So long . . .

So today was Melissa's last day as Nathan's assistant. She'll be going to the 5th Avenue location on Monday August 1st. I wasn't happy about it at all. Although I haven't known Melissa for long, she still made me feel at home when I was around her. Melissa is cool, smart, funny, and fun to be around. Nathan wasn't here on her last day but we managed with out him. The day was extremely busy but we pulled it off because we're so awesome! Well that's all folks until next time.

- xo EBV

A series of Unfortunate events!!!

Last night (June 21st) Happy hour was amazing! Surprisingly people came to the party even though it was extremely hot and the party was on the roof. I personally thought no one was going to come. Nathan, Gio and I setup everything with help from a few unknown characters lol.

Melissa didn't want to get her clothing dirty yesterday and Nathan was making fun of her. The party was packed and I met some interns there (I forgot to ask them for their names darn it!). My beautiful outfit got very dirty! My white shirt turned green and pink (pink from the strawberry ice cream I was eating when I left.) the Heineken box turned my shirt green, ah oh well.

The first place everyone ran to was to get chips and dippings. Then after a few minutes everyone was at the bar drinking their asses off! Well you can't really call the Happy hour party an actually party because no one was dancing. What kind of party is that? Weirdos I tell you!

Around 7 o'clock I was getting my things to get going. I got some ice cream on my way home and as soon as I got it, it started melting. (Sad face) It spilled all over me I felt like a baby when they spill things all over themselves! When I got home and got undressed the unthinkable happened. Someone stole my butterfly earrings I got for my seventeenth birthday!!! I started crying because my sister/friend Anjali spent money on them. Those butterfly earrings are very beautiful. I blame their disappearance on my younger sister Melody because, she let a whole bunch of people into the apartment and now they're gone!! Ugh I went to bed so freaking mad and woke up in pain, so that wasn't so useful lol.

This morning when I was getting ready for work it was crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got on the BX19 at 8 o'clock in the morning and took the "6" train on Longwood Ave. The ride was so bad! They're was an electrical gap on 14th and union square (for those of you who don't know what an electrical gap is, it's when there is a gap in the flow of electricity) and I had to get off on 51th street and walk to 52nd to catch the "M" train. Personally I was not going to pay again to get on the "M" train so I went underneath the turnstile and ran to the train before it left. Then I transferred to the "Q" and got off in Canal then walked to the building. I got here 30 minutes late. This was my first time being late and I was upset for a few but then I got over it because hey I'm not a wizard so I can't change what happened today or yesterday. Well until next time see ya!!!

- xo EBV

Make over!

Today Nathan took Rob and I to get our hair done in the salon across the street called Y Gallery Salon. The salon is very beautiful and the employees are very friendly. While I was getting my hair shampooed I was receiving an amazing massage as well! It was so amazing. Criston was super friendly and nice to me. He took what I wanted into consideration and gave me what I wanted unlike other hair stylist that I went to. Rob was done getting his hair cut in 30 minutes. The man that cut his hair took his time and made Rob look super handsome and chic as you all can see. Criston took his time cutting my hair into layers and I felt like a super star in a fancy salon getting my hair done. The music that they play was very hip I just wanted to get up and start dancing but of course I couldn't so I watched Criston dance instead. He's an amazing dancer if I must say so myself.  We I was done I didn't feel like my self, I felt better with an awesome hair cut!!! I thank Nathan so much for paying for my hair cut. I love it so so so much !!!! Thanks Nathan you're the best!!!! See you later alligators. 

- xo EBV

On Art, In Acetone

When I've ditched my crisp button-down for a white Hanes undershirt by 11:00am, I know that it's going to be a good day.

Nathan had me take nail polish remover to the walls of various offices that had been written on, so as to make the spaces presentable for a new month's set of potential occupants. Armed with three fresh rags and Duane-Reade brand 100% pure acetone, I precisely and systematically wiped away months' worth of personal note-to-selves, business statistics, and daily reminders. As I did it, I wondered to myself if any of the information would be missed. But, if the writing had any value, then shame on the author for leaving its sole recording in the form of dry erase marker on a window.

The man who occupied office 5S-09 had marked on his sliding door, "I write on walls." True to that, his space was covered from top to bottom in what seemed like arbitrary writing. It seemed oddly poetic to chemically eliminate "I write on walls" from his wall.

