Paterno Fellow
Hometown: Carlisle, PA
Major: Undecided

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I began my preliminary internship in the fall of my freshman year after receiving an email from the Honors College Career Service department about a potential internship with the Malini Foundation. All colleges send out emails that detail certain internship, job or volunteer opportunities. It is important for students to read these emails because this is how I was able to discover my internship.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

The experience has been one long learning curve. I was put in charge of PR and social media management for the Malini Foundation (something I know very little about) and had to spend a lot of time researching. I researched social media management tools, learned how to use Excel, and posted weekly blogs about my experience in the Honors College. I also created blogs about my interviews with various partners of the Malini Foundation. I was also very busy this semester with different clubs and organizations and 21 credits and had to learn time management skills. There were various times when I did get off track and I had to learn to be accepting of helpful criticism.

"The Malini Foundation internship helped me to realize that I do have a passion for PR and am very good with working to organize people and trips. It also solidified my belief that I belong in the College of the Liberal Arts  and that the majors they provide align with my interests."

How did this experience impact you academically?

This experience not only allowed me to get 2 credits academically but also helped me to develop skills that will assist me in my future academic career. I had to learn time management and how to prioritize, with so much on my plate it was a crucial part of my internship. I was also brought into contact with many Schreyer administrators which was a great networking opportunity. I also became very interested in the study abroad aspect of working with the Malini Foundation (a two week trip to Sri Lanka) and am thinking about traveling to Sri Lanka with the Malini Foundation for more credit.

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

Currently, as a freshman I am still undecided with both my major and minor. I took a gap year in between high school and college which I thought would help me determine my future career goals but it made little impact. The Malini Foundation internship helped me to realize that I do have a passion for PR and am very good with working to organize people and trips. It also solidified my belief that I belong in the College of the Liberal Arts  and that the majors they provide align with my interests. I hope to continue my work with PR and non-profits in the future with the Malini Foundation and other organizations. I also hope to continue my weekly blooging as it is something that I have become accustomed to and enjoy.