Summer was vastly approaching and I was finishing up my Junior year when I found out the job I thought I had lined up over the summer didn’t need me anymore. I was devastated with the news but had little time to react, not having a job for the summer meant I had to leave Milwaukee and go back home to Illinois. No job meant no money for rent, instead of settling with the thought of leaving my newly found friends and moving back home, I quickly started to apply for any internship and job I could find. Little did I know, not getting that job opened the door for greater opportunities.
In my search for new opportunities, I came across an internship in Marketing and Event Coordinating with the House of Harley-Davidson right in Milwaukee. Harley-Davidson is a company that hits very close to home, for as long as I can remember my dad rode a Harley and some of my best memories were spent sitting on the back of his motorcycle listening to Boston with no specific destination in sight. I remember the first tour I ever took at UWM, my tour guide said she had an internship with Harley-Davidson and I remember thinking to myself, “I want to do that.” Milwaukee being the home of Harley-Davidson with Corporate and the Harley-Davidson Museum located right downtown, I thought my application would be a long shot. Of course, eager with the thought of working for Harley, I sent in my application and hoped for the best.
A day after turning in my application, I got a call from the Event Coordinator to schedule an interview. I thought “oh my gosh, it has been one day! This can’t be real!” Within the next couple of days, I went in for my interview. Nervous as can be, I arrived at House of Harley-Davidson, I had never been there before and I was already amazed. The interview was surprisingly easy and I felt so comfortable talking about my past experiences and how I could be an asset to their team. I left the interview confident but also still thinking this was such a longshot. Working for my dream company at 20? How? Well I learned quickly not to sell yourself short, a few hours went by and they called me to come in again that day and meet with the Director of Marketing. As soon as my class was over, I rushed back for the second interview. Feeling even more confident, they told me they would let me know by the end of the week if the position was mine. Not even 30 minutes later, I got the call that I got the job! Standing in my living room jumping up and down, I was genuinely surprised. Not only did this mean I was able to live in Milwaukee and enjoy my summer, but I also landed myself an internship with a company I had always loved and thought so highly of.
About a week after being hired they invited me to one of their largest events of the year, a tailgating party before the Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. Having never been to one of their events before I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. This event wasn’t only for people who worked for House of Harley-Davidson but also very important customers and people from Corporate. There were well over 100 people there and me having an outgoing personality, I started introducing myself right away. I said hi to every person I met and tried to get to know as many people as possible. Even though it was down pouring and freezing outside, the genuine and friendly people I met made up for the bad weather. This event went so well I couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the summer would bring.
The internship is a year long, I started in May and so I still have over eight months to go. Over the past four months I have learned so much, met so many amazing people, and worked my hardest. Being on the Marketing and Event Coordinating team means being able to work quickly on your feet, ready for anything, and paying close attention to detail. My previous work experience was in promotional work at a radio station so I was always working at events and involved in the community. This was one of the main reasons the internship with House of Harley-Davidson appealed to me, working closely with the community and having huge events throughout the entire summer.
After finishing school, I dove head first into this internship. I started to work 9 to 5 Monday through Friday and then our events on the weekend. I never realized just how much work goes into planning a successful event. Building permits, tent rentals, band scheduling, food vendors, and social media posts, the checklist for a successful event is endless. Especially having four to five events a week on and off-site, it takes a lot of hard work and patience. I learned quickly that check-lists are your best friend and organization is key to a successful event.
Internships are your chance to learn from those who already work in the field you are looking to join and to take the challenges they give you head on and in full force. The effort you put into your internship will determine the results you have in the end. The four months I have already worked, I put in 100% work effort and I can tell it has been appreciated and I have been rewarded for my hard work. Hearing from the owner of House of Harley that I am killing it and I am a great asset to the team not only made my day but made me realize that my hard work has paid off. I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the people who have stood by my side and pushed me to be myself. Those who have doubted me or told me I wasn’t doing my job correctly only pushed me to be even better.
Working for House of Harley-Davidson for the summer and continuing over the next eight months has changed my life for the better. I fully immersed myself in Milwaukee culture from working Bike Nights at the Harley-Davidson Museum to working at Summerfest to hosting rides for multiple charities in the area. Not every day was easy, some days feel endless, waking up at 7am for the 10th Saturday in a row can be rough, but seeing an event that has been in the works for months run so successfully and everyone has a blast makes everything worth it in the end. Knowing you were being the process behind making people happy, helping those in your community, as well as just being a part of the Harley-Davidson culture is the best feeling in the world.
I could not be more thankful for the opportunities House of Harley-Davidson has given me. I know that I am only four months into this internship but working for the company and dealership has not only helped me grow in my work experience but also grow as a person. I am looking forward to the future that House of Harley-Davidson has to offer me. I know the people that I have met along to the way are not just my co-workers but more importantly, my family.