My Week at NATPE!
WOW what a crazy, exciting week!
I spent the past six days in Miami, Florida as a member of the 2018 NATPE Intern Class, and I could not be more thankful for such a wonderful experience.
So what exactly is NATPE?
NATPE is the acronym for the National Association of Television Programming Executives, a group of televisions best and brightest who come together twice a year (once in Miami, and once in Budapest). Industry professionals come together to buy, sell, and pitch television concepts, attend master classes, and network with their peers. The educational foundation, which is the portion of the conference that brings students like myself to the NATPE marketplace, was founded by Klein College's very own Lew Klein. It was such an incredible experience to be a part of, and I made a ton of professional connections and new friendships.
Even though I want to go into political news, this was such a great chance to broaden my horizons and experience firsthand how some of my favorite television shows develop from concept to execution. Netflix, CBS, NBC Universal, Telemundo, and other major companies all attend the event in hopes to gain new programming for their companies.
I even had the chance to meet and speak with Jane Fonda! I am such a huge fan of her Netflix show Grace & Frankie, and we had such a nice conversation about the show's new season and she even toasted my future career aspirations! So Jane Fonda, if you are by chance reading this, you are a gem, an American treasure, and I am honored you took some time out of your day to speak to me.
One of the most shocking take aways from the conference was the friendships we made in just a few short days. There were 40 interns in the class, and at first I was skeptical how I would be able to form friendships with all these people, let alone remember their names. But I really connected with some of these people from schools across the country with truly diverse interests from my own. We became a team over the course of the week, assisting the conference by aiding registration and the execution of masterclasses, as well as getting the opportunity to attend some of the sessions that piqued our interests!
It was an exhausting week of networking, running errands, and travel, but I am so grateful for my new friends and connections! I was a little apprehensive going into the experience, but looking back, I am so proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone (news) and trying something new (entertainment). Although I have no plans to change career paths, I am interested in entertainment, and it was a phenomenal experience. And it always feels great to try something new!
What's something new you've tried in the last few weeks that's been fulfilling - from work to personal life? Was it something you've be interested in trying for a while, and finally found the courage to go for it? Sound off in the comments!