Nothing will teach you time management as quickly or effectively as your first internship experience.
As a communications and outreach intern at The Island School, I act as the link between what happens with students, staff and researchers on campus and the outside world. Because there is always so much happening, it is important to keep track of what you need to cover and get your edited products out as quickly as possible.
In a single day, I covered the departure of a group of students who are embarking on a 19-day sailing expedition, biked four miles to photograph students as they learned about a nearby coral reef and created a video about the newest students to arrive on campus.
Because the normal workday runs from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., it is important to finish all of the day’s work before leaving the office so that there is time to unwind in the evenings. The other interns and I take every opportunity to get in the water, participate in group exercise, or head to the local marina for a snack and a few minutes in the air conditioning.
Aside from time management skills, I have also learned a lot about the ways that a professional communications team operates. As a member of Greenlee’s communications team, I was prepared for a bounty of assignments and a quick turn-around time for publication, but I wasn’t prepared for all of the meticulous planning that goes into the online presence of a non-profit like the Island School.
Once a week, the communications team at the Island School meets via Google Hangouts with our corporate office in Boston, and other members of the team that are not currently on the island, to discuss upcoming events and scheduling, marketing strategies and our current projects.
Being able to share the stories and research on campus has been rewarding and exciting. Working in close proximity with students and scientists with hectic schedules has allowed me to grow as a professional and taught me that being a part of a communications team will never be a nine to five occupation, but it will always be worth it.
Read Megan’s past blog posts: