When I tell people that I’m a journalism major and serious about a career in writing, the responses I get range from amusement to disbelief. “Have fun taking my order at McDonald’s in a few years.” “Really? Don’t you know it’s a dying field?”
To all the journalism haters out there: when was the last time a major software company flew you out to San Francisco and treated you like a king for two days?
Adobe Days 2012 was the ultimate career-affirming experience. I laughed, learned and met some of the most fun and creative people it has ever been my pleasure to come across. Most importantly, I gained a perspective about life as a blogger (and post college in general) that, in retrospect, I really needed.
To be perfectly honest, Adobe wasn’t even on my radar before Amanda Nachman – College Magazine’s amazing publisher – invited me to attend Adobe Days with her. I’ve been on a print track for two years and never really found a reason to dabble in anything beyond Photoshop. Apparently, I’ve been missing out.
Creative Suite 6 is essentially every designer’s wet dream. Most of the CS6 demonstrations and lectures (by Adobe’s resident geniuses) went way over my head, but they clearly showed how we live in a world where technology is catching up to science fiction. I was given the opportunity to do a little designing for the Adobe “My Voice” contest. If you need a good laugh, you’re welcome:
When we weren’t being given a crash course in all things Adobe, the group of bloggers, Adobe representatives and designers networked the hell out of each other. How often are you given the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the most talented young bloggers out there?
The biggest names in the college blogging scene were there: College Info Geek, Her Campus, College Candy, TalkNerdy2Me, etc. All of them had an infectious enthusiasm for their craft. Plus, it would be tough to find a group of more entertaining people.
As the youngest person there, I felt like I was basically looking into my future (very near future, but graduating feels like it might as well be 1,000 years away). Luckily, I loved what I saw: bloggers with personality, passion and vision. It was one of those times where I was like, “I really do love this job.”
Besides the professional and social elements, San Francisco is a beautiful city and apparently also the place to be if you have an interest in media or technology. That’s certainly good to know. And now I can say I have seen the Golden Gate Bridge and eaten at an In-N-Out Burger. West Coast goals, check.
Adobe: thanks for giving me two of the coolest and most insightful days of my life. I left San Francisco reinvigorated and looking forward to writing for a long, long time.
P.S. Now I know someone who runs a Childish Gambino Tumblr that caught Alison Brie’s (Community’s Annie Edison) attention. How cool is that?
For Amanda’s take on our San Francisco odyssey, check out what she learned from the experience.
