Classroom to Corporate (5): Last Week at work

My team got my a parting gift: IBM SWAG!!

I just finished my last week at work and I am so sad to be leaving IBM. Who knew that I would enjoy my internship so much? Coming up to NYC, I had really spent more time researching the city and planning all the touristy things I was going to do (Bucket List anyone?) and I did not anticipate the attachment that developed to my projects, my office, my team members, and to the company.

I believe I would compare the whole culture to UNC. In "The Land of the Tarheels", your colors mean everything. You drink Carolina blue, sleep Carolina blue, and your blood ... it better be Carolina blue because red is reserved for NC State. You can walk up to any Tarheel, anywhere in the world and feel confident that the Carolina bond will be enough to hold at least the initial conversation.

Well, at IBM, I believe the same to be true. The company has a very strong internal culture. Being an "IBMer" is similar to saying "I am a Tarheel" and you can make that immediate connection. Even as an intern, I felt like a member of this big community and I found myself saying "WE do this ... WE do that" instead of "they"because by the end, it really was "we" since I was contributing to projects that were going to make a difference.

So on my last weekend in the city, when I should be thinking about all the extra items on my bucket list that DID NOT get checked off, I can't help but think about all the stuff that I DID have the opportunity to take advantage of because of IBM. Who would have thought that I would go to a Yankees game in the Bronx (with other interns who I actually bonded with) or visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art TWICE. Even thinking about the little things like navigating conference call etiquette make me smile!

On my last day, my manager and one of my team members took me out to this swanky lunch at Mesa Grill (a Bobby Flay restaurant). All those sandwiches I was raving about earlier in the week, this trumped it all! The place was amazing and the food did not disappoint. My manager presented me a gift from the team and I got all emotional inside because they thought of me and all that! Now I didn't want to look like the intern that couldn't hold myself together so I didn't cry or anything! But the biggest thing about the whole thing (IBM swag + swanky Bobby Flay restaurant = sensory overload) was that my entire team signed a single card for me. That may sound anti-climactic to you, but the thought almost sent me overboard. I have team members not only in different offices, but different states so for my team to coordinate signing (handwritten and via email) a single card is like a big deal! And they did it all for me! It was just a really great moment and I am blessed to have worked with such amazing people for 10 weeks.

This summer really made me think about all the things that I wanted to accomplish in my professional career. I had all this anxiety in 2012 built up around worry that I wasn't on the right path to do what I love for a living. So one day, I just walked into the academic advising office and switched majors. This summer going into my senior year was really important in making sure that my decision wasn't just some crazy, spontaneous bump in the road that I would have to overcome. My internship solidified that my decision was justified because I realized that journalism IS something that I am passionate about and I can make a career out of social communications. I think I decided somewhere around the 4th of July that I wanted to grow up and be my manager (for realz) because she is just amazeballs! I didn't even know her job title existed until I got to IBM. Not only does a job like hers exist, but people actually look to her for serious communications strategy input. They don't look at her and say, "So basically you get paid to tweet?" That is definitely where I want to be professionally.

I am going to miss Brianna (my intern partner in crime), Tara (Rebecca's oh-so-fabulous boss), Adrienne (best Indian-food-eating buddy in LIFE), Lisa L. (she always tells it how it is), Angela (we ate McDonald's while secretly missing Chick-fil-A), Reilly (who became my personal concierge), Jack (I wish I had half the creative ideas that ran through his head), Joan (I just want to be Joan too!) and Lisa H. (usually my first ping when I didn't screw something up and overall cheerleader for my personal brand)

So! In closing, New York City, you were wonderful, but I can see you anytime, but I will never be able to replicate my IBM experience.

Me and Brianna at CHQ - we didn't get into any trouble THAT day

American Natural History Museum

As I am nearing the end of my time here in NYC, I am trying to cram in as many picture taking opportunities as possible. Well, my iPhone memory has finally had enough and is protesting the numbers of pics I have saved in my phone! So to avoid permanently deleting all my memories, I went back through my photo library and realized I had not shared my pictures from the American Museum of Natural History. I went with my mom back in mid-July and we were greeted in the front by a life-size reenactment of an elephant stampede. We had big fun!

