Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Koern.
Hi Mia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My parents exposed me to travel at an early age, so my sophomore year of college, I started adventure venturing on my own. My first trip was flying to NYC during finals week for the filming of a Food Network show. Then when my study abroad was canceled in summer 2020 because of Covid, I discovered seasonal work. This leads me to securing and flying to Alaska with only 48 hours notice.
I worked in the largest American national park (Wrangell St Elias), 8 hours from a city and in a town with 40 residents. I served at a lodge 2 miles from a glacier. The summers have 18 hours of light and are about 70 degrees, so I enjoyed glacier hiking, mountain climbing, ice cave exploring, spinning fire and biking. I loved this experience so much that I decided to continue seasonal work post-graduation. I’m currently working on an island off of the east coast called Block Island. I’m bartending at a beach with coworkers from all over the world (South Africa, Jamaica, England, Romania, Columbia, etc). I’m taking the time I have as young person without kids or a spouse to explore and travel.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest struggle is constantly working through the thoughts of missing out on the life I built in Texas. The transition from college into adulthood is arguably one of the largest and hardest moves I’ve gone through. The life I built and the people I’ve always known suddenly have ‘disappeared’ because I’ve chosen this path of exploration. I miss out on time and events with the people I love and cherish. Strong relationships have faded and sometimes I feel in a daze. I also have to work through the decision of not going directly into my degree field of public relations post-college. My life goals have suddenly shifted as I drift from wanting to work for big brands in the city. Covid has opened up the question of whether or not I want to spend my life manipulating words through mass communication. What keeps me moving is remembering that growth only comes from not being afraid of the uncomfortable and unknown.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Regardless of where I am or what I’m doing, I like having experiences that are different than the norm. Fortune favors the bold. I enjoy storytelling and the people I meet and the experiences I have to allow for entertaining conversations. I don’t get embarrassed and try to be consistent. Iconic is my favorite word and I remember it when making wild decisions. Even with rejection, I get back up to move forward. When I was focusing on PR, I worked on campaigns for Tinder, Pizza Hut, Matthew McConaughey and local businesses. Now that I’m focusing on adventure traveling, I’ve been to Alaska, an island, through the Appalachians and many, many mini trips. I want my next move to be overseas in Europe and Australia!
How do you think about luck?
Hahaha! I’m very easy-going. If I fail, I fail and keep moving. If I succeed, I succeed and keep moving. I’m not a huge planner because I feel as if my environment reflects my mindset and that everything will always work out for me in the end. “Luck” is exactly that and not a coincidence. Luck is just your thoughts manifesting into your physical environment. I also don’t really believe there’s such thing as bad luck, just a detour to my next destination.
Contact Info:
- Email: mia.koern@hotmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/miakoern
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/miakoern
