By Caitlyn Levy
Jenkintown High School, Class of 2026
My internship at The Communication Solutions Group was a four-week shadowing program offered by my school for seniors looking to engage in a career field that interests them. As a public relations intern, my time was filled with a variety of work, from sitting in on client Zoom calls, making social media graphics and reels on Canva, and visiting a school district client to learn behind the scenes of video production. Leza, Kellie, Linda, Jess and Cassie all welcomed me warmly, helped guide me through my work, and offered sound advice that I will take with me and use in the future.
What I Learned
Throughout my internship at Communication Solutions, I learned various new skills, as well as strengthening my current ones. I learned how to create social media graphics for different clients, tailored to their specific needs. I wrote various Instagram captions for different organizations, and learned the inner workings of public relations and marketing by sitting in on client and staff meetings. There is so much that falls under the umbrella of communications and I had the opportunity to explore it all.
Why I Recommend Every High Schooler Shadow
I would certainly recommend that all students take the opportunity to shadow, whether that be at Communication Solutions or somewhere else that suits your interests. Being able to get a jump start on what I will be studying in college is a great way to help myself get ahead and become more familiarized with my major and all that comes with it. It is a great way to get a feel for your future and figure out what you do and don’t like, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Aside from the experience, shadowing is a great way to enhance your resume and/or college application.
How This Prepares Me for College
This internship has helped me elevate many skills and prepared me in many ways for my first year in college. I was given various tasks each day, which required me to manage my time in order to get all my work done. I had to learn how to use new software, improve my creativity skills, and adapt to a new and unfamiliar environment. I familiarized myself with the type of work I would be doing in school next fall and got to interact with many different people, such as clients and other staff members. This internship has also prepared me for other experiences, and made me more comfortable for whatever my next internship may be.
Caitlyn Levy is from Jenkintown, Pa. She will attend Penn State University’s main campus this fall to study telecommunications and media in hopes of pursuing a career in sports media. She enjoys spending time with friends, playing soccer and tennis, and going to the beach.