Match Made On Seventh: FIT Speed Dating Event/Interview with PRSSA President

Guys, hey! So tonight FIT is hosting their 8th annual speed dating event from 7-9. The event is gonna be fun af with a '90s theme, free food and raffles along with your chance at finding love. Sounds like the ideal Thursday, right?! Tickets will be $15 at the door or if you're an FIT student it's free! Just bring your ID. Below is an interview with FIT's PRSSA President, Nicole Armeno for more on what to expect! xx

What is the original inspiration behind A Match Made on Seventh?

It's hard to meet people in NYC and even at FIT.  As a club we saw this pain point and decided to remedy it. We provide a fun and safe space to meet new people. 

What can we expect to see? 

Lots of single people, a Baywatch branded photobooth, '90s decorations and me running around in all black sporting a calm yet semi-frantic manner. 

More importantly, what can we expect to eat?

Ha, this is definitely the most important question. There will be Sigmunds Pretzels, 

Uma Temakeria, Insomnia Cookies, pizza, Zico Coconut Water and Squish Marshmallows to name a few of 

our amazing sponsors. 

What are you most excited for Thursday night? 

At any event, my favorite moment is the almost instant switch from prep to the event itself. As soon as those doors open you get a rush of adrenaline. It's amazing to see everything come together! 

For all our shy guys and girls out there, what is your one tip for showing up at the event?

It's not as cringe worthy as you'd imagine. It's a really chill atmosphere. Hey, you might not meet the love of your life but you will meet new people, which is sometimes just as hard to do in NYC. 

Have you heard of any successful couples walking out of here? 

I've heard of one marriage myth and a bunch of stories of scattered dates. I myself have met a couple of new bachelors from years past. 

Tell us a little about your role as PRSSA President.

This Presidency has been one of the highest honors of my professional career so far. I manage an eboard team of eight powerful women and I mainly deal with relations/obligations between our club and FIT. I also handle National requirements and relationships. The real work though, is done by my team and chapter members, without them we couldn't function. 

What is some advice you would give to FIT students and other students around the country majoring in PR? 

Say hello to professionals, speakers, your professors and practice "talking" as much as you can. The more comfortable you get with talking to your superiors, the better you will become at getting your message and story across as a professional. You want people to hear your info and not your discomfort. 

Glossier Review

As I'm sure is the same with all of you, I have had an influx of Glossier on my Instagram feed lately. The pretty pink boxes, the stickers and the products all infiltrated my socials. For my first order, I kept it pretty small to see if I liked it. Here's what I picked and what I think: 



Milky Jelly Cleanser: $18
Great for taking eye makeup off. This cleanser is very lightly scented and has almost a bouncy consistency so it feels extra hydrating. 




Balm Dotcom: $12
I picked this one in Mint. I love all of my lip products to be minty because a) it feels fresher and b) mint naturally causes a tingling and acts as a lip plumper. This product was a little thicker than I thought it would be so don't expect a gloss at all, but it is very moisturizing. There is also an unscented, rose, coconut and cherry flavor. 



Rosewater Spray: $18
I wasn't totally blown away with this one. From what everyone was posting about it, they were raving about its ability to reduce redness which I didn't experience. However! It is a refreshing morning spray and I also use to to spray my brushes before putting on eyeshadow and it's been helpful in making them stay on longer. 



Next on my wish list: Now that I know the quality and consistency of the products, I have a couple more that I wanna check out asap! 





Boy Brow: $16 
Currently I use a clear MaryKay brow gel, but I think for a fuller brow look I would go with this in a brown shade.



Super Glow Vitamin C Serum: $28
I love any kind glow product (hellllo 500 highlighters in my makeup bag) so I'm interested to see if this would really make a difference in my skin's complexion. 



Cloud Paint: $18
This is Glossier's newest product, and it looks amazing. There's nothing worse that piling 5 different powder products on your face so this cream blush would give you that flushed look while moisturizing the skin rather than just sitting on top. 

For the girls that still aren't over someone

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. There are going to be guys or girls that you will just find impossible to get over. You're going to go through a breakup and wonder when it gets better. Your friends will try to help you get over it by taking you out, by not thinking about him, by jumping back into the game.

