Just like that, school is over. I have a college degree, and now, I have to adult and find a real job. Thankfully, Wray Ward is helping me transition from recent college graduate to rising public relations professional quite seamlessly.

In January, as I perused another near-daily mass communication department email, I didn’t expect to find an internship that pertained to my interests, let alone one that allows its interns to work with a real client.

The email subject line read “Summer 2021 Internships.” I remember mentally dismissing the message because the internships in these emails never excited me. I also remember panicking at the thought of life in Summer 2021, because I had zero plans after graduation. Plus, trying to make major life decisions during a pandemic? Not really on my to-do list.

As I scrolled through the email, I noticed Wray Ward’s FORM internship at the bottom of the list. The application information included a link to content celebrating Wray Ward’s new office. I took one look at the office post, the agency site and the FORM site, and suddenly I was googling all things Wray Ward for the next hour.

When I revisited FORM, I considered applying for the copywriting position. In college, I majored in mass communication with a concentration in print journalism. I also worked for my university’s newspaper for three years, so writing was not new to me. But I decided to step out of my comfort zone and apply for the public relations/content role.

It’s been one of my favorite decisions to date.

Week One: A New Journey

My first week at the Wray Ward office was thrilling. COVID-19 has created so much chaos and uncertainty over the last year that getting to collaborate in person and get real-world experience (finally!) is extremely rewarding.

We met so many new faces and learned so much new and significant information that, in truth, the first couple of days were also a bit scary. New city, new living space, new people, new environment, well … you get the idea.

Despite all of this, the positive environment of the office and everyone’s welcoming attitude helped me adjust. Within the first five days, I gained so much new knowledge, from jargon (programmatic data) to social media lessons (When in doubt, leave it out!).

One term I kept hearing over and over again during my first week at the office was “family.” Almost every team member (if not every team member) said it in some way, shape or form, and they practice what they preach. After all, they welcomed a bunch of interns with open arms and shared laughs, smiles, hugs and even lunch outings with us.

It was authentic. It was real. I value collaboration, especially in the workplace, and Wray Ward showed me what it really means within my first few days here.

FORMing Connections

In addition to learning about the employees here, I was interested in hearing about the other interns' goals for the summer as well as coming up with a fun way to get to know them better. Since Wray Ward specializes in all things home, I asked my teammates to choose one home item (a room, product, etc.) that best describes their expectations for this summer’s FORM experience.

Mitch Wolverton, Digital Media Intern: Coffeepot

“It is a metaphor for what I want to learn throughout the summer,” said Mitch. “If I want to learn the greater details of Wray Ward and how the agency is run, I will make a full pot of coffee. If I want to learn more specifically about my role as a digital media intern, I will just make a single cup.”

Mitch described his goals as learning about the agency as a whole and understanding collaborative work. “I want to learn everything I can about my role and my division’s role within the company, down to the little details.”

Nina Procopio, Copywriting Intern: Succulent Plant

“Just like a succulent plant, I think that my FORM experience here at Wray Ward will result in much growth,” said Nina. “With the help and advice of other employees and mentors, I hope to take this new knowledge and grow in my personal life and career.”

Nina also looks forward to gaining real-world experience and understanding more about the marketing industry. “Wray Ward is filled with many knowledgeable and experienced people. By learning from those around me, I will expand my knowledge as much as possible.”

Eli Hausman, Photography Intern: Garage

“[A garage] is a place full of random and sometimes unrelated things, but a place that is historically known for giving rise to incredible ideas,” said Eli. “That is what this program is all about: taking nine people with different experiences and skill sets and putting them together to make something extraordinary happen.”