5 Ways to Banish First-Day Anxiety!

When I was in high school, I planned out my outfits for the first day of school meticulously, color-coded my notebooks for my classes, and read all of the books on the summer reading list —and then some. (I know what you're thinking, and yes, I was a total nerd). I'm the kind of person who believes in the power of the first impression, and I want to start everything — be it AP Biology or my first day at work — off on the right foot. 

Since I've arrived home from Italy, my entire life has revolved around preparing for my first day of my internship. When I'm not reuniting with every family member, doctor, and hair dresser I know, I'm spending my time obsessing over my first day back at Teen Mag. Here are five things I've learned about calming nerves on your first day:

1) Practice commuting to work at least once before your first day so you know how much time it takes. Then, factor in a 15-20 minute time cushion, just in case there's bad weather, tons of commuter traffic, or you're running late. I'd also recommend planning out 2-3 other ways to get to work, just in case there's maintenance on your route. And buy your Metrocard before your first day! 

2) Ask your editor about the dress code before you get to work. You don't want to be in jeans and a t-shirt when everyone is wearing something off the runway, or vice versa. Also, think about what'll be most appropriate for what you're doing. If you're a fashion intern and you're going on runs, wear comfortable shoes! If you'll be representing the brand in a meeting or press event, make sure your outfit is in line with what the other editors expect. 

3) Don't sweat the small stuff. Accidentally misspelled your editor's name wrong? It's probably happened before and she's way over it by the time you even realized. My best friend walked around Prestigious Fashion Mag with a HUGE hole in her blazer without realizing. Embarrassing? Definitely. But at the end of the day, your editors expect some mistakes — you're there to learn, after all. Just focus on doing what you need to do to get your task done. 

4) Do your homework beforehand. If you're an editorial intern at Teen Vogue, the voice and pitches you're going to make is 100% different than those you're going to make at Vogue. Read a few back issues and peruse the web for previous intern experiences to get a feel for your mag and what you're going to be doing.

5) At the end of the day, your editor cares way more about what you're able to accomplish on day 21 than day 1. Breathe, smile, and show enthusiasm. You scored this internship, and you're totally capable of whatever your editors throw at you. Now go kill it!

What are your tips for a great first impression? Do you have any advice for my first week back? Let me know in the comments section! 

Till later Whippersnappers,

Ed's Web Intern