I can hardly believe it’s been only three months since the start of my internship, when I soon learned that I had no idea what public relations really was or what I had gotten myself into. I think back to my first assignment of building a master media list for a new client and recall the flood of questions that immediately came to mind: What does MML stand for? Why am I looking for journalists? How do I know who to include and who not to? And so on.
With my limited knowledge of PR, I had no choice but to reach out to others for help on nearly every assignment. Even with direction and support, there was still a lot I needed to learn and plenty of room for growth. When I submitted my first media list, I still remember the long email I received in response. I was in awe that someone could offer such detailed, thoughtful feedback so quickly and efficiently. As I read through the comments, something clicked, and soon everything started to make sense. The many media lists I built after that came much more easily, and I slowly gained confidence in my decision-making process.
One of the most important skills I learned during my internship was not only how to make the most of the information I was given, but also when to ask questions. Reaching out and seeking support became like exercising a muscle that grew stronger the more I practiced it. I remember my hesitation to ask for help, but the encouragement and warmth I received from my team made it easier to push past that discomfort. Now, I feel confident asking anyone on my team to talk through something with me. With the insights I gained from connecting with my team, I realized that learning from others and actively applying their advice is what would propel me forward.
The more I took on, the more exciting the world of PR became to me: the strategy behind choosing who to pitch to, reaching out to reporters and finding a response in your inbox, scanning the news to pinpoint emerging news cycles and the potential of turning an idea into a pitch that lands. But more than anything, I’ve learned that in PR, your team and a growth mindset are everything. There is a constant ebb and flow between you and your team members as you go back and forth from leaning on them to providing support. That dynamic, paired with the constant process of reviewing and editing, creates a synergy that helps produce the best-quality work to represent the agency.
At times, I struggled with finding my place as an “intern” — a title I’ve held many times before and one that carries distinct connotations: temporary, learning, observing, assisting. Naturally, I assumed that role. But in a conversation with my manager, I realized this mentality was limiting. She told me, “Don’t think of yourself as an intern; think of yourself as a teammate.” My perspective completely shifted.
Becoming a “teammate” has been the most resounding takeaway from this internship — whether it meant stepping in to help when I had the capacity, contributing ideas for a business plan brainstorm or connecting with fellow Hoffmanites in person at the off-site in Scottsdale. This internship has been a valuable experience, and I know I’ll look back on it as a pivotal part of my professional growth. After four years of undergrad, several prior internships and a long job search post-grad, I’m thrilled to officially trade in my intern title for an AAE position.
