My first week with The Burnette Agency has been hard to put into words. All I’ve ever wanted out of my career was to have a purpose. From a young age I knew I wanted to be a teacher, a profession that would give me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young children. I chose to attend Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia, for their renowned education degree program. However, during my junior year of college, I finally accepted the fact that obtaining my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher was becoming unbearable. I needed a change.

After a lot of soul-searching, I decided to earn my bachelor’s degree in public relations. And although it required a staggering amount of effort to graduate on time, I felt as though I had found a calling. Following my graduation in May 2016, I received an internship with a corporate event planning agency in Midtown. And although it was an incredible experience, I did not feel as though event planning was something I wanted to do full-time. I remain incredibly grateful for the opportunity because in hindsight it furthered my realm of knowledge as a public relations professional.

When my summer internship ended, I began working for a boutique marketing agency in Roswell, Georgia. Marketing and public relations are heavily intertwined, and I felt as though the job was a chance to learn more about the communications field. I was proud of myself, but quickly felt as though I was the overqualified intern. But let’s be honest - the adjustment of post-grad life is challenging. There is an immense amount of stress and anxiety that comes with the lack of success in a career. And although I felt hopeless working in a field that didn’t interest me, I attempted to make light of my situation in fear of being deemed as a “lazy millennial”.

I wish someone had sat me down my senior year of college and stressed to me the arduous task of finding a job. It’s far from hopeless, but after several vague interviews, I accepted the fact that I wasn’t going to find a career that matched my wants with my needs.

Enter The Burnette Agency.

From the second I entered the seventh floor of the Silhouette Building, I was hypnotized. I was suddenly in a millennial utopia - full of reclaimed wood and frosted glass windows. Somewhere between the quirky antiques and fresh pastries I was greeted by each team member of The Burnette Agency one-by-one.

Up until that day, I did not know it was possible to have such an enjoyable time during an interview. I had never come across a group of people so passionate about their careers and driven to succeed. From their contagious enthusiasm to their evident passion for the public relations industry, I quickly fell in love with The Burnette Agency. I wanted more than anything to be a part of this collective group of individuals, and for the first time in a long time I was hopeful about the future.

After an orientation last Friday, I began my very first day at The Burnette Agency on Monday, March 6. My first week has been nothing short of whirlwind, but to say I’m excited to work here is an understatement. I couldn’t ask for a better group of women to call my coworkers. I am amazed at the leadership and drive of Arielle Burnette, who I am thrilled to have as a mentor and role model. Through her motivation and encouragement, I want nothing more than to succeed. Despite still have a lot to learn, I still pinch myself every morning to make sure this is real life. I make the long trek from the suburbs with a smile on my face, ready to face whatever the day throws at me.

I now have a purpose.