Welcome Frankie!
From the desk of: Frankie Ernest
Hi everyone!
I’m so excited to re-introduce myself as AE’s newest Event Assistant! Some of you may remember me from my time as AE’s Fall 2024 intern. Clearly, four months just wasn’t enough as I was not at all ready to say goodbye to this incredible team. Fast forward six insanely stressful and busy months, and here I am, extremely proud to share that I’ve officially earned my bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and have started this next chapter of my life in Boston!
I won’t lie, post-grad life is weird. For the past 17 years, all I’ve known is school. And that made leaving college pretty hard. I was comfortable on my campus. I had structure with my classes and extracurriculars. And of course, I had the privilege of living with my very best friends that I never wanted to leave (this one has been the hardest to get used to). Although, my semester was so busy that the reality of it all didn’t hit me until I was sitting on the field at graduation in my cap and gown, thinking: How on earth did four years fly by so fast?
Given that graduation was over 3 hours long, I had quite a bit of time to reflect on the last 4 years. Starting at the very beginning, I thought back to freshman year move-in day. As I hugged my parents goodbye my dad gave me one piece of advice. It wasn’t emotional and it didn't quite make sense at the time. It was:
“Make your bed every day.”
At the time, I thought he just didn’t want me to be the dreaded “messy roommate” that people complain to their parents about (I had a bit of a track record at home - just ask my sister who shared a bathroom with me). But over the years, I realized it meant a whole lot more.
Yes, making my bed each morning made my room look aesthetically pleasing and was very nice to return home to. But it also came to represent something deeper: a fresh start to every day. That infamous twin XL bed — the one that somehow barely fit me and all my throw pillows — saw some of my best and worst moments. It saw me walk in my room as my roommates surprised me with champagne and balloons, the day I accepted my job offer. It also saw me try on my cap and gown for the very first time. But on a less positive note, it witnessed me cry after failing my first college exam, and also got to see me crawl into it at 3 a.m. two days before my final thesis was due. And of course, it saw me never leave it on days when college just felt like a little too much.
But no matter what, each morning I got up, made my bed, and moved forward. That one small action reminded me that I was showing up for myself. I was creating routine, building resilience, and taking a step — however small — toward the future I was working for. And even when it wasn't always noticeable, it added up.
Making my bed every day got me exactly where I needed to be — and that’s here, at AE.
As I officially begin this new chapter, I feel the same mix of comfort and nerves I felt starting college. But I’ve made the same promise to myself — and to my dad — to keep making my bed every day. To begin each day with courage, confidence, and a full heart, knowing that I am exactly where I’m meant to be. And while that twin xl bedding has officially been retired after 4 great years, I know that there is a bed in my new Southie apartment, just waiting to be made everyday.
So here’s to fresh starts, small wins, and all that’s ahead. I’m so excited to be back and help plan everyone's beautiful events!
