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By Emma Hudson

Throughout my college career, I have always been told the value of having an internship. It’s a “resume booster,” “gives you connections,” and “allows you to apply skills from the classroom.” When I applied to be an intern with Port City Production, I banked on these expectations being fulfilled. Little did I know, this internship would provide so much more.

After eight months at Port City Community Church, my time as a production intern is coming to a close. The technical skills and life lessons I have learned are immeasurable, and I could not have asked for a better internship experience. Below are five of the most important aspects I will carry with me in my future endeavors:

It’s okay to make mistakes.

Ever since I can remember, I have been a perfectionist. While this has motivated me and allowed me to succeed, it has proved damaging. When I failed at something, even if it were my first try, it would impact my self-worth. Ultimately, my perfectionism often left me feeling worthless.

The first gathering I produced was not what I would call a disaster, but coming from a perfectionist, it was far from perfect. I missed giving several cues, told others to put slides on the screens at the wrong moments, and pressed incorrect buttons about half a dozen times. When the gathering was over, I came up to the team meeting feeling embarrassed and guilty. I believed I had let the team down. However, to my surprise, I was applauded by staff and my fellow interns for my work.

For the next few weeks, I continued to beat myself up over every little mistake I made. I would miscount a cue and instantly feel like I ruined the entire night. Despite every part of me believing I had wronged the team; I was always met with a staff member congratulating me for my work. I would be told how much I added to the gathering and that I am continuously improving. Slowly, the perfectionist tendencies I had once entangled myself in unraveled.

The best part about making mistakes is they are an opportunity to learn and grow. You will inevitably make mistakes, but what matters is how you recover from them. As interns, we are a work in progress and will be a little rough around the edges.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Coming into the internship, I was a bit afraid of asking questions. I was nervous that I would be perceived as incompetent or looked down upon. When I began making mistakes as a producer, however, it proved vital to ask questions so I could avoid the same problems. I quickly learned that the production staff was not only there to help, but they wanted to. They wanted to see me succeed and become confident in my skills. An internship is a learning experience, and asking questions allows you to flourish.

Teamwork is vital.

Group projects have always been one of my least favorite aspects of school. There always seems to be a slacker dragging the group behind, making the task more difficult for everyone involved. This would often leave me carrying much of the group weight and wishing I could do the project independently. However, I quickly learned the importance of teamwork as a production intern.

On the production team, there are a lot of different roles. This includes lighting, sound, producer, director, CG, switcher, stagehands, and six cameras. If we do not have just one of these roles filled, it is impossible to create a gathering. Not only this, but each role relies on the other to operate. For example, the director relies on the cameras to have shots, while the cameras rely on the director to know when their shots are on the screen. If communication does not occur between these positions, the whole operation will be thrown off.  Hence, the experience taught me the importance of collaboration and its impact on department success.

Take risks and try something new.

In the second semester of the internship, I was asked if I was interested in taking pictures for @portcityproduction on Instagram. Coming into the internship, I had only taken photos for fun and did not have much experience adjusting settings manually. On top of this, the room I was to be taking pictures in was dark, which is not something I had shot in before. While I was nervous about taking on this responsibility, I was excited to acquire a greater skill set.

The first several times I took photos, I mostly tried to replicate pictures that others had taken before. I would use the same settings, capture the same moments, and get the same angles. As time went on, however, I began to take risks with pictures. Instead of only remaining in the main section of the room, I started to take photos in new places like backstage and on the balcony. While sometimes these pictures would not work out, a lot of the time, I would get unique shots that I was proud of. I now feel confident in my photography skills and have developed my personal style. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be scary but taking a leap of faith will help you grow immensely.

Find a mentor.

When coming into the internship for the first day, I was intimidated by the staff team. They were older, wiser, and much more knowledgeable in their craft. Still, I knew the value of finding someone to guide me as I adjusted to my role. Lucky for me, throughout my time with Port City Production, I have gained not just one, but five mentors. These staff members have influenced me in a professional and a personal way. Some of the most notable lessons I have learned are how to better serve others, live selflessly, grow in my faith, and leave some of the weight I carry behind.

Even if your advice from your mentor does not extend to your personal life, it will still allow you to be supported by and learn from someone with years of experience. They also may offer you guidance in the professional world and help you through stressful times. Much of this advice is rarely just a search away on Google.

