Welcome Summer Intern

My name is Alex Barnett I am 22 years old, in August I will graduate with a bachelor's degree in recreation and parks management with a minor in communication studies and a concentration in event planning; despite having walked on May 4th and celebrating with family already. As a child I was raised in the kitchen and any event with my family was a major event. I am the youngest of a split family, my parents divorced when I was about eleven and both remarried. 

When I was around thirteen I was no longer the only child but rather the youngest of ten. This has instilled the concept of love and acceptance in me and has assisted in my love of planning. Before being the youngest child my grandmothers both included me in the planning of big holiday and birthday parties. 

As a senior in high school I was part of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America during this time I planned my first large event. This was a masquerade ball for 65 assisted living and memory care residents at Currituck House, in Moyock North Carolina. Despite the negative opinions of the event all of the residents attended and had a great time. This was nearly six years ago now and residents still reminisce about the dance. This was the first dance the facility had, and after the fact I received a lot of positive feedback, that pushed me to want to continue using events to put smiles on people’s faces. 

Today I am excited to say I am beginning my internship with a world class planner, a UNCG professor, and a personal inspiration; Jennifer Ball. As soon as I walked into her classroom on the first day of her special events and planning class I knew that I wanted to be just like Jenn, as her class progressed I decided it had been easily my favorite in my college career. This still stands, and I hope to learn so much more throughout my internship, I look forward to learning about keeping an active internet presence, writing good blog posts, understand the breakdown of an event budget, how to find my own worth and how to use that to price my own services later, how I can start my own company in the future, and as much else as Jennifer can pour into me in a short few months. 

Welcome Summer Practicum

Hi, my name is Alyson Kelly. I am from Snow Camp, NC. It is right outside of Burlington. I really enjoy doing outside things. I love going to Cedarock Park that is right down the road from my house. I love hiking on the trails that the park has to offer. I had just recently hiked up Hanging Rock and it was amazing. I have been to Hanging Rock but I have never hiked up the Hanging Rock Trail. I go camping a few times a year, in the fall and early spring and summer. After that it gets too hot to camp. Me and my family want to camp all the state parks. I also have hanging with my family and friends. Me and my friends are always doing something. It either going shopping being all girly or were going fishing in the middle of a cow pasture. There is no between. Finally, I love to travel.  The furthest I have been so far has been South Dakota for a mission trip. But this summer me and my best friend are going to the Bahamas, this will both our first time out of the country. I love going to the beach. Me and my family try to go to a different every year.

For my personality, I can be outgoing. When you first meet you may seem I am shy and

not outgoing. Once you get to know I can be that outgoing self and sometimes I may event talk too much. I am the most outgoing person in my family and friends. One time I went to a family gathering and my aunt had told me that I am the life of the party. I am always making somebody life. I am always laughing at something. When I am with my friends there is never a dull moment. I am always doing something crazy or I am saying something.

I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I am studying Community Recreation and Special Event Planning with a minor in Communication Studies. I had picked this career because I love seeing event come together and love seeing the clients face when we are finishing setting up for their event. Another thing I like doing something different, so by working in the event industry this normally changes every six months.

The reason I picked Knot Your Average Events for my internship is because they allow you to do hands on stuff. I am allowed to set up on the day of the event, talk to the bride, etc. When I knew I was able to do hands on stuff I was like I must take this. I did not want to just walk around and watch to gain experience. What I want to get out of this internship is gain hands on experience. I want to meet different vendors so I can already know some people when I get out on my own. Also, I want to know how to create a layout for an event.