Hi all! My name is Sierra and I’m a senior journalism major at Ithaca College. My summer has been filled with opportunities to learn from fabulous women in the field, the most enjoyable commutes with my fellow ASME interns, and many jars of crunchy peanut butter thanks to the Trader Joe’s right around the corner (woo!).

 

Being an ASME intern this summer has made me love this industry even more than I already did. There’s something special about flipping through the glossy pages of a magazine and indulging in the stories that fill their pages. It’s a love I’ve had since I was a little girl and is the reason I know this industry will be around for a while longer. It’s what drove me to become an editor at the student newspaper at my college, and ultimately what led me to find myself at my previous internship at the wonderful Hudson Valley Magazine. Seeing the collaboration, hard work, and dedication that goes into producing a final product week after week or month after month is rewarding. I want that excitement of delivering the best product possible to our audience time after time, and that’s why I know I’m in the right spot.

 

This summer I’ve had the pleasure to work with the team at Real Simple as their home editorial intern. At first, I was nervous that I wasn’t well versed in home related topics. We were supposed to be the experts in all things organization and decor but my knowledge only stretched so far. What I learned was that it isn’t about how much you know, it’s about how much curiosity you have for learning the things you don’t know. The beauty of being a journalist is that you always have the chance to learn and expand your knowledge.

 

At Real Simple I’ve helped to organize the annual Holiday Gift Guide. I’ve gotten to live out all of my interior design dreams by seeing the Real Simple Home come to life. I’ve written, fact checked, learned how to fold that darn fitted sheet (thank you Stephanie Sisco, you superwoman!) tasted more Maple flavored products than I ever needed to, and attended product events representing the Real Simple brand. My editors at the magazine have been so kind to let me see a bit of it all during my very, very fast ten weeks here. I feel lucky to have such a incredible team to look up to at Real Simple. Their enthusiasm and mentorship make me eager to jump into this industry soon!

 

For future ASME interns — soak it all up. This is an amazing summer and for many it’s a first glimpse at your dream. Go to every event, volunteer for any project, and take the time to know the people around you. Being the intern is the most exciting time because you get to try out everything. People want to see you grow and they want to be a part of your journey.  Take advantage of the many invitations to do just about anything and I’m positive you will not be disappointed.