Humanities Internship Spotlight
Shannon Akin | Avree Mangum | Nico Arboit
Humanities students gain valuable, career-ready skills through their coursework and co-curricular programs. Internships offer an essential opportunity to apply these skills in real-world settings, explore potential career paths, and gain professional experience. For many students, completing an internship is a key step in successfully transitioning from college to the workplace.
I have been an Opinion Writer for The Daily Utah Chronicle for just under a year. I was drawn to this internship by a passion for writing, and an interest in entering the world of journalism. I was excited to do so under the umbrella of the University. I saw how my internship related directly to my major, as I was able to integrate skills I learned in written communication into the new-to-me style of journalistic writing. I am passionate about so many issues and topics and I feel driven to speak about them. Paired with my love for writing, journalism was a great fit.
This internship prepared me for my career by improving my communication skills and giving me the confidence to be more self-assured. I am also more comfortable applying to jobs with a well-rounded writing portfolio. I was most excited about the piece I wrote about homesteading. This piece was something I was passionate about and I was really able to navigate finding my voice and my writing style. This was a major boost in my confidence and I aligned with the message.
If I could go back in time, I would have started my internship sooner. I started this internship during my last year and was so happy to be involved with Student Media. I was able to see so many pathways that were available through this web of involvement that starting sooner would have given me more time to explore. I encourage all students at the University of Utah to explore opportunities with Student Media since there are options to suit a vast variety of interests and skills.
Avree Mangum
Major(s): Communication
Minor:Professional Selling and Business Development
Internship: BODYBAR
I've always loved Pilates and knew early on that it was something I wanted to pursue. During my internship, I had the opportunity to both teach Pilates and manage the studio’s TikTok account. I created original content, promoted the studio, and shared fun, engaging videos featuring other instructors.
One of the videos I produced highlighted the studio’s ability to host private parties. I filmed a class I was teaching, edited the footage, and added details about the private party options. On the marketing side, one of my biggest challenges was consistently coming up with fresh content ideas. To overcome this, I researched what other studios were doing on social media and used that as inspiration to develop my own creative spin.
Teaching also came with its own challenges, especially learning that you can’t always
please everyone. At first, it was disheartening when someone didn’t connect with my
teaching style, music, or even my voice. But over time, I learned to focus on the
people who do enjoy my classes and to build strong relationships with new members.
Creating that personal connection has helped encourage people to return and invest
in memberships.
Nico Arboit
Major(s): Communication
Minor:Professional Selling and Business Development, Real Estate
Internship: Kidder Mathews
My summer internship at Kidder Mathews was both insightful and hands-on. I was able to work on a variety of crucial tasks to the commercial real estate industry, including appraisals, broker opinion of value (BOVs), and offering memorandums (OMs). Those projects provided me with a deeper understanding of property evaluations and how to present key information to clients. In addition to that, I was able to actively assist with open houses and leasing efforts, gaining practical exposure to the tenant-side of commercial real estate.
I also had the opportunity to prospect and interact with potential clients, honing my communication and networking skills. Alongside my internship, I was able to complete my pre-requisites for obtaining a real estate license, an exciting step forward in my career. The combination of working with a well-established firm like Kidder Mathews while advancing my professional qualifications was incredibly fulfilling. Each day brought new learning opportunities, and I grew more confident in my ability to handle the complexities of real estate transactions. My internship not only gave me the practical experience I needed but also helped me build a strong foundation for my future in commercial real estate.