Since 1973, the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP) has helped jumpstart the careers of African-American, Asian-American, Latino-American, Native-American, multiracial and multiethnic aspiring advertising professionals. Each year, undergraduate and graduate students are selected for a 10-week paid summer internship at an AAAA member advertising agency. Students gain practical work experience, establish key industry contacts, and perhaps most importantly, become better prepared to land a full-time job in advertising when they graduate.
During Summer 2007, Jocelyn Lai, a Texas Advertising undergraduate student participated in MAIP. Below are her comments about her experience.
Advertising majors know it. Internships are must-haves.
I started off last summer, ecstatic about my "must-have," but little did I know, it would actually become the "best-ever-amazingest-most-incredible-I-FELL-IN-LOVE-WITH-IT-must-have."
Through the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program (MAIP), I interned at Starcom MediaVest Group, in Chicago, Illinois. During the internship, I collected a myriad of experiences: competitive analyses, change notices, client and vendor meetings...and the mountains of free food. I also led the Asian-American market research, shared my deck with two top clients, and presented it as a 101 tutorial for the entire agency.
However, aside from bringing back to Austin an incredibly deeper understanding of advertising and media, I also brought back a deeper understanding of and appreciation for myself.
MAIP taught me that I have more to offer than a sharp mind, a creative mind, and a can-do attitude. I also have cultural insights. MAIP has not only allowed me to fully embrace my multiculturalism, but to also gain the confidence in offering and utilizing it in the workplace. Interacting with other MAIP interns and being part of such a program serves as a daily reminder that one's ethnicity, culture, and lifestyle should not be overlooked, and instead should be eagerly put forth because of its rare and invaluable worth.
MAIP is a rare opportunity. The program brings together more than 100 students from across the nation, all of whom share two things: the same burning passion for advertising, and multiculturalism. I have never before been in such a high-energy, motivated and motivating group of individuals. It is both humbling and thrilling to meet other students who are just as much of a go-getter as you are.
So for the multicultural advertising majors: Don't settle for "just another internship." Get the "best-ever-amazingest-most-incredible-I-FELL-IN-LOVE-WITH-IT-must-have."
9/20/2007