Sommer Time! What I learned From HU's Sommer Hill

Sommer Hill's visit was an incredibly eye opening talk which helped me learn more about the industry and really the inner workers of how finding a job works. I feel we get so much advice on what to do once we have the job but never the real deal on what it's like directly after graduation. Hearing about how she had to sleep on a friends couch and then had to navigate getting her job but realizing she wasn't being paid the proper amount, then her talking about dealing with microagressions, it really reminded me of the type of preparedness I'll need to avoid some of the pitfalls others made when first leave ing the Mecca. 

Another huge thing it taught besides what sorta not to do, was that my mindset will be everything. If I have the mindset of doubt and the mindset that I'm an imposter, then that's exactly what I'll be. But if I have the mindset that I am prepared, that I am qualified, that I can achieve the great job while also having a great work life balance then that's exactly what I'll receive. Sommer's talk also really helped me specifically know that my work is good, I just have to wait for when preparation meets divine timing and opportunity. Last summer I heard a lot of no's from major companies like LA Times, Glamour Magazine, NPR and more and it was really making me question my place in the industry. Was I worthy, could I really do this work? But hearing Sommer talk about how I was her personal pic for the NPR job and it was only her boss that felt the other candidate was better, really helped me see sometimes rejection isn't about you. It isn't about worth, or ability or qualification. That sometimes rejection is simply that, rejection. And our job as achievers is not to wallow in self doubt but to really understand that if we do our 100% then all we can do is try to get the job next time. Overall Sommer's visit was really inspiring and really motivated me.