Change. My Internship Reflection.

Change. The dictionary term for making the form different from what it is or what it would be if left alone. My version is a little bit different: inevitable, scary, and nerve-wracking are descriptions that I prefer to use. Graduating from John Carroll University was a change that I was not ready for. The real world, moving back home, and leaving my home for the past four years were all less than appealing.  

Summer came and went and this “big girl" job that was promised if I graduated college was still out of sight. In September, I finally landed a position as an intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events and my hopes began to turn around. I was more than excited for this experience and to begin my journey towards the real world. 

I accepted this position eager to learn and gain knowledge and experience in the PR and Event Planning world. This internship has allowed me to do just that. I have written my first blog posts, my first press release and more social media plans than I ever would have imagined. In addition, working the Avant-Garde Art & Craft Shows were a learning experience into the long hours, excitement, critical planning and problem solving of event planning. 

I have accepted my first “big girl” job at Invent Now and my time at Rebecca Adele PR & Events is coming to an end. I am more than thankful for this opportunity and believe it has been a huge stepping-stone into my career. I am faced with another change but I guess that’s what life is all about. I am excited to begin this next journey and see where life takes me next! 

Written by Morgan Hartz of Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Where I’m going, what I’ll be doing, how this internship will help, what I’ll take away from this internship

I can’t believe my last week at Rebecca Adele PR & Events is already here. As much as I wish I could stay, I’m leaving for a great reason! A few weeks ago, I was offered a full-time position being an event planner’s assistant at Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, Ohio. I’ll be working as the right-hand woman for the owner, who plans and does set-up for events like trade shows, banquets, and wedding receptions.

This internship is one of the main reasons why I was offered the job. When I explained that we did a lot of PR and social media work, along with helping to set up and run Becki’s art and craft shows, Sandy, the owner, was visibly impressed. She mentioned that my knowledge and experience with social media and PR would be a great asset for her future assistant to have.

I’ll be using the skills I learned from this internship to keep up with the social media sites Buckeye Event Center uses. There’s also a possibility that I’ll be able to start writing press releases for the vendors that participate in the shows. I’ll also be helping out with event set-up and managing the events and any problems that arise. Although I’ll only have worked two of Becki’s shows by the time I leave, I’ve already learned plenty of useful tips and tricks about running a successful event, and I can bring that knowledge to my new job.

What I’ll take away the most from this internship is that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful. Not only does this apply to my career, but to life in general. Becki’s success in starting her own business proves that if you’re determined and you believe you can do something great, you can make it happen one way or another. I hope to be that successful some day.

I’m going to miss everyone at this internship and I’m bummed that I didn’t get to know everyone better. I’m also going to miss the environment of the internship. I’ve had so much fun in my short time here and I know I won’t forget anything about it!

Written by Molly Carpenter from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

Day One to Last Day: What I Learned This Summer

I will never forget my first day as an intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events. It was my first day as an intern, period.  Having just finished my second year of college, I was jumping head first into a field with which I had little to no experience beyond intro college classes. I was nervous, inexperienced, and had no idea what was in store.

Now, as my summer draws to a close, and my internship with it, I cannot believe how much I have learned. I feel like a completely different person; more experienced, more grown up, and more confident – and I have Becki to thank!

From the moment I sat down at my desk on day one, I was given real work to do. From social media plans to press releases, Becki gave me countless opportunities to write and create; giving me guidance, but at the same time allowing me to learn things myself. 

My first social media plan seemed like it took forever, but now I can crank one out in no time! I learned from watching Becki in action that PR is fast-paced, exciting, and requires constant dedication and hard work. Not everything will be perfect, and you will make mistakes, but producing something that is received well by a client makes it all worth it.

I could not have asked for a better internship experience. I learned invaluable things about not only my aspiring career field, but life as well. Working with Becki every week was more like hanging out with a friend. From blasting Fiddler on the Roof while pounding out work at the office, to spending the day at the East Side Summer Avant-Garde show, every day was a fun learning experience.

Becki recognizes and invests in the strengths of each of her interns, and gives us work that will display the best of our skills. I have always loved writing, and now have a portfolio full of social media plans, press releases, and blog posts to show potential employers. This internship has only solidified my desire to become a copywriter, and Becki has done so much to encourage and strengthen this. Becki is truly an inspiration, and living proof that the only thing between you and your dream is hard work and dedication.