Bucket List: Levain Bakery

It was only appropriate that I visit the Levain Bakery with my father, the original Cookie Monster (sorry Sesame Street). He is the absolute king of the chocolate chip cookie and his taste buds have been trained, by years of sampling, to know a good chocolate chip cookie by the 2nd bite.

I waited to knock this item off the list when my parents confirmed that they were going to visit me in the city for my mom's birthday last week. Even though she isn't a cookie person, we did plenty of fun mommy things too! This, however, was purely a daddy daughter event.

Back to the bakery - you open the door to the tiny shop and immediately descend 4-5 steps right into the front counter. There is a small sampling of their goodness in the windowed counter; the real action happens in the back. They have special goodies on the weekends as well so save your sticky bun sweet tooth till Saturday afternoons.

There was a short line, but my dad and I were so psyched, we could care less. I ordered a chocolate chip and a chocolate peanut butter. He got 2 chocolate chips. Why we got two of the most giant cookies in the world I will never know, but our eyes were bigger than our stomachs on this one. I was happy to taste both flavors, but the original chocolate chip walnut crushed any other combinations. They bake the cookies just like I like them, leaving the center gooey so it melts in your mouth. We were in cookie heaven ... until we finished the cookie.

Bucket List: Empire State Building

Yesterday I went to the Empire State Building with my friend, and fellow intern, Nick! We went after dark to get the best views from the top. The observatory didn't disappoint! Apparently, everyone else had the same idea so the lines were getting pretty serious right after we slipped through. The 86th floor observatory was packed, but we opted to visit the 102nd floor observatory as well which is smaller and enclosed but the view from up there ... wow!

We were able to see all the way across the Hudson River as well as full length views of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was able to spot Times Square by all the bursts of light coming up from the thicket of skyscrapers on the west side. Central Park was lined with street lights all the way up the middle so that was easy to spot as well. We just had a really great time and the exit was through the gift shop so of course I had to buy postcards for my niece and nephew ... of course!

Dallas BBQ, Times Square (again) and Tiffany's here!

My sorority sister Tiffany came today to visit! Risi and I were super pumped to see her even if it was only for a few hours and we ended up doing nothing we had planned to do, but that's just how we do it!

First stop, Yogurtland on 30th/6th.

Risi is obsessed with their froyo so of course I was curious. As we began to try the flavors in the free cups, the pecan praline won me over. Sorry Sweet Frog and Pinkberry ... you lose the flavor game. Pistachio was my absolute favorite. It might actually be my favorite all time flavor now. The Yogurtland prices were also way cheaper than most of the other yogurt shops in the city. Winning!

Next, to Times Square!

Oh hey Dallas BBQ! Nice to finally visit you!

Source: Dallas BBQ

It was packed! But you could tell that the staff was used to this and they were definitely prepared. The two-story restaurant seats a billion people so they were very efficient in getting people in and out even on a busy Saturday night. We still had to wait about 20 minutes, but the prices and the food make it worth the wait!

$15.99 Mexican Bulldog, wassup??

Bucket List: Modern Museum of Art

Both of my parents are here this weekend celebrating my mom's birthday! I am super excited to see them and spend the weekend in the city frolicking with them. We started our time together on Thursday when I met them for dinner at Petite Abielle on W. 17th St. My mom is a huge mussels fan and this was her dinner so she was all about the menu at this Belgian restaurant.

The next morning we went to Penelope for breakfast and then my mom and I broke off from my dad to go to the Modern Museum of Art. This was a BIG item on my bucket list this summer. I kept hearing fabulous things about the Rain Room exhibit that is running through the end of the summer and I knew I had to see it. Unfortunately, everyone else wanted to see the exhibit as well and the wait is ridiculous unless you get in line before 8am. Well that ain't gonna happen!

Bummed about that, but the museum was still amazing! My mom and I enjoyed ourselves and I got some awesome pictures from the exhibits.

Classroom to Corporate (4): NY Yankees Game!

One of the NY IBM offices decided to set up a trip for some of the employees to a Yankees game this past week! One of the interns in the office was kind enough to share with the rest of the communications interns in the area and of course we jumped at the opportunity to socialize outside of the office! It was so nice to get together with a lot of IBMers outside the office and talk about other interests.

The game was SO much fun! This was my first non-Braves baseball game and, though it was hard to break from my beloved hometown team, the culture surrounding the team reminded me of the pride that we all posses in our team. That definitely made the experience more familiar to me!