With one week successfully complete, my "new girl" anxieties have subsided, my drive to learn has kicked into high gear and I've already identified personal goals and mottos that I will apply to my time here at Largemouth.

1. Treat internships like a living textbook. I have found that the best way to learn is to get hands on, and internships are a great way to do this. Don't be afraid to "use" the people around you once you are a part of an internship program. The people you are working with have an abundance of knowledge, and if you are eager to learn then they will be eager to share!

2. Reach outside of your comfort zone. This is one motto, especially as a public relations practitioner, that you must live by. In the public relations world nothing is ever the same, and in order to be the best you can be it is critical to reach beyond the usual and explore new ventures. This internship here at Largemouth is most definitely going to be opportunity for me to put this motto to practice. I have already been given assignments that were not necessarily something familiar to me, but with the guidance from others and some self-motivated research I was able to produce a completed product. So, don't hesitate to take that unknown step because you may just surprise yourself!

3. Be yourself. This motto is important to stick by in every aspect of life. As an intern here at Largemouth, my main goal is to learn public relations practices from outstanding PR professionals and at the same time maintain my identity. I want everyone here at the Largemouth office to get to know me for more than just another intern. By expressing my enthusiasm for growing within the field of public relations and establishing my personality within the office I hope to stand out from the crowd. (Just take a look at American Idol winner and Garner, N.C. resident, Scotty McCreery. Being true to himself paid off in the end!)

The opportunity to intern at Largemouth Communications is most definitely one accomplishment to check off of my ever-evolving bucket list. During my first week at Largemouth I found myself thinking back over the past three years and remembering how often I dreamed of being in the place I am now. I hope that my time here as an intern will be filled with both challenges and accomplishments, which I can take forward into my future career.