During my semester as an intern, I learned more about public relations than I could have ever imagined. The team at WordWrite taught me everything I need to know about the industry and what it takes to be the best at what they do. I had the opportunity to work in a setting where I encountered a well-rounded experience, one that was as close as possible to what it will be like working in PR once I graduate. I wasn’t given menial tasks or asked to make the coffee runs, but instead I was provided with actual projects and important assignments that had to be taken seriously. From this experience, I took away four important lessons that I will definitely need in the years to come: 
1. Procrastination is a “school thing.”
When you work for clients, you can’t wait until the last minute for everything. Sometimes things come up unexpectedly or you need more time than you imagined. When there’s a real deadline, everyone is counting on you to meet it. Also, the stress of procrastination is one you can’t live with on a day-to-day basis. Believe me!
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
This is a piece of advice people often give, yet I find it’s one that’s rarely carried out. It’s so important, especially when you’re new to a company or industry. In previous experiences, I was hesitant to ask for fear they would think I was under-qualified. When I came to WordWrite, I knew I didn’t know nearly enough to go through projects without asking, so I threw in the towel and asked a lot of questions. Thankfully, the WordWrite team was patient and helpful no matter how simple or complex the question. They knew the mistake I was trying to avoid could cost hours trying to fix, so asking about something small was well worth it.
3. Be a team player, always.
I’m not going to lie, before I came to WordWrite, I had maybe three good experiences working with a team. Usually, there is always that one person that ruins it for everyone, but when you find the right team, like here at WordWrite, it all comes together, both creatively and logistically. You don’t have to worry about a bad day because someone is always willing to help you along, and that’s the way it should be.
4. Be enthusiastic.
This is especially true for people like me who will soon enter the work world. If you’re not excited to help, the people around you won’t be excited to give you work. Plus if you love what you’re doing, it’s easy to be enthusiastic.
So here’s some of my advice for you — to the interns, get as much out of your internship as possible and use these lessons to help you now and in your future. To the professionals giving students the opportunities, continue being patient and let your interns have some real projects. They won’t disappoint you, I promise. And to WordWrite, thank you so much for giving me the experience of a lifetime! I learned more than I could ever hope for and worked with the most amazing group of people!
_____
Leah is a public relations intern for WordWrite Communications. She can be reached at leah.trimble@wordwritepr.com.
