Last summer, I spent 300 hours as an intern and only made two coffee runs. That’s right, I was a broadcast production intern at Davis Elen Advertising, and had one of the most enriching summers of my life.
I was extremely nervous on my first day, I had no idea who or what to expect. However, the team at Davis Elen made me feel more at home than I could have ever imagined. To my surprise, I even had my own desk space.
All summer long I arrived at Davis Elen on time and ready to work. They treated me like an employee, and so I did my best to act like one. Although I was an intern, I did not want to be obviously seen as one. I worked efficiently and to the best of my abilities, taking advantage of every opportunity they gave me.
I was paid, but I would have done it unpaid. The knowledge and connections I gained from Davis Elen are invaluable to my career. Being inside an agency five days a week, for ten weeks, gave me a real taste of the real world of advertising. I was able to work one on one with many producers and directors. I came back to school with confidence and motivation to apply what I had learned over the summer to my curriculum.
The only drawback from the internship was the commute from Orange County to Los Angeles everyday. The traffic was a struggle to get through, but it still was not enough to keep me from going back.
It’s important to be proactive as the new kid. Be the intern everyone knows, not the intern everyone sort of recognizes. Always make the best of the work you’re given, even if it’s a coffee run or filing folders, remember you are working your way up. The people working around you are there to teach you, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Remember, you are the one being taught, you are not the teacher.
