Life as a mAIPer in 2021

is… interesting. But in the most fulfilling way.

I didn’t know what to expect at the beginning of summer. With this experience being entirely virtual, I wasn’t confident that I would make lasting relationships with my screen-mates.

I was, in fact, wrong.

From the twice-a-week virtual labs to our two group summer projects in addition to weekly meetings with my MAIP coach Anne West, this fellowship has provided me with countless opportunities and interactive ways to connect and form meaningful relationship with a range of people across the country. I’d argue that we probably have had even more bonding opportunities than we would have in person.

And the value of these connections is unmatched. For example, the labs each week are hosted by a different agency interact with us around topics ranging from creating briefs, portfolio building, and even mental health and mindfulness techniques. The summer projects are based on real briefs from real agencies (mine came from David&Goliath and adam&evenyc - more on this experience in my next blog) so I get to connect with other MAIPers in a real-work setting. And the weekly talks I have with Anne help me understand the emotional and professional highs and lows of the ad world from a personal perspective, and I’d like to think we’re building a friendship out of this mentorship that will last even after MAIP is over.

This is my first time doing MAIP so I don’t know what this experience is normally like when it’s in person, but I’m grateful for this virtual experience that has tough me invaluable flexibility and adaptability skills. And, it comes with its own charm! For example, discussing our height was a topic of conversation for my group one night - and a humorous one at that as we reevaluated our imagined impressions of each other.

This summer has definitely been an experience I won’t soon forget, and of priceless value in terms of setting me up for future successes as I embark in navigating the ad world.