By Nicole Nie On January 23, 2023, DCI Intern Danielle Workman presented about LinkedIn and online networking to fellow interns. Skills presentations provide an opportunity for interns to share a skill they specialize in or learn from another intern. This was Danielle's second skills presentation in DCI! Her last one was about how to stay organized using Google Sheets. Upon joining DCI, every intern is guided through the process of creating a LinkedIn profile. It marks the first step into the workforce and the professional world for many of us. While DCI interns already have a LinkedIn profile, Danielle shared how we can take our profile to the next level. For example, adding certifications increases credibility. From DCI alumni to the district superintendent, they have all emphasized the importance of networking and connections. Maintaining relationships with people you have worked with or met can help you land your dream job one day! Danielle reminded DCI interns about how we can build these relationships through LinkedIn.
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By Nicole Nie I would call you crazy if you told my seventh-grade self that I would be meeting Mark Tuan in just a few years. If you don’t already know, Mark Tuan is a K-Pop idol in the group GOT7. His hometown is Arcadia and he has returned to California to pursue his solo career. He recently released a clothing line dedicated to his hometown and had the photo shoot at Arcadia High School.
I was dozing off (sorry Mr. Mynster) in fifth period AP Statistics when I got a tap on my shoulder. Mr. Foran, one of DCI’s advisors, said to pack my backpack and follow him. I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing, until Mr. Foran explained to a few other interns and me that Mark Tuan was arriving in just 30 minutes. As a GOT7 fan, my heart started racing and I started pacing back and forth. I knew it wasn’t the time to fangirl and I needed to maintain my professionalism. I told myself: I’ve never heard of Mark Tuan in my life. Who’s Mark? Mark Twain? About fifteen minutes of waiting at the rally court, a photographer and two models arrived. We first observed from a distance, noting the lighting, the models’ poses, and the photographer’s directions. Then, we had a mini Q&A session with the photographer and listened to his tips on how to break into the industry. It’s one word: connections. Soon it was sixth period. Mark and his team arrived, and I put on my acting. I was an intern, not a fan. We followed as he reminisced about his old lunch spot, awed at the new science building, and played basketball in the North Gym with his team members. We learned that most of his team were his friends from Arcadia, from before he was famous. That really proved how long relationships you make in school can last. Some of my friends now may be my closest business partners in the future. In the rally court, there was a moment when we asked Mark about his time at Arcadia. He talked about being a mediocre student, playing volleyball, and getting scouted at a lunch table. I pretended I didn’t already know all this and even asked which middle school he attended–as if I wasn’t fully aware it was Dana. It amazed me how “normal” he was. I realized then that celebrities are just normal humans just like me. After school, we headed to the tennis courts for more product photos and met with the rest of the interns. At this point, word spread around school because he posted on his Instagram story and even tagged his location as Arcadia High School. DCI continued to shadow the photographer and had more mini Q&As with the creative director, manager, and models. The manager showed us Mark’s schedule and it looked like there was not a single minute of rest in his week! The photo shoot started to wrap up at 5 PM. We took some pictures with Mark and his team (including the iconic BeReal picture) and had one more round of questions. He kindly gifted us his clothing line’s beanies and caps as well as Lee’s Sandwiches. His entire team was incredibly accepting of DCI and gave us genuine advice. I am also thankful for Ms. Nuuvali and Mr. Foran for allowing us to be there that afternoon to learn about the entertainment industry and shadow photographers and videographers. On the car ride home, I stared at the gifted beanie and autograph in disbelief. My seventh-grade self with “GOT7” in my Instagram bio would never believe this happened. Meeting the President of Hungary and now a K-Pop idol…what’s next? DCI is truly full of surprises and once-in-a-lifetime learning experiences. |
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February 2024
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