If I were a sandwich, I’d be the ham sandwich from Oma’s Deli. It describes my copywriting internship at Bozell, and that’s not just because I ate at Oma’s eight times a week this summer. (That may or may not be an exaggeration.)

The sandwich is a toasted baguette, spread with scallion butter and layered with ham, gruyere cheese and Dijon mustard. I ordered it once on a whim, and it ended up being one of my favorite things on the menu. Similarly, I applied for this internship on a whim, and it’s turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic and professional career.

I was surprised to have client work on my very first day, but that was just an inkling of what was to come. Since arriving, I’ve worked on exciting projects like video storyboards, an anti-distracted driving billboard campaign, and numerous blogs and social posts.

Being thrown in to projects has forced me to think quickly, creatively and strategically, which has ultimately taught me to be a better writer. I began this internship with two main objectives – build my portfolio and become a more effective copywriter – and Bozell has definitely helped me reach these goals.

The culture of hard work is matched only by the fun atmosphere. Bozell believes that work-life balance is essential, which is why we have things like summer hours, a social committee and beer on tap. (Did I mention the snack bar?) I feel lucky to work at a place that embraces the “work hard, play hard” philosophy.

My internship has given me much to be grateful for: real-life work experience, friendships with interns and full-timers alike, and a greater understanding of what it takes to work in advertising. Just like the ham sandwich, this internship turned out to be an experience I never knew I needed.