Written by Jackson Esbenshade, Marketing Intern
“You can turn your music on if you want,” she says.
I’m going to be honest- I’m still wiping my eyes from getting out of bed about an hour ago.
Eventually, I become aware of my Mom’s words and pull out my phone and connect to her car’s Bluetooth as she pulls out of our driveway. This morning I’m feeling a country vibe. Morgan Wallen, Ty Myers, Ella Langley, the like.
Generally, every day of the summer, Monday through Thursday, has been like this for me. I’ve been fortunate enough to land an internship on the marketing team here at Garden Spot Communities, the same place my Mom, Anne Shannon, works. The team has done an amazing job of equipping me to make a meaningful impact on Garden Spot Communities while gaining meaningful skills for my future career. I’ve met so many great people and had various unique experiences all around campus and even off campus, doing photography, graphic design, and other media-related work.
However, one of the most enjoyable parts of my days is the rides to and from work; I know my Mom loves them even more than I do.
She gets to interview me about my day, getting an inside scoop into my life she wouldn’t otherwise receive.
Our offices are in different buildings, which provides a good balance: we see each other often, but not so much that our rides to and from work don’t offer valuable insight into each other’s days that we didn’t already know.
Or, if necessary, we travel in silence, giving us a time for peace and quiet if work was crazy and chaotic. It isn’t difficult to find a level of peace when driving through some of the most scenic and beautiful parts of Lancaster County.
What I’ve gained the most from this situation is an appreciation for my Mom and her work ethic. Garden Spot is a great work environment on a beautiful campus. That said, there is always work to be done and difficulties that arise, as in any workplace. Her dedication to her work and her compassion for others have set a perfect example for me to follow.
To be honest, I owe a lot of my positive qualities to the way I was raised by my Mom and Dad.
Even at just twenty years old, I can clearly see the value of my current situation. As we get older, it’s times like these that stick with us for a lifetime. The route to work through Bird-in-Hand and Intercourse to New Holland. The songs I played on repeat. These things will be in my mind for a long time. But it’s the simple company of someone you love that sticks with you forever.
I encourage you to cherish any moments like these in whatever life stage you’re at. No matter what generation we’re a part of, we can learn so much about others and even ourselves by intentionally finding time to sit and converse with our loved ones from across generations.
Jackson Esbenshade, marketing intern, attends Cairn University. Jackson will start his third year at Cairn in August 2026 and is pursuing a Digital and Media Communications degree. He plays baseball for the Cairn Univeristy Highlanders.