Michael was a Social Media Intern for Aptive Environmental during Winter 2026.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
During my internship, I supported the social media and branding efforts for Aptive’s Select division. My work included helping plan, create, film, edit, and publish social media content, as well as writing captions, designing branded graphics, and analyzing post performance. I also helped think through broader growth strategies, including increasing collaboration and reposting across other Aptive social media accounts to expand reach. As a result of these efforts, the Select account grew from about 200 to 401 followers, and average engagement increased from around 10 interactions per post to about 40. Overall, the experience allowed me to contribute to measurable growth while gaining hands-on experience in digital marketing, branding, and content strategy.
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
One thing I learned that I was not expecting was how strategic and data-driven social media marketing really is. Before this internship, I think I viewed social media mostly as creative work, but I learned that the most effective content is backed by intentional audience targeting, brand positioning, testing, and performance analysis. I also did not expect to learn how much small decisions in messaging, timing, format, and collaboration across accounts can impact overall growth and engagement. That was one of the most valuable takeaways for me.
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
This internship strengthened my interest in marketing, branding, and growth strategy. It gave me a clearer picture of how I can apply my skills in a professional setting and showed me that I enjoy work that involves both creative execution and strategic thinking. Because of this experience, I feel more confident pursuing future opportunities where I can help grow a brand, lead teams, and contribute to business development in a measurable way.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
This experience helped me realize how much I enjoy work that combines creativity with strategy. It was inspiring to see how concepts I had learned in class could actually produce measurable results in a real business setting. It also gave me more confidence in my ability to contribute professionally and add value to a team. One of the biggest revelations for me was that growth usually comes through testing, learning, and improving over time rather than trying to make everything perfect the first time.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Yes, I would definitely recommend this internship to other students. It gave me meaningful hands-on experience, allowed me to work on real projects, and helped me better understand how marketing works in practice. I was able to contribute to actual business goals, receive helpful feedback, and build skills in content creation, branding, collaboration, and performance analysis. It is a valuable opportunity for students who want practical experience and a better understanding of how classroom concepts apply in the real world.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I am grateful for the opportunity I had through this internship. It gave me practical experience, helped me grow professionally, and allowed me to work on projects where I could see the direct impact of my efforts. It also helped bridge the gap between what I learned in the classroom and what marketing looks like in practice. Overall, it was a valuable experience that helped prepare me for my future career.
