Intern Diary: Riley

All in a chaotic week, I went from struggling to find an internship to then being welcomed into the JMGPR team. I was drawn to JMGPR because of their clear showcase of community, hard work, and innovation. In my opinion, I thought my interview with them was the worst interview I have ever done. Obviously, it was not–because I am writing this now–but, it also served as an example that being nervous is okay and being transparent about your anxieties is even better. While hard to believe, the interviewer is most likely sharing similar feelings. However, after all that, I received my internship offer, to which I felt an overwhelming sense of motivation and solidarity for the path that I was on. Therefore, I went in headfirst and started my summer internship with JMGPR.

The way JMGPR engages and treats their employees, I believe, reflects their success as a PR firm. As an intern, I was treated with the same respect as those who have worked there for years. To be a little more personal and transparent, I have been going through some health struggles this summer, causing me to need to take time away from work for doctor's appointments, medical tests, etc., which my Account Executive, Kristen, has been so gracious and understanding of. I think what many organizations forget is that their employees are human and deal with circumstances out of their control. The kindness I have received while already going through a stressful time has made me want to work harder. In my opinion, the mutual respect between company and employee is a partnership that fosters better work.

There is also importance in cultivating a team of hard-working, goal-oriented people with a strong work ethic, which JMGPR has also achieved. The people I work with are incredible. They exude authenticity and passion in what they do, while also making room for mistakes and fun. Which is the exact same space that is created by the companies we work with. I am finding that work is way less strenuous when you are promoting and supporting organizations with similar standards and moral grounds as you. Many of our clients provide innovative, motivational, unique enterprising all with the same positive attitude as JMGPR.

Oftentimes, internships are to fulfill a degree requirement. Many students look for their internships with solely this in mind. However, the experience I had with JMGPR turned out to be so much more. All of the work I did led to a tangible outcome. Outcomes that I will be able to place in my toolkit as I continue my journey. So, thank you to Jenna for this awesome opportunity and to the rest of the JMGPR team, for being so dang groovy!