I’ve spent the past three years sitting in air-conditioned classrooms in Chapel Hill, soaking up as much as I can at the University of North Carolina.
As valuable as this classroom experience has been, nothing compares to putting theory into practice. As a public relations and public policy student at UNC, I have been told over and over about the importance of strategic communication and messaging, learning how to write news releases, communicate with clients, and manage conflict in group settings.
My internship with Bisbee and Co., however, has given me the opportunity to finally implement the skills and knowledge I’ve gained at Carolina in a real-world setting. After communicating in the spring and meeting with Jennifer to set expectations at the beginning of the summer, I was thrown into the mix. Quickly entrusted with various client tasks, I had to learn how to manage multiple projects and meet ongoing deadlines.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of this internship has been the opportunity to conduct firsthand the research, community relations and coverage tracking I’ve heard professors and classmates talk about for years. My experience with Bisbee and Co. has made me both more confident and professional, two traits I know will be invaluable as I enter my senior year.
Alex Hummel, of Barrington, Rhode Island, is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is double majoring in public relations and public policy.