The weather in Stockholm has been so wonderful this past week. My roommate and I spent a lot of time going on post-work walks and watching the sunset. We went to a small jazz band which was a cool experience. During my internship, I got to assist in my first photoshoot which was a really cool opportunity. In the fashion world, I am interested in the production and styling of photoshoots, so I enjoyed working on set first hand. We were supposed to go to Gothenburg this weekend, but unfortunately, our trip got canceled, so we had another free weekend in Stockholm. My roommate and I used Saturday to try a new brunch place, which was really good, and walk around some shops. We bought some clothes and lots of Swedish candy. Sunday, the program organized us to go to the ABBA museum and have a boat day. The ABBA museum was really neat, I personally enjoyed looking at the fashion exhibit of tour outfits. We then got some lunch and headed off to the boat. We got to spend some time on a little island where me and some of my friends walked around and got ice cream. When we got back on the boat, we had snacks, went for a ride, and sang karaoke. Even though we didn’t get the opportunity to explore Gothenburg, it was an enjoyable weekend.
Living in Sweden has been quite the adjustment, but is something I am beginning to get acquainted with. This past week, I had the opportunity to assist on my first photoshoot. Stepping into that environment immediately brought me back to the fast-paced atmosphere I experienced in New York. With so many moving parts, it was important for me to stay organized and anticipate what needed to be done to make the day run as smoothly as possible for my boss. During the photoshoot, I assisted with organizing and preparing all of the looks before they went on set. I helped make sure each outfit was complete, assisted with putting jewelry on the models, kept all of the clothing and accessories organized throughout the day, and helped clean up once the shoot was finished. Although these tasks may seem small, they were essential to keeping the photoshoot running smoothly and taught me how much attention to detail and organization are required behind the scenes of a fashion production. It was a great opportunity to see how much preparation and teamwork go into a successful shoot while continuing to build my confidence in a high pressure environment.
One area I have struggled with is receiving clear directions for certain tasks and projects. There have been several occasions where I was told that I completed something incorrectly or forgot to do part of a task. At first, I found these situations frustrating because I genuinely had not been shown the correct process beforehand. Instead of becoming overwhelmed or discouraged, I have been learning how important communication is in a professional environment. Rather than staying quiet, I have started explaining to my boss that I was never taught that specific process and that I will make sure to do it correctly moving forward. These conversations have helped reduce my stress while also showing that I am willing to learn from my mistakes.
This internship has taught me much more than just how to navigate the fashion world. It has also shown me how to handle challenging situations and difficult conversations in a professional setting. I am learning how to adapt to a new work environment, communicate with different types of people, and remain flexible when expectations are not always clear. While these experiences have been challenging at times, they have helped me become more confident and prepared for future opportunities in the fashion industry.
Overall, this week reminded me that growth often comes from both exciting opportunities and unexpected challenges. From assisting on my first fashion photoshoot to exploring more of Stockholm and learning how to better communicate in the workplace, I continue to develop both professionally and personally. Although adapting to life and work in another country has not always been easy, every experience is helping me grow and become more confident.
