Intern Diaries: Alyssa I.
Ever since I have switched majors at the start of my college career, I’ve had the most amazing time pursuing what I actually want. Sure, majoring in Supply Chain Management would have been a great opportunity, but my heart wasn’t in the classes I took. I knew I wanted to pursue Communication, but I was unsure of which field exactly. After speaking to multiple academic advisors, I finally set my sight on public relations. It was something unknown, but after completing multiple PR classes, I had come to realize that PR was something I could enjoy doing for a long time. I knew I wanted to be in a creative field, but I also wanted a job that was challenging and always kept me on my toes.
During my last fall semester at school, I knew I needed an internship. I already felt behind compared to my other peers ever since I switched majors, so now was the time to intern. I kept searching the Internet for internship opportunities until I landed on JMG PR’s homepage. I also did a bit of Instagram stalking (who doesn’t these days?), and I immediately fell in love with their New York City vibe. I decided to send a message on their website to see if they were hiring spring interns, and after setting up an interview with Lauren, I started getting nervous as I only knew the fundamentals of PR. I didn’t have extensive internship experience like other students in my class. Later on, I was accepted as one of JMG’s spring interns, and I couldn’t believe it! I was so excited that I had to call my mom during work (sorry, Mom!).
One of my goals was to work in the city, and that very much came true when I stepped foot into JMG’s office for the first time. Of course, I didn’t know what to expect as this was my first internship, but I could tell everyone was super friendly and welcoming. Working in an office with people who constantly radiate positivity made me feel like I could accomplish a lot despite not having a lot of PR experience. After a few days, I knew right away that this was the place for me. Every day, we pushed each other to complete our projects with resilience while still remaining jovial and light-hearted with each other. I’ll never forget our lightening rounds of 20 questions! Overall, I loved every second working there, and I enjoyed being part of the team.
Although commuting to the office was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekly Zoom calls with Lauren, Frances, and Jenna were such a delight—it almost felt like I was in the office with them! I’m sad I won’t get to see their faces each week, but I hope they know they’ve impacted me in the best way possible.
Key takeaways I’ve learned after interning:
1. Teamwork makes the dreamwork! I know this phrase is super cliché, but it’s true. I had such a great time learning from the other interns there that they’ve also been such great role models to me.
2. Everyone goes at their own pace, so don’t fret over certain things you can’t control. Your time will come, and I’m sure of it!
3. Be prepared (and be excited) to take on what the day throws at you! I had such a great time learning different concepts PR professionals use on a day-to-day basis that it’s made me confident in the work I accomplish. Thanks to Jenna and her team, I now have a hefty portfolio of work I completed during my time there.
-Alyssa I.
