Jamie's transformation: from student to a confident professional

Expectations of my internship

Jamie: "This was my first internship and I wasn’t sure what to expect.". I thought an internship meant going to the office five days a week, from 9 to 5, with everyone in separate cubicles. When I arrived here and saw the open floor, I was pleasantly surprised. I hadn't expected this. It took some getting used to, because the structure at school is very different from this place. But on the other hand, it's all a bit more relaxed. They're also very flexible with questions, and I truly appreciate that."

From student to events professional

As a creative business student at Breda University of Applied Sciences, you choose a specialization in the second year. "My studies are a combination of media and business," says Jamie. "You can do many things with it, for instance, in marketing and media. In the second and third year you choose a specialization. I opted for events. In my second year, I co-organized the open day. An incredibly fun, but clearly defined project. I hoped that my internship at Conclusion would provide more depth."
She found that depth. Jamie: "Heidi, my internship supervisor and strategic events marketer at Conclusion, let me choose which event I wanted to focus on on day two. That was an easy choice: the Sinterklaas event. I've been involved in organizing that from the very beginning - from site visits to the set-up and the event itself. During the Sinterklaas event, I was the main point of contact for all volunteers. It was incredibly exciting and I pulled it off. People keep telling me that I'm more confident and radiate more self-confidence.

Internship period highlights

After three weeks, Jamie knew for sure: a career as an events manager after her studies is a serious option. She explains: "Heidi took me along to a meeting for event managers. During that meeting, I heard about an events manager in a museum. As a child, I was already fascinated by museums. I even considered studying archaeology. It opened my eyes: apparently, you can combine the best of both worlds. 

I got so many positive things out of my internship. You learn a lot about yourself. I enjoy going to the office, working on events and being at the event. The lovely reactions from visitors are the icing on the cake. Conclusion organizes a huge number of events: from the Conclusion on Stage knowledge event to The Connection talent programme, the Tour de Conclusion cycling race, the Red Pepper onboarding day, the Sinterklaas celebrations and the New Year's reception."

Personal growth

Asking a question, speaking to someone, or sending an email. What is obvious to some, was a challenge for Jamie at the start of her internship. "It may seem like a small thing, but I really disliked sending emails," Jamie says. "Writing it and then sending it made me nervous. The same applied to approaching people face to face. Heidi and events colleague Lisanne gave me confidence and challenged me to ask questions. At some point, I just went for it. And then I noticed it became easier and easier. 

Getting excited? 

Feeling excited about internship opportunities at Conclusion after reading this blog?