What I’ve Learned From My Summer Internship

Lilah Esh, TwoRoads Storytelling Intern

When most college students think about summer break, they think about time off. After finishing my first year at Susquehanna University, I chose differently: to use the extra time with intention. That’s why I became an intern at TwoRoads Strategy, and it turned into one of the most educational experiences I’ve had so far.

Finding Confidence Through Feedback

Some of the greatest lessons came from tasks that were outside of my comfort zone, like writing a series of drip emails from Beth’s perspective. My first draft was long and read like an advertisement, but Beth gave me some feedback and pointed me in the right direction. When she read my final draft, she was impressed, which surprised me because I wasn’t confident that it was my best work. Without that task, I wouldn’t have the confidence I now have in my writing.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

I also learned some things that cannot be taught in a lecture. The more social posts I created, the more I started picking up on patterns of what works and what does not. Initially, I just copied previous posts to get an idea of TwoRoads’ voice and identity.

Once I got comfortable, I started recreating social media posts from other companies I liked while maintaining the branding. I was hesitant to show Beth because they were different from the usual templates, but she responded very positively. The more posts I made, the more I was able to recognize patterns of what would be received well. To be specific, I realized that a brand being authentic is one of the best things it can do. 

One of my other projects is creating social content for a TwoRoads client, Fetterville Pole Buildings. I attended their first video shoot – a casual interview filmed with an iPhone, no scripts, just genuine conversations between satisfied customers and their salesmen.

I noticed that even when the cameras weren’t rolling, the pairs were connected, talking about their personal lives and what they loved most about the build – and luckily, this was all caught on camera. That comfort created an authentic story about the project, helping us create content that reflected those connections and the brand’s values.

Check out a project interview here: Winchester Residence Garage

Looking Ahead

I’m only halfway through the summer, but I already feel that I have a clearer sense of what skills I can focus on and use during the rest of my career. I’m glad that I haven’t used this “break” as such, but instead as a learning opportunity that shows my growth. I am excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store!