Internship Diary: Growth & Gratitude

During the fall semester of my junior year in college, I realized that I should have already been on the search for an internship. I started to panic. I knew I wanted to gain experience within the fashion industry, but I wasn’t sure if there would be any opportunities for me in Indianapolis. I was blinded by the misconception that nothing creative exists here. One day, I stumbled upon PATTERN’s Instagram account. I wanted to learn more about this amazing creative organization, so I did some research online. I found out that I could apply to be an intern, and just like that…my journey with PATTERN began.

I first submitted my application for the spring on the website in November. However, I did not hear back for two months. I was convinced that I had not been selected…Despite my lack of self-belief, I decided to reach out to PATTERN and let them know I felt really passionate about doing this internship. After reaching out, I heard back within a couple hours. It turns out my application didn’t submit properly due to a glitch. I was also asked to come in for an interview. I felt so relieved! That experience demonstrated to me that you have to ask for what you want, or you won’t get it. A message that has been reinforced by PATTERN’s existence in Indianapolis.

While working as a Marketing and Events intern with PATTERN, I learned something new every day. As early as my first day, I learned how to use WordPress to create content for the website. I was also able to learn other marketing tools, such as Mail Chimp and Freedcamp. I was mainly in charge of assisting with St’Art Up 317, a retail pop-up initiative in Indianapolis. Being a part of this program taught me valuable project management skills. It also showed me how significant it is to be flexible and organized when working with others. There are so many moving parts when it comes to big programs like this. It is vital for everyone to be on the same page and effectively communicate with one another.

During my internship, not only was I able to gain some hard skills, but I also was able to improve soft skills by meeting, interviewing and networking with local creatives around the area to create content for the website. This was very significant to me as I was able to garner knowledge that will be helpful for any position I move onto, while also boosting my confidence with trying new things and meeting various types of people.

As I sit in the PATTERN HQ reminiscing about the past couple months, I feel an immense sense of gratitude. I’m very thankful to be a part of this organization and to have had this opportunity. I encourage anyone who is looking for a creative outlet to get involved with PATTERN, and I can’t wait to see what the next interns bring to the table! My biggest advice for them would be to try new things, experiment and go outside of their comfort zones.

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