Chrissi Venier
02/06/17
Journal #2
WC: 337

What have you learned since the start of your internship?

I have learned a lot of information about alpacas such as their purpose on farms, their ability to help the environment, and their fiber. I think that having a lot of information on hand makes it easier to interact with people when they come to me with questions about the business. I have learned a lot about being the social media face for a business. I’m constantly saying our username to people and I’m glad that we have our social media synced and something that is simple because it can be overwhelming to have to remember a lot of information that doesn’t sound related.

What challenges have you faced?

I have struggled with making sure that my supervisor is satisfied with my work because I’m naturally a little insecure since I’ve never done anything like this outside of class before. She and her husband tell me constantly that I’m doing a good job but I get nervous that they are just being nice. I also am struggling with holding myself back from doing too much. I try to do enough to get my ten hours a week and leave the rest to her because it’s her business and she tells me to slow down a lot but I get really excited about work.

How are these experiences helping you seek a future career?

I get really excited telling people about work and what we do and I think that is part of being a good publicist. I also have been learning a lot more about technology and social media that I didn’t know just doing things on my own. I think that branching out and trying new things is important so that when you get in a work place, you are adapted enough to not be terrified to start. I have also had a lot of experience creating graphics and talking to small business owners and other local professionals. Being able to talk to people as a professional and be able to connect with them and get them engaged while still being respectful is something I’m getting a lot of practice at.

Chrissi Venier
01/25/17 (new add-on)
Journal #1
WC: 343

What will you do in this internship?

In this internship, I will act as the online face of the company. I will run both the Facebook and Instagram accounts, keeping them consistently updated and interactive with the audience. In March, I will help with the event planning and the production of an “Open Barn” to be held towards the end of the month. In addition, I will create advertisements for the business and reach out to the town of Farmville about supporting BrightEyes Alpaca Retreat. The produced pieces of writing, flyers, and advertising for BrightEyes will be edited and approved by my supervisor. I will reach out to students and faculty on campus to seek assistance/offer student opportunities that interact with the business. I will meet my supervisor every Friday to discuss the past week and plan for the future one.

What skills do you have that you will use multiple times in this internship?

I have skills in simple technology and social media which will definitely come in handy during this internship. I also am familiar with the town and many of the small business owners here so making connections for the business will be simple. I have learned a lot from my PR Writing class that will be used such as creating radio PSA’s and developing flyers that attract the eye of the reader/viewer and keep them interested. I also have a good professional voice in email and person that serves the business well for online and in person communication.

What skills are you missing that you hope to gain from this internship?

I would like to become more creative and learn more about the event planning side of PR. I do not have much experience with event planning so March will be an exciting month to grow in. We also are actively looking for help in both the IT and graphic design fields, two things that I am not very capable at beyond basic comprehension. I would also like to become more attentive to my own faults and be able to accept that I will not always be able to perfect every situation. I have a tendency to think that I am always right and I hope to avoid overstepping any boundaries.