First Day on the Job.

Today was AMAZING! I don't know any other way to describe my first day at Meredith. It exceeded my expectations. I was matched with John Walter, an editor at Meredith, who showed me the ropes of the corporation as well as an insight into the world of interactive media.

Our first day began with several meeting about a farming conference that Successful Farming magazine would be covering. Even though the meeting were on subjects that I knew nothing about, it was interesting to see how the dynamics of a powerful team work. I learned how leadership and compromise work hand in hand to allow the team to prosper. After the meeting, I met with the public relations manager for the magazine. We talked about her job and how she got started at Meredith. She gave me great insight into how to get an internship and the importance of that internship experience. It was great to see that a recent graduate from an Iowa university was able to get hired in this tough economy.

Then it was lunch time. John was unable to join me for lunch, but it gave me time to explore the city on my own.

After lunch, I met with the editor-in-cheif for Living the Country Life. We discussed the way Meredith has been incorporating different outlets of new technology into their business. They have had to go beyond just selling magazines to entice new consumers. We talked a lot about the ability to put magazines onto the iPad and how it is done. It is a neat technology because companies, like Meredith, are able to make their pages interactive by including sound bites and video clips.

To finish off the day, John took me on a tour of the facilities. I saw everything from the photo studios to the test kitchens. I was even able to take pictures for my photography project. Here are some of my best shots.

A food photo shoot.

Meredith photo studios.

A test kitchen.

Me in the board room.

The doorknob for the boardroom. Looks like they didn't overlook one detail.

Networking Event.

To finish off the first day of Orange Connection, we participated in a networking event at a local alumni's home. At the event, I was introduced to my professional host (John) and his wife. It was wonderful to put a face with a name and to get rid of some of my nerves about job shadowing. I was amazed how easy to was to talk to the alumni. They seemed so interested in my education and field of study. I spoke to a man that had his own insurance business for half an hour, comparing and contrasting our Wartburg experience. It was really interesting to see how similar our time at Wartburg has been. We both went to class in many of the same buildings or may have even lived in the same building. We both participated in Outfly and have cheered on the knights.

When I first chose to attend Wartburg, I never knew how powerful my time at Wartburg would be. I never really expected that. I was just looking for a place to get through my studies and move on with life, but now that I have met many alumni through the Orange Connection experience and through my job in the alumni office, I know that I will be a knight forever. It's in my blood.

Discovering Des Moines.

The first event of the Orange Connection experience was a scavenger hunt around downtown Des Moines. I am from the Des Moines area and thought that the scavenger hunt would be pointless for me. I had seen most of the attractions that downtown Des Moines has to offer but showing my partner around my neck of the woods was fun. I even found a new Des Moines hotspot (well... new to me at least) on the scavenger hunt. Here's a few pictures from our adventure.

The Governor's Mansion

Hoyt Sherman Place (my new discovery)

The Capital Building

Nollen Plaza

Preliminary Thoughts.

I choose to participate in the Orange Connection program to not only gain experience in my job field but also meet alumni from the Des Moines area who have been successful in their field of study. I am excited to meet individuals that have been in my position and have used their education to better their lives. Even though these alumni may not have graduated in the same field of study as myself, I know that by talking to them about their life experiences it will give me the confidence that my education will lead to greater possibilities. With the economy in the state it is now, I need the confidence to move forward with my education in the hope that my Wartburg education will lead to a bright future.