Learning the Ropes
Internships are often the first step into the real world of an industry, and at Davie Construction Co., we take pride in making that first step meaningful. In this summer’s Building Futures series, we’re following the journeys of our interns as they roll up their sleeves and dive into the dynamic, fast-paced world of construction. In this week’s Blog, Learning the Ropes, we’re hearing from our three interns, Hudson Wilkinson, Jake Schneider, and Cassidy Nichols, about what they’ve learned so far and how their perspectives are evolving in just the first month.
All three interns came in with different backgrounds and goals, but a shared drive to gain real-world experience. Hudson and Jake, both construction management majors at East Carolina University, joined Davie looking to move beyond the classroom and into the field. Cassidy, a marketing major from Appalachian State University, came in with a different angle — having grown up around Davie through her father’s longtime position with the company.
One of the biggest lessons early on? Things don’t always go as planned. Hudson noted that construction involves far more problem-solving and improvisation than he expected. “Nothing ever goes how it should,” he said, highlighting how quickly site conditions and schedules can change. Jake added that he was surprised by how much had to happen before a project broke ground and how the preparation work is just as important as the build itself.
When it comes to learning new tools and technology, both construction interns have had hands-on exposure to equipment like laser levels, expanding on what they’ve learned in school. Jake has also been working on two-week lookaheads, helping him better understand how schedules are mapped out and progress is tracked. Meanwhile, Cassidy is diving into the digital side of construction and learning tools like Canva, Mailchimp, and Adobe to support marketing initiatives and communications for project teams.
Field experience has also been a huge teacher. From site visits to shadowing superintendents and asking questions, the interns are learning from every angle of the company. Hudson mentioned how valuable it’s been to be around superintendents and just listen. Jake’s advice? “Watch the people around you, learn everything you can, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Cassidy, too, is gaining a new appreciation for how construction works, not just on-site, but behind the scenes. She’s attended multiple internal meetings and learned how marketing plays a vital role in connecting divisions, supporting teams, and showcasing progress. One of her biggest takeaways has been discovering how relationship-driven the construction industry truly is. “Trust and long-term partnerships are everything,” she says. This is a principle that holds true whether you are on-site or behind a desk.
The interns are also learning that perfection isn’t always the goal: progress is. Hudson recalled sitting in on a punch list walkthrough with a client, where he saw firsthand how important it is to manage expectations and prepare for imperfections. Every experience shapes a clearer picture of how construction really works, from safety protocols to subcontractor coordination.
Most importantly, all three interns agree that their knowledge is growing fast. Concepts from school are starting to click in new ways now that they’re seeing them applied in real-time. As Hudson puts it, “Everything I learned from school makes a lot more sense when being out in the field and seeing it all happen.”
The advice they’ve been given is timeless: double-check your subs, include everyone as part of the team, always be ready with an answer, and take in as much as you can from the people around you. In just one month, it’s clear that each of these interns isn’t just learning how to build; they’re learning how to lead.