Dear Los Angeles...With Love,
Start writing a post
Featured

Dear Los Angeles...With Love,

After packing two oversized suitcases and two carryons with all the boho chic clothes I thought I needed to travel across the country for my dream internship, I quickly realized that although I may look like I belong out in the entertainment capital of the world there was a lot more to it than Free People dresses and fanny packs.

5634
Dear Los Angeles...With Love,
September: Los Angeles

Ever since I was younger I dreamed of moving out to California. There was something so amusing about being in the hub of it all that bursts with passion and artistry wherever you look. After a trip to LA when I was a sophomore in high school for dance, I fell even more in love with this utopia of a city and from that moment on, Los Angeles was that light at the end of the tunnel.

Now it is important to note that when I say I was in love, I truly mean I... was in love. My grandmother for my sixteenth birthday got me a ring with the coordinates of Los Angeles on it and you bet I wore that ring every day. My Facebook password you may ask? "BelieveLA" (don't worry I changed it so don't try hacking xo). I mean, my legitimate background on my phone for years was a photo of the cross street sign of Via Rodeo and North Rodeo Drive. Los Angeles to me was kind of like that boy who you admire from afar and have to continuously work up the courage to go for.

Well, after years of hard work and building up that courage it finally happened. I landed an internship at a company I admired for most of my life and I was ready to finally show Los Angeles what Sydney Rose Weltman has to offer.

Fast forward to a month of work and exploring the city under my belt, I decided to take some time to self reflect on my life thus far and the experiences I partook in. With that being said and all the emotions I endured, I thought of all the things I wish I knew before making this long-awaited trek. So here it is for you: Sydney's Declassified Los Angeles Survival Guide:

1. Moving is scary. Whether that is across the country or twenty minutes away, it is okay to show emotion.

This is something I struggled with leading up to my flight out to Los Angeles. I was scared out of my mind. I was going to a new state where I knew next to no one. All I had were overpacked suitcases filled with clothing and shoes, bedding in a box from Bed Bath & Beyond, and a passion for what I was about to do, yet for some reason, I did not want anyone to know how I was truly feeling. The thought of "this is my dream how can I be scared?" was drilled into my brain, but let me tell you, get those emotions out before you land wherever you may be going. Trust me, this will help you in the long run.

2. Hobbies are important. Keep them in your life no matter how near or far you may be from home.

Not only are hobbies something that will allow you to distract yourself from stressful situations, but it will give you a chunk of comfort. One of the best pieces of advice I learned in my time out here was to keep your hobbies close to your heart because it will allow you to feel as if you belong even if at that moment you do not.

3. Do not, and I mean DO NOT, be afraid to ask for help.

Having an A++++ personality as my mom likes to say can be difficult when it comes to reaching out for help because your ego does not allow you to, but reach out to that family friend who you haven't talked to in years or that alumni your professor told you about. You never know who knows who and although this city seems big from the outside at times it can be very small.

4. Spend some time alone.

This is hard and awkward, but I believe that every twenty-something year old should do it. Going to a restaurant and asking for a table for one may stir up the butterflies in your stomach, but it is time you do some self-reflecting and be dependent on yourself. Sitting in a restaurant or doing an activity alone will make you want to crawl inside your own skin, but in the long run, it is all part of growing up.

5. "Know your worth, add tax, and don't forget the agency fee"

I saw this quote in an Instagram bio and enough said. Do your work, remember you are an intern, not a CEO, but also remember there is a line that should not be crossed.


Report this Content
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

41140
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

25682
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

951138
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

134136
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments