And when I met my fellow interns — each of whom brought unique talents to our team — I felt ready to hit the ground running. I dove into our summerlong project and immersed myself in the PR/Content department as much as I could.

Learning the Ropes

The FORM internship is an opportunity to join forces with a collective of young minds from across the country to create real work for real clients. In 2022, my team had the privilege of working with Charlotte Art League, a nonprofit visual arts organization and one of Wray Ward’s EmpoWWer service-grant recipients, on a fully integrated brand awareness campaign.

Knowing I had much to learn from a PR perspective, I approached the project with a growth mindset. I took what I’d learned so far in my college PR courses and tapped into the expertise of the agency’s industry-leading experts, who knew exactly what it would take to bring this project to fruition.

As an intern trying to find her footing in the industry, I learned the value of teamwork while we ideated, planned and executed our work. I learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability as we experienced hits and misses throughout the summer. Working against a tight timeline, we had to stay on our toes and be ready to pivot at any moment to come up with the best solution for the client.

To increase awareness and help Charlotte Art League double down on its vision to create an inclusive arts community, we developed a marketing communications plan and visual campaign. As a team, we formulated paid, earned, owned and shared tactics. Our visual campaign concept, entitled “This Is Charlotte Art League,” gave the organization a refreshed look that would soon be integrated across their social media channels, new website and email communications. Seeing the client’s joyful response to our work is something I will never forget.

Before I knew it, our 10 weeks together had flown by, and it was time to start thinking about my next steps. Thankfully, I didn’t have to look far, as I received an opportunity to work part time for Wray Ward while I finished school in the fall. Shortly after my December graduation, I transitioned into a full-time role. And, thanks to my PR/Content team and fellow 2022 interns, I came to the table with newfound confidence and real-world lessons that still guide me today.

Applying the Skills

In my current role, no two days are the same. One day, I’ll work on social media content calendars for clients such as AZEK Exteriors, TimberTech or Huber Engineered Woods. The next day, I’ll pitch stories for Sunbelt Rentals. I love that I get to exercise a lot of different skills for a range of clients. It makes me excited and eager to come to work every day!

With fresh projects and tasks coming my way each week, I’m required to call on my internship learnings to better engage with clients and understand their unique needs. Day in and day out, I get to learn from and collaborate with passionate, seasoned professionals. It’s a true gift.

I’m proud of the small but mighty milestones I’ve already achieved at Wray Ward, and I can’t wait to see how I continue to grow both personally and professionally.

Dear future intern:

If you’re applying to the FORM internship, consider these three tips that I prioritized as an intern and have since brought to my full-time role:

1. Ask questions and seek advice — be a sponge.

2. Be open to feedback and constructive criticism — it makes you better.

3. Go out of your comfort zone and network while you’re here.

The relationships you build here and the memories you make could impact the trajectory of your entire career. Remember, everyone you meet at Wray Ward is on your team. They want to help you grow and learn.

Are you interested in making FORM part of your story? Applications to join the class of 2024 open on November 27. Learn more and submit your application by January 19.