By Drea Braxmeier
Manager of Media Relations

Growing up, there is always one constant in life. Each fall, you head back to school without a second thought. Well, that is every fall until you graduate. After finishing my fabulous internship with the AJGA, I became a productive member of society (at least that’s what I like to tell myself). Ready or not, I joined the ranks of the “real world.”

Drea with intern teammate Darrell Smith at Pacific Dunes in Bandon, Ore.

During my awesome summer hanging out with all the West Coasters, I didn’t give too much thought to what I was going to do afterwards. But when August rolled around, my dad started giving me the “You’re a college graduate now” routine. I’m not sure what he meant, but it sounded like I was about to be living on the harsh (not to mention cold) streets of Pennsylvania once I came back in September.

I knew at this point that I was interested in working for the AJGA, and luckily they were interested in having me work for them, too. So as I watched my end-of-summer traveling companions hack their way around Pacific Dunes, I received “the call” and started thinking about my move to Georgia. This was the beginning of September and I was to start work three weeks later. YIKES!

After making the trek from Portland to Atlanta, I made a pit stop in Athens to watch the mighty South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Watching “USC” lose was heartbreaking, but I headed back North to see my family and get my little car ready for the move.

With my iPod and iTrip in hand, my little Toyota Corolla and I were ready for the 800-mile drive. I moved into Apartment No. 1 and was ready to start work (after another jaunt to Columbia, of course, this time to watch the Gamecocks defeat Troy).

Drea was brought on at the AJGA for many reasons, including the fact that she is always excited to be at work.

I really was looking forward to beginning my first real job. After years of babysitting (and begging my dad) for a “living,” I was ready for the challenge of an actual job. There are so many great things about working for the AJGA that it’s not tough to get up in the morning and head to work.

• After being on the job for a month and a half, I still have yet to be in the office a full week. Whether being on the road or at class, there is so much going on.

• I love that my department starts talking about lunch at 10 every morning. I just had breakfast, but there’s nothing wrong with a little food chatter to get your day started.

• Being on the road and watching the kids who are the future of the game is great. I can’t wait to say, “I gave him a Code of Conduct back in the day.”

• The weather is much better than up North. I’m always cold, so I’m hoping that my fingers won’t turn white down here (don’t ask).

• You definitely can’t beat the people that work here. When you need help moving (for the second time) or are in dire need of a washing machine, they are there to help.

No complaints about the real world yet. The job is fun and I’m still learning a lot everyday. I’m ready to get the rest of the new hires in (that way, I won’t be the newbie anymore) and to see all the great things that lie ahead in 2006.