I’ve been a relentless, academically focused student since kindergarten, which has never left me a lot of time to pursue my favorite hobby: writing. I would always write when I had a chance, between poems for school assemblies, articles for the school paper (when I could), and random stories saved but never published in my Word Documents application. But those writings were far and few between due to the stern academic goals and standards I set for myself—I’ve never been able to settle for anything below an A, a 90, or a 3.6 GPA, so academics is very time consuming to say the least.
When I got to St. John’s this past fall in 2015, my best friend discovered a website that combined my two favorite things—food and writing. A born and raised Staten Islander, I’ve been surrounded by delicious foods and am constantly snapping pictures of them, wanting to share them with more than a few Yelp followers. And Spoon allows me to do that, so that friends and friends of friends and all New Yorkers for that matter, can read what this New York local has to say about where and what to eat in this dense city.
But beyond the general love I have for Spoon and my ah-mazing HQ, the SJU chapter is the best of the best and here’s why.
1. Our Marketing Director, Lauren Majid aka my best friend.
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This girl is not only my heart and soul but she is also the reason SJU even has a Spoon University Chapter. When she discovered Spoon she was determined to get SJU on their list of chapters, and when I mean determined I mean determined.
Lauren would go up to every table at the dining hall during breakfast, lunch, and dinner just to get enough signatures for a spoon chapter to be created. She became known as the “Spoon Girl” around campus and eventually got us enough signatures to be where we are now.
I remember the moment we hit 300 signatures; we were sitting in the dining hall and she started crying. This girl and the heart of Spoon SJU and is the reason we kick ass. We love you Laur. Rock on.
2. Food and Drink Aficionado is your new title.
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Whether you’re comparing sushi burritos in NYC or taste-testing which white wine brand is actually the best, your experiences are all part of your position at Spoon. If you’re a writer your job is to review food/restaurants, write health articles, give food advice and tips to your fellow college students, and eat (duh). Basically, joining Spoon gives you a verified excuse to drink six different types of wine and eat five different slices of pizza in one sitting…It’s research.
3. You don’t have to be a writer to be a part of Spoon SJU.
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Writing is great, but it’s far from the only position you can have at Spoon. We have positions for photographers, videographers, social media and public relations positions, and more behind-the-scenes positions that help our articles and our chapter stand out in a sea of food content across the web.
If you want to be part of the team but writing is not your thing, apply, talk to our team, and we will help find a place for you. We got you bro.
4. You can put those VSCO skills to use.
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All those months of editing cheeseburger selfies (perfectly) can actually be put to good use now. Original photos and videos can make or break a piece, so when you’re making a recipe or reviewing a restaurant, it’s important that your pictures are as mouthwatering as your descriptions—and that means editing them to perfection.
So next time your friends or family mock you for standing on the booth to get the perfect angle of your mac n cheese, you can throw it back in their face that you’re just doing your job (or show them the views on your last article).
5. #SquadGoals
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Not only are our articles killer but also our team is f*cking awesome. We are a group of passionate, motivated young people dedicated to loving food and sharing what we learn about it with the world. If you live on or near the SJU campus, you are always invited to attend meetings and events to see what we’re all about. Our creative team is made up of some of the most motivated individuals you’ll find at SJU—and who are also always down for a meal. If you join our team you will always have a brunch buddy.
6. Have yourself the golden egg of resumes.
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When applying for a job after college you know your future employers are going to be scanning the sh*t out of your resume looking to see that you did more than take shots and make easy mac for the past four years. A killer internship will definitely set you apart from the rest, and Spoon can help you land one.
Not only can you apply for an internship at HQ—which is conveniently located in NYC close to our SJU chapter—but the fact that you’re a member of our chapter and have a byline or a backlog of work as part of an already large but ever-growing organization on your resume can help you land a position anywhere you might want to work in the food world or elsewhere.
Working with Spoon shows that you are engaged, have social media and computer skills, writing skills, photography skills, etc. The Spoon University name has weight behind it (they have close relationships with major companies like Food Network and Snapchat). So you can write about your cake and eat it too? Hell yeah.
7. #NeverForks
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Spoon University is one of the best decisions I ever made while in college. Not only was I able to start a chapter with my best friend but also maintain a 3.8 GPA and write when inspiration hits me.
Our team is very helpful and understands the pressure college classes can have on a student, so if you write five articles one month and only three the next, as long as you speak to your editor, they get it. We are all in the same boat. We are all just college kids trying to enjoy food, get good grades, and share our experiences with the world.
Joining Spoon University has opened doors for me professionally that would never have even been considered without it. Not only does our individual chapter have events but also Spoon HQ itself has events—that everyone is invited to get involved with.
Another plus about joining Spoon SJU is that St. John’s University is only a train ride away from the most cultured and delicious city in the world. There’s always something to write about when you’re that close to the motherland.
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So if you’re clever, hungry, need an awesome boost on your resume, and want some kick ass friends, apply here!
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And remember, #NeverForks.