Brianna Karp, 24, has a surprising story to tell about how blogging has affected her life significantly. In July 2008, Brianna was laid off from her job as an executive assistant. She lived off her savings and unemployment as well as working temp jobs until her money began to run out. All she had left was an old trailer that was left when her father committed suicide. She took what she had left and began camping in a Walmart parking lot in Los Angeles. Brianna still had her laptop computer which helped her pump out resumes as well as getting her started in the blogging industry. She used the free connection at coffee shops in order to help her find work. This is where she began to write her blog, the Girl’s Guide to Homelessness. This blog holds the stories that make up her new life. She mainly wrote the blog just for fun, not knowing that anyone would read it. To her surprise, Matt Barnes, a formerly homeless man now running his own website, asked her to write for his website about homelessness.
She also auditioned for a shot on a reality television show that would give contestants the chance to work with Elle magazine and their advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Brianna did receive the opportunity to get an interview, but that did not go well on her part. Then, Brianna wrote to E. Jean Carroll asking for advice on how to get another shot after totally failing in a job interview. Carroll found Brianna’s story very interesting, and decided to offer her an internship for the fashion blog in the magazine.
"She's a voice we haven't heard, and I'm excited for her future."
This statement by Carroll describes Brianna in a wonderful way. She works so hard and is happy to be able to spread the word of homelessness and her story to other people. Brianna is still looking for a full-time job and somewhere else to stay, but things are looking up for her.
This is a very inspirational story about someone staying positive wherever they are in life. Even though this woman was homeless she didn't let that stop her from doing something she liked, blogging. It is amazing that Matt Barnes found her blog and was able to offer her a job. With so many negative stories about identity theft, etc. going on because of the Internet, it is nice to hear about a positive story that probably wouldn't have happened without the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard this story until I read your blog, Eden. This woman sounds like she has been through a lot: living in a Wal-Mart parking lot with no money, in her deceased father's trailer?
ReplyDeleteI admire her for keeping hope and not giving up trying to find a job.
Like Titus said, it is nice to hear about the internet doing something good for someone. It seems like only the negative stories get the limelight.
I hope things turn out well for her. If you find anything else out, keep me posted, please.
Eden,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting blog to read. It’s really nice to see her trying to turn her life around instead of just giving up. It’s occasionally hard for me to feel sorry for certain people that are homeless when they don’t try and do anything to improve their situation. I have had a personal experience with a homeless man that sums up my frustration with people that don’t do anything to help themselves and wallow in self pity. I was with an aunt of mine and a homeless man approached us for money to buy food. My aunt said that we would take the homeless man into a nearby deli instead to buy him lunch. The man became very angry and stormed off because as it turned out he only wanted the money to buy alcohol. I know that for the most part people want to get off the streets, but there are some that are just feeding the cycle and not trying hard enough.