Meddling Mom

 I'd much have rather titled this "Networking Nana", but wouldn't that indicate that I'm a grandmother?  And I'm NOT a grandmother!  (Not that I'm against it, but my son isn't 21 yet and honestly, I'd really rather him and whoever he might settle down with [when he does; I hope he does] do this after they both have settled into adult life proper, with jobs, maturity and such...although that seems to indicate that my son isn't mature and he SO is, but now I'm really rambling...)

Okay, so here's the deal.  My son, who means the world to me (if you hadn't already guessed that from all my posts over the years), is wrapping up his junior year.  For his senior year he needs an internship (and then after that a job, but I'm not going to jump ahead yet) and it's been problematic.  As I said, he is mature and has been working on finding something since the fall, but...  It's a tough world out there, even when it comes to unpaid work.  (Although a paid internship wou
ld be nice.)

Now my grandfather who died in 1985 (although NJM Insurance is STILL sending him mail and trying to sell him a policy...), always used to say it's not what you know, but who you know and that still (sort of) holds true to this day.  You DO need to know your field, but that alone is not enough. It IS what you know AND who you know.  Everyone needs an edge.  Everyone needs a little help.  And for the most part, people are willing to help.  (Many actually enjoy it!)

So, I'm putting it out there, even as my son has done the same. Does anyone have any connections or ins or ANYTHING in the NYC or NJ area (I'm specifically thinking of Essex, Morris or Passaic counties) in the arts field (physical art, like paintings, sculpture, etc.; not performing art), and could help out?  I'm not going to be involved (Bfth, you already are!)...I'd just connect you to this incredibly talented and dedicated young man.  (I know I'm extremely biased.) 

While I think he is a talented artist (I KNOW I'm biased), he's focusing on arts administration.  So working in a gallery or a museum or... (There’s got to be something else.)  He knows art.  He did a brief internship in high school where he worked with the middle school art teacher, so he has experience working with "artists” (Some of whom could be “difficult;” they were tweens!)  He knows customer service/client relations (he's worked with kids in a theater camp for 5 summers dealing with kids from ages 3-18 AND their parents).  He's not afraid of hard work (he's worked as a temporary sexton at two churches...that involves some hard manual labor).  He's dependable, honest and an all-around good person.  He just needs to be given a chance and discovered.  (He's also done some modeling work as well.)

So if you want to help a talented young man out (as well as take some stress out of his life and MINE), this is your opportunity!  Everyone's been helped at one point or another in their working life; now's your chance to pay it forward.

If you can help, this meddling mom thanks you.  Even if you can’t thank you for reading and keeping in mind that someday you WILL be able to help someone out.  When that day comes do it; you’ll be glad that you did.