Summer Job: Learning to Communicate Under Pressure

His parents encouraged him to find something real and grounded for the summer. He applied to a few places and landed a job at a busy Austin coffee shop. From day one, he learned how to greet customers, explain menu items, answer rapid fire questions, and solve small problems calmly when lines grew long.

He practiced staying steady when drink orders piled up. He learned how to read people quickly and adjust his approach. He figured out how to explain things clearly without rushing. He even began picking up small customer service systems on his own, like how to manage flow during peak times.

It did not feel glamorous, but it was real communication work. He was learning how to think on his feet, how to listen, and how to create a positive experience for people who walked in stressed, tired, or confused. Those were skills he would later realize matched perfectly with public relations and strategic communication.

Taking Initiative: Turning Curiosity Into Action

Near the end of summer, his mom mentioned that her best friend worked in interior design and often hired interns in communications roles. He reached out, asked for an informational interview, and showed up with questions about what communication looked like in a real company.

The conversation opened a door. The company used a project management platform he had never heard of. The designer suggested he take an online course to learn it. He did. Within a few weeks he could manage tasks, organize timelines, and understand how creative teams share information.

That initiative led to an internship with the firm during his junior year. He helped with social media calendars, wrote short product descriptions, updated files, and supported client communication. For the first time, he could see himself doing this work long term.

This growing thread of exploration is exactly what the UT Guide calls a clear pattern of curiosity, commitment, and action. It is the kind of alignment that helps an application make sense to reviewers who read everything through the lens of the first choice major.

Junior Year: Communicating in Every Setting

As he continued working part-time at the coffee shop, new responsibilities came naturally. He trained new employees. He explained the company processes. During the holidays, he stayed patient and upbeat while answering the same questions about the shop's light display again and again.

At school, people noticed the same strengths. In Student Council, he helped the group make tough decisions by encouraging everyone to listen to each other. He explained budgets and logistics in ways others could understand. When the group debated where to host a dance, he guided them toward the cafeteria by explaining how it would save money, reduce stress, and be more accessible. His peers agreed because he communicated clearly.

As a Student Ambassador for the Global Studies Academy, he led tours, talked to families, and spoke confidently in front of large groups. He helped younger students understand how the program worked and what to expect. He became someone people trusted because he could share information calmly and clearly.

All of this strengthened the communication story he was building without even realizing it.

Finding His Academic Direction

By the middle of junior year, he no longer felt lost. He could see a pattern forming. He liked helping people understand things. He liked working in fast-paced environments where clear communication matters. He liked creative problem-solving. He liked building relationships.



His parents encouraged him to explore majors that matched these strengths. They talked about advertising, public relations, journalism, and media. The more he learned about Moody, the more it felt like home.

College Applications and Results

When he applied to UT Austin, he wrote about how the coffee shop taught him how to stay calm under pressure. He explained how the internship helped him understand the world of communication on a deeper level. He described how Student Council and Student Ambassadors taught him to lead through listening and clarity.

His application had a natural flow. It showed preparation, growth, and purpose. It showed that he was ready to succeed in communication starting on the first day. It also showed leadership and contribution to his community, both important elements for UT Austin’s fit to major review.

He earned an offer from the Moody College of Communication, as well as other strong options at schools. His parents shared that none of them imagined this path when he finished tenth grade unsure of what to study.

The Outcome

Today, he is headed to UT Austin with a clear sense of direction. A simple summer job taught him how to communicate under pressure. An informational interview helped him see new possibilities. An online course showed initiative. An internship built real skills. And his junior year solidified a pattern of leadership built on clarity and kindness.

He started as a teen who wanted a part time job. He became a young communicator ready to thrive at UT Austin.