On the Rise: Ariana DeFranc

On the Rise: Ariana DeFranc
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We're big fans of our summer intern Ariana DeFranc! She's studying business at Tulane with an interest in marketing. Ariana gets what RECESS is all about because she lives an on-the-go lifestyle, is into fitness, eating well and we like getting a new perspective! We asked her a few questions to get to know her better and find out what drives her.  

As a young woman in college and early in your career what are you looking for when you look for jobs?
First and foremost I am looking for a job where people are happy at work. To me, the work environment is extremely important I hope to be part of a creative, motivated, and upbeat team with people who are eager to come in to work every day. Through my two years in business school so far, I have realized I want to approach marketing from a creative lens. I love all things branding, social media, and coming up with new and exciting ideas to market to people my age. I also feel strongly about working for a company I am passionate about! As a health and wellness guru, RECESS is a company that I genuinely support and love! I am looking for a place I can not only help the company but help other women look and feel like their best selves.

Growing up was there something you were particularly good at that you look at and think it helped shape your work ethic or how you approach a project?
Definitely! I have been a dancer since I was 3 years old. Growing up, I had to skip after-school sports for most seasons to accommodate for all the hours of dance I was taking. Sometimes I felt like I was missing the “typical high school experience”, and seeing the comradely of high school sports teams could sometimes be hard. However, I learned that it’s more than okay to be different and do my own thing. Dance was what fueled my fire. Performing a dance I felt good about was when I felt the most confident. As someone who was always shy growing up, year by year dancing helped grow my confidence and allowed me to express myself authentically.

How do you break up your day while working/ going to school?
Implementing small things to look forward to is how I break up my day! I always make sure I take a break to go outside. Even if it’s just a quick break to get coffee on campus, nothing rejuvenates me more than some fresh air - especially after being on zoom all day! I also like to get moving every day, preferably in the morning. I rarely start my school/workday until about 11 a.m - I prioritize time for moving my body, and making a big fueling breakfast:) If it's a lighter day work-wise, I love getting lunch with a friend to get my daily dose of socializing and sunshine.

What support from other women or mentors do you wish you had? Or questions you'd like answered?
I would love to know from women in their 20’s or 30’s about the transition to post-grad life. Taking a few classes a day and working a part-time job is very different than a strict 9-5 corporate schedule. What are the biggest challenges? What is the best part about post-grad life?

If you could give advice to yourself a few years ago what would it be?
1. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, and
2. don’t be so hard on yourself. Through high school (and college), I was always so stressed that I wasn’t taking the right classes, the right extracurriculars, applying to the right schools/jobs…etc. I wish I could tell myself to just follow my passions and the rest will work. Most opportunities come unexpectedly. When you put your best foot forward the rest usually will fall into place. You are exactly where you need to be right now; stop worrying about the future, and take it day by day. Easier said than done, but I recommend everyone remind themself of this :)

What's your RECESS?
While I love all types of movement, cycling is definitely my ultimate RECESS. Walking out of a spin class drenched in sweat and high on endorphins is a feeling that doesn’t compare to anything else. I feel energized, confident, and ready for just about anything. l of my worries seem to disappear for the 45 minutes I am on the bike, whether it be in a studio or home alone on my peloton. Most importantly, I leave knowing I did something good for my body. If nothing else went my way that day, at least I got to release some endorphins and feel proud of myself!

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