Three Things I Learned at Curley & Pynn Before Entering the “Real World” 

Authored by Curley & Pynn Public Relations 2026 Spring Intern, Arley Scarborough

As my senior year of college comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on my time spent with Curley & Pynn. I wanted to write about the things I’ve learned without sounding like every other “five things I learned at my internship” article. I like to think of myself as a pretty singular person, so I wanted to stray from cliché advice. 

Here are a few things I know now that I wish I had known earlier in my career: 

No one hates you. 

While “hate” is a bit extreme, I’ve thought it. Not because of the actions of my team, as everyone at Curley & Pynn showed a vested interest in helping me grow and setting me up for success, but because my generation tends to be self-involved, which can manifest negatively.

There were days when I thought everyone hated me: a coworker, a classmate, the random woman I saw walking her dog. The truth is, everyone is so busy thinking about their own to-do list that they really aren’t thinking about you at all. The sooner you realize this, dear reader, the sooner you’ll stop thinking “woe is me” and start being productive. 

Read more. 

In an extremely digital generation with an ever-decreasing attention span, reading can seem tedious. Sometimes, I can almost feel my brain atrophying from lack of use. 

I know I’m not the first to realize this, but when I read more, my work is positively impacted both professionally and academically. As communications professionals, it’s imperative that we have strong verbal and written communication skills. The more you read, the better your comprehension becomes, making it easier to spot mistakes in pitches and news releases before they’re distributed. 

Slow down.  

For the past 20 years, I’ve been told to slow down and take my time with my work. However, young professionals often forget this instruction when starting a new position, and I was no exception. 

Although it can be tempting to quickly deliver adequate results that meet expectations, taking the time to slow down, read instructions carefully and proofread projects makes a noticeable difference. This advice ties back to my second point: read more.  

Best case scenario, rushing work stems from wanting to prove yourself in a new environment. Worst case scenario, short attention spans mean boredom and wanting to move on to the next project before the current one is thoroughly finished. So, slow down when you have the luxury of time. 

These three maxims should be enough for anyone starting an internship soon, whether at Curley & Pynn or elsewhere. I wish they had been hammered into me a little harder before I started any internship, but they seem more relevant and pressing as I prepare for “the real world.” 

While I know I haven’t made any great discovery with this blog, and everything I’ve said has been said before by someone much smarter, I hope it can serve as a resource for someone who is in my shoes as they enter the professional world. 

To the next Curley & Pynn intern: Know that everyone on the team has your best interests at heart and wants to see you learn and grow. Take your time on assignments. Ask questions. Pick up a book. Enjoy it. It feels like a party every day. 

Tags:Internship