Sammy Davis

27May08

Graduating from college and looking for your first job is a lot like going on a shopping spree. That diploma becomes as powerful as a limitless credit card with a great rate, and walking off the stage with diploma in hand is like heading straight to Bloomingdale’s with the blessing of American Express burning a plastic hole in your pocket.

 

After graduating from Temple University on May 22 with a degree in magazine journalism, I’m ready to explore the racks of life’s opportunities and charge a few risks. I have a department store full of opportunity before me, and the job search, the post-graduate shopping spree, is a chance to explore and expand my personal style.

 

Working for the big companies is like the Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress of the work world – a dependable look that’s always in style and flatters all body types.

 

But sometimes, we have to move away from the tried-and-true and experiment with our style assets. While my degree was in print journalism, I’m eager to begin a career where glossy paper doesn’t exist, in digital media. While I’ll always possess the power of the written word, I’m excited to add a few new digital skill-accessories to my wardrobe and see how I can mix and match the old with the new.  

 

This winter, I launched a women’s online magazine called AWKWARD: Because Perfection is Boring. I co-founded the blog as an outlet for 20-something women to submit personal narrative essays for publication and to enjoy miscellaneous poetry, links, images, articles and word-of-the-day posts that contribute to the blog’s mission that perfection is neither achievable nor attractive or interesting.   

 

The work that came with launching AWKWARDisawesome.com was like asking a complete stranger to dress me – but loving the outfit she chose. With no prior experience in Web site coding, I researched online to teach myself how to develop pages and features for the blog. I met with a new media organization in Philadelphia to learn more about other blogging platforms. I subscribed to industry news and became familiar with jargon like search engine optimization, unique users and RSS feeds.

 

Starting a unique project or seeking a career change can be frightening. Like walking into a new store, we have our doubts that its style is best for our look. As a just-minted college graduate, I have the freedom to try on as many outfits as I want. The changing room is my chance to experiment and learn more about my most flattering colors, cuts and sizes in the world of communications and new media. 

 

Thanks to New York Women in Communications, Inc., I’ve met colleagues, mentors and icons who have inspired me to find my own unique style, rather than settling for the season’s latest disposable trend.

 

While I’m still shopping for a style that suits me best, I know that when I ask “Does this look good on me?” that my friends in NYWICI will be there to give me an honest opinion – even if it means tossing the outfit and starting from scratch. Thanks to my support system in NYWICI, I’m not frightened of the opportunity. Instead, I’m ready to tackle the racks for the most fabulous outfit that is my future in communications and in New York City.

 

Sammy Davis is this year’s winner of New York Women in Communications, Inc.’s Young Communicator Award, which is given to a student or young professional who serves as a role model to other members.

 

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