Earlier this year, on an NMGZ Community field trip to Los Angeles, I was excited to find sunshine on every corner and be greeted by California’s perfect year-round weather. But as I walked into our hotel, sopping wet from a historically heavy downpour, I quickly realized that my expectations weren’t going quite as planned.
With gloomy weather and students from all different walks of life, the group atmosphere was not as upbeat as my other experiences going on field trips. But still, we persisted. We met amazing professionals and practitioners throughout the Los Angeles area who were passionate about their craft. Companies like TOEI Entertainment and Deutsche LA shared what it’s like to be a part of a company and what they each value in their work environment. And as things started to pick up, unfortunately, one of the companies we were supposed to visit had to cancel for safety reasons.
Despite the weather and the last-minute cancellation, our group’s hopes were still high! As a group, we decided to make the most of our time instead of focusing on the negatives. Through the wonderful management of Bill, Lauren, and Maddie, while not according to initial plans, they improvised quickly and put together activities that were incredible to experience. From going around LACMA to riding rides while sopping wet at Universal Studios, the trip was unlike any other I have been on before (albeit that is only one other one). We danced on the bus and had many laughs despite the drizzling rain.
Through these experiences, I have a newfound appreciation for looking at the brighter side of things. Despite all of the ingredients for a negative trip, our group remained positive and decided to make the most of our experience, sharing jokes and making incredible bonds along the way. I even tripped because of the rain at Universal Studios while wearing business clothes, and all I could do was laugh with the friends I made on this trip. We even learned dances that filled the room with laughter and smiles.
I am so thankful to have been surrounded by such incredible people. It just goes to show that even if the world might seem cold at the moment, there are warm people all around you, and all you need to do is party!