I had the privilege of spending nine months serving as an intern for In the Round Productions. My time with In the Round became a valuable and rewarding part of my college career, and provided me with the opportunity strengthen and hone some of my skills – and learn quite a few new ones as well.

 

The standard industry definition of an intern is “one who makes coffee and watches the real employees do things.” In the Round turned this idea of intern on its head, offering me the opportunity to be involved with the day-to-day operations of a production and publications company. Far from being a watched-over, seldom-trusted coffee girl, In the Round gave me the freedom and respect that are normally only awarded to full-time, long-term employees. Far from being kept on the sidelines, I became a pivotal part of the action; over time, as I gained in skill level and confidence, Josh and Kate allowed me a degree of freedom, influence, and responsibility that allowed me to explore new skill areas and branch into exciting new tasks and projects.

 

I came to In the Round somewhat unexpectedly, and I wasn’t sure that I had the skills and technological savvy for the position they had offered. I knew that it would be a challenge to learn the programs and to navigate the projects that In the Round was offering to me. Josh and Kate helped me to jump into the center of the action; I learned as I went, often through trial-and-error, but they demonstrated a remarkable degree of patience (and good humor) as I did my best to figure out what a “publications specialist” was supposed to do, exactly. But while the internship was challenging, always pushing me to the next level and encouraging me to get just that much better in my writing and designing, I never felt overwhelmed. Rather, I felt empowered to try new things, push myself harder, and constantly achieve an ever-greater level of effectiveness in my writing and layouts. By the end of the year, I could look back at my work over the prior nine months and see a visible, tangible improvement in my own writing, in my ability to work with and edit the writing of others, and in my design and layout skills.

 

As a college student, you never really know what’s ahead – life can pretty much take you anywhere. That’s why – more than any technological tricks or software familiarity –  I’m most grateful for some of the intangible lessons that I learned at In the Round. Yes, I learned to navigate the mysteries of InDesign and Photoshop, and to kick the printer just so to make it start printing the 1600th newsletter (just kidding), but what I learned above all was how to thrive and grow in a nurturing, supportive environment. At In the Round, I felt like I was a valuable contributor to a great company – but even more so, like I was a part of a special family. Josh and Kate put their employees before product or profit, and I could not imagine a more compassionate, understanding, and supportive pair of employers. My nine months with In the Round became one of the brightest and most enjoyable parts of my college career, mainly because of the relationships that I formed with Josh, Kate and the other interns. I would unhesitatingly, unreservedly recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in challenging themselves, being surprised by their own growth and achievements, and being a part of a wonderful family and a terrific company.
~ Emily Neeson