Ana Pascual-Leone Loving Co-op and Taking on the Fashion World!

Ana Pascual-Leone

Studying: International Affairs, minoring in business and French. 

Graduating: May 2015

This past week I was able to ask Ana a few questions about her awesome co-op working in PR  for TJX. I can confidently say she has the COOLEST co-op of every fashionista’s dreams.

What has been your coolest moment on co-op?

My coolest co-op moment.. there have been a couple. The first was this past week we were interviewed by the Boston herald about our style, job and how we incorporate fashion into the work environment. We then got TJMaxx and Marshalls gift cards and got to go style an outfit for ourselves for the photoshoot we were in for the paper. It was really cool and fun. The second is really anytime our clothes make an appearance on TV or in a magazine because I know that I sent that outfit to them and picked it out myself so its really rewarding seeing your work in these big publications. A couple weeks ago we had to style models for the first store opening in Hawaii. Since it was the first store Hawaii there were so many different media outlets covering the event. I styled 26 outfits for three different models plus 6 table displays of merchandise. Later, I got to see my outfits, on the models in the newspapers magazines and on TV. It was so exciting.

How is your work related to your major and what interests you most about your position? 

Honestly, my work is related very little to my major. Ideally, I would love to work as a buyer and that requires one to travel all over the world to buy merchandise for the fashion company/store they work for. This relates more to my major since if I get the opportunity to work as a buyer I will be traveling to different places through the world. Having an understanding of that country’s history, politics and culture would benefit me when doing business there.

What interests me most about my position is all the fashion. I have always known I wanted to work for a fashion company and TJX fits perfectly with my interests.

How does a normal co-op day look for you?

Almost every day we get media requests from outside media outlets, the other co-op and I then have to go and shop for the request at TJMaxx and Marshalls stores. A lot of the times we have to style outfits for the media outlets especially if there are models involved. That is probably 75% of our work. The other 25% consists of industry research. We do a lot of work with influential fashion bloggers as well as seeing what our fans are posting about TJMaxx and Marshalls on Facebook and Twitter.

Co-op or class?

Ah, both? I like the free time that I have during the day when I am in classes, but I love no homework or studying or having anything to do after work while I’m on co-op.  I also love my job so coming to work every day is fun, so I really can’t complain.

Since starting your co-op, do you have a better sense of what you want to be when you grow up?

I defiantly want to stay in fashion and I would love to either continue with PR or defiantly work as a buyer.

If a movie was made of your life, what celebrity would you get to play the lead role?

I would bring Audrey Hepburn back from the dead and have her play the lead roll. She was so so so so fashionable and trendy I love her. Everything she wore was not only very trendy but classy, there was nothing trashy about her and I admire her so much for staying true to her sense of style. Plus, she is in the international best dressed list hall of fame… how could I not want her to play me in a movie?!!?

Rocco DiCicco on co-oping in L.A., Tebow and the Film Industry!

Rocco DiCicco

History Major/International Affairs Minor

Co-oping in LA….oooooh……aahhh  

When on campus, can be spotted: At Snell studying or in the Curry center to enjoy the only Taco Bell in Boston! (Good thing he’s in L.A. because Curry is closed ’til Spetember!) 

What do you do in your spare time?

I like to read, watch movies, and I play a lot of golf. Golf courses in California don’t close during the winter months so I’ve played a good amount since I’ve been on co op.  

Where are you from and what originally attracted you to Northeastern? 

Originally I’m from Fresno, California (which is the greatest city in the United States). I came to Northeastern because of it’s location in Boston. I visited the city once when I was in high school and something just clicked. It has a unique mix of history and youth vibrance, which to me was pretty awesome. I knew it was the place I wanted to go to college.

Where are you currently co-oping and what brought you to L.A. ?

I’m co-oping at Traction Media, a small company that produces and sells independent films. I wanted to stray away from the co op’s that history majors typically have. I’ve always loved movies, and when the opportunity to work in the film industry arose I thought, “hey, why not?!” LA is the Mecca of the film industry so this is the place to be to get the real experience.

and what does a normal day look like for you in SoCal?

I wake up around 8:30 and arrive at work usually before 10, because entertainment hours are pretty sweet like that. When I get to work, I’ll read a script or two before my lunch break starts at 1. On my lunch break I’ll walk down Santa Monica Boulevard with my shades on and decide where I want to eat. After work, I’ll either head to the golf course near the office to hit some golf balls or I’ll go home and watch a movie on Netflix. A pretty standard routine.

