Intern Diaries: Mina Z.

The knots in my stomach were evident as I walked into the office building for the first time. At that moment, I felt more unprepared and anxious than I had ever been. I was not sure what to expect because I had not met Jenna or had previous Public Relations experience before that very Monday. As I waited for Jenna on the yellow couch in the lobby, I had a brief moment of self-doubt. Being aware of my subpar creativity skills and my quiet nature, I was not confident that I would survive in the World of Public Relations.

After my first day, I realized two things:

1.    I would learn something new every day.

2.    I would be challenged personally.

Jenna successfully created an environment that fosters professional and personal growth. As I continue to work with Jenna, my professional knowledge increases and essential skills (writing, critical thinking, etc.) strengthen. She allocates different projects for me to complete daily, from press mockups to social media to research and everything in between. Some projects were more foreign than others, but Jenna is patient in giving directions. She answers every question I have kindly, even if she heard it often.

“Mina, we are going to get you out of your shell.” Jenna said those words to me on my first day, and they still resonate with me. Public Relations is a fast-paced industry, add on top working in a city with 8.5 million people, my quiet nature would be disastrous to my career. Jenna knew that, so she strategically worked with me to overcome the fear of being in the spotlight. She includes me in activities every chance she gets, and some really cause me to get out my comfort zone. While these moments can feel uncomfortable, I will forever be grateful for Jenna’s mentorship, because it allows me to discover a new side of myself.

The time I’m spending at JMG is transforming me in many ways; I walked in on my first day timid and quiet, I will walk out extroverted and most importantly, proud, of both my work and myself. 

Mina Z.