By: Lauren Ambrose, RCG Intern
Earlier this week, I stopped to grab my daily coffee and slid one of the bright green Starbucks sleeves onto my cup. On it was a quotation from Oprah Winfrey that read, “No experience is ever wasted. Everything has meaning.”
As I leave RCG after my summer internship, the quote had a lot of relevance to me. From writing to editing to tagging along at events, I have learned first-hand what it means to do meaningful work in public relations — work that exudes passion and makes a difference in the community. Here are the eight lessons I have learned in my time as the RCG intern:
1. Don’t cry over red marks: Every piece you write will be critiqued, edited, and edited again. Don’t get hung up on how many red marks it took to reach the final product. Instead, take responsibility for your work and be proud of it.
2. “The most important thing we can do is show up:” Attending events and meetings alongside the RCG team taught me that actions really do speak louder than words. Making connections with people and showing that we care (by physically being there) helps to make our work meaningful.
3. Be proactive: Don’t wait around for that opportunity or that phone call. Show initiative by asking for what you want and following up with others via phone and e-mail.
4. Speak up: Just because I was the intern doesn’t mean I lack good ideas! Speaking up, even when I was unsure about something, helped to build my confidence and generate worthy ideas.
5. “Always exhibit grace under pressure:” Even if I felt a bit overwhelmed at times, it was important to take a deep breath, remain calm, and stay focused on what needs to be done.
6. Suck it up, buttercup: In the real world, you’re bound to encounter people who are rude or difficult. Accept every person with a smile, use kind words and remember that you can’t please everyone.
7. “Seek to be whole, not perfect:” RCG was my first internship, and I struggled to feel like I had to do everything perfectly. It’s okay to make mistakes. Own up to them, apologize, and try to make it right.
8. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do:” In the past three months, I have realized what a difference it makes to work in a field that you love. I can say, without a doubt, that I have found what I love to do!