Hunger Games, Harry Potter or Twilight?

How about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? I’m a fan of Rooney Mara, I think she’s great.  

How does your History-major background relate to your co-op?

The two don’t seem to connect, but I think my academic background has helped a great deal with my co-op. One of the most important duties I have for my co-op is to write coverage on the scripts that I read; basically writing a synopsis on the plot and an analysis on what I think was well-written and what I think could be improved. If you think about it, every historical event is a story in some way, just like a script for a movie is a story. The structure and thinking it takes to write coverage for a script is very similar, and almost identical to the structure and thinking needed to write all of those history papers I have written at school.

Since starting your co-op, do you have a better sense of what you want to be when you grow up?

Most definitely. You know, I think that’s one of the greatest things about the co-op program that us Northeastern students can take advantage of. During the semester we’re so tied down and focused on the classwork in front of us, it’s not easy to see beyond the immediate future. On co-op, there is much more time to take a step back and think about our next move after school is over. And this is in addition to getting real experience in an industry that we are interested in. 

With a name like Rocco, have you attracted a lot of attention out west?

Absolutely. There aren’t nearly as many Italians in LA as there are in the Northeast!

What has been your coolest moment in L.A.?

That’s a tough question but I would probably say something that happened on my 3rd day of work at Traction Media. I had to deliver a DVD to the home of a producer, and all I knew about her was that her name is Kelly Meyer and she lived in Malibu. I took the scenic drive up the coast to Malibu, and finally found the address where she lived. I pulled up to this magnificent home right on the ocean, on about 5 acres of land. I needed to talk with about 4 security guards and prove my identity just to drop off that DVD! When I was leaving I thought to myself, this Kelly Meyer person must really be a somebody to live there. So I did what every sensible person of my age does to look up information: type her name into Google from my IPhone. I was forwarded to the Wikipedia page of her husband, Ron Meyer, who is the CEO of Universal Studios. I was at the home of the head of one of the biggest studios in the world. That was a pretty cool “welcome to the film industry” type thing.

If a movie was made of your life, what celebrity would you get to play the lead role?

Well, I know he’s not an actor, but I would say Tim Tebow. People tell me all the time that I look like him. A couple month’s ago I was walking down 5th avenue in New York with my brother and a police officer stopped us just to ask me if I was related to Tebow in some way. Hopefully a good cinematographer could make him look like he’s 5’8″ and 155 lbs. 

What are you looking forward to when you get back to Boston?

Spending time with the friends who I haven’t been able to see this semester, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Not necessarily in that order.

Charles Simpson on Switzerland, Loch Ness, Chinchillas, Fondue and of course CO-OP!

Charles Simpson

Sophomore, International Affairs major

Iron Man/Marathon extraordinaire

Can be seen: On an airplane to some fitness competition, hobbling around campus after a fitness competition, impressing professors with his eloquent speech and impressively deep voice or mumbling in Arabic.

This past week, I had an opportunity to sit down without Charles in Boston while he sat in Switzerland to chat about his co-op experience abroad. Here’s what he had to say:

Me: Where are you from and what originally brought you to Boston? 

Charles: I’m from the greater DC area. I came to Boston for the accents; I hope to have one soon.

What is your best joke?  

I’m more into slapstick. I guess I just fall down a lot.

Where are you currently co-oping and what brought you to Geneva ?

I am working at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) in Switzerland. I support faculty in researching and writing on a range of security-related topics for forthcoming books, scholarly articles, and reports. I also prepare material for the Centre’s training courses aimed at military officers, diplomats, and private sector security experts. Work in the training courses has been fun because it has given me the chance to meet a Tunisian Ministry of Defense official, a North Korean military officer, a UN ambassador, a NATO officer, and a Russian independent journalist. But first, and foremost I came to Switzerland because I am a big fan of chocolate, luxury watches, tall mountains, and offshore banking.

and what does a normal day look like for you in Confédération suisse?

Aside from working, I’ve gotten used to the typical European lifestyle, so on a normal day I ride my Vespa to the office around 10.00, take a smoke break, chat with colleagues over cappuccino and croissants until noon, take a smoke break, have three hours for a lunch of red wine and a baguette, take a smoke break, read a newspaper until around 16.30, then go to a cafe for the evening, and repeat.

