I didn’t expect my first internship to change how I see my career — but that’s exactly what happened. 

When I first walked into Awesome Inc, I thought I had a pretty solid understanding of marketing. I am a marketing and management student at the University of Kentucky, so I’ve spent a lot of time learning concepts, strategies, and frameworks in the classroom. But like most students, my experience had mostly been in class projects and group work. I had yet to learn that I only knew of marketing—but I hadn’t fully experienced it yet. 

Before this internship, I thought marketing was mainly about analytics, boosting engagement, and creating content. And while those things are definitely part of it, I quickly learned that marketing is so much more than that. It’s about understanding people, creating value, telling stories, and building connections that actually mean something. 

From my first few days at Awesome Inc, I could tell this wasn’t going to be a typical internship. The energy in the space is different. You’re surrounded by entrepreneurs, founders, and people actively building something. Events are fast-paced, and the space is collaborative, and constantly evolving. I knew that environment was one that would push me to step up in ways a classroom never could. 

One of the biggest parts of my experience has been working in events like 5 Across. Seeing everything that goes into promoting an event — from brainstorming ideas to creating content to actually watching it all come together. I saw that it’s not just about making something look good; it’s about creating excitement, building anticipation, and getting people to genuinely care. 

I also learned how important it is to adapt quickly. In a startup environment, things change fast. Ideas evolve, priorities shift, and you have to be willing to adjust. At first, that felt overwhelming. But over time, I started to see it as an opportunity instead of a challenge. It forced me to think more creatively, act more confidently, and trust my instincts. 

Looking back, one of the biggest takeaways from this experience is that you learn the most by doing. You can study marketing concepts all day, but actually applying them in real time is completely different. It builds confidence in a way that nothing else can. 

This internship has also changed how I think about my future. I’ve realized that I enjoy being in a creative and forward thinking environment where I can take initiative, and contribute to something bigger. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want to go, but I feel a lot more confident in my ability to get there. 

If you had told me a few months ago that my first ever internship would shift my perspective this much, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But Awesome Inc isn’t just a place to work — it’s a place to grow, to learn, and start figuring out what you’re capable of. 

And for me, that’s been the most valuable part of all.