To wrap it up…

When thinking about future students going into their first internship, I want to encourage them to not just see it as an opportunity for business connections and skill growth but deep connections and personal growth. Having an internship puts you in a unique position to be mentored and learn and develop qualities of yourself you had not yet touched. I am so grateful for the family I have found in Port City Production and hope that every student experience such great transformation in their internships to come.

Byline

Emma is a Communication Studies major with a minor in Digital Arts. She has a passion for content creation and, upon graduating in the spring of 2024, hopes to pursue a career in the integrated marketing field.

By Devin Bircheat

(Photo from UNCW Map & Directions)

Five years, three-degree changes, and two colleges later, I have nearly made it towards the finish line of obtaining my communication studies degree. As a Fall ‘19 transfer student, my UNC Wilmington experience has been anything but traditional as I have learned to navigate my way through UNCW asynchronously. Finding a community in a new town, with new friends, and a new way of living due to the pandemic has been interesting, to say the least. I can’t say it’s been easy, but I can say that there have been pieces of advice that have been helpful as I have adjusted.

“The real world.”

One of the best pieces of advice I got was to quit thinking so far ahead about “the real world” and omit that from my vocabulary (thank you, COM 400). We often hear that the next step in our journey and the things we are doing in school are not “real” since they are not directly accompanied by a job. However, the projects and assignments we are doing in school to prepare ourselves for this so-called real world are still very much real. This mindset helped me to stay present in what I am doing.

It is easy to get caught up and feel stuck if you haven’t quite gotten that internship yet or a job that is in the field you wish to be in and deem that as not having experience. The things that you are doing in your COM classes are real, so work hard and take pride in your projects because they account for so much more than in the classroom. This is also something that you can put on your resume as experience!

Sometimes you have to realize what you don’t like to realize what you do like.

I have notoriously changed my degree to the point it became a running joke in my family that I was going to be a professional student when I got older. Beginning as an Elementary Education major at UNC Charlotte, I quickly realized that I did not have the patience and passion to run a classroom as I had imagined. Then, I ventured to become a psychology major, where I suddenly learned that just because I enjoyed watching true crime did not mean that I should be a forensic psychologist. This has landed me where I am right now, as a communication studies major.

The communication studies department at UNCW gave me tools to be well equipped in writing, critical thinking, marketing, and media. The media and communication job market are at an all-time high right now and is constantly growing. I have ventured into other communication studies focus areas such as journalism, but the Integrated Marketing Communication area is what stuck with me because of the collaborative and innovative environment.

What do you want to be when you get older?

Ah, the question we all dread. With graduation coming around the corner, it is easy to get wrapped up in the pressure of finding a job, where to move, and perhaps loans to pay back. Some people are clear on the next step in their life, however, this can be an exciting yet scary phase of life. Sometimes you are completely sure what you want to do, sometimes you are completely sure what you want to do for a period of time, and sometimes that changes.

It’s okay if you aren’t sure what you want to be when you grow up because you are still growing up. However, there are some opportunities and tools that I have used that have guided me in what to do post-graduation. It is important to take advantage of the career center and opportunities during COM studies week. Handshake has been a very helpful tool that has quizzes that you can take and job opportunities that are being posted. There are also mock interviews that you can do because interviewing is a skill that you can acquire through doing more interviews. The career center is also accessible to UNCW alumni. Networking is an important part of taking the next step after graduation, and a great way to do so is by looking on Handshake and LinkedIn to build connections.

My experience at UNCW has taught me to adapt – adapt to changes, new experiences, and new ways of learning and be open to them.

By: Michalah Matthews

As a transfer student, I didn’t necessarily have your average introduction to the society of college students. I transferred from a very small community college located in my hometown to UNCW in the Spring of 2018. I participated in a handful of events on campus my very first semester and even signed up for a few clubs, despite being a fairly introverted individual. I even decided on my major in Communication Studies in my first semester at the university. While I did have an overall good experience in my time at UNCW within the Communication Department, I feel like most individuals choose to focus on highlighting the “ups” of their college experience rather than focus on the things they didn’t do so well. So for all you up-and-coming freshmen/transfers, I am going to compile a list of my mistakes and hopefully, you can learn from my experience.

