As I sit down to begin to reflect upon my time at Cookson this summer, I truly cannot believe it is over. I have spent my summer at Cookson not only following and learning more about my passion for writing, but also working alongside people who are a few life stages ahead of me, gaining valuable insight and experience through observing and speaking with them.
I remember my first day at Cookson like it was yesterday. It was my understanding that this summer was a unique summer at Cookson, as the office had just gone through a move into an old family home a few minutes down the street. I was happy that I was coming in when I was, as I felt as though I got to experience this move with my coworkers and supervisors. I got to see the full location transition, including the satisfaction when a project was finally completed.
My favorite project and one that I would like to shine a spotlight on is the history research that I have participated in this summer regarding the new location that Cookson has just moved into. Cookson’s new location just happens to be a home that was built in 1870, so naturally, we began to wonder if there was anything interesting to learn about the history of the property. I had the opportunity to go work closely with community members to uncover the story behind this property and its previous occupants with the goal of giving the house a name. We landed on the name “The Knox House”, as the Knox family owned the home for most of its early life.
Over this summer, I have had the opportunity to dip my toes in many different areas of communications, which was my goal when I started at Cookson. I was immediately immersed in everyday life at Cookson, being given a few long-term projects, as well as some shorter-term daily tasks. On my first day, I even had an off-site trip to help with a project waiting for me.
The best way that I can describe my time at Cookson is that I didn’t feel like an intern, but rather, I felt like I was an employee just as any of my coworkers are. I was given high level writing projects which gave me fantastic professional writing experience, as well as being given the opportunity to participate directly in client interactions, gaining the experience of working with and communicating directly with clients.
One of my favorite parts about working for a small company has been experiencing the connection among the team. Everyone’s work depends on the work of each other, and watching the communication and problem solving among my coworkers was also a great learning experience. I was able to see how each piece of the puzzle fits together, and how if even one piece is missing, the full picture won’t be visible. I have a new appreciation for the communication efforts that must happen in this field and will keep this experience in mind when navigating my final year of college.
Overall, I have had an unforgettable summer at Cookson. I am leaving with countless new communications skills that I would not have if I hadn’t been thrown right in, and I am so grateful that I was.
