Maybe I should have felt prepared for my first day as a public relations intern at Edge. After all, I had learned the fundamentals of communication strategy, crisis management, media relations and writing at Michigan State University’s nationally renowned College of Communication Arts and Sciences. I had read countless PR case studies and been a key collaborator on numerous successful projects. Shouldn’t that have given me the confidence that I would succeed?
I’m sure I felt better with all that classroom experience under my belt than I would have without it, but I was still nervous. I knew my stuff in theory, but theory and reality don’t always get along perfectly. This is especially true in a quick-moving field like PR, where knowing best practices will only get you so far.
My experience at Edge has made me an enthusiastic believer in the value of internships. The truth is, you can’t fully understand life in the PR fast lane until you’ve experienced it yourself. The pressures of the “real world” can be nerve-wracking, but you’ve got to buckle up and grind it out. You will emerge on the other side with newfound self-belief, expanded skills and career clarity.
I’ve seen firsthand how campaigns evolve, how teams collaborate under pressure and how strategy adapts to real world challenges. No case study can fully replicate the unpredictability of working with real clients, on real timelines, with real expectations.
Jumping Right In
The surge of self-confidence I have felt as my internship has progressed has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the whole experience.
Coming in on my first day, I was given three clients to draft social media posts for. It was scary being thrown in to the deep end, but I’m so glad that I was. It took me a second to get my bearings, but that experience forced me to learn quickly, trust myself and not be afraid to ask questions. I was pushed out of my comfort zone in a way schoolwork never could.
Now, I’m more comfortable speaking up, contributing to important projects and taking initiative.
Doing Work that Matters
We all know the common internship stereotypes. We’ve seen them again and again on TV and in movies. The intern is someone who goes on coffee runs and sorts paper clips, right?
Many students go into their internships imagining they’ll be assigned an endless run of minor tasks. As we’ve already seen, my experience has been the total opposite of this.
From my very first day at Edge, my work has had purpose. It was real, and it was meaningful. Seeing content I worked on go live was a “pinch me” moment. It’s a feeling I won’t forget as I navigate the industry.
I’ve learned that even the smallest PR tasks play a role in the success of a campaign. The work interns do can have a big impact. Interns help keep projects moving forward, especially when deadlines are tight. And we don’t just help check boxes on to-do lists. We also inject fresh perspectives and new ideas into old projects.
Keeping on top of trends and generational differences is essential in communications work. Interns can help companies navigate the changes between what is and what has been. Even as you learn the basics, your personal expertise supports the team.
Your role matters. It really does.
Taking Your First Step into a Wider World
Most career journeys are anything but a straight line. Mine has barely begun, but I’ve already had a few twists and turns. I spent much of college rethinking my major. I changed course three times before I found PR.
Each switch was driven by the same concern. Could I truly see myself working in any of those fields?
My internship at Edge has finally settled me. It confirms that I’ve chosen a path that I love, and I can genuinely see myself making a full career of after graduation.
It wasn’t a given that I would feel this way, but even if I decided that PR wasn’t for me, the experience would have remained invaluable data point. It ensures that I not only graduate with knowledge, but with direction — and connections.
My advice to college students and young professionals: If you’re standing on the “edge” of your own first internship, don’t fear the deep end. Dive in and embrace the challenges. The transition from classroom to career starts the moment you do.