I spent the most time of all in that office. The door was closed and locked, and I enjoyed the momentary quiet; just me and walls of writing. My fingertips were dyed with colored ink, my nose burned with the overbearing scent of acetone, and I bathed in the sensation. I became lightheaded, high from fumes, drunk on nostalgia. I was taken back to the graffitied hardwood desk of my high school art room. Acetone. Tip the bottle, taste the scent in the back of your mouth. Let habitual breath-holding protect you. Only though the nose; and paint. Quiet, except for the sound of scratching and shifting. This office, too, was quiet. A lack of noise was the sound of focus in an art room and this room's atmosphere was an artist itself, so easily crafting images. An expressionist, to be sure. I can only feel the images, they hold no concrete aesthetic in my mind. The forefront of my thoughts was the canvas. My memories, the reference.

I miss it. I hope I don't fall out of drawing. I think my mind would explode from storing a few too many dark-cloaked lightsaber-wielding characters over capacity. Those guys come in hordes.

I met with Daniel again today. We've finally set up a system for me to start doing research for him. As I left his office today, he promised, "this project will give you the best education outside of college that you will ever get." And, I believe him. I can't quite say what exactly I'm doing for him. If I did, you'd know to much and it wouldn't be long until the assassins found you...

Today, I'm tired. I only slept for three hours last night. In the words of Regina Spektor, "it's coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee and coffee, some more." True to that, I'm on my third cup of the day. I'll make sure to sleep earlier tonight. Like, right when I get home. Goodnight all. It's been a pleasure.

Moving Forward

It's a good feeling, the sentiment of progress.

To be stagnant is to be trapped, unable to move forward but unable to turn back. It is to lie in your bed at night, and think to yourself, "I'm no better off right now than I was when I woke up this morning." It multiplies, indefinitely lasting. There is no higher learning in routine. There are no leaps of faith. We take no chances in doing what we know. We know this because it is branded on our mind, etched in from repetition and repetition and repetition.

One of my very favorite artists, Jason Mraz, blogged recently, "We are all beginners. We haven’t done this before. You haven’t been you on this day before. I haven’t been someone’s solid rock before. I haven’t been me at 33 before. Each day is new and we’re all allowed to fall down as often as we need to. It is through these mistakes and fumbles that we’ll likely get it right next time." I think this quote is something to live by. (If you want to read the full blog post, click. And I highly encourage that you read it.)

But, Jason, some days, though we have not been ourselves on this day before, we can make scarily accurate guesses as to how the day will start, what we'll do, who we'll see, what they'll say, what we'll eat, when we'll sleep, and where it all will get us in life. I am frightened at the prospect of becoming stagnant. I am confounded by complacence.

It is on that note that I say this internship at WeWork gives me the genuine feeling of progress. Every day is different. Every day, I'm meeting new people, and using new skills, and being presented with new challenges, all with a greater goal in mind that is dancing ever closer.

Today, I spent about three hours speaking about the economics of correlation with a man named Daniel, who sells hedge funds. He presented theories about a number of different subjects to me, and I felt a fascination similar to the experience of reading Freakonomics for the first time. Like, "wow, I would have never put that together, but that makes SO much sense!" Three hours of that. He came off as brilliant, and I learned a lot from him. He recommended some books to me, and reminded me of why I'm interning at WeWork in the first place. The networking, the variety. There's just everything and anything here.

I've also been working with a vibrant new intern, Emily. (Hey, Emily!) She is also posting on this blog, (see below) and has much more experience with the whole practice of blogging than I do, so I'll be studying what she writes closely! She's only 17, and still in high school, yet the girl talks about computers like a prodigy. If your computer is broken, bring it to her. She'll tell you all about how your motherboard blew a fuse or how your optical drive is broken or about how your hard drive is salvageable, but needs an encasing. I swear, the girl is brilliant. She also enjoys art and fashion as a hobby. (Hey, Emily, correct me if I'm wrong about any of this stuff!) She's a hard worker and it's great having her around to help.

After my three hour conversation with Daniel, I quickly ate lunch and ran down to begin my internship with TCG, the social media company. They taught me how to use some Twitter and Facebook account management software, I scheduled some tweets, and got to know the exciting and young group of people who work there. Six o'clock came before I knew it, it was quite the hectic day.

Wow, I wrote a lot. Sorry. I'll keep it brief next time. Thanks for reading, though!

Shaking in my shoes.

So June 11th was my first day at WeWork, I was so nervous about getting there late that I arrived 30 minutes before I was suppose to be there (10am). So my boss Nathan told me to put up a flyer about the Happy hour event that takes place Thursday June 21st I believe, on every kitchen cabinet. Well silly me misinterpreted the directions and I ended up putting every flyer on the second floor kitchen cabinets. I have to say I do very dumb things when I'm nervous. Nathan and I laughed and I put the flyers up the right way (one flyer per kitchen).

