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PR Student's Well-Rounded Experience with Priority Health Pays Off

Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.

Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet: Lauren Taylor Smith

Lauren Taylor SmithShe is: A senior in the Public Relations program from Norton Shores, Mich.

Internship: Social media intern with Priority Health in Grand Rapids, Mich.

What she is learning: She does something different every day, which is something she really enjoys. She has learned how to code with HTML, how to plan an event, how to organize volunteers and more. Smith gets to monitor their Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram and post pictures or statuses about Priority Health. They really try to represent and convey through the social media platforms that Priority Health has the healthier approach to healthcare.

How Ferris helped: Before coming to Ferris, Smith hadn’t done anything with Public Relations, once she was here she learned simple things: verbiage, how to write a proper email, writing a press release and business talk. These are things that she uses every day and has proven to be so helpful and positive within her internship.

What she is involved in: She is a general member of Public Relations Student Society of America.

What set her apart: When applying for her internship, she wrote a hand-written thank you note after her interview. This set her apart from the other applicants because it shows that even though they were all qualified, she showed that she really cared, and it ultimately got her the internship.

Her future plans: She will graduate in May 2016, and would like having a job once she graduates. She would like to remain in West Michigan and would like to end up in Grand Rapids, but is open to living anywhere with a job that best fits her.