INTERNSHIP REFLECTION
How has your internship experience shaped your views of your major and/or your career aspirations or plans?
My internship at Studio Center has shifted how I view my major and my career plans for the future. I have been back and forth between what I want to do after graduation, and I feel like my time at Studio Center has helped me find a general direction of where I want to go. Before interning at Studio Center, I was looking for a more analytical side of communications, such as management, marketing, or planning. Still, I have realized that is not where my passions lie in terms of a career. I want the opportunity to explore my creative side again, which Studio Center demonstrated was possible. I want to strive to find a job that aligns with my passions after my experience. Additionally, I was able to apply what I learned through my courses, which created a connection that I didn’t have before. There was always uncertainty that I could effectively apply what I have learned at ODU to a career job. However, my time at Studio Center allowed me to use the knowledge I gained to produce content that can be used. Making those connections has helped me hone my skills, and I feel that I have had valuable experience that I can use after graduation when looking for job opportunities.
What new career paths or roles have you discovered through your internship experience?
Before my time at Studio Center, I wasn't sure what opportunities were available to me in my major. After interning here, I discovered that I could take my career in various directions depending on my interests. Developing an understanding of what a social media specialist does was intriguing, as it was more complicated than I initially thought. A lot goes into the job, including producing content that clients are looking for, going out for shoots, attending meetings, and more that I had no idea about. Seeing my supervisors in action showed me how hard their positions can be, but also how creative they get to be, which is something I've come to realize I want to do. Besides being in the social media department, I found other opportunities I would be interested in pursuing, such as video and audio production, something that Studio Center also specializes in. Getting to see in-house shoots and how they operate was fascinating, and I found myself wanting to understand the production side of content creation more. Another specific role that I was drawn to was copywriting, something I didn't fully understand until I started my internship and saw how important it was to craft persuasive marketing through effective writing. That is something that I may begin to practice or look into and see how I can gain experience with it before graduating.
What new knowledge, skills, and abilities did you gain by completing this experience?
In my time at Studio Center, I have learned a lot about content creation that I didn't know before. Most of my knowledge regarding graphic design or other creative works was self-taught; however, I was able to fine-tune my skills and get feedback from my supervisors on how to improve. I have a more traditional art background, having taken courses in it since I was young. I have learned the skills on applications like Canva or Adobe Illustrator through self-taught methods. However, having an understanding of art has translated well when learning. Despite having these skills, Studio Center showed me how to refine them to meet the needs of our clients. I had the opportunity to experiment with the graphics I created and had to learn how to adapt to clients' expectations. There were a lot of unique clients, including restaurants, construction companies, vacation spots, drinks, and more, with all different expectations and wants from Studio Center. Getting to create graphics for these clients was fun, as I got to experiment more with my style and figure out what I enjoyed making the most. Out of everything I created, I enjoyed focusing on clients who had a more colorful palette, such as Seven Skies, which let me delve deeper into a more creative side that I wasn't able to do with some other clients. Still, all of the content and graphics I made for Studio Center and their clients, I gave 100% on.
Another skill I was able to develop was my research skills. During my time at Studio Center, I was often asked to conduct client research and look for potential clients or content ideas online. My supervisors taught me how to do an effective SWOT analysis, something I was familiar with, but hadn't had the opportunity to do before my internship. Getting to practice this improved my understanding of how to conduct proper research in a professional capacity. The research I did was used during meetings by my supervisors for various reasons, whether it was to understand a potential client or to show current clients content ideas that other businesses have created.
Example Content I Created & Helped with at Studio Center
What advice would you offer future interns working at the same location?
To any interns thinking about working for Studio Center, I would highly recommend it. They are incredibly well-known in the area and care for the interns, ensuring they get the most out of their internship. If I could offer any advice, it would be not to be afraid to fail at something. This isn’t like school, where if something doesn’t come out right or look right, you get a bad grade; it’s a learning experience. Try new things, and even if it’s not exactly what your supervisor or Studio Center is looking for, they appreciate your efforts and will offer advice on how to improve.
Additionally, make sure to ask questions for clarification; it is better to ask than not know something. The people at Studio Center truly care about giving interns hands-on work, so take advantage of that. Studio Center can use content that you produce, so make sure that you always try to give your best when being asked to complete a task. Creating connections with the people at Studio Center is also something that I highly recommend. Everyone working there is so lovely and welcoming, especially the ladies who work upstairs in the visual building. Not only that, but talking with other interns and working collaboratively is excellent, as you can build relationships with new people who are also in a similar field.
Analysis of Studio Center
What They Did Well
While interning at Studio Center, I gained valuable knowledge of the industry and how it operates. My supervisors, Haleigh and Rusty, provided new opportunities for me to learn whenever I was there. They would throw me different tasks, such as researching clients, creating graphics, helping with in-house shoots, or creating content. There was always something new and exciting to do. They would provide me with advice on how to improve and would always answer questions that I had about the task. When I had questions about the industry, they were always willing to provide me with information on how they ended up in their current career. Everyone else at Studio Center was just as helpful and kind; they understood that I wanted to learn more and would always try to make sure I was getting the most out of my internship.
What Could Be Improved
If there were anything that could be improved at Studio Center, it would be the organization of tasks. While I was given a lot of different opportunities, sometimes it seemed like my supervisors weren’t sure what they could give me for work. Studio Center does operate on a day-to-day basis, especially the social media department, so I could see why they didn’t always have something for me to do. Still, I feel like there should be a clearer plan so that interns aren’t confused or left with nothing to do at times. Also, there is a discrepancy between the times that other interns would come in, which could also contribute to the weird assignment schedule if they wanted me to work collaboratively.
What's next for you professionally?
I am graduating from Old Dominion University during the Fall 2025 semester, which means I am preparing to enter the workforce soon. I plan to begin applying for jobs once the semester starts and also look for more opportunities to grow my skills. I want to get some certifications online through Google and Adobe that would look good on my resume for possible employers. I am interested in the communication field and the game field, as I am a double major. Preferably, I would like to find a career that could combine both of my majors, as I have discovered they work well together. Additionally, I have thought about possibly going to graduate school depending on how my job search is going. If I pursue graduate school, I would like to be able to work for the University in a role that would allow me to hone my skills further while also taking courses for my master’s degree.