I recently stalked our newest editor, Jessica Pribush on AIM and asked her to spill all her dirty little secrets to our AC fans. Though her secrets weren’t scandalous, I did get to know her a little better. And now you can too!

10:05 AM

Brittany: Welcome to the AC family! How does it feel to be on staff?

Jessica: I feel like I’m home! We spend so much time together and work together on so many things, I feel like I have a whole new group of sisters to share everything with. Sappy answer, I know, but it’s the truth! Plus, I get to combine two things I’ve always been passionate about (writing and cheering) and make a career out of it. What could be better?!

10:15 AM

Brittany: Did you ever think that you’d end up at AC?

Jessica: No way! When I was younger, I was obsessed with cheerleading. So when I recieved each issue of AC in the mail I read it cover to cover…it was like the cheerleading bible! I never imagined I’d actually be a part of what makes this mag so great.

10:20 AM

Brittany: So, when you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Jessica: I actually really wanted to be an interior designer. I even had business cards printed up for my own company, “Deck the Halls,” complete with the word interior spelled wrong!

Brittany: Do you still like to decorate?

Jessica: I do! I like anything where I can use my creativity. I like to write fiction, put together new outfits from old pieces of my wardrobe and I usually make every birthday and Christmas card that I send.

10:40 AM

Brittany: What would you say are the best and worst things about your job?

Jessica: The best thing about my job is that I get to talk about cheerleading all day with people who are just as passionate about it. The hardest thing is having to watch athletes compete and not being out there performing for crowds myself.

10:45 AM

Brittany: Speaking of your cheer life, can you tell us a little about your time as an athlete?

Jessica: I started cheering in 2nd grade, because my older sister was a cheerleader. She and her teammates would put me up in stunts and I loved it. In 8th grade I joined the Central Jersey All-Stars and cheered with them for 3 years. I joined the gymnastics and cheering team at my HS and when I graduated, I cheered for Kean University as well as on the Open Team for CJA for 2 years. Even though I stopped cheer to put more focus on my future career, I continued to coach a Pop Warner team in my town.

10:55 AM

Brittany: So, besides cheer, what are you passionate about?

Jessica: I’m very passionate about communication. I’m always talking…seriously. Whether I’m Facebook IMing my sisters, or video chatting with my friends, I’m constantly connected with everyone that’s close to me. My boyfriend actually teases me sometimes, because he can barely get a word in!

11:10 AM

Brittany: I can tell…right now, you’re putting up web content, typing out an e-mail and answering my questions all at once! What a multi-tasker! What’s one thing people might not know about you?

Jessica: I always root for the underdog (or sidekick). Ever since I was little, I would never like who everyone else liked. I like Robin better than Batman, Squidword better than SpongeBob and the yellow Power Ranger better than the pink one!

Brittany: Do you see yourself as the underdog then?

Jessica: I actually don’t. I’m usually the most confident and outspoken person in the group! But because I’m always putting myself out there, I’m also extremely vulnerable and tend to be a little naive, which causes me to feel insecure at times.

11:35 AM

Brittany: So what are you obsessed with right now?

Jessica: The band The Rocket Summer. Their music is such a perfect fit for the season. The lyrics not only describe the actual feelings that summer brings, but the beats of the songs themselves help me relax in the sun or rev me up for a night out with friends. They’re very versatile. The song “Brat Pack” is a favorite of mine—It perfectly describes my group of friends! LOL!

Brittany: What was the last thing you bought?

Jessica: Plane tickets to Florida for my boyfriend and me. We’re visiting my sister, his family, and Mickey Mouse while we’re down there!

11:55 AM

Brittany: You were recently a college student…what advice would you give other college kids who are looking to go into magazine publishing after they graduate?

Jessica: You absolutely need experience. Whether it’s working on your school paper (which I highly recommend) or interning for a big-time magazine, you need to get writing clips. Plus, all those journalism courses can’t prepare you fully for what’s really out there. You have to go above and beyond to get real life experience, that’s what will put you in the mindset you’ll need to pursue a career in this field.

Brittany: And finally, what’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Jessica: My mom always taught me to “be who you are, not who people want you to be.” Although there were times, mostly in high school, where I forgot who I was in order to be more popular or to fit in with a new set of friends, I’ve finally learned that it doesn’t matter what people stereotype you as, or who they think you are, as long as you know you’re being you. If you aren’t happy with yourself, no one else can be happy with you either.

**Do you have questions for Jessica? If so, leave them in the comment box below!

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