Finally Rob (Nathan's other intern) arrived. The first thing I noticed where his beautiful eyes. He's a very handsome guy if you all must know. Rob is a junior in college, he's been working for Nathan for 3 weeks I believe. Some people in the building introduced themselves to me but I forgot their names (That is so not good yikes!). Rob took myself and a starting member on a small tour and it was delightful.

I'm not a fan of people with power but Nathan has to be the most amazing boss ever! He's so cheerful and vibrant. And the whole building is the same way too, I think it's because of him. One of the members named Philip came into Nathan's office asking him to deliver a bag to someone. And Nathan suggested that I deliver the bag, so I did. When I came back Philip offered to buy me lunch. Can you all believe that? My first day at work and already I got free lunch! I must be awesome! Philip is the founder of Prince media. They post billboards for different companies, their billboards look awesome he's showed me some pictures. Philip is handsome too, as a matter of fact I think the whole building is full of beautiful looking people! That's a good thing because I wouldn't like coming to work to see a bunch of fugly looking people. Hahaha I'm joking, or am I?

Rob and I delived the mail and packages to everyone in the building. I was running so fast up and down the stairs on the first day, so I could get my next assignment that my legs have been sore for three days already! I sure learned my lesson. Melissa is awesome she's Nathan's assistant. She became a drama queen for a few because I told her that I hate the color pink. Like really Melissa pink? No way, blue is the best color in the world! Over all these pass three days have been extremely exciting for me. I'm trying to meet new people like Nathan keeps telling me to do, but I'm so shy which I really hate. By the end of this internship my goal is to make connections will at least ten people in the building. Well until next time guys I hope you all enjoyed this update.

- xo EBV

Another Day, Another Dollar...

...figuratively speaking, of course. I don't actually get paid. But it's all progressive, my work here at WeWork will take me steps closer to my greater goal. Everyday, I feel like I am learning practical skills that I will employ in the working world, social skills and inter-office politics that NYU, for all it's assets, hasn't taught me thus far. I'm learning to market myself. I'm practicing my smile and developing a comprehensive mental list of my skill sets. Hopefully, all of this will culminate in a successful corporate future.

On that note, I finally decided, this past weekend, what I want to do with my life. Corporate economic consulting - so as to avoid my course of study getting me (directly) involved in federal politics. And you may be hard pressed to find a kid who will tell you that they want to be a corporate economic consultant when they grow up, but there's a certain romanticism to watching market trends. Short term, high-risk, high-return predictions, it's all more exciting than public conception and general consensus allows for.

Personally, I find graphs beautiful. And speaking from the perspective of a wholeheartedly self-aware geek, I know how that makes me sound. But to simplify an astronomical amount of complex numbers and precise figures, all of which are the product of hours upon hours of field work and research, into one simple aesthetic that can be looked at and instantly understood - that's a beautiful thing. It's poetic. And viewing economics as art helps me bridge the figurative ocean of difference between my love of art and music and my field of study in economics and arithmetic. It can all be interwoven, from the right perspective, with the right state of mind.

But back to WeWork - I'm finally starting to expand within the building. I have a sort of sub-internship starting with a social media company called TCG, a pending potential sub-internship with a graphic design studio, and I'm still looking for a company that could fill a role that is more closely suited to my major. I'm always working, and I'm always tired, and yet I feel legitimized. I don't know why Americans are obsessed with constant work and staying busy, but it appears that I'm no different. WeWork satiates a feeling of significance in my work that the NYU Computer Store does not - I have transcended retail. Even if I worked at TD Bank for 2 years, it still lacked a significant feel. WeWork symbolizes a step forward for me. It forces me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis, a necessary stretch of my will for greater growth in the future. Even if no future job opportunity, or contact, or paid internship comes of my experience here, I will have learned and grown, and as such, this is no waste of time.

The First of Many...

Allow me begin by saying that I've never blogged a day in my life prior to this post. While I do feel that having a venue with which to vent one's feelings and explore one's stream of consciousness is useful, I can't help but feel that blogs such as these appeal to a more deep-seated sense of self-worth. How else can I notate my opinions, and daily goings-on, put them on a public forum, and expect anyone to give a damn?

Studies have shown that people feel better about themselves after viewing their respective social media profiles, even for short periods of time. I have always thought that talking about myself, particularly when I've had to pour some of my more profound thoughts out (not to assume, of course, that my thoughts are profound, but compared to the rest of what crosses my mind...), has been extremely difficult. And yet now, typing this, I'm finding that the words sort of flow out much more easily than I would have guessed. So, before I get ahead of myself, I'm going to cut it off here.

I'm maintaining this blog as an intern for WeWork, an innovative office space company, and this will follow my journey with the company.

Now, please excuse me for the rest of Independence Day weekend, I'm going to try to have a technology-free 4th of July.