Expectations — ah, that golden mean between hope and reality. As a new intern, I recently became very familiar with that term as I wondered what to expect during my first days on the job at Isom Global Strategies (IGS).

To begin, let’s briefly discuss who I am and how I got here.

My name is Patrick Fernandez; I am junior studying public relations with a minor in multimedia at George Mason University. Even though I am young, I am eager. I have actively challenged myself all throughout my college career to be a diligent worker, a dedicated health nut and an organized professional. That is not to say that there haven’t been bumps in the road along the way. 

My dad always gave me the following advice: “No matter how good you think you are, there is always someone smarter, stronger or better than you.” That was quite daunting for a young teen to hear. But after my initial response, I began to react to his advice differently as I grew older. I moved from negativity to motivation — motivation that eventually led me to a company that is filled with highly knowledgeable and driven team players; IGS shares the similar passion to become better than the rest.

You are only as strong as your most recent work. IGS has given me an opportunity that, so far, has surmounted all of my past experiences, an opportunity that I am thrilled to take.

OK, back to the internship.

Public Relations is an industry that is constantly changing and very hectic. I knew coming into IGS that they would put me to work… and that they did. It was pedal to the metal as soon as I came here, and I wouldn’t want it any different. So far, I have been working on multimedia projects, compiling research, writing blogs and helping out the IGS team in any way possible.

You learn by doing, you persevere by being challenged, and you cope when feeling stressed. The management team at IGS doesn’t treat you like a lowly intern — they treat you like an actual employee, and hold the same standards of excellence that they would expect from every team member, and yes, I know that sounds cliché but I’ve found myself rising to meet their expectations and learning quite a bit in the process.

IGS has shown me not just how to be a good intern but also what it takes to be a good employee. I have high hopes for the future.

I have always believed that the best way to predict your future is to create it.