August 18, 2020 | Change Management
I was extremely nervous, I had never done anything in the professional field before. My nerves were running high, I kept going over all of these what-if scenarios in my head and couldn’t seem to clear my mind. Even though I had a mix of anxious emotions, at the same time, I was excited to try something new and further my skills in writing.
As a high school student, we are always told that getting an internship is very important because it is a way to stand out to colleges and show your dedication to your subject of interest. Hearing this repeatedly, can put pressure on you and make you want to be an intern just for these reasons alone. My advice to you is to find an internship where you are doing something you are passionate about. Also, do not worry if you feel you are out of your comfort zone because that is the point of an internship, to do something you have never done before.
I was excited to have an opportunity to intern at Lake Shore Associates (LSA), a woman-owned management consulting firm that focuses on and values building partnerships and long-lasting relationships with their clients while delivering excellence. My role was to edit content they used for blogs and their website. Through my job, I was able to see firsthand the professional and dedicated leadership team which was such a great example for not only their employees but my first experience as part of a company. When I get out into the workforce one day, I hope to be a part of a team that is so passionate about what they do and inclusive to everyone. I feel very lucky to have had the unique experience to work with both the executive and operations team at LSA and be a valued member of the team.
Even though I felt nervous at first, the leadership team was very helpful and made it a fun learning experience for me. I was also worried about not being good at new things because even though copy editing was not new for me, the content and formatting were different than the work I do for my school newspaper. I learned quickly that there was no need to worry because I adapted and later earned recognition for my work. When you start an internship, remember that the people you are working for have been in your place and want to make you feel as comfortable as possible.
Since most internships are in the summer, make sure you put your assignments first before any other plans. I learned that it is always important to be professional and someone your mentors can rely on to complete tasks. For example, along with the internship for LSA, I took a summer class at a local college. I had to make sure my internship was my number one priority while maintaining good grades in my summer program. Yes, this did seem very overwhelming at first but I quickly adapted to this new schedule and was successful in my time management.
Internships are a great way to gain experience and confidence. I am glad to have the opportunity interning at LSA because it gave me so much confidence in my skills of writing and knowledge of editing. I am now prepared for a professional role involving journalism and I have LSA to thank for that.
Getting out of my comfort zone and gaining experience through this role as an intern at LSA has been so rewarding and beneficial. I will leave this internship with better time management skills, knowledge of how to copy edit in a professional setting, and how to work with professionals. I am very grateful for this opportunity and thank LSA for giving me this amazing experience that will help me for years to come.
For more information on how Lake Shore Associates can help you drive your next transformation, visit www.lakeshore.is.
