27 August 2009

17 Academy - PR Department

Estea Venter, 22, ventured from the small town of Riversdale for her 17 Academy PR internship! She's currently in her third year of Public Relations management. Estea loves life, can't live without her friends and family and, of course, Gossip Girl :-)

29 June 2009
I thought I’d start my blog with these words by Lucas Scott, “Because it’s only when you’re tested that you truly discover who you are. And it’s only when you’re tested that you discover who you can be. The person that you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith, and belief and beyond the heartache and fear of what life has.”

When I arrived at seventeen that first day, I felt nervous and excited. But all my worrying was soon to be forgotten when I met the other 17 Academy interns and we got to know each other. Liza (managing ed) welcomed us to the seventeen team. They’re a great bunch and Khwezi (editor) is such a friendly, warm person. I was shadowing Lisel Daniels (PR executive) – she really made me feel at home and as she told me about the exciting world of magazines and media I started to wonder if I was ready for my future – there was so much to learn! My first task was to call some contacts to confirm information for NG Kids magazine. Then I helped Lisel set up a time schedule for seventeen staffers to help out at the Tyger Valley Matric Dance Expo. It was a fun and exciting first day – this is definitely going to be an experience I’ll never forget.

Lisel briefing me on one of my many tasks!

30 June 2009
Today, Nancy (the marketing intern) and I had to pack the goodie bags for the Tyger Valley Expo – such great goodies in the bag! I also helped Lisel organise the NG Kids birthday parties they were having in Cape Town, Durban and Jo’burg – NG Kids are five years old. I love chatting to people and organising things! Went out for lunch with three other interns and as we were walking the streets of busy Cape Town chatting about our lives back home and our boyfriends, it felt like we were in Sex and the City. Back at work, I got a ton of emails from Lisel asking me to help her with loads of things – it really felt like I was working at seventeen! I had to print some info for the monthly publicity list – all the articles and online advertising they do each month – and it was quite difficult, but that’s why I’m here… to learn!

1 July 2009
Today was really busy, but I loved it! I spent the day phoning more people and helping arrange the birthday parties for NG Kids, I even had to find a good magician in Jo’burg. Finally booked Johan Yssel – he’s famous on TV for making the huge Voortrekker Monument disappear, so the kids really are going to enjoy the birthday party! We then had a meeting about the Tyger Valley Expo and Nancy and I helped pack more of the goodie bags and made final arrangements for the Expo – taking in all this info put me in my element!

8 July 2009LinkAs you can see by the date, I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to write a daily update for my blog. The days pass so quickly you won’t believe it! Nancy and I helped out at the Tyger Valley Expo selling subscriptions – 130 subscriptions were sold in total and I won a Fossil watch for selling the most – thanks seventeen!! The NG Kids parties in Durban and Jo’burg went really well, what a relief. Nancy and I started wrapping sunnies for the UrbanScouts – wow, there are so many, it’s going to take us a while. Go to www.seventeen.co.za to sign up as an UrbanScout, so you can stand a chance of getting great prizes like sunnies! We also helped Leanne (marketing manager) sort out the store room – it’s like a different world in there, so many accessories, chocolates, magazines… I’m going to end today’s blog with the following words by Henry Ford, “The only time that you will fail at something, is that moment when you stop trying.” So girls, don’t ever give up on your dream or think you’re a failure.


Packing sunnies!

9 July 2009
Today we had a meeting to organise the Neutrogena workshop for 30 readers in Cape Town. It’s going to be the coolest workshop… I have to find and book an astrologer, a yoga studio and yoga instructor, a colour therapist as well as organise décor and food… so there’s lots to do! Work is so much fun when you’re doing something you love. One of my mottos in life: “If you do something that you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”

10 July 2009
This week has just flown by! The thing that’s so great here at seventeen is that you don’t feel like an intern. I actually felt like I’m working here. They really trust me and treat me well. Thank you so much you guys.