This internship has forced me out of my comfort zone, and taught me to be more confident, outgoing, and disciplined. I am extremely lucky to leave Rebecca Adele PR & Events with invaluable experience, a portfolio full of work, and a friend and mentor whom I will continue to email incessantly for career advice!

Written by Kate Glending from Rebecca Adele PR & Events

From Graduate Student to PR Professional: The Internship That Took Me From Where I Was To Where I Am

Written by Sydney Arnett 

It seems like just yesterday that I was planning my perfect outfit the night before my first day as an intern at Rebecca Adele PR & Events…all bright-eyed and eager to learn the ins-and-outs of the PR industry. Now, as my internship is coming to an end, I am sad to be leaving Rebecca Adele, but thankful to be moving forward with insight, knowledge, memories, life-long friendships, and a strong foundation from which I can continue to build my career.

As I look back, it’s remarkable to think how much I've grown, both personally and professionally, during my time at Rebecca Adele. To be honest, I didn’t always know what I wanted to be when I grew up. For a while it was a veterinarian, then an actress, then a plastic surgeon, maybe even an interior designer, or perhaps the general manager of a hotel. Even as a graduate student, six months ago if you would have asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I probably wouldn’t have been able to give you a confident answer. But thanks to this internship, and the help of my boss, Becki, that is no longer the case.

During my internship at Rebecca Adele I was given the guidance, experiences, and tools to develop as a public relations professional. From writing press releases, to creating social media plans, to participating in client meetings, I did it all. And I worked side by side with my boss, who mentored me, and showed me first hand what it’s like to run a PR agency—something most interns are not likely to experience.

Today, I can say with absolute certainty that public relations is the career field for me. I may not know where I’ll end up, or in what city, but I do know that I am passionate about public relations, and excited to continue on with my career and help clients share their stories and grow their brands.

So, yes, I’ve certainly learned a lot over the past few months. And, as I reflect on my time as an intern, there are certain things I have learned that I will take with me forever.

1.   Relationships are everything—oh, and so is your attitude. Building and maintaining relationships in PR (or life) is crucial. And the quickest way to make or break a relationship? Your attitude—so keep it positive!    

2.   It’s about quality, not quantity. It’s better to have a few of the best people than a lot that are just okay. We have a small group of employees here at Rebecca Adele, but boy do we produce the results of a large-scale agency.

3.   You can never know everything about the PR industry, but you should certainly try. So read, research, and stay on top of the constantly evolving world of PR and its technologies.

4.   The best things happen when you step (or get shoved) out of your comfort zone.

5.   Social media is important, like, SUPER important. It’s easy to think that you know everything there is to know about social media, or think that anyone can do it and be good at it. But actually quite the contrary is true. So if you want to be invaluable to a company, know your social media.

6.   You’ve got to be “on” 24/7…so you better love your job. The PR world never stops, so it will make your life a whole lot more enjoyable if you are passionate about your work.

7.   When in doubt, ask. It’s good to be curious about the world around you, and asking questions is one of the best ways to learn. Be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge, insight, and information as you possibly can.

8.   Capitalize on your strengths. There are so many facets of PR, and it’s impossible to be great at every one of them. That’s okay though. Find one, two, or even three things that you are really good at, and do them better than anyone else. And in your down time (well, lets face it, you’re in PR so you probably don’t have any) work on improving your other skills.

9.   People will surprise you. People are more willing to help than you would think…you just have to ask. I’ve witnessed this several times during my internship at Rebecca Adele, and over and over I’ve been delighted to see how genuinely happy people are to help out a young professional. I admit, it can be intimidating sometimes to ask for help or advice, but it’s worth it. (And remember to ALWAYS thank the people who do offer you their help!).

10. Work hard play hard. PR is a highly demanding, high energy, fast-paced industry. It takes hard work to be successful and a lot of hours and dedication. But the harder you work, the closer you get and the more fun you have with the team of people around you!

Thanks Becki, for not only being a great boss, helpful co-worker, my personal networking guru, but also a wonderful friend. I couldn’t have asked for a better foundation and start to my career than with Rebecca Adele PR & Events.