Allison Michelli's Internship Spotlight

Allison Michelli, a 2015 graduate, interned at Larkin Arts located in Downtown Harrisonburg as a writing intern. Here's what she had to say about her experience.

This internship was a crash course in utilizing online networking tools like WordPress and Constant Contact. I learned basic website design and some HTML coding through periodic updates of the Larkin Arts website. Constant Contact is a resource that is widely used by small businesses to connect with their customers, so I became highly skilled with maneuvering the features of it while creating the newsletters every month. I wrote all the copy for the newsletters as well so this internship allowed me to practice some basic journalism skills like conducting interviews in person and over the phone.

WRTC 300, Professional Editing prepared me the most for my internship with Larkin Arts. In class we learned a lot about working with a client and fulfilling their vision for the final product, whatever that may be. Working on the Larkin Arts newsletter allowed me to practice the editing skills I learned in class such as following standard AP style, developing a signature style guide for the client’s publications and allowing room for conversations about the purpose, audience and intention of the publications.

I learned how to work in an environment that necessitated an independent work-ethic. My main projects throughout the spring and summer semesters were completing the biweekly newsletters and updating some of the online content on the Larkin Arts website. I typically would have weekly meetings with my internship provider to touch base and get her feedback, but the majority of my work was completed virtually. Learning to work independently and without much direct supervision was my greatest professional growth as a result of completing this internship. 

Real-world experience is invaluable and this internship allowed me to put into practice the skills I have been learning in the classroom to projects that have a direct impact on society. Going into my senior year, I am going to take this expanded philosophy and apply it to my course work through engaged learning and creative problem solving. In real-life there is no rubric to follow, so you have to rely on your own gumption and initiative to get things done.