On Taylor Patterson’s first day at Henry County REMC, she arrived ready for her first “real job” experience.

There was just one small problem: her Social Security card was still at home.

After making a quick trip back to retrieve it, Taylor returned and began an internship that would give her much more than an introduction to the working world. Over the course of the year, she developed her graphic design skills, learned about the inner workings of an electric cooperative, and left a creative mark that members may continue seeing for years to come.

Taylor grew up in Losantville and attended Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School. She also studied graphic design at the New Castle Career Center. Artistic by nature, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, archery, and, of course, creating art.

Taylor learned about Henry County REMC’s marketing internship through one of her graphic design teachers.

“She came up to me and said, ‘Henry County REMC needs a marketing intern. I think you would be perfect for it,’” Taylor recalled.

At the time, Taylor knew very little about electric cooperatives. What she did know was that she wanted to discover what it would be like to work in the design field.

She soon found out.

Gaining real-world experience
During her internship, Taylor created social media graphics for campaigns and holidays, developed designs promoting the SmartHub app, made lobby posters and signage, took photographs, vectorized logos, and designed T-shirts. She also created a brochure for Henry County REMC’s rebate program — an assignment that pushed her beyond anything she had previously done.

Fitting all the necessary information onto the booklet’s small pages proved challenging. Then came printing, trimming, and removing the borders from every copy.

“I’d never made anything like that before,” Taylor said.

The project tested her patience and problem-solving skills, but it also gave her valuable experience turning an idea into a finished communication piece.

Taylor’s favorite creation, however, has four paws, a striped tail, and plenty of personality.

As part of her internship, Taylor designed Flash, Henry County REMC’s raccoon mascot. Flash will help the cooperative connect with young people and teach them about electrical safety and the cooperative difference.

“Flash is my pride and joy,” Taylor said. “I really like how he turned out.”

After creating Flash’s original design, Taylor developed a variety of poses for the character. Seeing those illustrations come together was a turning point in her internship and helped her recognize just how much her skills and confidence had grown.

Taylor hopes Flash’s adventures will continue long after she leaves Henry County REMC.

“I think it would be really cool to see what someone else does with him, too,” she said.

An incredible asset
Flash may have been Taylor’s most visible contribution, but her impact can be found throughout Henry County REMC’s communications. Her work appeared across multiple marketing channels and helped the cooperative share useful information with members in creative and engaging ways.

“Taylor has been a joy to work with and an incredible asset to Henry County REMC,” said Andrea Melton, manager of member engagement and communications. “It’s been awesome to see her skill set grow and her confidence in herself blossom. Taylor always comes in with a smile on her face. We will truly miss her positive energy and contributions to our team.”

The internship also gave Taylor a new appreciation for the work of an electric cooperative. She was especially interested in seeing how employees monitor storms, track outages, and use system maps to identify damaged or downed lines.

“I didn’t know about that,” she said. “It’s really cool.”

Taylor also had the opportunity to experience the cooperative’s community involvement firsthand. One of her favorite memories was attending Henry County REMC’s Meet the Candidates event, where she photographed the evening and saw another side of the cooperative’s connection with its members.

A new chapter
When Taylor looks back over the year, she sees growth not only in her typography, layouts, and overall design ability, but also in her work ethic and independence.

As she prepares to leave Henry County REMC, Taylor is also preparing for another new beginning. She plans to attend Ball State University and study graphic design, allowing her to focus on the creative work she hopes will become her career.

She is looking forward to meeting new people, exploring new opportunities, and beginning a fresh chapter. But leaving Henry County REMC will be bittersweet.

“I’m going to miss all of it,” Taylor said. “I’m going to miss the people I work with. I’m going to miss the work I get to do and the place and all of it.”

For other high school students who have an opportunity to complete an internship, Taylor’s advice is simple: take it.

“You get a lot of work experience while you’re still in high school,” she said. “I got a lot more experience being able to work here than if I hadn’t. I think it’s amazing that I had that opportunity.”

And what would today’s more experienced and confident Taylor say to the nervous student who arrived on her first day without her Social Security card?

“Relax,” she said. “You’re going to do great.”

That advice served Taylor well at Henry County REMC, and as she takes her creativity, kindness, and newly gained confidence to Ball State, her cooperative family knows she will do great things there, too.