“I knew that when I went into the workforce, all I wanted to do was be able to help people,” communications studies (CMST) student Hadley Driscoll said of her post-graduation goals. Though she is a few years away from the workforce, Driscoll is already immersing herself in the communications field through her recent internship with Philadelphia Stories — a local, non-profit, volunteer-based magazine that aims to highlight local artists and writers in the Philadelphia region.
Since starting with the organization in February, Driscoll has been acting as their communications manager by helping with promotional messages, monitoring click and view rates, and overseeing deadlines with the newsletter and social media teams. “I really looked at the company and saw that I really love what they had to do and love their mission behind their work,” Driscoll said.
In addition to highlighting local talent, Philadelphia Stories also offers professional development opportunities for creators who want to perfect their craft. While working with volunteers is new to Driscoll and presents some logistical challenges at times, she loves it. “It’s an incredible environment to be in, just to watch people care so deeply about a mission and put their effort into it on top of anything else they have going on,” she said.
It is this positive attitude that Director of Communication Studies Scott Gratson loves about Driscoll. Gratson has taught her in two courses and is the advisor for the new Communication Studies Club (Comm Club), of which Driscoll is currently president. At the beginning of the pandemic, Gratson noted that Driscoll used her communication know-how to spearhead philanthropic efforts for Harriet’s Bookshop and The Hiway Theater to help them when so many small businesses were struggling.
“Hadley is the very personification of a positive outlook and a positive mentality,” Gratson said. “It’s difficult to explain how thoroughly energetic and constantly upbeat she is.”
On top of Comm Club, Driscoll is also the assistant student director of recruitment for the CMST Program and is on track to be the student director of recruitment very soon. She is pursuing a degree in communication studies on the communication and entrepreneurship track, as well as another degree in public relations, and hopes to go into the field of corporate communications after graduating in the spring of 2023. “I realized that in my life, I find purpose through communication and through connection, and helping others make a connection,” Driscoll said.
“If she wasn’t going into this field, she would definitely be president one day,” Driscoll’s friend and fellow CMST student Robbie Bryant said. Bryant is in Comm Club with Driscoll, and admires her ability to be organized and thoughtful in the way she manages the club. The two met at orientation their freshman year, and the Comm Club and their courses have only brought them closer.
Though the Philadelphia Stories internship extends through August 2021, Driscoll has already accepted two other internships for this summer doing professional development with The Clapham Group and public relations with La Lew Public Relations.
“I’ve learned so much already from this internship,” Driscoll said. She hopes to do the best she can to help the organization because she believes that their mission and services are worth being seen, and wouldn’t mind gaining some confidence and knowledge to help her further her career as well.
“I think that this was the best opportunity for me to get in the door, meet people, see if I can make connections, while also doing something that I really enjoy,” Driscoll said.