Intern Gabby Engels- Event Planning at Tall Grass Country Club/Marriott Hotel

Hello my name is Gabby

I’m writing today to talk about the first time I knew that I wanted to be an event planner. Well actually I’ve wanted to be in the medical field my whole life, I’ve taken CNA and was set on being a nurse. Things suddenly changed one day and I was not interested at all in being a nurse. I needed to figure out what else I was interested in because the upcoming school year I would be enrolled in an internship class. My sisters best friend works downtown at an event planning business and tells my sister how much she loves her job every day. Event planners coordinate meetings and conventions, ensure the functionality of written and visual materials, hire speakers and presenters and much more. So with school starting in a few weeks I told my teacher I was interested in event planning.

Just a little bit more about me, my full name is Gabrielle but mostly everyone calls me Gabby. I have a family of 6, two brothers and one sister. Yes, I am the baby of the family which is very nice because our house is quiet with everyone moved out. My sister is the oldest, she is a dental hygienist and very successful. My brother Tyler has a very good job at cessna and is still in school. My other brother Aaron is currently in the Air Force, he is stationed in Alaska but got orders for Panama City. We visited Alaska this summer and I took my senior pictures up in the mountains, it was definitely one in a life-time experience. I come from a small town and wouldn’t trade it for anything. The Friday nights here are something that I’ll miss the most about being a high schooler. I’ve grew up with the same people for 12 years and going to college will be such a different experience.

So here I am writing this blog, we are in our first week of school and it has been so bittersweet being a senior. We start our internship September 14 and I will be going to the Marriott which is in downtown every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. My class of 17 students is the first to ever experience this opportunity. I can tell that everyone is just waiting to see if they’re going to like it. I personally am a bit nervous, just meeting so many people and experiencing something that I have never done before gives me hope that this is for me.  I get nervous around big groups of people but I’m hoping I can overcome that fear. Other than that I’m very outgoing once you get to me. It’s going to take a lot of perseverance but I fully believe that I can do it. Event planners don’t make a lot but I’m hoping to maybe make my own business and making more.

During this experience I hope I get to learn how to propose ideas and conversate with clients to identify their needs. For event planning you need time management and communication skills and the ability to manage multiple projects independently. If I find myself not having these skills or it just wasn’t for me it still will be an unforgettable experience. Another thing I’m excited for is weddings, I love weddings. Just seeing a couple who are so in love and being able to share that experience with them is so amazing.

My plan is to go to college and get a bachelors in communications or public relations. Getting a bachelors in communications can lead to so many different job areas, such as journalism, writing and many more. If it doesn’t go like I plan than my other option is to be a flight attendant, I’m not sure why but I’ve always wanted to be one. I know a lot of people who’ve gone into it and I’ve heard nothing but good things. It’s only a few months of school and you’re ready to go. I mean you get free trips out of it and get to travel the world so why not!    

Thanks for letting me share a little bit of my life. I know this experience will go well because I’m outgoing and love meeting new people so this job seems to fit me well. Event planning is all about your attitude and how you interact with people, and communications skills is something that is hard to be perfect at but I know I’ll be able to work on it!