In March 2023, as I prepared to tackle my annual student tasks for finals, I was interrupted by the all-too-familiar and dreaded notification buzz, followed by a sudden flash of blue light from my home screen. Initially, I contemplated ignoring it, assuming it was yet another email concerning finals. However, as I glanced at my phone, I realized that my journey with Wray Ward’s FORM internship had officially commenced. The Charlotte agency had selected me for a coveted spot. I was IN!

Near the end of my third year of college, the professional world was fast approaching, yet I knew nearly nothing about it until I took my first public relations course. It was love at first class: Right away, I knew that I would take on PR in my professional career.

I couldn’t wait to bust through the seams and make my own mark on the industry. A bit ambitious, I know. But a little confidence never hurt anybody.

How It Started

Let’s take a trip back in time to March 2023, when I heard about Wray Ward’s FORM Internship. After reading about the program and its commitment to creativity and culture, I instantly knew it was the place to explore my interest in PR.

Although I generally knew that I wanted to pursue a career in PR, I also recognized the path to finding my passion would be a long and winding road. Every individual’s student-to-professional journey is distinctive, so I thought, why not explore the unique paths my fellow 2023 interns traveled to get here?

FORMing Rewarding Careers

In the midst of classes, homework and student life, I learned early on that college is the time to determine my future. That can be a lot of pressure, or at least it was for me. In fact, establishing and growing personal strengths in such a transitional time can seem almost impossible.

In my own journey, I have come to recognize the subconscious pressures to create a linear path toward professional success. But, after going through my first week at Wray Ward, I am here to tell you that couldn’t be further from the truth.

After getting to know my fellow interns and their own journeys, I gained insight into how — and why — career success stories are undefinable and limitless. Because of this, I asked my fellow 2023 FORM interns to answer questions about their journey and what they intend to accomplish during their time at Wray Ward.

Before I get started, let me introduce you to Wray Ward’s FORM internship class of 2023:

• Heather Portland, PR/Content Intern

• Manisa Vongnalath, UX Design/Development Intern

• Ella Price, Copywriting Intern

Now, for the fun part.

Q: What is your area of study, and how did you find out about the FORM internship?

Heather Portland: I am working toward a bachelor’s in public relations and humanities for public service and a minor in digital marketing strategy. I heard about Wray Ward through a former classmate who served with me on the executive board for Virginia Tech’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. When the 2023 application period opened, I leaped at the chance to apply — and landed the position of a lifetime.

Manisa Vongnalath: I recently graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a bachelor’s in graphic design. My professors told me about Wray Ward. They would always mention our alumni who had the opportunity to work at Wray Ward and the valuable career lessons they learned. I have been eyeing this internship opportunity for a few years but never had the courage to apply until now. I’m glad I did!

Ella Price: I’m working toward a bachelor’s in advertising/public relations with a minor in philosophy, politics and economics and a certificate in graphic design. I found out about Wray Ward when a family member sent the job posting.

Q: What made you want to spend your summer at Wray Ward?

Heather: After hearing about Julia’s countless amazing experiences, I knew I had to check the program out for myself. As soon as I visited the FORM website, I could tell Wray Ward has a creative and talented team that takes pride in the work they do. I wanted to be part of a passionate team that works toward a collective goal while also honoring their own talents.

Being an intern usually means doing the busy work that no one else wants to do, but I could tell that at Wray Ward, my projects would mean something and would give me the tools for professional success.

Manisa: I applied to Wray Ward because they have a UX design/development position. I think this kind of internship is pretty rare in the Charlotte area and was stoked to find one. The interview process left a great impression on me. I immediately felt comfortable — a big reason I accepted the offer.

Ella: It’s clear Wray Ward values their interns and wants to help them grow as creatives and employees. I knew that my insights and work would be taken seriously. I wouldn’t spend my days fetching coffee and taking lunch orders. The copy on the FORM website is sharp, clever and compelling. It has a distinctly human voice that I often find difficult to convey in words, and I wanted to learn how I could capture that in my own writing. I knew that if I worked here, I’d be surrounded by extremely talented creatives, and I was right!

From the initial interview, I felt welcome. I had an open and exciting conversation with two people I now work alongside every day. (Hey Laura! Hey Greg!) I knew the people at Wray Ward were people I wanted to work with — and it seemed like they wanted to work with me, too.