A Life-Changing Experience

3/15/14

I can’t even begin to explain how meaningful this Senior Project has been to me and how heart breaking it is for me to leave my team at the The Huffington Post. Blogging, working on projects, meeting new people, and attending panels and events has just influenced me in a way that words can’t explain and I truly wish that I could have stayed longer. My internship has opened many doors for me in terms of experiences and insights and Julee Wilson has become a life-long mentor to me. Not only did I discover a teacher in her, but I also found an immense support system in the rest of the writers for the Black Voices crew.

After having such a life-changing experience, one of the biggest things I took away from this Project was that everything is an opportunity to learn. Take the time to appreciate where you’re at, what you’re doing, and how that moment is impacting you. Don’t be afraid to take risks and to put yourself out there; you have a team of supporters who are waiting to catch you and help you back up if you fall. Open your eyes; all the resources you need may be right in front of you or sitting around the corner. Lastly, make connections with as many people as you can. No matter who they are, everyone is a wealth of knowledge that has something valuable to offer you.

I want to thank everyone at The Huffington Post for welcoming me and giving me this amazing Senior Project. I’m sad that our time together was so short, but I do plan on coming back for a longer internship as soon as possible! As for the readers who have been following me on this experience, here are some pictures of the office building where I worked (photography courtesy of Julee):

A few members of the Black Voices Team

Foosball Table

Free Beverages

Nap Room #1

Nap Room #2

The Huffington Post Office with approximately 400 people

Ping Pong Table

The Style and Beauty Team

Julee and I!

Thanks so much for reading!

Taylor 🙂

Writing and Meeting People Back to Back

3/14/14

This past week has been just as wonderful as the first. On Monday, after working hard at The Huffington Post, Julee took me on a trip down to Real Simple Magazine, her old stomping grounds! She showed me the ins and outs of the office floor where she built her writing career and introduced me to many of her old coworkers and friends. After that, we went out to dinner and talked the night away.

Needless to say, I was burnt out the next morning. After staring at a computer screen for seven days in a row, my eyes felt like they were going to burst. It was a relief to go out to lunch and take a break from the office, but the major treat was eating with Julee and her husband! The three of us went out for ramen and talked about our writing lifestyles, both Julee’s as a journalist, and her husband’s and mine as aspiring authors. While I love writing for The Huffington Post, it was nice being able to talk about creative writing with a fellow science fiction fan.

Clothes, Hair, and a Secret Agent

3/7/14

So much has happened in the past two days that it’s hard to believe how fast time is flying by! For starters, I joined Julee Wednesday night at an exhibition called Black Dress: Ten Contemporary Designers, a showcase at the Pratt Institute featuring the clothes of ten black designers. Among them were well-known fashion icons like Tracy Reese, Stephen Burrows, Byron Lars, and new-comers LaQuan Smith and Omar Salam. There was also a video featured by Carrie Mae Weems, designs by Donna Dove and former “Project Runway” contestants Epperson and Sammy Black.

                                                       

During the panel that followed (on which the glamorous Julee Wilson sat) I was able to hear these designers and other prominent fashion figures (including Elaine Welteroth, Teen Vogue Beauty & Health Director) share their stories and thoughts on the under-representation of blacks in the fashion industry.

(From Left to Right) Julee Wilson, Taylor Griffith, Elaine Welteroth

For more pictures and details about the exhibit, you can read Julee’s article on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/06/pratt-black-dress-exhibit_n_4912779.html.

Later that night, I officially became a blogger of The Huffington Post! My first post was a piece I tweaked from my Independent Seminar Blog about my experience writing from a secret agent’s perspective, but my later posts will have a broader range of topics. You can check out my work here! Just click on my name to read my short biography: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-griffith/how-i-found-authenticity-_b_4906398.html.

Julee Wilson and Taylor Griffith holding a picture of “The Giant”

Finally, I went to another panel with Julee last night called the “I’m Possible Conversation” hosted by the Mizani line of hair products, in which five women discussed their careers (both highs and lows) as women of color. Among the members on the panel were Whitney-Gayle Benta, Corynne Corbett, Estelle, Angela Jackson, and Gilda Squire. For more about these women, you can visit this site: http://www.i-am-possible.com/.

Estelle and Corynne Corbett

Angela Jackson, Gilda Squire, and Whitney-Gayle Benta

While at the event, I also met Michaela Angela Davis, an Image Activist and the Editorial Manager of BET Networks. I plan on speaking with her later for my third piece on The Huffington Post.

Stay tuned!

Taylor

The Oscars at The Huffington Post

03-03-14

My first day at The Huffington Post went beyond my expectations! Julee Wilson is a glowing bundle of energy and enthusiasm that, combined with her wonderful coworkers in the Black Voices Section, made me feel like a part of the team immediately. As she toured me around the incredible office building,  I got a feel for the quiet and calm atmosphere of the reporters’ floor and the thrilling buzz of the Huff Post Live domain. One of the highlights from my day, aside from going out to lunch with some of the writers, was getting to watch a segment of Huff Post Live in person! Julee, along with a few other style and beauty experts, discussed their favorites and least favorites of the dresses from the Oscars.

Not only was my time at The Huffington Post great, but I’m getting more and more used to the city life. Upon arriving in New York, my dad and I walked around the Grand Central Station area as well as took the subways down to where I’d be working. After having familiarized myself with the atmosphere, I feel confident that within the next day or so, I’ll be taking the subways to The Huffington Post by myself. To top it off, I’ll be added into The Huffington Post‘s system tomorrow and will officially begin blogging for them! Keep an eye out for my picture, a short biography, and my first entry!

Day one and this experience is already incredible! It can only go up from here 🙂

Taylor

Into the Jungle

2/19/2014

While I’m not going into a literal jungle, in about a week, my dad and I are taking the train up to New York City! For my Senior Project, I will be doing a basic internship at The Huffington Post with Julee Wilson, the Style & Beauty Editor of the Black Voices section. During my internship, I will be trained in writing, reporting, and may even get to post a few of my articles on the official Huffington Post website. My main focus will be on covering the news and interesting topics, and carrying out any other tasks the staff may need me to do (go interns!).

I chose this project because of my infatuation with writing. While I’m not quite sure what path my writing will take me down, I plan on majoring in English in college and preparing myself for a possible future in journalism. Having this experience at The Huffington Post will not only give me a taste of what it’s like to write professionally, but will also be great practice for just about anything I choose to do with writing. Throughout my project, l hope to learn more about social media, writing headlines, handling stories and videos, keeping a watchful eye for breaking news and important stories, and pitching and producing content for a specific audience.

Writing aside, as a girl born, raised, and in love with the suburbs, I think one of the biggest challenges for me will be getting accustomed to city life. This includes taking public transportation (buses and subways), being surrounded by people 24/7, and hearing every aspect of life that’s happening around me whether I want to or not (no matter where you are, silence is golden). Regardless, the chance to work at The Huffington Post is well worth it. I can’t wait!

Stay tuned! 🙂

Taylor