When I Grow Up

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It used to be so easy. A teacher, and then an author, and then a Food Network star.

A lawyer, a PR professional, an advertising account manager.

For the first time in my life, I don’t think I can give a definitive answer to that question. To be quite honest, I wish I could be all of those things listed above, all at once. My interests haven’t changed much over the years. One thing’s for sure: I like to talk and write. I like communicating with people.

I spent this summer trying my hand at marketing (and corporate America) at Cisco in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. And I fell in love. The industry is fast-paced, the people are genuine and so intelligent, and the flexible culture  cannot be beat. Innovation and new ideas are welcomed and encouraged, and the CEO wears blue jeans, if that tells you anything.

I worked in Cisco's Global Demand Center, which focuses on Demand Generation for our account teams and partners, and is driving our transition to true revenue marketing. I'll be honest, I had no idea what any of that meant for probably my first three weeks on the job. I asked questions, I read articles, I learned the jargon and the (seemingly countless) acronyms. Now, as I end my internship, I have confidence that I can intelligently talk about marketing and demand generation. That alone shows me that I have grown.

So back to the issue of what I want to be when I grow up, I hate not being able to give an answer. I still can't put it into words, even after my incredible experience this summer. I’m changing every day. I’m learning and growing personally and professionally. I've made more strides this summer than I could have ever imagined.

At Cisco, I learned that it's okay to be uncertain about what I want to "be" when I grow up. I was given the opportunity to work on projects and learn new skills that will help me decide what interests me most and where I want to head in the future. And the best part about Cisco? The opportunity for change. It has been made clear to me that the employees here value your opinions and your happiness in a job, and if you want to try something new you are encouraged to do so. That was comforting for me, the girl who still can't make up her mind.

And, if things don’t go as planned, I’m finally old enough to audition for “Food Network Star” and it’s never too late to write the Great American novel.

To learn more about Cisco's marketing internship and others' experiences, please visit the Global Marketing and Corporate Communications Early in Career page.