Princess, fashion designer, vet. Those were just a few of the many things I dreamed of becoming as a kid. By the time I reached high school, I knew I wanted to go to college, but I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. Around age 16, I thought I’d become an optometrist, but that didn’t stick. It just didn’t feel like the right fit.

At the end of my junior year, I was registering for classes and came across an opportunity to participate in work-study. At the time, it seemed like a great way to leave school early and still get class credit. Senior year was coming, and I was ready to be done. What I didn’t realize was that this program would end up shaping my future, both academically and personally. I wasn’t sure where to begin when it came to choosing a job for work-study.

That’s when one of my teachers encouraged me to apply for an internship with the public relations director of our school district. He saw something in me that I hadn’t yet recognized in myself, and I’ll always be grateful that he pushed me to go for it.I walked into the internship with zero expectations. I assumed it would be very serious and maybe a little intimidating. But after just a couple of weeks working with my boss, Mr. Anderson, everything changed.

We built a strong relationship, and I quickly became more confident in asking questions, seeking help, and learning the ropes.What I learned from him went far beyond the job description. He was someone I could talk to about school, life, and even high school drama. He taught me the importance of emotional maturity in the workplace, how to carry myself professionally, and what a safe and supportive work environment should feel like. He always made time to help, even when we were both scratching our heads over a tough math problem. That kind of mentorship is something I’ll carry with me forever.

On the practical side, I got to take on real projects that helped me grow. One of my first assignments was designing signs for our football stadium. I had no idea how to use Adobe Photoshop, but Mr. Anderson encouraged me to explore it on my own first. I took the time to figure it out, and when I saw those signs up around the stadium, I felt proud. It felt like I was truly contributing something meaningful.

Over the course of the year, I wrote newsletters for the school corporation, which helped sharpen my writing. I learned how to communicate with media outlets and gained experience handling both the exciting and the challenging sides of public relations. For my final major project, I was asked to build a new website for our community’s Chamber of Commerce. I had to learn how to use the website builder from scratch. With guidance from Mr. Anderson, I gained the skills to work independently and follow through. When the site launched, I received kind emails and compliments from people in the community. That feedback gave me a level of confidence I had never felt before.

At the end of my internship, Mr. Anderson asked me to present everything I had worked on to the school board as a way to highlight the impact of the work-study program. I gave the presentation with pride. The board members were genuinely impressed, and it was one of the most rewarding moments of my senior year.During all of this, I was still trying to figure out my path for college. I had always planned to stay in-state, but after visiting the University of Kentucky, something just clicked. I talked to Mr. Anderson about my options, and he gave me honest, thoughtful advice. When I finally chose UK, he told me how proud he was and reminded me to trust my instincts.Looking back, I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t taken that internship. It gave me direction, confidence, and a true sense of purpose. And for that, I owe so much to Mr. Anderson, not just for the skills he taught me, but for believing in me when I didn’t fully believe in myself yet.