My Internship Experience at The Right Place

Internships are an essential stepping stone for students and emerging professionals, providing an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and expand your professional network. Over the past nine months, I had the privilege of putting these opportunities into action as I joined The Right Place as their Marketing & Communications intern. This role allowed me to apply what I have learned at school to real-world projects, such as creating social media content, writing blogs, and managing web content.

Like many first-time interns, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves at the start, unsure of what to expect. However, my nerves quickly disappeared as I settled into my role and began to get to know the supportive and welcoming environment I was surrounded by. After my first day, I remember calling my mom and telling her, “I have a really good feeling about this. Everyone is so welcoming, and I can already tell I’m going to grow so much here.”

Key Responsibilities

One common misconception about internships is that interns are only given small, menial tasks, serving as more of an “assistant” than an actual employee. This is not the case at The Right Place. From day one, I felt that the work I was doing mattered and that I was making a difference within the organization.

While I brought the tools and skills I needed from my coursework at GVSU, I knew very little about economic or community development when I started. However, after conversations with each department and learning about what each staff member does, it was only a short matter of time before I understood how each of our initiatives contributes to Greater Grand Rapids’ economic growth and success.

My primary responsibilities included creating social media content and writing blog posts for RPI’s website. I also had the opportunity to help at various events. A highlight for me was helping out with Tech Week GR 2024, where I worked on promoting the 70+ events that took place throughout the week. I assisted the marketing team at RPI’s Tech Week events, including the Tech Week Kick-Off and the Student Tech Showcase, which gave me insight into the planning and execution of large-scale events and their impact on community engagement. Throughout the week, I attended other events where I got to hear from amazing speakers and learn about topics such as women in the tech industry, tech talent, and artificial intelligence.

Reflection on Growth

At the beginning of my internship, my supervisor and I sat down and set some goals for myself to work toward throughout my time at The Right Place, one of which was to step out of my comfort zone. While I tend to be more reserved, I fully understand the power and importance of networking, especially during this transition from student to professional.

With that being said, I made it my mission to say “yes” to extra learning and networking opportunities in an effort to broaden my experience, expand my network, and make the most of my time as an intern. Attending events like the Women in Tech Coffee Circles has allowed me to break out of my shell, and I can safely say that I have become more confident, knowledgeable, and adaptable this year because of these experiences.

Final Takeaways

My time at The Right Place has been nothing short of transformative. The incredible staff, especially the marketing team, have left a lasting impact on me, pushing me to grow and supporting me every step of the way.

To The Right Place team, thank you for challenging me to succeed, encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone, and fostering an environment of learning and growth. This experience has truly shaped me as both an emerging professional and a person, and I will carry what I’ve learned with me throughout the rest of my career.