[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLKwUQ0Bs0]
Anyone else cringe watching last night’s debut episode of NYC Prep, the Gossip-Girl-like addition to the Bravo lineup of not-your-reality television? The series delves into the charmed lives of wealthy New York city private school teens, and their lone public/magnet school friend.
As the New York Times noted, as self-assured and ‘go-getter’ as the characters try to come off, their teen angst and anxiety can’t help but permeate their every interaction. And that’s okay– because they are, well, teenagers, after all! But since they’re putting it all out there for us to critique, I’ll have to comment. Some of the most cringeworthy moments of the episode– seen in the above clip– centered on what the girls considered effective networking strategies, e.g., Taylor staging an awkward mixer to help her social status; Jessie bulldozing her way around a fashion party to meet only “people in the business”; and Camille randomly showing up at a date between PC and Kelli in an attempt to buff up her Harvard application. Oh dear. As we say in the South, Bless their hearts. Not a very Go-Getter Girl way to go about things– especially the fact that they are confessing all their tactical maneuvers to the camera!
You have to applaud Jessie and Camille’s desire to get out there and make connections. Their mini-grown-up lives have introduced them to nothing if not the reality that ‘who-you-know matters’ sometimes. But they could use some pointers in the “savvy” department. For example, in the clip here, Camille had this priceless line: “If PC could help me out with Operation Smile and getting on the Board, I think that would make this dinner really productive.” Ugh! Note to the ladies of NYC Prep: Networking at its best is about simply building relationships. It is free-flowing and not overtly quid-pro-quo and favor-/ job-seeking. When it starts getting so transactional (“Hi, my name is Camille. What can you do for me?”), everyone gets uncomfortable. And, even if you get what you want, or think you want, that time, people will probably be less apt to help you down the line if you come across as too self-serving or, well, obnoxious. As you’ll learn probably the second you walk onto your college campuses, the folks you meet now are going to be there through all the ups and downs of your career. And, being decent, cordial, and open-minded to new people will benefit you more in the long run than being a status-seeking missile (ahem, Taylor).
Anyway, just some food for thought. Clearly, I’ll be tuning in next for another installment of NYC Prep!
