It all started with a sticker.
Growing up, I was obsessed with stickers. It didn’t matter what kind, though the 80s scratch ‘n sniff scented ones (the popcorn and pizza were my absolute favorites) were my faves. And I honestly believe that it was a sticker of a grumpy old lady that helped launch my career as a magazine writer—and her name was Maxine.
Created by Hallmark artist John Wagner, Maxine was the ultimate patron saint of giving zero fucks. She was funny and super snarky — qualities that my Mom (and my newly 20-something self) could appreciate. Each time my Mom would find a new sticker, she’d excitedly ask me if I already had it. In a way, Maxine wasn’t just a cartoon character— she was yet another way in which Mom and I bonded.
Now, I always knew I wanted to be a writer. But being a teenage girl who loved going to bookstores didn’t exactly make me the most popular person at Forest Hills High School. I got along with almost everyone at school, but apart from my beloved best friend Lana, I hadn’t found my tribe…until I stumbled across Sassy Magazine.
Sassy was for girls who were smart, slightly offbeat, and unapologetically quirky. As I devoured every issue, I knew that I needed to work there. At that point in my college career, the only working experience I had was being a cashier in a supermarket. Still, I wasn’t going to talk myself out of something that spoke directly to my soul. And so in between weighing watermelons on a Met Food scale, I crafted a basic resume and a cover letter that took me almost two weeks to write.
I put my application in an envelope, gagged on the gross glue as I licked it, and that’s when I spotted some Maxine stickers on my desk, and something just clicked.
Maxine was going to help me land the editorial internship.
One Maxine sticker stood out from the rest. It said, quite literally:
“Write back or don’t even bother reading this.”
Sure, it was a risky move. Either the staff were going to get the joke, or think I was a ballsy bitch. And then I thought: “F*** it. Either this is going to get me that editorial internship, or it will kill my chances of ever working in media.” And so I slapped the sticker onto the envelope and mailed it.
Weeks went by and with each passing day, I regretted my decision even more. As it turns out, though, putting the Maxine sticker on the envelope wasn’t such a dumb decision after all. Mary Kaye Schilling (who we officially called “Mom”) sent me a letter (yes, a letter) stating that the magazine had already filled their fall semester spots — but that I could apply for a spring internship if I wanted to.
Did I want to? You’re damn right I did.
I officially became a Sassy intern in the spring semester of my junior year in college. Sure, I sorted mail most of the time, but just being there soothed a part of my soul that I didn’t know needed TLC. I finally felt like I was home. And when Margie, who was a senior editor, assigned a book review for me to write, I officially became a published magazine writer.
I learned a lot from that time in my life. I learned to be brave when I was cringing inside, and to believe in myself enough to take a risk when the reward wasn’t guaranteed. Because even if I didn’t accomplish my original goal, it got me back to something greater — myself.