Celebrating National Intern Day: From Olivia Pope to Real-World PR

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Editor’s Note: Every year, on the last Thursday of July, we celebrate National Intern Day, dedicated to recognizing the hard work and contributions of those who bring fresh perspectives and new energy to the workplace. This year, we asked our Racer interns to share their experiences and passions. Join us in celebrating them.

Briefly introduce yourself and share a fun fact.

I’m Morgan Santaguida, a rising senior at Boston College and one of Racepoint Global’s summer interns. Outside of school and work, I love exploring cities, taking creative writing classes, and cooking meals with friends and family. A fun fact about me is that I’m from the Mushroom Capital of the World. I grew up attending mushroom festivals in September and a mushroom drop on New Year’s Eve, just like the one in Times Square.

What inspired you to work in the communications field?

In middle school, I thought Olivia Pope from the TV show Scandal was the coolest person. If you don’t know the show, she led a PR team to spin scandals for politicians in D.C. Watching her handle media relations and command a room inspired me to explore a fast-paced, media-related career. This inspiration became real in college when I fell in love with my communications major. Writing and reading became my favorite form of work, and thankfully, these skills are an integral part of this field. Through conversations with professors, PR professionals, and friends, I decided to intern in the communications industry, to build on my recent passion for writing and my former passion for Olivia Pope.

How do you stay up to date with the latest trends in our industry?

Staying informed is a priority for me, especially since I am working in the communications industry. I subscribe to newspapers like The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. For quick snippets of information and to tune into ongoing conversations, I turn to social media platforms like Instagram and X. Recently my favorite way to stay informed is to listen to Pivot, a podcast hosted by Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway that covers the latest headlines for business and tech news.

What advice would you give future interns in communications?

Take advantage of being an intern. Being one is an amazing opportunity to ask questions, learn as much as you can, and figure out what career you want to have. See the potential for learning in every task. Try new opportunities with a fail-forward mindset. No one expects you to know anything yet, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes.

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