I’ve never been someone who knows exactly what they want to do in life. Reading that, you might be thinking, well, Claire, who DOES know exactly what they want to do in life?
It just so happened that all the most important people in my life seemed to have that box checked. I watched them—longing for that feeling of knowing where I belong, what I’m meant to do, and who I’m supposed to be.
Entering my freshman year of university, those feelings lingered (note to self: this was, and always will be, completely normal). I dreaded virtual classes, struggled through assignments, and received my first ever “C” on a report card — an event that prompted me to reroute my studies. Thus, I made the switch to declare communications as my major. A canon event, perhaps, for every college kid to do at least once.
I loved being a communications major. I loved the courses, the content, and the many professors who inspired me to connect with the world in unique and intelligent ways. What I learned in class every day answered questions I’d had my whole life, about the way the world works and the way people behave. Through my involvement with the Public Relations Student Society of America, coursework in interpersonal and organizational communications, and the chance to shadow communications professionals, the opportunities I had through school allowed me to show up at E&V with a sense of familiarity. Studying communications gave me a unique sense of both certainty and acceptance. I felt confident that I was in the right place, yet I also embraced the idea that it’s okay not to know exactly what I want to do or who I want to be. The endless possibilities ahead as a young adult are truly a blessing. It’s something not every student who attends university has the privilege of experiencing.
I encountered this same feeling during my first few weeks as a fellow at E&V. As a fresh college graduate, it was my first time working a traditional office job. What I quickly discovered, however, was that E&V was anything but. After the typical first day activities, (onboarding, office tour, MoJoe’s for lunch) my fellow Fellows (ha!) and I dove headfirst into researching our accounts, as we each were assigned to three or four accounts for our fellowship. Interns, who are not assigned accounts like Fellows are, are tasked with one-off agency and client projects. This allows students who are still in college and balancing a class workload the chance to explore a wide variety of tasks at a flexible, part-time pace.
As Fellows, we were welcomed onto teams where we became integral to incredibly creative collaboration that was working to better understand the client, help solve business problems and discover opportunities. This is where the questions came in. What do you stand for? Who are your audiences? What are your goals? How can communications help get you there? Having the opportunity to be involved in both internal and client-facing meetings gave me the chance to witness this strategic process firsthand, a truly invaluable experience. Outside of time with the account teams, Fellows are given a great deal of responsibility and independence. I wrote pitches, news releases, and bylines. I spent mornings with Meltwater and most evenings mapping stakeholders on Excel sheets. I created media lists, compiled research, and even extended my experience to be involved with both the E&V marketing team and public engagement team.
Smart, helpful, and trusted. These values are at the core of E&V’s work. I was surrounded by some of the smartest individuals I have worked with—people who are able to think outside the box, consistently take things a step further, and recognize the power in both the individual and the team. More than anything, my coworkers were helpful. Throughout the course of the semester, interns and fellows can be involved in multiple professional development sessions, led by E&V colleagues. From pitching practice to resume building and crisis comms 101, we were led through a series of workshops that helped us better understand the work we were doing as well as the industry. In our day-to-day work, the E&V team made themselves available to guide us through any trouble or confusion we experienced, no matter the time or place. Lastly, I was trusted by my colleagues to delegate my time appropriately, to make strategic decisions surrounding prioritization of assignments, and to bring quality work to the table each day.
I will always be grateful to E&V for giving me the chance to prove myself in what was an exceptionally nurturing and welcoming place. The time I spent with E&V has set my standards high for any place I will work in the future, and the kindness, support, and consideration I felt from my coworkers was immense. This program is something so special, so unique, and won’t soon be forgotten. I hope you have the great pleasure of experiencing it, too.
-Claire Anderson