If you were an animal what would you be?

Loch Ness Monster. Duh.

What’s something that you’ve learned outside of work that has been particularly valuable?

I’ve been able to become pretty enmeshed in Swiss culture—I’ve practiced a lot of French, met a wide range of locals and expats at both a professional and personal level; and I’ve learned practical matters like how to navigate Europe’s rail system, how to get a foreign work visa, how to spend three hours grazing on lunch (it’s considered proper here), what a “Toblerone” is and proper fondue dipping technique.

What are you looking forward to upon your arrival to the United States? 

I miss my bicycle and my pet Chinchilla, Alfred.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Switzerland?

Eat fondue and cross the border into France to take advantage of the sunken value of the Euro.

If you, or someone you know, would be a great candidate to interview, get in touch with me at c.strong@neu.edu. Cheers! 

Do You Have the Coolest Co-op?

Did you have a glimpse into the fast-paced life of the financial world? Have you gotten an inside glimpse of the music industry? What about completing work for a non-profit, making a difference in the world? If any of these things, or anything else unique and exciting applies to you, then get in gear and apply for the COOLEST CO-OP Contest! Make a 2-minute video about the on-the-job experiential learning you’ve gained, and submit it by Monday, January 9, 2012. Oh, did we forget to mention? First place winner gets $1,000! Second and third place get $500 and $250, respectively. For a student budget, these two minutes could mean the difference between Ramen Noodle dinners and food actually intended for human digestion. Check out more information here.

“What are you doing after college?” Yes, that question is annoying when proposed several thousand times, but it’s also important. Career Services has some great resources, including the Employer in Residence Series (as you probably already know since you diligently follow this blog…right?). This week, we have City Year and Shawmut Design & Construction. A City Year representative will be in Curry Student Center this Tuesday, December 6, from 11- 1pm. She will be located at a table outside the bookstore. Or, feel free to come to Career Services and speak with her for both scheduled appointments and on a walk-in basis from 2-4pm. Shawmut’s CMST Manager is available to meet with any Northeastern student during Career Services’ Walk-In Hours from 2-4pm in 101 Stearns. This is the last day they will be here this semester, so don’t miss an opportunity to come by and network!

Looking for a new, unique experience? The Hindu Vedic Vision Society is holding a “Musical Meditations and Spiritual Discussions” session. There will be musical meditation on ancient Vedic chants relaxing for the heart, and discussions based on Bhagavad Gita, the most authoritative text on yoga, meditation, mind control and personality development. Afterwards, they will provide a light vegetarian dinner. Come to the Sacred Space on the 2nd floor of Ell Hall on Tuesday at 8:15pm to experience this eye-opening style of meditation. Please register at here. See you there!

Featured Student: Ana Hurtado

Ana Hurtado is no stranger to The Office of Student Affairs. In fact, she’s probably the opposite. Ana is one of the most well known students at Northeastern because for the past year Ana has been working IN our office! From last January to July, Ana served in the lofty position as the office’s co-op, and since then she’s worked as a work study in our ranks.

Ana is a 3rd year Communications major with a Media concentration and a minor in Art and Design. She’s also an ISSI Orientation Leader and a ferocious player of intramural volleyball!

Working for Student Affairs was Ana’s first co-op. She was essentially the social media guru of the office, tackling all the digital publicity that comes with working in a centralized office in a buzzing campus. She managed the the blog postings, the twitter, and anything else that had to do with online publicity. In fact, Ana’s work on the blog was essential in getting it to where it is today.

Ana says her favorite part of working in the Office of Student Affairs was getting to work with former VP Ed Klotzbier. She recounts one time when she was instructed to record a video of Mr. Klotzbier giving a speech for the 100 Most Influential Seniors. After many many takes, they finally got it right–or so she thought! However, Mr. Klotzbier’s necktie was off centered and they had to try it all over again (another 30 times).

Ana is now leaving the Office of Student Affairs to pursue her second co-op. She’ll be working for Argus Communications come January. Argus is a small communications firm with clients such as the Massachusetts government and Comcast. They design advertisments from start to finish. Ana is super excited to get started, and we’re sure she’ll bring a little Student Affair flair to any position she gets herself into!

Congratulations Ana!