September 13, 2024
September 12, 2024
There’s something special to be said about seeing something and saying something. Not out of alarm, but in appreciation. After a summer with Mission North, I know how it feels to be celebrated, supported, and seen.
I am Naiyana Williams, a senior, strategic communication major, entrepreneurship minor from Louisville, Ky. In just three months, I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University, a private HBCU nestled by the sea in coastal Virginia.
I’m also Mission North’s 2024 “The Future Is…” fellow.
‘The Future Is’ Secured
I can personally vouch for how impactful this program is: The worth is in the work and the top-shelf talent housed in the agency. There’s a reason why Mission North nearly doubled its investment from 2023: the margin is wide and the gap has to be filled to set BIPOC students up for success. With my $30,000 scholarship alone, I was able to cover my summer classes at my home university without fear of them being dropped, or the anxiety of pleading with Student Accounts to “work something out.” None of that, this year. It was covered, and I’m thankful.
<split-lines>"I was so happy to be in the company of folks who saw me through a sea of many."<split-lines>
A Journey of 8,000 Miles
Looking back, there were so many signs of Mission North’s dedication to this program – and its truly holistic approach. But first, let me rewind a bit. At the same time I was selected as this year’s fellow, I was accepted into a study abroad program in London – and my scholarship award actually enabled this unforgettable experience overseas. I studied project management at the University of Roehampton and finished top of the class. Up until that point, adding first-hand, global perspective to my portfolio was something I only pinned to digital vision boards. It became reality. And while London was amazing, it was soon time to come home and join the Mission North team.
Kickoffs, confetti, practice groups, and theme music – it sounds like college gameday, but it was just the first day of my eight-week internship. The team at Mission North greeted me with genuinely warm smiles; I was fan-girling while already sporting my agency-logoed pullover. I was so happy to be in the company of folks who saw me through a sea of many. It’s like that fuzzy Hallmark feeling when the daughter who’s been away at college comes home for the holidays. I was the one they were waiting for; they were expecting me.
Now, that may sound a bit overzealous for a summer fellowship, but you have to understand – I’m no one’s poster child. I don’t fit the mold. I am a non-traditional college student with enough skin in the game to set my price; and still, I find myself picking shards of glass from my palms, from years of beating a glass ceiling. I have been denied access to rooms and opportunities because I didn’t have a degree. I thought that returning to school after 10 years made me a better prospect, but companies didn’t know what to do with me. I was too experienced for an internship (their words, not mine), but without my degree, I didn’t even qualify for an entry-level role…and, it didn’t matter that my skill set was more advanced than some interviewers. The fact of the matter is, “almost” doesn’t count – it never has.
Well, Mission North saw me, heard my story, saw my work, and the windy road I took to get right where I am today. They considered their capacity to steward an experience for someone like me, and they delivered.
<split-lines>"I am a non-traditional college student with enough skin in the game to set my price; and still, I find myself picking shards of glass from my palms, from years of beating a glass ceiling."<split-lines>
Worth Its Weight in Gold
In all that I learned during my fellowship, there are certainly a few highlights – including some tricks of the trade around media relations.
In my experience as a comms student, it’s easy for workflows to become siloed. The journalism students write their hard news stories and get their studio time, while us PR/Strat-Comm students craft crisis communications plans, and crank out press releases for breakfast, lunch and dinner. During my time at Mission North, however, I drew the connection between both worlds. I observed the exchange between senior associates and journalists and the intricacies that determine placement, and ultimately client success.
I can also confirm that a well-crafted media list – albeit a labor of love – is worth its weight in gold. Now, I’m excited to bring ideas for collaboration back to my PRSSA chapter as we chart a course for the new school year.
Double Up
I’ve reached the end of my time with Mission North and my heart is full. This experience has changed my life and set the tone for the rest of my year. So, to the leaders at Mission North who oversee Foster the Future, thank you for seeing me and doing something about it. I’ve truly enjoyed this program.
<split-lines>"This experience has changed my life and set the tone for the rest of my year."<split-lines>
I’m already three weeks into the final semester of my undergraduate career. Although I don’t know what’s next, I am sure of myself and my ability to make an impact, come what may.
I think that’s the freedom of being a practitioner. We no longer bear the weight of needing to know everything all at once; we master our tools so that we can show up at any given moment. It's a fortified freedom – and one that’s necessary to succeed in this fast-moving space.
I would call this a full-circle moment, but it’s more like a double rainbow. I got double the scholarship, double the opportunity, and I’m continuing my journey with double the promise.