AN INTRO TO COM

One of the first classes you will take as a COM major is the COM 105 course, which gives you an introduction to what a major in communication looks like. You study the origin of speech, and the five canons, a dive a bit deeper into the mechanisms of research while utilizing all the elements that rhetoric has to offer. You will also be involved in a lot of group work as conducting research requires quite a bit of work, so in working with people it helps alleviate the stress of one big project. Working in a group also allows for you to hone your communication skills, as everyone differs in the way they communicate and interact with people. If you cannot effectively communicate with the members of your group to complete a task, it will be exceedingly difficult to work with others in a professional setting.

A DIFFERENT APPROACH

COM 200 is the next step after you’ve decided that a major in Communication Studies is something you really want to pursue. Here’s where my mistake comes in. I put the same amount of effort into COM 200 as I did COM 105, which was a big “no-no”. You must have even more effective communication with your group members when it comes to this course. Everything regarding projects should be communicated with them and you must always participate in group meetings. If you have to re-organize your schedule to make a group meeting, then that’s what needs to happen. Your participation in both COM 105 and COM 200 will make or break you in your journey as a COM Studies major. When the professor prompts you to speak to your neighbor, do so. Talk to someone new every time in order to gain communication experience. This will also improve your ability to find and interact with your group members as the class progresses.

BE ACTIVE ON CAMPUS ALWAYS

            While it’s not required to get involved in campus events or to join any clubs, do it anyway. One of my biggest regrets was not getting involved with more clubs or attending the many events the university has to offer. One of the great things about the COM Department is that there are many opportunities for interaction outside of the classroom. There is even a week-long event called COM Studies Week which is full of events orchestrated by the department as well as your fellow peers. There are activities to participate in and the occasional guest speaker that gives helpful advice on various topics that you could utilize in your college and professional career. Some of the different clubs within the department consist of individuals you might see in some of your own COM courses. One of these clubs is the Communication Studies Society, or CSS, which allows for networking opportunities among other opportunities. UNCW Student Media allows for hands-on interaction with the arts and media and finally, TealTV allows students to try their hands at all broadcast journalism has to offer including taking on various roles.

INTERN, PLEASE!

            Another one of my most “regertful” decisions was the lack of involvement in an internship. UNCW offers plenty of opportunities for internships, and as a COM major, you will have access to the weekly newsletter, which highlights the different internship opportunities offered. Even your professors are active in making their students aware of internships they come across that would benefit their students specifically. An internship is exceedingly beneficial because it could make you stand out amongst your peers and even help advance your career. By being involved in an internship, you’ve already been able to utilize the skills you obtained at university in a professional setting. At the internship, you are given the opportunity to network and see what’s available for you after you receive your degree. There’s also the opportunity to add to the list of references for when you get ready to embark on your own quest for a professional career. You might even do so well in the internship that they offer you a position within their company after you graduate. An internship will only expand your horizons!

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

            Integrated marketing communication, or IMC, happened to be my main focus during my time at UNCW. I was intrigued by all that goes into directing a marketing campaign or brand like the organization, research, and the ability to create your own designs. It was also interesting to find out how brands get to know their audiences and how some brands are so successful in their marketing. While IMC is super interesting and provides for a lot of experience, broaden your choice of classes within the COM department. For example, the storytelling classes are good for individuals who love public speaking or want the opportunity to advance in this skill. There are also classes in which you can put your fantastic writing skills to use, like journalism. Some of the other classes deal with other aspects of communication like dealing with broadcasting, video, and film. While you may be interested in one topic, allow yourself to at least experience other courses in order to see all that the COM department has to offer before making a final decision.

INTERACT WITH YOUR PROFESSORS & COUNSELORS

            Last but not least, develop relationships with your professors and counselors. Out of all your teachers, I’m sure there’s one who sticks out to you the most. Utilize them for assistance in some of your other classes relevant to their own. There’s a multitude of things they could help you with if you take the time to visit them during office hours. Developing a relationship with your instructors also gives you access to more opportunities. Maybe they have an event they’re in charge of for the university and are looking for student volunteers or speakers? Your interaction with the professor and utilization of resources would probably make you a top candidate. In addition to volunteer opportunities, references are another useful resource that comes with positive interactions with your professors.

