Walking into Lorraine Gregory Communications in January, I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous, but I was also eager. I thought about the depictions of interns in the media. Would I be picking up the boss’s coffee order while being subjected to their passive aggressive remarks?

The idea of starting anything new, whether it being school, a job, or an internship is stressful. Not knowing what to expect in a new environment is absolutely anxiety inducing, and I know a lot of young professionals feel that way too. I viewed myself as the underdog. Did I even know what I was doing? Am I even qualified to be here? I’ve learned that if you push through the self-doubt and put your best foot forward, there will be a reward.

As I spent more time at LGC, I naturally became more comfortable. I had the opportunity to learn about branding, web development, integrated marketing, content creation, and video production. I also attended events with LGC Studios and interviewed professionals at Long Island Business News events.

Oh- and no, I did not go on a single coffee run.

When my internship hours were completed, I’m not going to lie, I was a bit bummed out. I began to enjoy my time in the office. I was never afraid to ask for help, I always had guidance if needed, and I had an incredibly positive experience.

When I was called into the office on my last day, I went into full panic mode. Could I have done something wrong? Why did they want to speak to me? I sat down anxiously and the question that followed seemed unreal to me. “Would you like a job here?”

Knowing my time was valued and that I made a good impression cleared away any self-doubt that I had. I felt capable, empowered and most importantly I felt proud of myself.

I am now a marketing coordinator at Lorraine Gregory Communications. Getting the opportunity to be a part of this team has been such an amazing learning experience.

For all the anxious interns out there, push through that anxiety and self-doubt. I promise you it will pay off.