I’M BACK!!!

A year ago today, I was about to begin my internship at Warner Brothers in Los Angeles.  I had moved across the country pursue a writing career in the entertainment industry. I found Hollywood to be beautiful, but rather uninspiring.  Spiritually stimulating, yet corrupt and vile.

A combination of a romantic interest on the East Coast, disillusionment with LA, and a desire to pursue a more stable and “fulfilling” career brought me back to New York City.  While the love interest ended two weeks BEFORE my move back (and yes, I got that call after I had quit my job, given up my lease, and was surrounded by boxes filled with my life), Columbia University remained faithful.  Today, I am halfway done with my Masters in International Social Welfare Policy and preparing to start my internship at the United Nations on Monday.

From WB to the UN is quite a jump, but this has been the story of my life.  I have always had a love for the deeply creative and the deeply intellectual. I love and respect both worlds, even though they don’t often understand each other. I heard people at school making fun of celebrities who donated money after the disaster in Haiti, forgetting that these “celebrities” are just people who viscerally reacted to the trauma the same as they did. Working in entertainment, I met a lot of people who did not have a connection with what was happening outside the bubble of directors, pop stars, and couture. I have to admit, when I was working in entertainment, I did the same, as it is part of the game to stay on top of what’s hot just to be able to tread water in that scene.

What I love about entertainment is the creative energy, brilliance, passion and most of all COURAGE in the people who choose to dedicate their lives to it.  The hardest part about it? The business. It is as cutthroat, corrupt, and unforgiving as any other.  What I love about social work is being surrounded by a group of people with tremendous HEART, who are selflessly dedicated to improving the world with no expectations or plans to make a lot of money.  The most difficult part is facing some of the most gruesome realities of the world, and while we can do our part, we have to accept that some of it will be impossible to change.

The last few years I have worked in fashion, film, and tv-working with companies like MTV, editing scripts for one of the former executive producers of Gossip Girl, writing songs for Grammy-Award winning producers, and producing photo shoots for acclaimed photographer Matthew Jordan Smith with celebrities such as Oprah, Angela Bassett and Mandy Moore-to name a few of my experiences.   Not to mention the parties. Parties Parties Parties-for the MTV VMAs, Oscars, Grammys-and the BEST of all- P.Diddy’s birthday party in Morocco.

And with all the glamour comes even more moments of pain and hardship. Some of my greatest lessons were learned from late night conversations with struggling artists-who are, in my opinion, the most beautifully committed and inspiring of them all.

During college and now through my Masters, I worked as a counselor for pregnant teens, a sex education teacher, an HIV-test counselor, and a domestic violence and rape crisis counselor.  I’ve also done this work internationally in Sri Lanka, Spain, and Costa Rica.  Now I will be interning at the UN, hopefully working in gender-based violence prevention programs around the world.

Jumping between these worlds has been an enlightening experience.  Especially when you compare them, the differences are truly illuminated. This blog is a space to write down the thoughts that come pouring into my head…and whoever wants to read it is welcome to share in the journey!

So what does all this mean for me after graduation in May 2011? That remains to be seen.  For now, I hope that you enjoy the ride with me, and just maybe, we can figure it out together along the way.

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