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The Chamber has started helping to connect Lakeville college students to summer internships. If you take interns, or want to take interns, please let us know so we can keep you top of mind when the students start reaching out. This story below is why we do this! A huge shout out to Bluenet for saying YES when we made the ask!
Kelsey Henkensiefken (Lakeville South grad) - I was completely wrong about internships.
I thought they consisted of getting coffee, acting like I knew what was going on, and doing grunt work just to say, “I have an internship.” Finding one was by far one of the hardest things I’ve done since starting college. I would fire off my resume, wait, and then be told the position was filled. When I got an offer to be a Sales and Marketing intern at Blue Net, I had no idea what to expect.
Since day one, I’ve been treated like part of the team. I’ve worked on real campaigns, revised content for actual clients and prospects, and helped shape outreach strategies for industries I know nothing about. Specifically manufacturing and IT. I never thought I’d care about IT. I figured since I didn’t have an “IT brain,” this wouldn’t work out. After a short time here, I’ve learned that this industry isn’t just for tech experts, it’s the foundation that keeps companies running.
I know not every intern gets to say that. I’ve talked with other students in similar roles, and many spend their time doing surface level tasks with no real context. They follow scripts to cross items off a list and never learn the WHY behind it.
That’s what makes this experience different. I’m not doing basic tasks; I’m learning the real impact of our work.
Three months at Blue Net has taught me:
1. You don’t need to be an expert to make an impact. Asking the right questions matters just as much as having the right answer.
2. Marketing isn’t about sounding smart or being overly creative. It’s about being clear, human-like, and focused on solving real problems.
3. A supportive team makes all the difference. I’m surrounded by people who want me to learn, not just get things done.
Every day I’m learning. Not just about IT, but about the kind of person I want to be. I’ve never been able to hide what I’m feeling. Within my first week here, my boss Angie came to me with a ton of ideas. It was exciting but also overwhelming. She 100% knew I was nervous and told me: “You’re not scared, you’re uncomfortable. When you’re uncomfortable, you’re learning and growing.” That mindset changed everything for me. I stopped worrying about having the right answers and focused on being curious and willing to try. Even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing. That’s when I grow the most.
This experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. I’m so grateful for the chance to work with such an amazing team while learning about an industry that keeps the world moving, even if most people don’t see it. Getting to support manufacturers and see what keeps a business running has given me a whole new appreciation for how meaningful this work is. What’s even better is that I’m just getting started.
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