LA

As most of you know, I've worked for a company (let's call it LA) for several years. I started working there the summer after my sophomore year of college and have worked every summer and spring since (in a variety of capacities.)

The other day after I had skyped with my friend Maddy, I started thinking about all that it has given me.

1. The company has given me the opportunity to travel FOR FREE. I've spent two summers and a few weeks each spring in D.C. I've also traveled to California to see San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose. Being young and broke 99% of the time I know that without LA I would never have gotten the opportunity to travel to such fun places. I think about all of the culture I've experienced as a result and I get even more excited.

2. I've learned to deal with whatever life throws me professionally. I can multitask with the best of them. I can deal with parents. I can deal with students. I can work on almost no sleep (actually I can work for days at a time with little-to-no sleep.) I have learned a zillion other little things and now that I have I feel that I can roll with the punches at any job.

3. This opportunity has given me some of my very best friends. The bond you build at LA is unlike any other. I once heard someone describe it as going on the show "Survivor" because you're held on a college campus for 8 weeks, working like crazy, and all you have is one another. While that seems outrageous, it's a pretty accurate description. When we have reunions it's as though nothing changes. We love to get as little sleep as possible in order to enjoy one another's company for as long as possible. I just love it.

This post could never do justice to what I feel and believe about the wonderful people I've met through LA. There is never a day that I don't think about someone I know through the LA experience. They always understand me like no one else and I feel that I can go to them with any problem (er... opportunity?) and they will listen, console, laugh, and support.

I love each one of them with my entire heart.

Thanks, LeadU.