“Why not?” is kind of my motto for doing things. If I can’t think of any negatives or a downside to trying something new, then I go for it. So far, my impulsive decisions haven’t let me down—they usually turn out great!
I don’t have any particular goals. I am still figuring things out. Last year, I would have never guessed that I would be writing for two publications within a year. I didn’t think I would get accepted to intern for PATTERN, but here I am.
I tried to experiment this year and start writing. I had written before, but only for school—mostly academic research. I had to set up a writing portfolio specifically to apply for this internship.
Because I wasn’t sure what to expect, I can’t say the internship exceeded or didn’t meet my expectations. However, one thing I can say is that I was actually excited to wake up early in the morning for something.
Usually, I wake up early for work or school… not really exciting. But interning at PATTERN made me realize I have to work in a creative field or I’ll feel bored. PATTERN is where I had the “aha” moment of understanding why some people stay and work with the same company and people for years. Previously, I thought it was just because some people are fine with the same old routine.
Concerning writing for a publication, at PATTERN I learned more or less how the editorial process works. I got to learn how to put articles into the backend of WordPress. A takeaway is to not be afraid of asking for an interview or a pass to an event. All you have to do is ask. Before getting into writing, I thought the process was complicated and it seemed a little intimidating. But it actually is a matter of just asking. The process of getting media passes for events is not as daunting as I thought before. Once you get the media or press pass, you get to network with others who are also covering the event and can create more connections. Because of the connections you make with people and getting to know different industries, the world definitely starts to feel smaller.
On top of gaining more writing experience, what stood out to me in this internship was encountering such a wide variety of people. I’ve met so many different creatives who know what they want. I think being surrounded by those types of people gives you the drive to want to support them and also begin having your own aspirations.
Being at PATTERN opens up the opportunity to experiment and try new things. Being able to work on projects outside of your main focus, such as helping a fellow intern with their editorial shoot, can open your mind to new ideas. It allows space for interns to try new things and learn about different creative careers.
I’m pretty thankful I was chosen for a PATTERN internship this semester because I gained a lot from it. I met tons of new people and learned more about the creative scene in Indianapolis through the PATTERN Think Tanks and Creative Mornings events. Even at the end of the internship, I’m excited to further work with PATTERN in the future and keep following those whom I’ve met.
The experiences I’ve gained and the work I have done for the digital magazine built up my portfolio and make me feel more secure in being employable in the future. Having PATTERN on my resume definitely opens doors and connects me to people and places I otherwise would have never had the chance to discover. As I reflect on my time at PATTERN, I’ve realized that applying here was one of my best ‘why not?’ decisions.
