Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect out of my internship. But who ever is?

This summer, I am interning at State Auto Insurance in Columbus, OH. Now, keep in mind that the extent of general knowledge I had on insurance was very limited. I didn’t know what a deductible was, I had no idea what a coverage was, and don’t even get me started on the process of a claim. All I knew was that I was going to be in the CARE department. It's okay, I had no idea what that was either.

That’s it. That’s all I had to go off of.

In a matter of weeks, I have learned more than I ever imagined here at State Auto.

This isn’t what most people picture as a typical internship. I don’t fetch coffee, make a trillion copies or run errands. I’m not expected to keep quiet and avoid making mistakes.

I am constantly encouraged to ask questions and speak up with new ideas or opinions. I sit in on meetings, handle claims, and shadow a variety of departments so I can learn hands on and know exactly what processes flow through the entire company. My mentor, colleagues, and supervisors have all been there for me without hesitation to teach and guide me as I grow throughout this experience.

Auburn University takes pride in being known as the “Auburn family.” The student body and campus as a whole has the reputation of upholding a strong, family-based environment, so strong that it’s difficult to put into words. I never thought I would find another atmosphere like this until I came to State Auto. We aren’t a 9-5 “I hate my job” kind of company. People here are excited to go to work because it’s a comfortable, relaxed environment. We don’t have to wear uncomfortable pant suits and pointy shoes; we dress to what makes us comfortable. We don’t have to schedule a meeting way in advance to meet with the CEO; his office door is always open. He makes time for anyone, from the vice president all the way down to the brand new interns. We have bi-weekly “Walks with Mike” where the CEO, Mike, walks around the city of Columbus with his employees and colleagues for about an hour, socializing and getting to know everyone personally and individually.

Y'all don't have to get a boring internship where all you're expected to do is laminate copies or hole punch every document that runs off the printer. There are quality internships for any student in every major, ones that teach life lessons, solidify lasting business connections, and create countless friendships, like State Auto did for me.