Crunch time. And learning: Unfiltered.

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Crunch time. That phrase means different things to us in different phases of our lives. And, looking back, crunch time doesn’t go away. It just presents itself in a different way.

Crunch time a year ago was me getting ready for SXSW. I was working six nights at the bar, seven if they’d let me, so I could have enough cash that I didn’t have to limit myself when I was in Austin. I didn’t want to be in a position where I had to pass up any opportunities because I couldn’t afford it. My mentor told me that SXSW was going to be like a career fair. So we had been working on my resume, sorting through what I have to offer a company vs. what I need from an employer, and getting me prepared for conversations that could potentially lead me to my first job out of college.

Crunch time a year ago was me acting as the account executive for my Advanced PR class, leading a team of five in initiatives and through complications that you can’t learn in the classroom. We were working with a non-profit that had ZERO budget but wanted rainbows and unicorns and for everyone to know what they were about. It was, at the time, the most difficult thing I had yet to do in my education.

In my life today, there is a lot of crunch time and February in particular has been pretty crazy. I’ve been fortunate enough to be brought onto an account that has two major activations back-to-back. Which is awesome – but also, a little scary.

I’ve been navigating planning these events and it’s so different from the digital work that I primarily touch. I’m working with vendors, calling convention centers, making sure all of our i’s are dotted and our t’s are crossed. It’s been one heck of a learning experience, I can tell you that.

Every day at work I’m presented with challenges. New assignments that I’ve never worked on before. Different kinds of assignments, both traditional and digital, that are things that you learn as you go – things they don’t teach in the classroom. I’ve been working hard from the start to keep a balance between knowing a good amount about the digital space, being eager to learn about everything I possibly can, and reminding myself that it’s okay if I don’t have all of the answers when teams come to me for more information.

I’m still learning.

And the fact that I’m learning every day is why I am absolutely crazy about this place. The fact that I have at least five people that I can count on for any one question I have is incredible. The fact that I don’t have to be afraid to ask for help, or clarity, or guidance – because everyone here is so willing to teach – makes every day a tremendous learning opportunity. The opportunities that I have had to learn new aspects of the business and the industry in general makes my brain smile. It’s a lot to process, but knowing that people here have my back, that I have theirs and that we’re in this together - that’s what gets me up in the morning.

Are you about to graduate? Have you already graduated? Are you employed? What does crunch time mean to you? More importantly – no matter where you are in life, are you still learning?