baseball game (compliments of our generous program advisor)!

Since I had never been to a game at the Nationals stadium before, my friend Katie and I decided we should meet up before hand, in hopes of not getting lost. Around 6pm her and I met up at the Federal Triangle Station, little did we know the stadium was only about 100 feet from the station. That made everything a lot easier. Once we got there, we then met up with another girl from our program, Kaylee. We then proceeded to enter the stadium. Before taking my third step past the gates, I found the closest employee and asked, "Where is the food!?" After getting directions, we went straight to the nearest food joint and ordered. The food was great and I was definitely ready to sit back and watch the game. We had to get a little help from the staff in order to find our seats, but after walking up a tremendous amount of steps, we finally found them! The view was great and everyone from our program was enjoying themselves. It was a really nice setting to be in. The weather was great, the Nationals were winning and there were also opportunities for the students to network and talk with one another.

Toward the end of the game, Katie and I decided we needed some dessert (clearly we didn't NEED it, but we were desperately craving ice cream!). As we were heading down the steps and walking toward the ice cream stand, we ran into one of our friends, Quintinn, from Georgetown. Everyone always tells me Washington is actually a small town, but I never believed it. After catching up and talking for a few minutes, we finally cured our cravings and enjoyed a few scoops of chocolate ice cream. What a great way to end the day!

A Tour of Georgetown

2009-06-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Wednesdays might just be my new favorite night of the week! Before I elaborate, Wednesdays are when I have my night class. Each week, we tour a new part of the Washington area and we also eat a big dinner together at one of the local restaurants. This past Wednesday, my class and I met up at Martin's Tavern in Georgetown. It was a great way for everyone to socialize, connect and also enjoy delicious food before we started our tour. Right after eating, we all met up outside and began heading toward Georgetown University (GU). On our journey their, a few of the other students and I went a little camera-crazy and took pictures of just about every other house we saw. A lot of the houses had been restored and remodeled, which is why they are so beautiful but also very expensive to live in. Once we arrived at GU, our teacher took us into one of the campus buildings and also to an on-campus church (the church just happened to be the same church where part of the movie, The Exorcist was filmed). Once we were finished there, we then headed down to the steps where another part of the movie was filmed. Even though I have never seen The Exorcist, it is still neat to be able to say I went to those sites.

Next we headed toward Wisconsin Ave., one of the main streets in Georgetown. It is lined with famous brand name boutiques, local shops and old landmarks. Our teacher took us to see the Old Stone House, which is one of the oldest structures in the Washington area. As one of the requirements for our class, each student has to give a short presentation on one of the sites we visit. Therefore, my classmate Jamie gave her presentation on the Old Stone House and talked about some of its past uses (a residence, a business office, and now a historical landmark).

Later on, we made our way down to the Georgetown Waterfront (one of my new favorite places). I have to admit though, I really didn't think it would be that nice of a place to see at night because I've been there during the day and it is absolutely stunning. It would be pretty hard to top. Well, I was wrong. The huge water fountains that I love were all lit up, each one a different color. The steps to one of the hotels there were lit too and at the top of the steps you could see a classy event going on inside, complete with a very talented jazz band I should add. Also, in one of the hotel/apartment courtyards, there were about a dozen trees all dressed in bright white lights, from the bottom of the tree trunks to the very tip of the skinniest branch. It was beautiful. Never again will I doubt the Waterfront nighttime scene.

Hop On The Metro and Pick Somewhere To Go

2009-06-17T01:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you're all anxious to see how my weekend went, but honestly, the best part didn't even happen until Sunday!

This past Sunday my roommate Lexy and I decided we should go see a movie, little did I know that I was about to watch the funniest movie ever, The Hangover. We thought it would be a good idea to leave about an hour early. The station we had to get off at was one we had never taken before and so we were preparing to eventually get lost, which we did. We hopped onto the metro and got off at the Court House station. We thought we were doing a great job whenever we made the right onto Clarendon Road, little did we know we were supposed to make a left! After about 20 mins of walking aimlessly, we decided to ask someone where the movie theatre was. Once we found out that we were heading 6 blocks in the wrong direction, we got onto the right path and ended up making the show.

One of the best parts about are walk was that we were able to see some beautiful scenery, as well as very elegant water fountains (I personally think they are one of the prettiest outdoor structures). Anyway, Lexy was rushing because we were running a little late. Thankfully, I was able to snap a few quick pictures of the landscaping and fountains. Okay, now onto what I think was the absolute best part, watching the movie. I am pretty sure I didn't stop laughing the entire time, beginning to finish. For those of you who have not seen the movie yet, I recommend you see it soon!

