Reflecting on My Internship with Avenue

There are some things you can learn in a classroom, and there are others you have to experience for yourself.

Before starting my internship at Avenue, I had spent 4 years learning about marketing and advertising like building strategies, researching audiences, developing campaigns, and presenting ideas. But as I got closer to graduating, I realized there was one thing I still didn't completely understand: what working in this industry actually looked like.

As a first-generation college student and the daughter of immigrant parents, there wasn't necessarily a roadmap for me when it came to navigating agency or corporate life. My parents taught me the importance of working hard, showing up, and making the most of every opportunity, but things like agency culture, professional networking, or knowing when to speak up in a meeting were things I would have to learn for myself.

My 10 weeks at Avenue gave me a place to start.

Learning the Things You Don't Learn in Class

Walking into my internship, I knew I wasn't expected to know everything. Still, I found myself wondering: Am I asking too many questions? Should I share this idea? What if my work needs a lot of edits?

Over time, I learned that asking questions is part of doing better work, feedback makes the work stronger, and you don't need to have the perfect idea before contributing to the conversation.

I also got a behind-the-scenes look at agency life almost immediately. Early in my internship, I joined the Avenue team for Q3 planning at REX Hill, where I got to see the conversations and decisions that shape the agency's goals and priorities.

Team Photo at REX Hill for our Q3 Planning Session

I even learned more about myself along the way. Through the CliftonStrengths assessment, I discovered that my top strength is Relator, which focuses on building meaningful relationships and working with others toward a shared goal. It felt fitting as I was getting to know the Avenue team and reminded me that starting a career isn't only about developing new skills, it's also about recognizing the strengths you already bring with you.

Seeing Marketing From Different Angles

One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to experience so many sides of marketing.

I brainstormed and created social content, contributed to client work, participated in blog sessions and The Conscious Marketer podcast recordings, and explored emerging marketing trends. One of my favorite experiences was seeping away from my laptop to capture content for Avenue’s client Frog Ferry. Getting to ride along the Willamette River while filming and taking photos gave me a completely different perspective on what working in marketing can actually look like.

View of the Willamette River with Frog Ferry

Through those experiences, I saw just how much thinking happens behind the scenes. A social post isn't just a social post, and a blog isn't just a blog. There are conversations about the audience, platform, goal, brand voice, and what you want someone to take away from it.

That changed the way I approached my own work. Instead of only asking, “Does this look or sound good?” I started asking, “Why are we doing this?”

From Listening to Leading

One experience that especially pushed me outside of my comfort zone was leading my own Lunch & Learn for the Avenue team.

For “Whose story are we selling? What agencies can teach us about storytelling,” I explored how agencies use messaging to position themselves, communicate their value, and stand out. I researched other agencies and shared my own observations about what worked and why.

Presenting my ideas to a room (more like a Zoom call) of people who work in marketing every day was intimidating. But it also became one of the moments that showed me how much more comfortable I had become.

It wasn't about becoming an expert in 10 weeks, it was about realizing that I could still be learning and have a perspective worth sharing.

Creating My Own Roadmap

Being first-generation has made this experience especially meaningful.

My parents immigrated to the United States and had to navigate unfamiliar systems. Because of their sacrifices, I've had opportunities they didn't always have access to, including going to college and pursuing a career I'm passionate about. 

They couldn't tell me what my first agency meeting would be like or give me a step-by-step guide for starting a career in marketing. But they gave me something just as important: the work ethic and determination to figure it out.

Avenue gave me a space to start doing exactly that. Ten weeks later, agency life doesn't feel like this mysterious world I'm looking at from the outside anymore. I've experienced the meetings, brainstorms, client work, revisions, presentations, planning, and collaboration for myself.

And I've realized I don't need to know every unwritten rule before I belong in the room.

Gratitude and Growth

First, thank you to The Script for opening the door to this opportunity. Without The Script, I wouldn't have had the chance to spend my summer at Avenue, gain real-world agency experience, and begin figuring out what a career in this industry could look like for me.

Thank you to Megan, Sharon, Anna, and Jazmyne! The entire team welcomed me, answering my questions, and making me feel like part of the team. Having people I felt comfortable asking questions, receiving feedback, and learning from made all the difference in my first agency experience. All 4 of you helped me learn so much more about what it means to be a good teammate, communicator, and marketer! 

Y a mis papás, gracias por todo sus sacrificios y por darme la oportunidad de llegar hasta aquí. Nada de esto sería posible sin ustedes!

Ten weeks went by quickly, but I'm leaving with more than marketing experience. I'm leaving with a better understanding of myself, a clearer picture of the kind of marketer I want to become, and more confidence walking into whatever room comes next.