A Summer of Good Vibrations Behind the Scenes at WDAV

August 14, 2026

of Note

By Zoē Bethea

If my present self could go back and tell my past self what the internship would be like, I would say: 

“Just chill, this internship will not only be a perfect fit, but will allow you to open your eyes to see things that were right in front of you. Just work well and be a sponge.”

Yes, that is right, a sponge just like my favorite childhood TV show, SpongeBob Square Pants. As a current undergraduate student entering my junior year of college, I have learned the importance of being an intentional sponge. 

Because I am constantly growing and learning, it’s imperative that I soak up the knowledge, skills, and advice from the people around me to progress, and during my time at WDAV, I did just that.

I applied to be a marketing intern with the thought of incorporating my writing, digital media curation, and creativity skills. At the same time, I wanted to challenge myself and explore different areas of work as a communication-journalism major to feed my potential interests. 

So, I thought that marketing at a radio broadcasting station would be a great intersection of my concentration and respective field. Alongside that, I love and respect music and actively sing in an acapella group on my college campus, so this opportunity was perfect for me. 

Upon getting the position, I did not quite know what to expect. I knew that there would be some designing involved, perhaps some creativity sprinkled in, but in whole, as is for many interns, surprises were on the horizon. 

From the social media projects I worked on to the articles I researched and wrote, to the reconnaissance on creative marketing tactics, each area of work either introduced me to something new in the world of marketing or allowed me to see something from a new perspective. 

I sat in on various meetings with the marketing team and saw the ins and outs of the promotion, event, and media curating process. Seeing what it takes to market brands cohesively and strategically so their audience can receive and enjoy them was eye-opening. Something that truly stood out to me was the significance of proper preparation and planning. Taking the time to engage with your audience and ask their opinion of your product helps to better present your brand or product. This internship, in part, taught me that branding is important, but even more so is the intentionality behind it. 

Lastly, I got insight into what it takes to run a radio station. Of course, I grew up listening to the radio, so it isn’t a foreign concept to me. However, understanding the software used, the programming, and the scheduling side felt like getting the insider scoop on what I enjoyed throughout my childhood. I did not realize how much calculation went into bringing our favorite radio stations to my family and me.

Overall, I enjoyed the work that I was doing because of the people I worked with. In general, with each job I’ve held, I have come to understand how important it is to have a good work environment. On my first day, I was nervous about how things would work out, but by the end of the day, I was reassured that it would be fine. WDAV’s environment is very friendly, respectful, calm, and frankly fun. I mean, where else do I get to be zoned in and listen to classical music all day? 

Whether I was with my fellow intern or the WDAV staff, it was genuinely a pleasure to work with, talk with, and learn from everyone. There were lots of great sponge moments that I soaked up and will take with me moving forward.