Today is my last day as a Brock Communications intern. This summer went by faster than I thought possible, but I guess that’s how things like this always go. You begin something new and exciting and then, just like that, it’s over and it’s time to move on to the next adventure. And yes, I would call my internship with Brock an adventure. Not necessarily in the traditional sense, but in the sense that these past few months were full of experiences I had never known before. All too soon, I will head back to Nashville, Tennessee to begin my junior year at Vanderbilt University. Of course I’m excited for what this year holds, but I am still sad to see such an enriching experience come to an end.
I learned more this summer than I ever expected to in such a short span of time. The interesting part is that I didn’t just learn what I was intentionally taught. I absorbed everything around me, as though learning through osmosis. I didn’t even realize how much working knowledge of the PR industry I had acquired until a few weeks ago, when a cousin of mine asked me for advice about his business’ social media. All of the sudden I realized I had a great deal to share with him.
I have been a nanny and a student worker, but prior to interning at Brock I had never worked in a professional environment. In addition to everything I learned about public relations, I also learned a lot about the office environment. I understand that dressing professionally helps put one in a more productive mindset. I also came to appreciate the varied strengths of each member of our team. I learned that introverts and extroverts have different, yet equally important, things to contribute to the conversation. My coworkers and I formed friendships. While our workdays were always productive, they were oftentimes fun as well. We would chat and laugh while checking items off our to-do lists. This was one of my favorite things about working at Brock. The open work environment made it such a pleasant experience. It also removed barriers to learning, as I was never afraid to ask questions of my superiors. I knew I would be met with honest, thoughtful answers. If I didn’t know how to do something, somebody was always willing to teach me.
I have come to realize the knowledge I’ve acquired in school and the knowledge I’ve gained this summer are inherently different. In a sense, I learned how to apply the skills I’ve acquired through formal education to tasks I will have to complete throughout my future career. I learned that different types of writing are necessary for different assignments. Press releases are written in a completely different way than, say, this blog post. Both require the ability to write well, but just as important as being an eloquent writer is possessing the ability to adapt one’s writing to the task at hand. This is a skill I perfected this summer. Lisa always says, “We are writers by trade.” This emphasis placed on writing as an essential skill for success in PR has helped me grow as a writer. From mastering AP style, to speeding up my writing process, this experience has made me a better writer overall.
To anyone contemplating applying for an internship with Brock Communications, I say this: you will be hard-pressed to find a more enriching, educational summer experience. I will miss the days I spent here, but I am better prepared for the future because of them.