Editor reflects on her summer in Big Apple

Last semester I wondered what I was going to do with my summer. I started to apply for summer abroad programs, everything from Greece to London to France. I thought strongly about actually staying in Nacogdoches and taking classes and lying out by Bullfrog's pool like any other student would do. I even contemplated going home for one last summer in the smaller-than-Nac town of Kilgore. After weighing the options, my friend Sarah Lynn and I decided to apply for internships in none other than New York City.

I interviewed and waited all semester for replies and an offer, and I finally found what I was looking for-an internship with a publication in the big city. I was offered an internship with BlackBook Magazine and Guides, while Sarah found her summer at Paint The Town Red, both in the city of dreams, New York City.

I have lived in towns with populations no larger than 30,000 for 21 years, yet I have always wanted to experience NYC. This was my chance, and I took it with an open heart and mind.

Media junky unites with media capital of the world, along with the fashion capital and the city that never sleeps (which by the way, is a cliché that is nowhere near false.) Before I get too far into this, don't get me wrong. I was not living the life of the Gossip Girl, Upper Eastsider who took town cars everywhere I went. I was living the life of the struggling, unpaid intern who lived in a NYU dorm that I'm pretty sure was there when the school was founded in 1831. In other words, it was a life I was more than happy to live during the summer.

Sarah and I stepped onto the crazy streets of East Village, looking for adventure, shopping and of course, those over-rated famous people ranging from Russell Simmons to Mary-Kate Olsen. Last time I stepped out onto the streets, or should I say, roads of Nacogdoches I found bad drivers, an enormous number of fast food restaurants and Sports Shack.

We got all of a day and a half to explore the city before starting our dream jobs for the summer. I walked into the BlackBook office and fell in love. Blown up covers of past issues covered the walls; everyone from Scarlett Johansson to Maggie Gyllenhaal and Zooey Deschanel. I sat down at my desk labeled "BlackBook Guide Intern" and immediately starting searching for what I'd do first. My first assignment wasn't writing content for the guides or magazine, but hey, it wasn't "Go across the street and get me a low-fat latte from Le Pain" either.

During my time at BlackBook, I worked with two other interns, one from Texas and one from Los Angeles, and three bosses from New Jersey, Canada and Brazil. I met people with completely different backgrounds and personalities who all got along because of one common interest-the magazine. I shortly learned that New York is full of people who have all come together on this "small" island of Manhattan with one goal and common interest-to find who they are supposed to be.

Some people don't admit it, but if you have moved to New York, you are in search of something or someone. I know I was. I was in search of finding that spark, that feeling in your stomach when you know you have found a place where you belong. Our office was full of blogging, writing, marketing and promoting, and I felt like I found a place where I had a passion for each aspect of the business. I came to New York to find answers, and I found them.

The city is inspirational in itself, with the added bonus of allowing people to live there daily. The day I had to step off the streets of New York, I looked back on my summer of media and adventure. I realized that seeing the over-rated celebrities like Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman at the World Premiere of The Dark Knight wasn't so over-rated. And having a full conversation with LL Cool J and Bryan Greenberg or partying with Danny Masterson and Run DMC were completely worth our time. I also realized that New York is all that I imagined and more. If you ever wonder what is beyond the walls of Hwy 59, try knocking them down and exploring what else this world has to offer. I found a room full of offerings from just one city-the city of dreams.

Tara Powdrill is a journalism senior from Kilgore