“POV: You are officially an adult”
By Maddy May
Point of view: You are an intern starting your first corporate position at the age of twenty-one. You have never experienced corporate America, office etiquette, or anything of that nature. Just a few months ago, you were sitting in college classrooms learning about marketing and tourism, and now you are experiencing that industry firsthand.
I studied tourism and event management for three years at North Carolina State University, and my fourth and final year just began (Go Pack!). Even before beginning my studies, I admired the opportunity to create lasting memories with the people you love. Now, as I near completion of my degree, that is exactly how I view tourism and event management: an industry focused on giving people opportunities to create meaningful experiences and memories that stay with people long after the moment has passed. Knowing I can play a role in those experiences confirms I chose the right path. After searching for an internship for six months, I connected with Amy at the TTRA conference in June and learned more about W5. I was intrigued by the opportunity to see market research not just through a tourism lens, but through the many other sectors W5 serves. That ultimately led me to choose W5, and now I know I am right where I am meant to be!
My first day in the W5 office!
Starting your first internship comes with challenges. You are suddenly immersed in a company full of fresh faces, new tools, and unfamiliar spaces. At first, all of this feels daunting and overwhelming. Before starting at W5, I assumed feelings of nervousness and anxiety would stick around for the length of my internship. Anxiety toward new things is a normal human experience; however, it is not always something to dread or avoid. After a week at W5, I realized this new experience was not something to fear, but something to embrace. Being surrounded by change opened a door to new opportunities and perspectives.
That experience got me thinking about the work we do at W5 and how embracing change can also create opportunities for brands. Change and rebranding do not have to be fear-inducing things. Giving your business the opportunity to evolve can open the door to more—more customers, more perspectives, and more connections. Embracing change can help your business expand its reach to gain new fans, boost its appeal, and discover new ways consumers might use your product or connect with your brand. If change through marketing can offer you more opportunities, why not take that step?
Think of starting a new internship or job as a rebrand for your life; it is going to look different, but different can and will be good if you allow it!
After being at W5 for three weeks, all that “newness” now feels comfortable and familiar. I just had to take the leap and allow myself to embrace unfamiliarity.
I wanted to share a few things I did not even consider before starting my internship:
Who knew spending five hours in traffic every week was going to be a part of my routine; commuting is not easy! Microsoft AutoSave is not my friend—it deleted four hours of work I had done organizing qualitative data!
But on the bright side, I also did not consider:
How kind and welcoming the W5 team members are. Working with such lovely people has filled me with immense gratitude.
How packing my own lunch and dressing in business casual make me feel like an adult (although sometimes I wish my mom still packed my lunch…)!
I wanted to offer some advice from a twenty-one-year-old intern: Do the challenging thing. Start something new, whether it’s for yourself or your company!
And, if you’re interested in learning more about W5, especially the work we do in travel and tourism, feel free to reach out!