Paterno Fellow
Major: Anthropology and Sociology
Minor: CAMS and Jewish Studies
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Chapel Executive Intern

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I went to the Stryker Booth at the Penn State Career fair and then went online to submit the application. Paige White is the East Coast recruiter for Stryker and is a great person to reach out to if you are interested in getting an internship at Stryker.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

I was the Human Resources Intern at the Stryker Sustainability Solutions located in Lakeland, Florida. Here I was given the chance to really explore the many different sides of human resources. I was able to practice my interviewing skills by conducting the conversion interviews for our temps. I also learned how to conduct exempt interviews. I planned many events, such as a 5K and Habitat For Humanity Day, in order to increase employee engagement and community awareness about our company. Finally, I was given the chance to revamp the Job Interest Form, which allows employees to switch positions within the company, as well as create a program called iBuddy that helps new hires integrate into the Stryker Community. Both of these programs were aimed at increasing employee retention.

How did this experience impact you academically?

I can't properly put into words how much this internship has helped me. This experience of course really helped me hone my time-management skills and work ethic, as well as allowing me to see what working in human resources is like. However, what really surprised me was that it also really helped me understand a lot about my strengths, my opportunities, my passions, and myself. By knowing these things, I can approach every assignment or task with a different perspective. I now know what I can do quickly and what things will take me more time to complete.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

If I had not done this internship, I never would have known how interested I would be in HR.

Even though I am majoring in Anthropology and Sociology, I found out this summer that those majors help prepare me for working in human resources. Therefore I would love to pursue a career in Human Resources, eventually becoming a HR Business Partner or Director. One day I also hope to go to grad school to obtain my masters in HR or Global HR. If I had not done this internship, I never would have known how interested I would be in HR, nor would I have known the many opportunities that are out there in this field. It truly helped me understand what I want to do with my life.

Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?

I would most definitely recommend this experience for any one who has an interest in HR! Stryker is a wonderful company with a great culture and values. Also, I believe internships in general really allow you to get the feel for what you could be doing one day and let you see if you would actually enjoy it. Stryker definitely lets you get a full feel for what you could do straight out of college and where you could go if you continue down that career path.

How has the Paterno Fellows Program had an impact on this experience?

Being a Paterno Fellow has not only inspired me to become the best me I could be by taking advantage of these different opportunities that I may not have done originally, but also it has supported me along the way. They have shown me just how many opportunities are out there for me to take advantage of and given me the means to do it while I am here at Penn State. This has instilled in me a desire to continue taking advantage of the amazing opportunities life hands me and not be afraid to try something new (like internships or study abroad).

For more information on internships for Liberal Arts students, visit our website.