Today, we interviewed our other Summer Intern Grace Michel! She has contributed to numerous client projects over the summer along with some new additions to the Apollo Marketing website. Grace joined us in June, and is sadly leaving this week to return to college. Here’s what she had to say about her summer experience working with the Apollo team.
Tell Us A Little Bit About Yourself:
My name is Grace Michel. I’m currently a rising junior studying Psychology with a Human Resource minor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. I grew up around the Towson area of Maryland, and just recently moved to New Market. This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to be a Marketing Intern on the Apollo Marketing team, and assist on some of their current projects.
Who/what inspires your work ethic?
My older brother for sure has inspired my work ethic, and mentality in general. Being only 26 and already having a successful career, he has inspired me to continue to work hard and prioritize my time towards my goals. Even when enduring hardships, he’s able to see the big picture and work through it.
What made you interested in the world of marketing?
Learning about human behavior was a huge role in deciding my major as Psychology which is a huge part of marketing as well! I’ve been learning about customer behavior and starting to understand what can really drive a potential customer to engage with a product. I also have experience working in the social media industry which is so prevalent in today’s world, and to me it’s exciting to see it all unfold from behind the scenes.
What was your favorite local spot in your college town?
My college is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in the city of Harrisonburg, VA. It has a very similar vibe to downtown Frederick, but I’d say it’s also a little smaller. There’s this great old-school ice cream counter just outside of downtown Harrisonburg called Kline’s. It’s the type of place that has a limited selection of flavors, but always has a mouth-watering flavor of the day. You can’t miss the giant neon glowing sign when you drive into town.
What is your favorite local spot in the city of Frederick?
Our office is fortunately just a block away from Carroll Creek! After grabbing lunch at one of the many delicious restaurants here downtown, I always love to take a quick walk along the creek. I’ve only lived in the Frederick/New Market area for roughly 2 years, and I’m only just now able to explore the wonderful downtown area!
What are the things you like to do outside of work?
My life basically revolves around food. Whenever I’m not at work, I’m probably exploring a new restaurant with my family. It’s a great way to get to know a new city and explore the local flavors a town has to offer. I’m also a fan of cooking so if I’m not at a restaurant, I’m probably looking up new recipes to try and add my own twist on. I’ve always said my dream job would be an international food critic!
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Outside of school, most people don’t know I’m apart of a business fraternity at JMU. Joining this group was probably one of the best decisions I made in college so far just because I get to be surrounded by motivated and ambitious people on a daily basis. Not only has it expanded my network, but it has also forced me to explore career development opportunities relatively early in the game.
How do you like working on the Apollo Marketing team?
It’s been a great experience so far! I’ve learned so much as an intern, and as a whole the team is there to support each other. We all come from relatively different backgrounds, so it’s really interesting to see all our perspectives come together. This internship has also allowed me to really get out of my comfort zone in terms of stepping into a new field that isn’t my field of study. It’s also been a pleasure getting to meet many of the Frederick locals through our clients, and overall getting an introduction to this great city.
What is the best advice you ever received?
To take life one step at a time. What this means to me is that life can throw a lot of things at you at once, and its important to just take a second to step back and breathe! This has been especially helpful for me during the transition into college and any other time I’ve felt overwhelmed with work. Simply taking a second to put everything in perspective enables you to have a clear mind and precede with a thought-out plan.
