Sometime back in January, my mom was on my case about going to the O'Brien Center at Merrimack to apply for internships and externships. I did a few externships to see what areas would suit me best. The first externship, I loved the people there; they were so welcoming and kind to me. However, I just did not get a great vibe from the place. My second externship I went on was everything I could imagine myself doing: Marketing and Public Relations. I immensely enjoyed my day at ShopAdvisor so much, that I became obsessed with this new career possibility for me.
The girl I shadowed for a day gave me amazing advice for once I graduated college, and I plan on following through with her little words of wisdom. She told me that it is okay that I do not get an internship this summer. She told me that people look for how long you stuck to something. In my case it is the Odyssey. She even told me to take matters into my own hands and be creative with how people would see me through my resume. Make a blog, and stick with it. Ask a local company if you can advertise their business for free. So I did just that.
I listened to her, but in the back of my mind I just really wanted to lock down an internship. Rejection after rejection just kept coming toward my way. The more rejection letters I got, the more down I became. Why didn't anyone want me to intern for them? I told my mom that I got rejected from every internship I applied for, and she told me to email the director of the Walpole Recreation Department a cover letter and a resume. Secretly I always wanted to work for the Rec when I was younger, so I finally get the chance to this summer. So, I emailed the Director, and he emailed me back.
We corresponded back and forth and we came to the conclusion that I would call him after my semester concluded. When I returned back home to Walpole on May 13th, I immediately called him. So here I am. I am interning at the Walpole Recreation Department this summer helping with press releases and fundraising for my town's annual Night Before the Fourth celebration with fireworks.
I am so excited that I can finally put some experience down on my resume besides my Odyssey work and Beacon Newspaper work and everything in between that I have down so far. My first week has just wrapped up, and I feel as if I accomplished and learned many new things.
It was a little nerve racking the first day because I did not know what to expect, and I didn't really know anyone. I soon warmed up to everyone and they were very kind to me. I graduated with one of the guys that works there. It was nice to see a familiar face. My first task at the Rec Department was to write a few press releases for the Concerts on the Common series that my town holds every Tuesday during the summer. So I had to research the bands that would come to Walpole and perform; it was little time consuming but it was work that kept me busy and I actually enjoyed it. After I finished that task, I wrote a few more press releases for movies that would play outside the Rec Department. That was my first day, and I rocked it if I do say so myself.
My second day is where everything picked up. I got my fundraising task handed to me. I had a list of businesses and house addresses to call and ask for donations on behalf of the Walpole Fire Department for the fireworks display on July 3rd. That was my day, but It was nonstop which made me feel like I was doing something important for my town.
As my first week wraps up, I am forever grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to soak up more information about how the Rec Department runs as this office deals with sales.