Going back to the part where I was walking around aimlessly, Monday was similar to that. One of the other TWC interns, Kaitlyn, and I decided to do some sightseeing and food tasting after our Monday afternoon program. We were trying to think of some different places to eat at. She started naming a couple cafes and diners, but then she followed with, "I can't remember where they are at." So I thought of the best idea, hop on the metro and pick somewhere to go. Once we were on the metro, we decided to go to the Chinatown station. Not long after, we discovered that it wasn't a bad idea after all. We got to walk past some of Chinatown's most popular restaurants, boutiques and clubs. The day ended up being a success, we found two really good cafes that served delicious appetizers and entrées. In my opinion, that is one successful day!

Anything Could Happen

2009-06-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

These last three days have been quite eventful for me. Let's see, on Wednesday I got to go to California Tortilla's Kids Day event (they are one of my agency's clients)and then I had my night class, ("A Taste of D.C.") where I got a tour of Pennsylvania Ave in downtown D.C. and later I got to tour The Willard Hotel, on Thursday I got to meet PA State Senator Bob Casey (and get a picture with him...soon to come!) and today I got to eat for free at Nando's restaurant (they are another one of my agency's clients).

So let's get into some detail, the event held at California Tortilla was an event planned especially for kids. The event included: free give-a-ways, face painting (yes, I am an official face painter now!), free coupons, and lots and lots of balloons! The event also featured the wonderful Chippy (Cal. Tor.'s mascot, who was played by one of the other BWF interns, Jeff). This was a fun event for both the children and even us interns, it barely felt like work. Later that day, I met my classmates down at the Old Post Office. My professor, Ms. Gueli, brought along her father who is also a professor himself. He ended up giving us all a tour and taking us to see: The National Theatre, The Willard Hotel, and The Old Ebbitt Grill (where we got to eat!).

Thursday turned out to be a little different. I had to wake up at 5:00AM! I left my apartment around 7:00AM and then headed toward D.C. I then arrived at the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. This is where 4 other Washington Center interns and myself got to eat breakfast and introduce ourselves to Bob Casey! A few minutes after meeting him, we got to walk around and meet and greet with some of his staff members. Ashley Stover, one of the staff, is who I got to chat with and ask a few questions to. It turned out to be a great morning and definitely something to remember, "Breakfast with Bob."

Today was a pretty regular day, but the whole idea of getting a free lunch really makes the day 10 times better!

Maybe this weekend will bring some more excitement...

Making The Most Of My Internship

2009-06-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

Before I begin talking about what I did today, let me rewind back to Monday afternoon.

So, part of my internship program requires me to attend mandatory meetings/lectures/presentations/etc. every Monday. During this past Monday, all interns in the Media and Communications program were told to attend a presentation at a hotel in downtown D.C. This activity was led by Rosemary Reed, President of Double R Productions. Her presentation was focused on, "The Top Ten Rules FOR MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR INTERNSHIP." I won't list all of the rules, but I will mention two that stuck out in my mind the most: #5 Be Ready to Be Tested and #6 Be Interested. When explaining rule #5, Rosemary told us to keep in mind that there will always be the boring "intern" work that needs done, but if you are competent and if you do a good job at it, the bigger and better assignments will come later on. Then, she went on to discuss rule #6, she explained that having the ability to fake interest (in those boring assignments or long meetings) will take you a long way. When one appears to be interested or enthusiastic about something, people tend to notice and remember that. I wanted to make sure I would remember all of her tips and words of advice, that might explain why I ended up with 3 pages of notes after her presentation! The information was so helpful and I really wanted to implement some of these rules into my internship experience.

Now, we can fast-forward to today (Tuesday, although its technically 2:00am Wednesday morning right now). I would like to think that I have already begun utilizing these rules from my first day as an intern, but I wanted to be sure. On my way to work this morning, I kept thinking to myself, "Be aggressive. Be interested. Be ready!" Once I got to my internship, I went around the office and asked some of the staff if they needed any help. One of the account executives, Mike, said that he needed some email contacts for a project he was working on. Without saying another word, I immediately began my assignment. Once I finished that up, I asked my supervisor, Whitney, if she had anything that needed to be done. She explained to me what she was working on and then assigned me to the job. I spent most of my day completing the task, but once I was done, I asked for more work. Each job I took on I welcomed with enthusiasm. Even if the job was looking up an email address, it was still a task that needed to be done and I was happy to do it.

By the end of the day, I was still in a "go-getter" kind of mood. I was energized because I felt that my day was very productive and successful. In my opinion, I really think Rosemary's presentation motivated me and also provided me with the tools I need in order to make the most of my internship experience.

Time to Explore: End of Week 1

2009-06-07T13:16:00.000-07:00

After a nice 4-day work week (I had to take off a day from my internship to go to a meeting), it was time to meet with my new friends and explore the city!

