Just a few months ago it seemed like the rest of the class and I were anxious and excited to find the perfect summer residency. After applying to a few jobs and not even receiving an interview, I have to admit I had a small breakdown in my advisor’s (Prof John Greening) office. I, like many of my fellow students, was afraid I wouldn’t get a residency. Prof Greening reassured me there were many upcoming opportunities.
I then applied to what I saw as a long shot, a summer residency at Conde Nast Publications in New York City. I had begun my residency search wanting to work only for an agency in Chicago and here I was applying for a magazine company in New York City. While I was nervous about life in New York, the project was exactly what I wanted to do. In the interest of keeping this short, after a few interviews, let’s just say I was surprised and delighted to find out I was chosen to be Conde Nast’s first Medill IMC resident.
To sum up this summer, the only word I can say is: AMAZING. I was challenged and surprised every day. But to understand this, it is important to know what it was like in June when I moved to New York. Before work started, I was interested to find out how “different” working would be after three quarters of graduate school. I didn’t feel any different and knew that my work style hadn’t changed, so how was IMC really going to help me with this residency? If grad school was anything like undergrad, I would only use my social skills and none of the classes. But from the first day, I realized more and more how even the little things I learned at Medill IMC prepared me for my project. The classes that I thought were pointless at the time were helping me make knowledgeable decisions and actionable recommendations. We talk about return on investment as an important measurement in all IMC practices, and from my summer experience I feel I received a great return – higher than expected. While I can’t go into too many details, all I can say is that all of my worries and frustration at the beginning of the process don’t even compare to the end result. I learned that like all things, the more you put in the more you’ll get out; not to underestimate your abilities or what you’ve learned; and most importantly, that challenging yourself can be the most rewarding experience.
As the summer comes to a close and I pack up to drive back to Chicago, I’m now torn between being excited to see friends and finish school, and leaving New York and my project. I don’t know what excitement, frustration, anxiety, or surprises are ahead in the fifth quarter, but I’m ready to find out. Besides, if all goes well, this amazing summer will only be a precursor of things to come after graduation.
……….Megan Edelson
