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My internship with Entity Magazine came during a period of transition in my life. I had just moved halfway across the country to Los Angeles in order pursue law school after working for two years as a writer for the digital team at an agency in Houston, Texas. I knew I had the safety net to take the summer off if I chose, but I couldn’t resist one last (non-legal career) opportunity to work in a field I had always felt drawn to: digital media. Here are five habits I practiced as a member of Entity’s Digital Editorial Team that I plan to take with me to law school and beyond.
Previously, as a writer in Houston, I worked mainly with B2B companies (in yup, you guessed it, oil and gas). While I always did my best to make those articles intelligent and engaging, I have been able to infuse more of my own voice into the writing here at Entity. As interns, we were encouraged to deploy unique turns of phrase and experiment with unusual analogies – skills which will be infinitely useful in a legal career.
Litigators utilize these tools all the time to connect with the jury and put the facts of the case in simple, straightforward terms. Johnnie Cochran demonstrated this concept when he infamously declared: “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” Judges also frequently draw analogies to add clarity to legal opinions.
I will admit I’m not the fastest worker. In college, I would sometimes spend five hours outlining my thoughts for a term paper before ever typing a word. While planning and organization can be helpful, it seemed that no matter how early I started on an essay, I would use the entire time allotted until the deadline – whether that was 2 weeks or 2 days. I lacked the discipline to sit down and write something straight through, finishing ahead of the deadline. The high expectations at Entity forced me to renegotiate my old writing habits and adapt to a faster pace. This will only benefit me as I take on a career with finite deadlines and a strong emphasis on writing.
When I first started applying for internships in Los Angeles, I was just hoping for an opportunity to get out of the house and start to reclaim a city that no longer felt like home. What I found with Entity was a network of brilliant, thoughtful women who share my drive and enthusiasm for issues such as gender equality, civil rights and education. I look forward to staying connected with these ladies throughout our respective careers.
Photographer: LEE FRIEDLANDER
Title: Jennifer Schwab’s 40th birthday at Susan and David Rockefeller’s apartment in New York City, 2016
Credit: © Lee Friedlander, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco
Led by example by Entity Magazine CEO, Jennifer Schwab, I have learned to be more intentional about how and how often I say “thank you.” It can be all too easy to fall out of the practice of gratitude. I have learned to become more mindful of the gifts of time, resources and support I receive throughout the course of my career.
I have to be honest when I say that my main source of breaking news before working at Entity was the trending topics widget on the Facebook homepage. While I still prefer social and digital media over traditional platforms, I find myself seeking out new information and actively following more topics than before. I enjoy the feeling of staying engaged on the issues that matter most to me, and I plan to carry this habit forward throughout my life.
