Jumping the Bullett

I have been keeping this under the radar, but I think I’ll just announce it now. A few weeks ago I was perusing through the magazine stand at Barnes & Noble and came across Bullett magazine. It’s a fairly new zine primarily focused on art, fashion, and culture, and something that I had not seen before. When I got home, I visited their website and just fell in love with everything I saw.

So, naturally, I sent the magazine an e-mail asking about internship possibilities. Now, someone in my position—that of a student who intermittently casts e-mails to magazines in hopes of even receiving a response— doesn’t really expect a response at all. In fact, the act of sending the e-mail merely serves as a false hope. However, the next day, I acquired a reply from Juliet Thompson, the Content Director.

After sending my cover letter and resume, I received another e-mail from Jen Kessler, the Editorial Director, who asked if I could come to their office in Manhattan for an interview. I panicked.

I was beyond excitement that I was actually communicating with people in the exact media I want to break into, but I was also apprehensive because I had never been to the city before. I talked to a few friends about the situation and, after much consideration, I decided to fly to New York spend the day in Manhattan to meet some of the editors of Bullett magazine.

One word: phenomenal.

The editors are all in their early twenties, like myself, so it was more of a conversation than an actual interview. The amiability was palpable and it was outstanding how easily we all clicked. When the internship portion of the conversation came up, I told them I cannot live in the city because I am still in school and, frankly, have nowhere to stay. It really pains me that I will not be able to come into the office everyday and actually do hands on projects with everyone else, but they completely understand.

I did pitch another idea, however. I already have plans to travel throughout Europe this summer, so I decided to pitch the idea of producing a city travel guide, which they all loved. From Rome to Venice, a bit of Greece, and maybe some of London and Paris, I will journal and photograph everywhere I shop, eat, sightsee, and party.

During the goodbyes and promises to visit again, Juliet noticed my W&M string bag, which I had brought for the day, and she immediately told me she is a Richmond native. Another member of the team, Megan Wolfe, noticed my bag, too, and said W&M was always her dream school. It was stunning to connect even deeper on the simple words William and Mary.

I am still stupefied by that entire day, and in awe that W&M is resounding in Manhattan. The feeling is indescribable.