(Me at the USC Village)

Do you ever remember closing your eyes and envisioning how amazing your life would be if only you were living out your dream? That amazing feeling when closing your eyes would seem so real that you could almost taste it and feel it in your chest. 

This is exactly what I felt when I was a young girl living in Denver as I shut my eyes to help me escape the snow and cold weather. I would envision myself walking alongside the ocean, while my feet touched the rough sand and I listened to the calming sound of the waves. 

From a young age, I dreamt about living in Los Angeles. Although, it wasn’t until I was 19 that I had the opportunity to visit the “City of Angels”, I knew that one day I would call this city my home.  

Fast forward a few years later and here I am living out my dream as I pursue my graduate degree from the University of Southern California. Since moving here, I have been blessed with many opportunities.

The honest truth about moving to a new city

I found that leaving my friends, family, and even my hometown was more difficult than I had expected. Since moving to Los Angeles, I have learned a lot about myself. For instance, I learned that I thrive under high-pressure environments. Moving to a new city on my own has been a beautiful experience filled with excitement and novelty.

However, no one often talks about the downsides that come with such a big transition.

The feeling of loneliness and doubt kicks in at random times. Even today, I still question whether I made the “correct” decision. When talking to my mentors and older family members, they have told me there is no such thing as making the “correct” decision. Sometimes we must only focus on the journey rather than on the outcome.

With today’s digital social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, many content creators focus on the amazing experiences and benefits that come with moving to a different city (or even country). There are not enough conversations about how difficult it can be to start a new life from “scratch” with no family or friends to offer any emotional support.

It has been eight months since I moved to Los Angeles, and even though it has not been without its hardships and bumps along the way, still I would not trade this experience for anything.

Back to school

I have always loved school and gaining knowledge.

However, graduate school has proven to be more challenging than I expected. Transitioning back to being a student was quite challenging at the beginning as I had to get used to homework and projects after being out of school for four years. The courses I have taken in this first year of my program have been (extremely) challenging yet rewarding.

Through my amazing professors and rigorous assignments, I have learned the importance of applying the knowledge gained in the classroom to the “real” world. My courses have taught me applicable critical thinking, analytical, communication, digital marketing, and many more skills.

Courses such as Managing Digital Technologies and Web Strategies for Organizations have strengthened my skills that are fundamental to becoming a successful Digital Marketer. Being aware of what is going on the ever-changing digital landscape has allowed me to stay ahead of what is happening in the business, digital, and technology industries.

As my first year of graduate school comes to an end, I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by. I am eager and hopeful for the second and last year of my program.

Internship experience

(Karuna Skin’s Headquarters in Los Angeles)

I recently wrapped up a Marketing and Social Media internship at Karuna Skin. Interning at a skincare company was an incredible experience. I gained a new perspective on what it is like working on a small team which often requires wearing multiple hats and completing various tasks simultaneously.

From developing social media content to tracking performance for Karuna Skin and Avatara (Karuna’s Gen-Z sister brand), I gained valuable digital marketing skills. I was given the opportunity to ideate and execute branding campaigns for both brands. In addition, I had the amazing opportunity of assisting with influencer seeding and outreach for new product launches.

One of the most rewarding experiences during my time at Karuna Skin was getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of its Balancing Collection launch at Whole Foods Market. Getting the opportunity to work on promotional content for the Balancing Collection and seeing Linda Wang’s (CEO & Founder of Karuna Skin) vision come to life was extremely fulfilling.

What’s next for me?

Summer is almost here and I am eager for any opportunities to work with an organization that values and cares about inclusivity, innovation, and its consumers.

If you want to reach me, please make sure to fill out the contact form!