Breaking the Winter, West Coast Style

It is so nice to be home. Here's what's been up in my life. 

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners 

On Twitter December 18, 2012: JUST SECURED AN INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW AND TOUR OF GOODBY SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS AD AGENCY.

Back at school, I was trying to get a shadowing day at an advertising agency for winter break. A few meetings and e-mails later, I posted that tweet up top there. Another step closer to the future. 

Okay so here were some of my impressions:

-Everyone was super super busy. The lady I was meeting up with had to push back our meeting time (half an hour, no big deal). But the ad business seemed like a ton of meetings and phone calls. 

-My contact told me that they chose to major in advertising by process of elimination just because the other majors in Newhouse didn't seem like a good fit. I found this interesting.

-My contact also told me to intern in something that I was really passionate about, like a hobby, while I still could and before I had to get a job. This was enlightening.

-They suggested I check out the strategic emphasis based on previous experience ( the Breezeway Cafe, entrepreneurship stuff, networking, etc.).

-I got a quick tour of the building (which was MAJORLY CLASSY). The building is six stories and it looks over the Coit Tower side of San Francisco. 

Overall, going to Goodby was an enriching experience. I'm still wondering about my major. I really like studying advertising though. I'll see how things go after ADV 206. My trombone section leader, Tom Buswell, was an ad major. He told me to take an actual ad class before I made any hasty decisions.

It was nice to get my feet wet. These 'Cuse connections are amazing.

And Afterwards 

I left the agency feeling like I got a lot accomplished and that I had plenty more thinking it do about my education and future life. As I was searching for a fancy cafe to get an artsy mocha, some kids pushed past me to get to a truck that was giving out free Monster energy drinks. I got a better look at these kids and realized that they were all my theater and band buddies from my high school. We froke out together in reunion and they made me go ice skating with them. Overall, a win of a Thursday. 

Catching up with Chris Han 

Pinole Valley's finest in the arts @ Yerba Buena Gardens

Hiking Around 

What would a break be without some proper outdoor adventure? I told my dad on Christmas Eve that I wanted to go on a hike. Of course, it would be semi-apocalypsing outside. Rain was falling and wind was blowing in every direction. We decided to head back home after an hour of dodging falling trees and slopping through muddy waterfalls. 

Livin' it up in the pouring rain. 

War paint. Every time. 

Cataract Trail in Marin

 I also got to catch up with my buddy on the trail down the street from my house. Local treasures, people. Get on it. Go out an explore.

Mt. Tamalpais as seen from El Sobrante. 

My lovely little town of Pinole. 

Things to do in the dark on top of a huge hill. Long exposure. 

Live and Local Music 

My dad's 2012 resolution was to go to as many live and local performing art shows that we could find and afford. 

The Medicine Ball Band in Sausalito

The line into the Fillmore in San Francisco!

All the show posters in 2012 

Trombone Shorty! 

Trombone celebrities. Can't handle it. 

The Fillmore is a must-go destination for music fans in San Francisco (shout out to Daisy!). The staff is really friendly and you get free posters afterwards. Downside? My shoes are sticky with beer. 

Haha, Instagram filter. Major hip. 

Afterwards, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and visited Angel Island to check out the city at night. I love my family.

The Millerz! 

Probably the coolest statue I've ever seen. Also, haduken. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful and restful break! Go out and do stuff! Let me know what you've been up to. Tweet @emiller2016 or comment around.