Last Friday, I had one of those days. Maybe it’s because it was a Friday, maybe it’s because I was already extra giddy that week, or maybe it’s because I am a sucker for free food, but when Laura, Dusty, and Ashley took me out to birthday lunch, I realized I really lucked up in the co-workers department. A lot of time, I think good things just happen because of a random combination of luck mixed with lots and lots of patience. However, this internship has been amazing so far, not because of that mix, but because of the bareCommunication team. So I think it is only right that instead of spending this blog talking about how I perpetually fear having a bad day, I’ll take this chance to introduce you to the folks that have made each day ten times less frightening than anticipated.  Without further a due, I present to you the bareTeam (summer edition). 

 

Dusty was actually the first person I talked to about being an intern at bareCommunication. Of course, she was extremely nice and friendly, but after our first phone conversation, she kind of scared me. The main thing that stuck out in my mind after the conversation was Dusty emphasizing that the firm’s name was bareCommunication and not bareCommunications because putting an -s at the end would be grammatically incorrect and she was a stickler for grammar. Maybe my mind exaggerates, but I immediately imagined a woman who was extremely obsessive compulsive over everything from the placement of commas to the number of wrinkles in linen pants. Thankfully, even though it’s true that she is a tough editor, she isn’t at all like the woman I imagined that day, which I quickly realized when she came to work decked out in some CVS shorts and a tank because of the heat. She has really encouraged me in my writing, always checks up to make sure that I am learning what I came to learn, and even taught lil ol computer illiterate me a troubleshooting trick.

 

When I started at bare, I was all about writing and 100% journalism. Now I find myself randomly looking at marketing and advertising trends online and thinking of ways groups on campus can get more PR.  This is all due to Laura’s PR genius. Honestly, if you’ve ever met this woman, you will know about the event she’s hosting within 15 minutes of meeting her and be super excited to go. I’m really glad I’ve learned so many terms, resources, and ideas from Laura and excited to pursue something I never considered right for me before. Also, Laura is probably somehow involved in every story I go home and tell my sister. This could be because she is the one I spend the most time with, but I honestly think this woman needs her own reality TV show. First off, she has one of those reality TV compatible backgrounds. She grew up in Saudi Arabia, her mom has her own interior design business, her sister is in culinary school, and Laura’s got her own cooking skills. She possibly knows too many things about the Houston and its social scene. On top of that she is a cycling maniac, and anyone who exercises without being forced to do so on a daily basis fascinates me. Yes, cable TV channels, you actually need to contact her. 

 

I feel like Ashley is the me I would be in a few years had my mother let me do anything outside of academics and community service when I was in school. Actually, maybe that’s wishful thinking. The point is this girl is actually a-mazing. One, she’s a Texas pageant girl which was my dream title all through middle school and high school but that was quickly killed by my parents. Two, she’s in law school which is what my parents tell everyone I’m doing at school even though I have never said anything even similar to that. Three, she just became a Rocket’s Power Dancer. My connection to her is my only actual claim to fame. So you think a girl like that would be cocky, or maybe you wouldn’t because you know plenty of pageant girls and learned they are nice and funny. But, she’s actually sweet and doesn’t even consider herself too good to play with water balloons at work, which is always a plus in my book. Plus, ever since she came into the office, I’ve realized the value of asking questions. Whereas I would sit and stare confused with something for a minimum of 30 minutes, Ashley asks exactly what I’m thinking and helps us all out. I’m looking forward to saying I knew that girl in whatever interview will take me in a few years.