By: Paula Chirinos

/ Hello blogging world! My name is Paula Chirinos and I am close to fulfilling my dream of becoming a communications professional in the United States. I am currently studying public relations and global studies at Hofstra University, and with my senior graduation quickly approaching, I feel blessed to have the opportunity to join a group of my peers on an immersive 10 day trip to Los Angeles, California in January. 

My journey started when I moved to the U.S. from my home country of Peru, at the age of 3. My family went straight to New York since we saw this area as the “promise land” where my brother and I could reach our fullest potentials. Since then, I have been yearning to discover other wonders in this country so getting to travel to L.A. is truly a dream come true.   

During the tip, my peers and I will be meeting with top executives in the media and communications industry and learning about the fast-paced, energetic and ever-changing entertainment industry. I have had previous exposure to this field through my internship with the Meredith Corporation this past summer, where I got to do promotional work for iconic brands such as People, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle and Time. Getting to see all the action in the City of Angels will be unique and life-changing in terms of the career opportunities I will consider post-graduation. 

This city’s cultural makeup is uniquely diverse. Nearly half of L.A.’s population is Latino, 11 percent is Asian, and 10 percent is African-American. As an aspiring public relations practitioner interested in multicultural marketing, this fascinates me since it means I’ll get to discover insights that will help me with my career and I will get to enjoy delicious food inspired by different regions of the world!