By: Jessica Zagacki

/ I cannot believe that I am finally going to L.A.! For years, I’ve dreamed of this moment, and now it is finally happening. I originally wanted to attend college out on the west coast. Due to several factors, I was unable to do so. Instead, I stayed close to home and came to Hofstra. However, I would not trade my decision to go to Hofstra for anything, especially because through attending Hofstra, I was presented with the opportunity to go on this Hofstra in L.A. trip. I guess you could say that life has a funny way of working itself out sometimes.

This January, I cannot wait to escape the cold New Jersey weather for 10 days as I arrive at LAX to begin my journey in sunny California. I cannot wait to try a burger and animal style fries from In-N-Out Burger. I cannot wait to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, and several other tourist locations. But most importantly, I cannot wait for all of the networking opportunities that this trip provides. I am extremely excited to attend our conference meetings with countless accomplished industry professionals. I know that these meetings and interactions will be extremely beneficial for me and my future, as they will allow me to grow both personally and professionally. I am looking forward to asking questions and absorbing all of the advice and knowledge that these professionals will pass on to me. Additionally, I am excited to explore career paths that I might not currently be aware of or that I might not currently think that I have an interest in. By the end of this trip, I hope to gain a greater understanding of potential career paths in the television, film, and public relations industries, to establish connections with professionals, and to discover myself and my place in these exciting fields. I know I will encounter incredible experiences and people that will allow me to create memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Los Angeles, California, I’m coming for you. I hope that you are ready for me.