Friday night came around and it was actually a pretty gloomy night (due to the cloudiness and rain). Some of the other interns and I were going to go sightseeing around the National Mall and in Old Town Alexandria. However, we decided it might be a better idea to wait for another night because there is nothing worse than getting caught in the rain and being 40mins. away from your apartment (kind of like what happened to me on Wednesday night after my night class- not a fun experience-Note: ALWAYS bring an umbrella!) So anyway, we decided to have a night in and just relax, sometimes it's the best idea.

The next morning I woke up pretty early and called my friend Dana. She is one of the other interns for Brotman Winter Fried Communications. Dana has been living in D.C. for a couple of years now, so she knows the area pretty well. We decided to go sightseeing and also check out some of the cuisines that D.C. has to offer. We spent most of our day walking up and down the streets of Georgetown (beautiful but also a very expensive place to be). Later on, she took me down to the Waterfront. When I asked her what the Waterfront was, she said, "I can't tell you, it's a surprise." So, I really wasn't sure what to expect. After a short walk, we started coming up to the Waterfront. Basically, it is a very lively and popular part of town where everyone goes to wine, dine, dance, and walk along the water. The area includes: a hotel, multiple restaurants, a huge fountain display and a dock where everyone brings their boat. In my opinion, this was paradise!

Everywhere you look people are smiling. I'm telling you, if you ever get the chance to go to D.C. in the summer, make sure you stop at the Waterfront! You will not want to leave.

First week as an intern

2009-06-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it is almost Thursday! Today was my third day as an intern and so far so good. Let me take you back to day one.

Monday morning, I got up, got ready, grabbed some breakfast and headed to the bus stop. When I arrived to my internship site, I was surprised to find myself the first person there. Eventually, staff members began arriving and I was able to enter. One of the executives even gave me a tour of the building and then showed me where my work station would be. I sat down and began to familiarize myself with the new surroundings and also some of the work documents. About an hour later, I was able to meet my account executive supervisor, Whitney. She was very nice and also very welcoming. I felt right at home. My first assignment was to browse through their list of clients and find out what exactly they focus on. After doing this, I was able to have a better understanding of each client's purpose, mission and needs.

After a successful first day, day two came around. I was still a little nervous, but I walked in with my head up and ready to start the day. As I walked up the stairs, I ran into another new intern, her name was Dana. We each introduced ourselves and then made a plan to meet downstairs for lunch. I then headed down the hallway toward my work station. I spent the next couple of hours reviewing more of the client documents and also refreshing my skills in Microsoft Publisher. Next, I started working on a design for a sample flyer, before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Dana and I, along with a few other interns, spent our lunch talking about personal experiences, where we were from and how we all ended up interning for BWF. It was a nice way of getting to know one another and also helped us feel more comfortable.

By the next day, we were all a lot more talkative and outgoing. We spent our lunch chatting away and laughing with one another. Once lunch was over, I headed back upstairs toward my station. Before I sat down, I asked one of the account executives if they had any projects for me to work on. Lisa Marie, AE and Internship Coordinator, said she had a media list that needed to be created. After gathering all of the details, I headed to my desk and began researching and typing up the list. Soon enough, it was 5:30pm and time for me to leave for the day. I told Whitney and Lisa Marie that I would not be in on Thursday because of a mandatory lecture I had to attend for The Washington Center. I then assured them I would finish the media list by Friday afternoon and would be free to take on more assignments.

Introduction

2009-05-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

My name is Colleen Schmidt and I am a senior at California University of Pennsylvania. My major is Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. I have also taken up a minor in Women's Studies.

In just a couple of hours, I will be moving down to Arlington, VA where I will be interning for a PR and Marketing Full-Service Agency called Brotman Winter Fried Communications. I will work closely with account executive. Her account is closely linked to event planning, promoting and public relations. Judging by BWF's website (http://www.specialevent.com/contactus.html) and the communication I have had with some of their employees, this agency appears to have a well-established and highly interactive internship program. BWF assures that each intern will be treated as an actual employee.

Some of the duties and tasks that I will be responsible for include: writing press releases, creating media lists, producing and implementing public relations campaigns, assisting with promotional activities, being involved with on-site projects, as well as event marketing and planning, and will engage in some client contact and advertising work. I will also have the chance to become involved in several different client accounts: locally, regionally and nationally- ranging from large corporate levels and small local levels.

After securing my internship, I wanted to develop a list of goals that I hope to reach throughout my experience. 1) Improve my communication skills (both written and oral) 2) Develop an "eye for detail" 3) Learn how to better organize my tasks by creating lists and timed schedules 4) Become better acquainted with the entire event-planning process and the tools/techniques that are used 5) Develop a more professional demeanor 6) Obtain leadership skills that will help me to become a successful and well-liked leader (I don't want to be bossy, I want to learn how to take charge, but not take over)

As you can imagine, I am very excited for this internship. I think it will be a valuable experience and will benefit me in numerous ways. Stay tuned for more blogs regarding my preparation for the internship and what my first day as an intern was like.

Thank you,
Colleen Schmidt