Grady InternViews: Hallie Turner

This is part of a series where we ask Grady College students to describe their summer internship experience.

Briefly describe your internship and responsibilities.

This summer I was blessed with the opportunity to obtain two internships. For the first seven weeks of the summer, I was a Congressional Intern with Congressman Austin Scott in Washington D.C.  I lived right across the street from the Senate, and I enjoyed an easy commute. My day would start with the typical intern duties of making sure the office was set and ready for the day. Then I would turn on the phone lines for the countless calls that I would answer to converse with constituents of the eighth district of Georgia. While the phone rang throughout the day, I also had many press projects. Depending on what event and or holiday we would have coming up, I would design a graphic for it. After the congressman finished speaking with the press, I would clip the interviews and send them over to our Press Secretary to post to our social media platforms. Once that was complete, I would go through and do our Press Memos. This included research of all the articles that were posted in the last 24-48 hours that mentioned Congressman Scott, the Georgia Delegation, health, agriculture and economic development that was occurring in the district. If there was something pressing that week that needed to be sent out for immediate release, I would sit with the Press Secretary and craft a press release. For the second part of the summer, I am an intern with The Joy FM radio station. I am looking forward to this opportunity and building on my reporting skills. A typical day is sitting on the radio segments that go live throughout the day. 

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

The biggest challenge I faced was giving myself grace during a learning experience. I tried many new things for the first time, and it was a challenge at times to feel like I wasn’t meeting my own expectations. Luckily, I was blessed with the opportunity to be surrounded by leaders who were invested in my professional growth. 

How do you feel that Grady has prepared you for tackling the job?

Grady emphasizes the importance of industry experiences. It’s known worldwide that Grady graduates are recognized for excelling in their field. For me, I view this internship as a first step in my own professional journey towards success. My Grady course work has prepared me to be a versatile communicator. These various skills allowed me to be an asset in my congressional office this summer. 

What is the most memorable experience you have had during your internship? 

My most memorable experience would have to be the day that the Legislative Assistant asked me to design a new graphic that would go on our one-pager letters. It was because of the skills I have learned in Grady and through Dr. Kyser Lough that I knew exactly how to design something that was eye catching, professional and efficient for our office. I was excited that my design would be on display and meaningful for the eighth district of Georgia. 

What is your advice for other students looking to take on a similar role?

Step out of your comfort zone and don’t let the location of an internship avert you from tackling the opportunity of a lifetime. You never know where it may lead you. 

What lessons will you take back with you to Athens in the fall?

I have learned about the significant relationship between the politics and the press. I now have a reinforced perspective of the importance of public service and my desire to give back to my community through meaningful communication.