Reflecting on my summer internship at Brogan & Partners, I realized how much I’ve changed in the past year. Truly, it was in comparing the work I did last summer and this summer, and the responsibility that I was given, that I noticed how much I have grown as a person. So, I thought, what better way to end my summer at Brogan than to write about some of the things I have learned… and re-learned?
Here’s what my internship taught me:
- Be the bigger person, say sorry and forgive. Being the bigger person is hard, saying sorry is hard and forgiving people is hard. But, do these things anyway. Move past your issues and recognize you’re not always going to be on the same page. Which leads me to…
- Agree to disagree. No two people are wired the same. We all come from different backgrounds and have lived through different situations. And whatever our beliefs, there’s a reason we are the way we are. Recognize that sometimes it’s best to agree to disagree and meet in the middle.
- Turn your phone off. JUST TURN IT OFF! If you’re at dinner, in the car (especially if you’re driving), on vacation or just with your friends. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes. So often, we hide behind our phones instead of appreciating the people and things around us.
- Make yourself uncomfortable. You’ll never learn anything if you don’t challenge yourself. Take that class you didn’t think you could handle, learn how to do a new task at work or find a new hobby. Push yourself in ways you don’t think you can. You might be surprised by what you accomplish.
- Keep your friends close. Throughout your life, you’ll make friends and you’ll lose friends. You may drift apart every now and then, but true friends will always be there for you, and that’s not something you should ever take for granted. So, be kind and caring. You never know when you’ll need your team behind you. If you offer love and support, chances are, you’ll receive it when you need it.
- Write it down. Writing has become a very useful tool for me this summer. When I’m mad or sad or whatever I may be feeling, I write it down. And then I rip it up. Sometimes it just feels good to put a pen to paper and let your feelings flow with no consequence.
- Work hard so you can play hard. It’s cliché, but it’s true. Put in the hours and work hard. It’ll pay off in the end. Sometimes the results don’t appear in the way you expect them to, but someone is always watching.
- Speak up. If you have a question or a suggestion, say something. Even if you think it’s dumb. It’s probably not, and chances are, you’ll end up saving yourself from having to do more work in the end.
- Put yourself first. Find something you love and something that keeps you sane. Whether it’s reading, meditating, working out or sitting at a coffee shop. Make time for yourself. Sometimes you have to say no to people and think about what’s best for you… and that’s okay.
Ultimately, I’m so thankful for the people I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had this summer. From assisting in the production of a major commercial, to writing for clients, developing social copy, sitting in on focus groups and doing lots and lots of markups. Each task has taught me something new and exciting, and I can’t wait to take the things I’ve learned here and apply them to the rest of my life.
Sayonara summer 2019!
