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Gaining Marketing Experience Through Internships – Cailyn Clymore

Not sure what career path she wanted to take, Cailyn Clymore, ’18, came to Meredith College with several passions. With the support of her faculty, she took full advantage of the Meredith experience through internships, campus involvement, but most importantly, by turning her passions into a career path.

“I honestly had no idea what I wanted to major in when I first got to Meredith,” said Cailyn. “I came to college with a passion for writing and photography, but I never realized I could make a career out of it.”

After completing a few communication courses, Cailyn realized she had found her niche and decided to major in communication with a minor in professional writing and presentation media. These classes provided her with practical, real-world experiences, including giving her the opportunity to work with clients such as The College Foundation, Barn & Ivy, and Kiran, a local nonprofit in Raleigh.

Aside from her academic success in the communication curriculum, Cailyn landed three internships. Her first was with the Meredith College Department of Marketing as a student writer.

“I always loved Meredith’s ‘Going Strong’ brand and I love to write, so this was a great fit for me,” said Cailyn. “I didn’t necessarily dream of having a Strong Story written about me, I always wanted to be the one holding the pencil.”

Cailyn completed her second internship with the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo in Indiana, where she was responsible for photography and social media efforts. Her final internship was with Capstone Event Group, an event management company based in Raleigh that produces half and full marathon events, where she served as a communication intern.

“Not only have I gained experience in graphic design, social media analytics, and event planning, but I’ve also gotten the opportunity to travel to events all over the East Coast to take photos and shoot video of the runners,” said Cailyn. “I’ve loved getting the chance to visit new cities and to work for a company that treats their interns like they’re real employees.”

Outside of her internship experiences, Cailyn is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the historian for Sigma Tau Delta, and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester. She also finds time to get involved on campus, having participated in Cornhuskin’ all four years, and serving as an orientation crew skit member, Colton Review editor, as well as senior picnic co-chair.

Although Cailyn was unsure of the career path she wanted to take, her decision to attend Meredith was never a question in her mind. After touring the College campus her first time, Cailyn knew she belonged at Meredith where she could continue going “strong.” And that decision has been validated throughout her time on campus.

“I grew up with a single mom who has two sisters, a stepmom, and two sisters of my own, so I’ve been surrounded by strong women my entire life. Meredith’s strong brand resonated with me, and when I toured the campus, I fell in love,” said Cailyn. “I saw that it wasn’t just something they talked about, but something they lived out on a daily basis.”

As for her plans after graduation, Cailyn is still undecided but would like to pursue a career in marketing and communications. She feels that Meredith has prepared her for this next step in her journey by providing ample opportunities to gain real-world experience, allowing her to follow her heart and build on her strengths, and developing her into a strong, successful woman.

“Success isn’t the path to happiness, but doing what makes you happy can lead you to success,” said Cailyn. “Pick something you’re passionate about and the success will follow.”

By Chandler Hines, ’18


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