My first day on internship reminded me of my first day at the University of Miami; no familiar faces, yet a warm and welcoming environment.

Upon arriving at Red Stripe, I received what could be described as the best welcome ever. As an intern in the Corporate Relations Department I was actively involved in basic story writing, composing press releases, sitting in on meetings and, most excitingly, being allowed to give feedback. I also assisted with forming communication plans, creating newsletters, and executing events such as Sumfest and Dream Weekend.

The event executions at Sumfest and Dream Weekend were definitely a favourite of mine, as my role was to cordinate the Drink Right Ambassadors. Through Drink Right, we ensured that only patrons, 18 years and older with a valid ID, could consume alcohol, and do so responsibly.

My internship afforded me the opportunity to work closely with Brand PR Manager Kamal Powell and Levaughn Flynn, senior communications manager, who were both such fascinating role models and instrumental sources in teaching and guiding me with my day-to-day responsibilities. With their vast experience and workload, I was grateful to assist in taking some of the routine responsibilities off their plate.

I have learned so much over the three-month internship. I have acquired valuable lessons in teamwork, building solid relationships, and working hard, along with the sense of accomplishment felt in a job well done. Perfecting my multi-tasking skills and coming in every day to work with a positive attitude served to drive me to take on challenges and complete them in a timely manner. My experience at Red Stripe will definitely carry me into my future career endeavours.

As I enter my fourth and final year at the University of Miami in pursuit of my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Public Relations, I know, with the utmost certainty, that I am in the right field. Through my Red Stripe experience, I was given that reassurance, which for me goes a long way. The experience provided me the opportunity to explore my chosen field and broaden my horizons. I consider myself extremely blessed to have had this opportunity.

Red Stripe is definitely a company I aspire to work with because it is an industry leader. I admire the company’s values; its continuous drive to improve the environment through reducing waste to landfill and efficient use of resources, the keen focus in responsible drinking, the push to locally sourced raw material that will create more jobs for Jamaicans, and the importance they place on employees and their safety is phenomenal. This is why Red Stripe continues to be a reputable, stable, solid company affording employment and growth opportunities to many.

As summer’s end approached, it also meant the end of this remarkable experience at Red Stripe. As sad as I was to leave this great company and the fantastic team members that I had bonded with, I left empowered and extremely enthusiastic to start on the road to making a difference in my chosen career.

I encourage other students to seek out internship opportunities such as this, as it was such a positive and rewarding experience for me. Thank you, Red Stripe for this amazing experience.

CAP: Brianna Knight