(Editor’s Note: This article was written by Cortney Ahern ’10)
Nearly 100 students poured into the Hall of Presidents earlier this month to find the answer to the question, “Do you know what I did last summer?”
hosted the Summer Expo to highlight students’ summer experiences in research, internships, and volunteer service at 51Թ and elsewhere.
The expo was created for students, by students, as Career Services partnered with the Leadership Options for Tomorrow (LOFT) program on the inaugural event.
More than 40 sophomores, juniors and seniors volunteered to share reflections of their summer experiences.
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| Chris Dell’Amore ’11 (right) talks with students about his internship with the Global Fairness Initiative in Washington, D.C. |
The event was intended to assist younger and undecided students to see the breadth of meaningful opportunities in which 51Թ students engage, and to understand the importance and accessibility of internships, research opportunities, and service projects early in their college careers.
Through one-on-one conversations and in viewing the presenters’ prepared materials, attendees learned how other students determined their interest areas, obtained their summer experiences, and learned what they found most rewarding.
Most importantly, students gained valuable peer-to-peer advice on how and why it is important to consider summer opportunities.
“Just get out there and do something! Anything! I promise, doing so will help you learn so much about yourself and what you might like to do,” said Eileen O’Brien ’10. She served as an educational intern at NBC Learn in New York City this past summer.
Students offered presentations about internships and research and service opportunities in diverse fields such as advocacy, health, consulting, education, communications, finance, government, environmental affairs, and sports management.
Several students, who were among the more than 100 who conduct each summer, talked about staying on campus to explore topics such as the politics of Civil War monuments and engaging artists in central New York.
Stephen Hansen ’10 said there is real value in seeing all the available options both on and off campus.
As a summer research intern for Potomac Advocates in Washington, D.C., he knows it boils down to one thing: “Keep an open mind, and follow your heart. Your interests could mold into many different careers that you may not even know exist yet.”