As a Virginia Commonwealth University student, I often found change uncomfortable, especially as I am wrapping up my academic career. These moments of transition can lead to unexpected opportunities and help in clarifying your career aspirations – in my case an internship that has shown me what I am interested in.

When considering my next steps in pursuit of a career path, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. Sounds relatable right? When I was searching for internships, my strategy was to be open to a wide array of opportunities, even those slightly outside my main area of interest. What I looked for most was hands-on experience, as I found this more beneficial than virtual positions.

Luckily, an opportunity presented itself when I received an email about open leadership positions in the Public Relations Student Society of America at VCU. Joining PRSSA and immersing myself in it, spending more time meeting new people and making connections, was a crucial step. It was through my active participation in PRSSA that I came across the internship opportunity with Tiramisu for Breakfast. I realized that if I hadn’t joined, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now and you wouldn’t be reading this.

When I walked into the Tiramisu for Breakfast office for the first time, I was immediately struck by its energy. There was a lot happening in the space, and I found myself enjoying the process of observing and taking it all in. It was fascinating because the office seemed to reflect Christina’s personality. Right from the start, I could sense that she’s a creative, spontaneous go getter. The layout and decor of the office communicated that vividly. Sitting down and speaking with Christina, I appreciated the casual yet expressive manner in which she communicated. It felt welcoming and engaging, and it set a comfortable tone for our interaction.

Looking back on the week, I attended the VMFA Art Exhibition Media Review for Dawoud Bey’s “Elegy” with Christina. I see now that it was much more than just another event. Roaming through the exhibition and seeing those impactful artworks, I wasn’t just taking in the art; I was also picking up on the subtleties of how media and public relations play out in these environments.

In my first week at the internship, I really got a grip on some key public relations and marketing concepts. I started off by diving into TFB brand guidelines, along with checking out big names like Coca-Cola to keep their branding sharp and consistent. Then, I wrapped my head around the differences between owned, earned, and paid media. Essentially, owned media refers to the channels we manage ourselves, like our own websites and blogs. Paid media is all about investing in ads on platforms like Facebook or Twitter. And earned media? That’s the awesome, free exposure we gain when our content gets shared by others. I also picked up on how payment works in agencies, which typically happens after a contract gets inked, following our proposal submissions. Something new to me was the concept of “spec work,” which is working without guaranteed pay, mostly for pitches. And finally, I got to know about Gantt charts, which are super helpful for keeping track of what needs to get done in a project. All in all, this week was jam-packed with learning, giving me a solid start in understanding the nuts and bolts of brand management, media strategies, and the nitty-gritty of client-agency relationships and project planning.

During my internship, my primary goals are to gain a diverse skill set. This doesn’t exclusively include the specific tasks I was assigned, but also involved observing and learning from the overall operations of the TFB workplace. It was important for me to bring new ideas, consistent effort, and fresh energy to the office.

I am grateful to gain more confidence and clarity regarding my future career path. I wanted the experience to help me feel comfortable in professional settings and more certain about my career choices. Juggling academic responsibilities, work commitments, and personal life was challenging, but it was crucial for my professional development. Most importantly, excited to grow alongside Christina!

Motto of the Week: Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable