PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – My name is Gerlisa Hicks and I am a Hampton Roads Show production intern. I’ve been an intern for two weeks and so far my experience has been nothing but thrilling.

Before starting, I was really nervous as I didn’t know what to exactly expect. I was also worried about being a nuisance with my lack of expertise compared to everyone else, despite me knowing that this is a learning experience. However, those nerves quickly disappeared as everyone at the studio has been nothing but kind to me. I can tell everyone is like a family, based on the chill environment. I slowly find myself fitting in with everyone and being comfortable with talking to them and asking questions. At the beginning, I was hesitant to ask questions as I have always had the mindset that I need to be perfect at everything I do. But, I quickly learned that it is ok to ask questions as everyone has been very helpful and patient with me.

My day as an HRS intern consists of setting the stage for the show, writing guest mic assignments and micing them, floor directing with the producers, writing posts for the hosts, and working in rundown by editing scripts, making graphics for the monitors, and placing promo lines for future rundowns. So far I have found a liking towards floor directing. At first I was wary of it because I was afraid of making the wrong calls, but I’m slowly finding myself to be more confident when doing it.

My favorite thing about interning at the HRS show is being able to see all the behind-the-scenes magic. I’ve quickly realized that a lot of work and dedication is put in to make the show go smoothly. Another thing that I like about this experience is interacting with the guests and seeing their excitement as they prepare themselves for the show. For instance, I witnessed Live Music Friday last week and the artist, Dezzae, put on a fantastic performance. Seeing his excitement on the show and behind-the-scenes made me appreciate this opportunity even more.

These two weeks have been great so far and I look forward to doing more things around the studio. I’m still learning and getting the grasp of everything but I’m gradually getting the hang of it. I am excited with having this opportunity and gaining some hands-on experience in the news industry. As I am learning things, I am slowly getting an idea of what I possibly want to do within the industry after I graduate.