            Take advantage of your counselors as well. You are required to meet with them at least once a semester up until graduation, so you can track your progress and see what you need to do in terms of future courses. Rather than just doing your bi-annual meeting, maybe have a meeting a month to track your progress. This not only benefits you in mapping out your future, but it could also be beneficial for some of the assignments you are given. Most of our counselors are also professors in the department so if you need a quick once-over on an assignment, I’m sure they’d be happy to help and give you the best critique.

These are some of the things I wish I would’ve handled better when on my UNCW journey. I’m hoping the things I struggled to handle will be a breeze for you. Maybe after reading this, you won’t have to experience the same things I did. Just utilize your resources and buckle up for one of the greatest experiences in your life, good luck!

By: Davis Upton

My Experience

My experience at The University of North Carolina Wilmington has been a wild one. I arrived at the university and had the best 3 weeks of my life to all of a sudden be thrown out of school for a month due to Hurricane Florence. One year later, another hurricane “Dorian” came back to the University to kick us out of school again but this time for 2 weeks. After that, when we thought it couldn’t get any worse. The next semester a worldwide pandemic occurred that forced the world and UNCW to go with online virtual learning for the rest of the year. Nowadays, we are still dealing with a pandemic that won’t seem to go away. Through it all, I decided to become a UNCW Communication Studies major with a focus in Integrated Marketing Communications. Now I am on my way to graduating in May of 2022.

The Communication Studies Major

The Communication Studies Major offers a variety of different courses that one can take to practice, criticize, and study communication. The Communication Studies classes have helped explain the variety of contexts in which communication takes place. From interpersonal to public communication and mediated/digital communication. The major investigates numerous styles and modes of interaction within the communication studies department including rhetoric, public address, and performance studies to communication technologies, including media production and computer-assisted interaction.

The scope of communication studies as a discipline is one without boundaries that give rise to the challenge of clarifying just who we are and what we are about. While communication technologies continue to change, the basic human need for connection: to understand and be understood, remains as important as ever. The Communication Studies department seeks to work closely with students to help them think deeply about the strategic, creative, and logistical challenges of Integrated Marketing Communications. The major explores how theory, research, analytics, and digital platforms and environments can help navigate those challenges and create communication connections.

I have really enjoyed getting to know everyone within the major and I value the experience I have gained throughout the years. I think the best part about the Communication Studies department is the people. From the students to the professors, this department has helped me succeed, learn, and grow as an individual.

Memorable Moments in COM

Some of my most memorable moments as a UNCW Communication Studies major would have to be in class with other COM major students and our amazing Communication Studies professors. I have loved planning COM Studies Week with my fellow COM majors and Tammy Bulger. I have also liked taking a mediation and conflict management class with Professor Bruce McKinney. As well as Principles of Multimedia Journalism with Jeff Rivenbark (WWAY News Anchor). Furthermore, I have appreciated all the courses I took with Christopher Stuart in graphic design.  All these Communication Studies classes, whether they were in person or virtual, have been memorable and helpful opportunities to grow in the application of that knowledge all the while gaining practical communication competencies.

Conclusion

With this being my final semester here at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, I have set out to finish my college career on a high note. If I focus on using what I’ve learned in the Communication Studies major, I know that I will. With confidence, I can do what I set out to do, mentally, emotionally, and physically. After graduation, I plan on moving back home to Charlotte and securing a job in the marketing field. When I am not working on school or the job search, I am outdoors soaking up the sun and fresh air with my roommates.

If I could offer some words of encouragement to fellow UNCW students as they continue to push through the extremely challenging circumstances of the pandemic, it would be to never take things for granted. From my personal experience here at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, and as a Communication Studies major, anything could happen at any time, and you should always be prepared for the change to occur. From hurricanes to pandemics, always plan for the worst. Also, try to utilize all that the University has to offer from tutoring to Chick-Fil-A. You are never alone. I have been very blessed to not only call The University of North Carolina Wilmington home for 4 years but also to have shared experiences with my peers, whether they were good or bad. I am very sad to end this chapter of my life, but I am extremely excited to start another. All in all, I will always love UNCW aka “The DUB”, and the Communication Studies department forever. Go Seahawks!