What My Fisher College Marketing Internship Taught Me

Author: Ethan Nguyen

 

Cue the keyboard clicks, the coffee kicks, and the marketing tricks! Meet the voice behind the text, your local public relations major and former Fisher College intern, Ethan Nguyen. During my time at Fisher, I had the opportunity to intern in the Marketing & Communications department. Before moving on to my next chapter, I wanted to share what that experience was really like. So, what’s the big deal?

Creative Strategy: It turns out creativity isn't just about having good ideas… it's about having the right ideas. I learned how every Instagram post, press release, and even graphic design has a purpose. Whether it’s roping in prospective students or showing Fisher to journalists and news sites, I’ve had to think about more than what just sounds good. Strategy isn’t always so flashy, but it’s what turns my creativity into functionality!  

Deadlines & Discipline: The keyboard still clicks; the coffee still kicks, and the deadlines still tick. In the classroom, deadlines are structured and established from the very beginning of the semester. In the real world, they change. A LOT. Constant new events popping up that need coverage, different projects to balance, ranging from business analytics to writing new posts. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a lot of pressure. My time at MarCom has shown me that it's not just about getting things done. It's about getting them done well, even when time isn’t on my side.  

Pitching Stories: It’s difficult to gauge just how cutthroat the world of journalism can be. Fun fact about me: I took a concentration in journalism for the first 2 years at Fisher! We learned about picking the stories with the most impact and power… and sometimes this meant pinning people or organizations in a reputational spotlight. Pitching stories and press releases to journalists and organizations at MarCom helped me understand who was looking to grow with Fisher and who wanted to grow at the cost of Fisher.  

The keyboard clicks have stopped, the coffee is empty, but along the way, the marketing tricks became real skills! What once felt like assignments became real responsibilities, and what felt like practice became preparation for the professional world. My time in MarCom didn’t just show me what the real world looks like. It gave me the experience and confidence to step into it. I’m leaving Fisher with more than a degree; I’m leaving with hands-on experience, real-world skills, and a stronger sense of where I want to go next.