13 July 2009
Lisel is on leave this week and when I opened up my email this morning, I had over 36 emails in my inbox – mostly from Lisel as I have a lot of things to do while she is away! Luckily Donna, another marketing intern who’s been here six months already, is here to help so I didn’t stress. We spent the day phoning parents to confirm they’ll be attending the NG Kids party in Cape Town tomorrow with their children. We also packed goodie bags for all the kids who’ll be at the party. I then called the trade media about seventeen’s Top Teen Achiever Awards. You have to enter Top Teens... Go to www.seventeen.co.za now to find out more! I’ve never spoken so much on the phone in my life as this past week. Sometimes I just sit back in my chair and look around me thinking I’m a really lucky girl to get a chance to intern at seventeen. It’s really any girl’s dream job! If you ever got the chance to intern here, you really should. I’ve already gained so much experience and lots of memories!

Doing what I do best - talking on the phone!

14 July 2009
Today was the NG Kids birthday party – I arrived at the office at 8am and Donna and I packed all the goodie bags and banners into our car and off we went to Panarotti’s in Claremont. We got a bit lost on the way but eventually found it. By 10am all the kids had arrived – 45 of them – so cute! They really enjoyed the magician and then they made their own pizzas. While they were eating and drinking we handed out prizes and some of the kids had their pictures taken with Fiona, the NG Kids editor. Donna and I got totally lost on the way back to the office and after driving for 40 minutes finally found our way! I spent the rest of the afternoon organising the Neutrogena workshop for seventeen and before I knew it, it was 5pm.

15 July 2009
Today was pouring with rain but in the office it was warm and the sweet smell of coffee filled the air. I got some emails from parents thanking us for the party yesterday – I was so glad they all had fun. Then I had to call trade media and was a bit nervous because they’re all very important, busy people but in the end they turned out so nice. I find that if you treat people with respect and just be yourself, then you’ll be treated the same way. I also spent more time organising the Neutrogena workshop and working out the budget.

16 July 2009
“Life should be a journey. Everything that you do in life you must always give your best, and don’t ever do something that you don’t feel comfortable doing!” Another one of my mottos – I’m a strong believer in hanging out with people you feel comfortable with and who let you be yourself – and that’s how I feel here at seventeen. I don’t have to pretend to be someone else. When I walked into the office this morning, Donna couldn’t wait to tell me that today was beauty sale day! That means a room full of beauty products like shampoo, make-up, perfume, hair products and more... but the most fabulous part about it is that everything goes for like R10! I was so excited! But before the beauty sale, Donna and I had to get going on the Powerpoint presentation for Leanne for the Best of Beauty Awards from seventeen’s September issue (it's on sale now, so check it out!). I also followed up on our press release for Top Teens, and we called up a few schools to arrange for Khwezi to visit and talk to them about Top Teens. Then it was time for the beauty sale… OMW!!! The entire table was stacked with awesome products. I walked out with stuff worth over R1 000 and it only cost me R200. Now that’s fabulous!

Beauty products galore - divine hey?

17 July 2009
Today’s my last day as part of 17 Academy… so sad. I finished the Powerpoint presentation, sent a few emails, packed a goodie bag, helped answer the phone at the front desk and had my final goodbye chat to everyone. I feel that I need to start making some important decisions for where I want to work and live. More words of wisdom that I enjoy by Brooke Davis: “Now is the time for us to shine, the time when our dreams are in reach and possibilities vast. Now is the time for all of us to become the people we always dreamt of being. This is your world. You're here. You matter. The world is waiting.”

If I look at the person I was three weeks ago, I can see how much I’ve grown and how much information and experience I’ve gained. Thank you seventeen for giving me this opportunity, you’ve opened my eyes to a lot of things and given me an experience I’ll cherish forever.


Me with some of the other 17 Academy girls (we got awesome farewell goodie bags!)

1 comment:

  1. I just came across this blog but nevertheless to say, your experience sounds breathtaking! I am a sophomore at college and am currently trying to get an internship with seventeen. I hope to gain as much experience as you have because what you wrote truly got me excited! I hope you are doing well on your path! Thank you for writing this blog (even though I'm a tad late haha)

    P.S. Amazing opening quote!!! - From a fellow OTH fan =]

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