- Graduation Year: May 2017
- Major: Agricultural Communications
- Minor: Food and Environmental Systems
- Hometown: Rio
- Hobbies: Social media addict, baking, photography, spending time with friends & family, and hanging out with my goats, cat, and dog
Campus Activities
- 4-H House Cooperative Sorority
- Panhellenic Council
- IlliniThon
- Collegiate Farm Bureau
- Illini Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow
Internship – National FFA (Future Farmers of America) – Radio Reporter
What were your duties?
During the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo, I was in the newsroom as one of four radio reporters. My duties included interviewing keynote speakers, award winners, government officials, and National FFA officers. I edited all my own audio and published it online so many agriculture radio networks throughout the country could air it. Check out my work here –> http://www.ffaconvention.com/.
What did you most enjoy about your internship?
What I enjoyed most about my internship were the skills I gained and the people I met. After I graduate from U of I, I plan on going into the farm broadcasting sector of the agriculture industry. The skills I gained from my internship prepared me for my future career.
The people I met throughout my week-long internship were another thing I enjoyed. I made many new friends through the National FFA and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. They were all willing to help in any way and offered great advice. I am very grateful I got to work with such awesome people!
What was the most difficult aspect of the internship?
During the time of my internship, I was taking a broadcast writing class at U of I. I did not have much classroom experience yet that I could apply to my internship. However, I turned that weakness into a strength and asked a lot of questions. I learned a lot and brought back to my class what I had learned which made the rest of the semester a lot easier.
How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your internship?
Before my internship at the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo, I took some journalism and agricultural communications classes that helped prepare me for my internship. In my JOUR 200 class, I learned how to interview others. In my Ag Comm 220 class, I prepared myself to talk to others about agriculture. These two skills helped me throughout my internship.
How has your internship prepared you for a career?
By taking journalism and agricultural communications classes, I have learned how to do an interview, ask questions, and talk to people. However, you have to apply those skills in a real setting. My internship let me apply those skills and get better. I have an internship this summer where I will be working at RFD Radio in Bloomington, IL and my National FFA internship has prepared me for that. Internships you do can eventually lead you to others.
What recommendations do you have for other students about doing and internship?
My first piece of advice is to ask questions. That is the only way you will get better. Your supervisor is there to help you through it.
Another recommendation I have is to try to experience many different internships. I had two different internships during the school year. Do not just limit yourself to the summer. Your professors will be glad you are out applying skills that you have learned in their classroom.
The last piece of advice I have is to have fun! You get to do what you are passionate about so have fun along the way. Get creative and try something new!