Practice Makes Perfect

In addition to serving as a Team Leader, McCormick has helped train other students to lead in the program. She was a perfect fit for that role because she took ownership immediately, worked hard, and committed herself to her goals, says Maggie Breitenbach, the undergraduate professional development specialist with the Bryan School. “Reese leads authentically, which has made it possible for other students to see themselves as leaders. She’s helped educate her peers on why soft skills – such as how to effectively communicate, lead, and solve problems – are so important.”

McCormick relied on these skills herself to land three distinct internships while in school, including one that she co-created with her employer to fill a need. She worked with Imago Dei Soccer Academy, overseeing social media and marketing for U23 teams and successfully growing social media engagement by 632 percent. She followed that with a graphic design internship, designing brochures and marketing materials for Kotis Properties. Finally, she worked at Mack Trucks as a communications specialist intern.

All that led to a role in the front office of what can seem like an episode of Ted Lasso. She and Breitenbach hope her trajectory serves as a model for other students in the Blueprint Series.

“Reese truly has taken this program to heart, put in the work and now she’s seeing those incredible results,” Breitenbach says. “She’s shown students that if you buy into what we’re teaching here, you can get your dream job before you even graduate.”