The End of a Bittersweet Summer
bit·ter·sweet being at once bitter and sweet; involving or causing feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time
This summer six talented interns took an incredible, 11-week journey at Intermark Group that is now coming to a close. These interns each represented a department of the agency and came together to produce real work for a real client. They made mistakes together, they accomplished things together, but most importantly, they took their first steps into the professional world together.
This is their story:
May:
On a bright and sunny day, five of the six interns gathered for orientation day at Intermark Group. The morning was filled with an almost tangible amount of nerves and excitement as they mingled amongst each other for the first time. They said their awkward pleasantries at first, but after a day full of ice breakers and a yummy lunch, it was clear that a bond had formed. The rest of the month was a blur: shadowing their managers, sitting in on meetings, and becoming sponges to soak up every bit of agency life that they could possibly learn. All the while, the group was becoming much more than a team, they were becoming friends as they went on food find adventures each Friday.
June:
By June things had really kicked into high-gear. The sixth intern had joined the group, and just in time! Not only did the interns have more responsibilities in their own departments, but it was finally time to start working with their client. Meetings were held, notes were taken, and the interns were set free to let their imaginations roam and to get started on the task at hand. Weeks went by and a lot of meetings over lunch were held, but finally the Creative Brief and Research were complete. They were one step closer. Though it was getting tougher, and the steps to success becoming less clear, they never gave up. These interns knew they were in it together, and that made it a lot less overwhelming. June had come and gone, but there was still work to be done.
July:
July flew by the interns, as each day was spent busily preparing to present their campaign to the client. The end of the internship was fast-approaching, and though it was tempting to make every moment last, the interns knew the presentation had to get finished! With a lot of hard work and some long days at the office, the group was ready to present. But first, they needed to run their presentation by the entire agency. It took a lot of guts to show their work to the people that had taught them everything over the last 10 weeks, but they managed a successful trial run. In the end, the presentation to their client went amazing, and the interns celebrated with some ice cream, just as any other group of professionals would.
The Intermark Group internship experience is one that will never be forgotten. Through many up’s and down’s, each intern gained valuable work experience and a better understanding of the industry as a whole. Although it is difficult to sum up a summer’s worth of stories, the interns were asked to do just that by answering one simple question: “What did you learn?”
Shelby, Interactive “This summer I’ve found that some of the biggest, most life-changing, valuable opportunities can seem terrifying at first. I remember my first day, and being filled with panic at the thought of someone realizing that I had no clue what I was doing. I sat in the interactive department surrounded by some of the most talented and intelligent people I’ve ever met and I faced a choice: I could sit in my cubicle and be scared, or I could get out and learn. I’m so proud to say that I chose the latter, and because of that decision, this internship has allowed me to grow not only in my career, but as a person. I can’t express how truly thankful I am for this experience.”
Patrick, Media “A smile goes a long way. When given a task, take it with a glad heart. People are more likely to want your help and to provide help in return when they know you are happy to help. Everyone prefers when people are positive; it creates a better workplace and stronger teams.”
Julie, Account Service “I thoroughly enjoyed every day of this internship. Creating a campaign with my fellow interns was a challenging but rewarding experience. Not only did I learn the ins and outs of an advertising agency, I also made some incredible friends. I am happy to say that I chose the right major, because this is definitely what I want to do with my life!”
Ale, Public Relations “Accept every challenge. Big or small, every task you are asked to do is a great learning experience. Regardless of your knowledge or past experience, the work you are asked to produce reflects your learning ability. Taking a task and turning it into a personal challenge will help you uncover your true potential.”
Jade, Copywriting “Put in the work. When you’re given a project or an assignment, put everything you have into it because that will get you noticed. Everyone has to start out somewhere. When you present something you’ve worked on that you’ve put your heart and soul into, others can see the time that you’ve put into it to make it great. Build the kind of reputation where others will trust you to do a great job no matter the task, and more opportunities will come your way.”
Hillary, Art Direction “Working at Intermark this summer has been one of the most fulfilling things I have done thus far in my career. There was never a time where I didn’t want to come to work, and I never felt like my time was being wasted. I love to be busy, and the work I was doing wasn’t just time filler; the creative briefs were unique, interesting, and a chance to make a splash. I am so thankful to have worked with the creative individuals who pushed me to go bigger, and never wanted me to cut down my ideas. Seeing the creative process from start to finish is so satisfying, and an experience I never could have gotten in school. I feel like I have truly grown into my “art direction” shoes and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