Maybe this is going to work for some relationships. But then there's going to be at least one that is a constant on your mind. You're going to hear a song and immediately be brought to that hollow feeling. You're going to have something happen and want nothing more than to share it with them. You're going to want to text them.

I'll tell you now, that yes it does get better. No, you won't cry anymore or be anchored to your bed. But you will see them in every person you try to date. You will hear their voice when you are alone, and you will think about all the what-ifs that could've been if you never split.

As much as I tell you what to do, everyone's going to be a little different simply because everyone's hearts break differently. First, let's start with the no-no's. Don't ignore sad music. Don't jump right into partying every night. Don't skip the grieving. And don't talk poorly of them. They were special to you for a reason. Hold yourself to the fact that you liked them because you have good taste when choosing a partner.

Do spend more much time with your friends. Especially the ones that make you laugh endlessly. Immerse yourself in smiles, inspiration and art. The more room you make for joy, the less room you will have for depression. Have a weekly schedule: something you do every week to make you feel more yourself- whether it be a Monday manicure or Sunday church service. Stay true to the things that keep you whole. The biggest helper for me is writing. Whether you're normally a writer or not, chances are you're going through emotions that you don't know what to do with. So write them down. It's also healthy to go back to them a couple months later if you're feeling pitiful, to see how far you've come. You can express those feelings through poetry, nonfiction stories or just drawings/word collages. There are no rules on this one! Whatever your feeling, turn it into something beautiful.

Just remember that you are not the only person that has to go through this, and there is a light at the end regardless of how endless it feels. If it's been over a year and you still feel shitty about what happened, that's perfectly fine too. It means that you put your all into something, and if you were able to do it once you'll be able to do it again. And don't don't don't bottle up those feelings. Embrace them and feel the hurt. You're human. It's fine; it's fair; just breathe.

Dine and Dash

This past Sunday, I finally made my way over to the Seinfeld diner, Tom's Restaurant. I always wanted to check it out but just never got around to it. The place itself was pretty small but being a little smushed was worth it for the choco-chip pancakes. I'm honestly still surprised I left my house considering it was 20 degrees!! Anywho, let's get to the details. This green jacket is one of my new favorite pieces. In the spring, I'll honestly be living in it. It's pretty lightweight and great for layering. Under that, I have a white Free People henley that I came across the last time I was in Chicago, but I did hunt it down online! Again, another great layering piece that can be dressed up or down. And lastly to accessorize, I have on a WellyMerck watch, which I just got about a week ago and am loving. ((Not pictured: my huge winter coat and fluffy scarf because I live in Antartica apparently)) After this, I did some exploring on the Upper West Side and came across a gorgeous church and park. This city never runs out of ways to surprise me. After a quick survey among my friends, I found out that a big chunk of them have NEVER even seen Seinfeld!! Not to be dramatic but I'm just wondering why they're depriving themselves. You guys watch it, right?! If not, no soup for you.

Jacket: c/o SheIn | Top: Free People | Watch: Welly Merck

FAQ About FIT

So, I get a lot of questions about the details of FIT. I think choosing a new school is hard enough but finding out the details that will make your first day as smooth as possible should be easy peasy. Attached are just random Q's that I've gotten throughout my time here so I hope this helps clarify some things!

Q:What do they look for when accepting students?

A: From what I have experienced, it really depends on the major you are applying to. Obviously if you want to go into design, your portfolio is going to be the most important thing. When applying to a major like Fashion Business Management, they're going to be looking for really strong math grades because a lot of the curriculum is number based. For Advertising/Marketing, it can really depend but English classes and writing classes are a big plus. Grades are important, but I remember them talking about how important the essay is. Make sure you don't make it sound like a generic cover letter. Pour your heart into it. Talk about what you plan on accomplishing while you're here or a moment that really impacted your life. Make sure to catch their attention. If you're genuine and speak about yourself and what you're passionate about, it'll be almost impossible to resist you!

Q: When do you hear back?

A: Anytime between February-April. I'm pretty sure I heard back close to March. FIT kind of needs to be your dream school to avoid getting worked up about deadlines because a lot of schools I remember I heard back from much earlier. So, just take a deep breath and wait for the letter; don't commit to another school too early.

Q: Is FIT affordable or at least good with financial aid? 

