- Graduation Year: May 2015
- Major: News-Editorial Journalism
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Hobbies: writing, reading, filming, exploring cities/towns/neighborhoods, trying out new restaurants and dishes, and watching movies
Campus Activities
- Copy Editor at The Daily Illini
- Grading Assistant for Journalism 200
- Assistant Editor of Writing at Illio Yearbook
- Student Supervisor at ISR Dining Hall
- Social Media Director for The Daily Illini (2012-2013)
- Copy Editor and Writer for Her Campus Illinois (2011-2012)
- Web Content Poster for The Daily Illini (2011-2012)
Internship| Online Marketing and Communications Intern at John G. Shedd Aquarium
What were your duties?
I played an active role in furthering Shedd Aquarium’s brand and reach through the expansion of its current online marketing tools including Convio, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Yelp and TripAdvisor. I also established and strengthened the nonprofit organization’s relevancy and credibility by answering questions on Shedd’s online platforms, as well as assisting in the aquarium’s role in “social care” and helping further its goals by providing excellent customer service.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
Aside from learning about different social media platforms, I really enjoyed establishing friendships and relationships with my supervisors and other interns, both in and outside of my department. The internship at Shedd was a unique experience, where interns from several different departments would get to meet up every Wednesday for different events. For instance, one day we were able to have lunch with all the vice presidents, and on another day we had the chance to go behind the scenes for some of the exhibits. We were also able to meet interns at the Field Museum and have lunch with them, as well as go on an outing to the Taste of Chicago.
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
Sitting in front of a computer for about eight hours wasn’t always easy, but I was able to take breaks and visit different exhibits to record and create videos for Shedd’s Instagram account. Another difficult aspect of the internship was responding to negative comments on Facebook and negative reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp in a polite manner.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
During my sophomore year at the university, I became the first Social Media Director to ever work for The Daily Illini. My experience in that position helped to improve my skills in using different social media tools like HootSuite and ConstantContact. I was also able to gain knowledge on how to deal with mishaps in the social media world. The importance of having a keen eye to spot mistakes and prevent them from happening digitally became apparent while working there. As for my experiences in the College of Media, the Crisis Communications course with Lynn Holley and Dennis Culloton really helped prepare me for an internship related to public relations.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
My internship experience has taught me how to network and make connections with others, which is an essential skill to have for not just a career in media, but other jobs as well. My internship also made me realize that although I love learning about online marketing and managing social media for a nonprofit organization, it is not the only thing I would like to do in the long run.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing an internship?
I’d recommend other students keep an open mind when looking for internships, even if that internship isn’t directly related to what they’d like to do in the future. I personally believe that all internships are a beneficial and worthwhile experience, helping you learn and grow both professionally and personally.