My first Publication 1926874721_Alumni_Magazine_June_2010 | Page 22

Issue 3, June 2010
By the end of my fourth year, I had
fallen in love with the life of the city,
with the fact that something exciting
could happen around any corner at any
moment in time. From an impromptu
U2 concert on top of the BBC building
to a free performance by UK chart-
topper Tinie Tempah at the Tate Britain
museum: you can see it all. London made
me open my mind to anything and made
me see thereis so much more to academic
life than academia. While I still made sure
my grades were up to par, the focus of
my life switched to exploring the city and
finding out what I am passionate about.
In this search for passion, I was also
contemplating the Big Question: what
will life after University entail? As any
student, I set off on the well-known
Internship path. Back in Bulgaria, I
entered the advertising world of Leo
Burnett Sofia. Over two consecutive
summers, I joined their Accounts team,
brainstorming ideas for campaigns,
working on presentations for clients,
researching marketing trends, and
getting a dynamic overview of what
the industry is all about. Not only did
this experience show me a few perks
of advertising, but it also brought me
together with so many different people,
some of whom still play a vital part in
my life. Working at the agency also
taught me that plain theory – the one we
learned in my Communications classes
– is not entirely applicable in that ‘real
setting’. Yes, the theoretical background
gives you an edge, but in advertising,
things rarely go ‘by the book’. It was the
‘field experience’ that gave me the most
insight into how advertising works and
how an agency operates. If you have not
had a chance yet, I strongly urge you to
do an internship in a company of your
interest, be it abroad or back in Bulgaria.
No matter what you study, academic
knowledge can only go so far; it is by
hands-on action that you learn the tricks
of the trade.
Aside from the summer internships
back home, I wanted to do something in
London as well. While I was employed
at various offices at the university
throughout my entire stay there, I
wanted to break away from jobs on
campus and try something else, too.
Starting off as a bit of a joke between
me and a friend from the advertising
agency (who also happened to host a
show on a music channel back home),
I eventually became the official London
correspondent for “The Big 50” show
on City TV. And with that, music became
more than just a hobby and I quickly had
to catch up on so much music business
know-how that I had barely even heard
of. Press inquiries galore, new contacts,
connections, reports, talking to some
stars, getting rejected, attending music
events, and recording sneaky, hand-
shaky footage… what an awesome way
to break into the industry.
Perks of the job included: meeting the
stars (mostly rising stars on the UK
music frontier), partying with Kelly
Rowland’s manager, and attending press
conferences. The biggest international
press conference I went to was in
a glamorous hall at the Dorchester
Hotel, where over 300 journalists had
gathered to see the cast of Tim Burton’s
blockbuster Alice in Wonderland. I was
there, in the fourth row, looking into the
eyes of the man of my dreams – Johnny
Depp – who was, of course, among the
guests at the event. When I actually got
to ask him a question about the film, I
lost my grip on reality completely as he
looked into my eyes and answered my
query. I melted into my chair, utterly
oblivious to what he was saying and in
a state of unbelievable bliss (thankfully
there was video footage of the event and
I eventually heard what he had to say).
I am back home now, and while I can no
longer be the “London correspondent”,
I am so grateful for all the experiences
this job offered me. Aside from all the
journalistic (or paparazzi) adventures, it
was this activity that made me go out and
explore London even more, taught me to
always be on top of events, and helped
me to always try to fit in the occasional
academic report into my busy senior year
schedule.
I now look back and realize that in my
case, it was not so much the ‘university
experience’ that shaped me, but rather
all the side activities and ‘real world’
positions I had as an intern, music
journalist, or simply a volunteer who
would paint a children’s playground for
an afternoon to earn tickets to a unique
concert. In the past four years, I went
from the student who spent her days
on campus to the explorer, driven by a
passion for music and advertising, willing
to take any chances and living for the
rush of the moment. I had the chance
to dip into many areas of life and work,
trying to discover what I want to do and
who I want to be. I cannot tell you that
with certainty yet, but I am ready to see
what life brings next and will jump at any
challenges and opportunities – and that
is my advice to everyone.
John Lennon said, “Life is what happens
to you while you’re busy making other
plans”. You have three or four years that
will come and go, and never come back.
Make the most of every moment. Try
new things, meet new people, and never
let routine sink in. Now is the time to
discover what makes you click, if you
have not done so already. Just go out and
do not let anything stop you.
Martina (in the middle) with Iliyan and Julie – “The Big 50”
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