Paterno Fellow
Majors: English and French & Francophone Studies
Minor: International Studies
Hometown: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Twitter: @CharleeMyranda
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charleeredman

How did you learn about these opportunities?

I learned about the internship at the Penn State Press through my own research. I learned about the study abroad program through my professors and the Education Abroad office.

Tell us a little bit about your experiences.

I recommend that students look for internships. They give you valuable experience in a field or industry, allow you to make contacts for your post-graduation plans, and help you figure out what you want to do for your career. As an acquisitions intern at the Penn State Press, I was able to get involved with publishing, from reading manuscript submissions to working with art and contracts. I had the opportunity to learn a great deal about publishing in a friendly atmosphere where I could take on responsibility and get hands-on, practical experience.

“Studying abroad definitely made me more confident in my academics and my internship helped me to discover what career path I want to take.”

Studying abroad was wonderful because it allowed me to fully immerse myself in the language and culture of France. My language skills improved greatly – more than I think they could have possibly improved even if I stayed in college and took French classes for years. I was able to fulfill a dream of mine to attend the Sorbonne, and I got to travel throughout Europe. Studying abroad forces you to develop a greater degree of independence, self-reliance, and self-discipline than you would normally exercise here in the US. I highly recommend everyone participate in a study abroad program.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did these experiences impact them?

My career plans are to work in either academic or trade publishing. My internship experience directly influenced these plans and has helped me to learn more about how to enter the publishing industry.