This internship has been a really valuable experience for me. Above all else, it helped me recognize what I'm looking for most in my career. By developing my skills in business writing, industry research, and networking, I learned what work environments I am most drawn to. Without improving in these areas, I likely would not have known where to begin when I graduate. I now feel like I have more understanding on the steps to find open positions, and I also feel confident that I would be able to filter through these positions based on my own desires. This is invaluable to me.
At first, I struggled to find the connection between my internship and my area of study. I am an English major, which is an incredibly broad subject. This can make it difficult to feel at home in many courses or work environments because so many definitions fall under “English”, but they do not all correlate to my goals as an aspiring editor. I communicated my struggles very openly, and I got a ton of assistance from our professor and director getting them resolved. I quickly became comfortable in a position with the College of Liberal Arts, and I found a home that is strongly related to my career goals. I am researching, editing, writing, and networking; I cannot imagine many places where I would be happier or gaining more valuable experience.
One of the best things about this course is that there are not many roadblocks that limit a student’s ability to make the most out of their internship. The most important things are, one, having at least an idea of what field you want to pursue and, two, some proficiency in soft skills like communication and time management. While this internship helped me make great strides in these areas, I do think I would have had difficulty navigating this course if I did not have a foundation built.
My interest in my future career has grown exponentially throughout this internship. Graduating college and beginning the journey of finding a whole career can be so daunting. It also often feels incredibly difficult to find any guidance. This internship helped so much with that, and I have become genuinely excited to embark on this next adventure. I was provided assistance when I needed it, concrete steps on how to enter the workforce, resources to build my soft skills, and so much more. I am very glad I participated in this internship. My love for English did not need to be bolstered, but I did need help finding the security and confidence to pursue it as a career. The only thing in my way to getting a full-time position in editing is the degree I will have in May! There are tons of entry-level positions opening up constantly in the publishing industry, so I have no doubt that I will be able to find one shortly after graduation.
To sum it all up, I have two pieces of advice for any future interns. One, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I have a feeling that my internship experience would have been drastically different if I hadn’t been open about my feelings towards my initial placement and the struggles I was facing. I cannot express how wonderfully supportive the people in charge of this internship are. Two, try to make some friends! Right off the bat, I reached out to all of the interns who were placed with me. We’ve made great friendships in a short period of time thanks to this internship. Not only is this a valuable part of the college experience as a whole, but it’s a wonderful form of networking to build relationships with likeminded people. I’ve attached a picture of all of us, simply because it makes me happy that I found them throughout this process!
