Andalusia High School alumna Courtney Finley is living her best life in Los Angeles after graduating from Auburn University in May.

Finley researched and worked hard looking for an internship in Hollywood for a year and a half before narrowing her picks down to Full Picture Media Company.

“I knew that I wanted to go to L.A. and at least try and get an internship,” Finley said. “So I started researching like crazy and met this person who gave me a list of companies that were looking for interns in my field.”

Finley majored in communications with a minor in Spanish and psychology and found her passion for event planning while working in Alexander City her sophomore year of college.

“I feel like I finally found my place working at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce during the summer of my sophomore year,” Finley said. “They let me assist with the summer event planning and I absolutely fell in love with it. I then joined the Church of the Highlands in Auburn and led One Night, a night for college students at the church, and it just felt like it all worked itself out.”

Full Picture is a media company that works with brand management, production, public relations, consulting and they coordinate red carpet events. They have worked with several high-end clients including Google, Victoria’s Secret, Maybelline, A&E Networks, Kim Kardashian and Vitamin Water.

“I am acting as a publicist for them,” Finley said. “They kind of throw me into whatever they need me to do. I really enjoy what I’m doing, especially being able to be a part of the public relations side of the job.”

Finley said that Full Picture is not hiring in her department when she finishes her internship, but they have been working hard to make sure she finds a job in L.A.

“I work with the most amazing staff,” Finley said. “They are so hands on and they are working really hard to try to help me make some good connections.”

After the internship, Finley hopes to stay in a big city and work as an event planner.

“I really want to keep my options open,” Finley said. “But hopefully I will either stay in L.A. or find myself in New York City or Nashville. Either way I want to be event planning because I love it so much.”

Other than work, Finley said that her goal this summer is to experience L.A. as much as she can.

“I don’t know if I’ll stay here, so I want to experience as much of it as possible,” Finley said. “Every weekend and whenever I’m not at work I am always doing as many touristy things that I can just to immerse myself in the city.”

Finley’s favorite things about the city are the weather are her group of friends that she has made while she has been there.

“I am obsessed with the weather,” Finley said. “It is not like in South Alabama where it rains one minute then it stops. It literally never rains and it is the perfect temperature. I made the most amazing friend group as well. It is just a good combination of friends that are always willing to go sight see or do the same things I do.”

Finley is the daughter of Kandice Finley and Mike Finley.