A: FIT is a state school so it will be more affordable than say Columbia U or NYU. That being said, they are not that amazing with financial aid. They will help some but don't bank on half your tuition being covered! Also, if you live in New York (Long Island included), there is a in-state price, which is unbelievably low.

Q: What is different about New York from other cities? (Specifically Chicago) 

A: In my opinion, New York is just more condensed. It is the largest city but at the same time can feel the smallest. There will be a drugstore, Italian restaurant and bar on every corner. You will not feel deprived of whatever you think you will miss from your hometown (besides your puppy). There will be your favorite retailer, restaurant or coffee shop. And if there isn't the same one, you'll probably find one you even like a little better, even though you'll hate to admit it.

Q: What kind of jobs can you get out of FIT?

A: Depends on your major just like any other school! With Ad Marketing Communications you can be a journalist, copywriter, digital marketer or social media coordinator. With Textile Design, you can be working to make the patterns on home goods or clothes. We have Photography, Fashion Design, Toy Design, Production Management (what I have my AAS in), Illustration and TONS more. I'll link the page that lists your options below.

FIT majors available 

Q: Are people nice?

A: NO! I'm just kidding. I was blown away by how welcoming everyone is.

Q: What are the dorms like? Would you recommend living in them? 

A: In a way this is a followup to the previous question. Dorming definitely helps when trying to meet new people. You're stuck in a building where you will run into people from your Monday 9AM or the new club that you just joined. It's also so much easier when working on school projects to be just a floor away from someone you can collab with. Freshman year I lived in Alumni Hall, which is a quad set up- 2 bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom. I lucked out and met my roommates through the FIT Facebook page, and they've stayed my best friends. Sophomore-Senior year if you dorm, it will be Kaufman Hall, which is about a 10 minute walk from campus. You'll have a gym and laundry room and have the option of a single, double triple or quad. Starting next semester you can also do co-ed rooming so if you have a guy friend that you want to live with, you'll finally be able to. The security can be kind of a pain. You have to sign someone in and out every time they enter or leave, but other than that dorming is a really solid option for at least fresh/soph year or if you're transferring in. Also, if you're anything like me you will want to be surrounded by flyers reminding you what is going on around campus so you can stay in the loop. Another thing to keep in mind is that it's a dry campus!

Q: Are there a lot of internship opportunities?

A: Always. FIT is really good about helping you land an internship whether it's a credited one or paid. There is a whole website to search for them along with job fairs and connections through professors. Also, simply going to FIT gives you a leg up because the classes are so hands on and specific.

Q: What is the campus life like?  

A: Whatever you make of it! You can be as involved or uninvolved as you like. It definitely takes effort to be an active student. There are tons of clubs to pick from whether it's major related or something fun like cooking club. As for going out, there aren't dorm parties, but you're in NYC. Another great thing about the dorms is your smack in the middle of everything. Whether bars and clubs are your scene or concerts and poetry slams are more your forte, you can do anything on any night of the week.

5 Bonus Tips:

1. A lot of freshman decide to take Fridays off, which I am also guilty of doing. Take Monday off instead. 1 class on Friday will not hurt you and being off Monday makes your weekend feel so much longer. You're also prone to be more productive on a Monday versus a Friday when you just had a long week of classes and just want to lay in bed all day. Monday can be your grocery/studying/"me" day

2. Never forget your laptop or a drink for class. This should be a given, but most of FIT's classes are 3 hours and they can either be the fastest 3 hours of your life or feel like they're 17 hours. Bring something to give yourself a little mental break in between.

3. Make friends with your professors and connect with them on LinkedIn after the class is over. FIT requires their professors to have taught in their field for a certain number of years and many of them still work their day job while also being a professor. They have great knowledge of the industry and can also help you land an internship. You never know who they know!

4. Do not get a meal plan. I know it sounds easy in the beginning, but it actually is 10x more convenient to just have the food in your fridge already. You'll also be able to feel more refreshed and healthy having fresh foods. I had the meal plan for my first semester and rarely used it. If you want to get food from the dining hall, you still can without the plan. Whole foods is a couple blocks away and so is Trader Joes. Starbucks is also on campus.

5. If you're scared to come to NYC, come- you need it. You will learn so much not from only being at FIT but also being in this city. The food, parks, diversity, everything.

I hope this helped you a little more with the general questions! If you have any more that I forget about, go ahead and reach out on social media. Good luck!