Humanities Internship Spotlight
Thomas Middleton | Isabelle Churchill | Brady Pearson
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 am a Chinese major, also pursuing the pre-med track, and my internship last summer combined my passion for both Chinese and science. I was very fortunate to be in a biomedical lab at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan studying how to isolate hGAT1, a protein which is used to treat epilepsy and anxiety, among other mental health conditions.
My colleague/lab partner was more comfortable speaking Mandarin Chinese, which meant that I completed my internship almost entirely in Chinese. That was challenging because some of the science-y jargon was in English and some was in Chinese, and I sometimes didn’t even know the word in English, let alone Chinese.
Before working in that lab, my only lab experience was introductory biology, chemistry, and physics labs at the U; this meant that there was a really steep learning curve for me. At first, I struggled a lot with imposter syndrome as I worked with people who have masters or PhDs in related fields and have spent years doing laboratory research. However, I have often remembered a quote from Liz Wiseman, a management researcher and author: “Who wants a job they’re qualified for? There would be nothing to learn.”
Last summer, I learned a lot. I learned a lot about how to work in a lab, and a great deal of Chinese. I can think critically and solve problems in Chinese now, which is a skill that not only applies to my major, but also can be translated back into English and used in school and in my future career. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would certainly do again if I had the opportunity.
I participated in my internship at the Bountiful Davis Art Center (BDAC) as part of the Community Champions Internship Program. I had previous experience working in public relations, marketing, and social media. I was excited to build upon that experience and develop even more hands-on knowledge. It was a great fit for me because my major is Strategic Communication, and it allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in classes. I was able to write social media posts, blog content, press releases, newsletters, and more. Those are all typical tasks in the field of strategic communication, so it was a good, real-world experience for me.
I’ve always been really interested in storytelling. I love helping people and organizations tell their stories in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. I really felt like I got to do that with this internship. I helped a local nonprofit connect with their community and improve engagement by sharing how valuable they are to the arts and the people they serve. It felt great to be helping support such a creative and community-driven organization.
My classes most definitely helped me feel prepared for this internship. Kevin Bischoff’s Media Writing class, in particular, gave me a good foundation for writing in various formats. I also previously worked as a Public Affairs Specialist in the Air Force. In that role, I worked as a photojournalist, and I wrote short stories, newsletters, press releases, and managed the base’s social media pages, so I was able to go into this internship with a developed skill set.
The internship was a great way for me to get back into the world of strategic communication after a few years away from the field. This experience helped me build back some confidence and expand my experience in a civilian workplace. I also was able to grow a lot of my career development skills, such as communication, adaptability, collaboration, and self-management.
One of my favorite projects was developing the content marketing plan for BDAC. I created their entire social media calendar and took full ownership of writing and scheduling all their posts. It was a great feeling to have that kind of responsibility, and I was proud of the work I did there. I was also able to increase their social media engagement by more than 200% during my time there, which felt really validating.
I would definitely do this internship again. It helped me learn a lot about myself and confirmed that I am on the right track in my journey as a strategic communicator. It was challenging to balance the internship with school. I was working 19 hours per week in person, while also taking 16 credit hours. It required a lot of careful time management and organization, but it paid off in the end. Planning ahead and prioritizing my tasks was extremely important.
I would recommend that any student take on an internship if they have the opportunity, whether they already have experience or not. Gaining a little bit of real-world work experience is one of the best ways to see if a certain career path is a good fit for you. It’s a great way to build up your confidence and skills and make connections.
During my internship, I was employed at T-Mobile. My interest in technology and enthusiasm for learning about novel innovations have always been strong. Given that my academic major is Communication, I decided to seek an internship that encompassed sales, marketing, public relations, and, of course, technology. Working as a Mobile Expert at T-Mobile provided me with valuable insights into sales and enhanced my communication skills with diverse individuals. Furthermore, I gained a comprehensive understanding of technology and developed a fondness for the diversity of operating systems offered by T-Mobile sales representatives.
Having been in college for nearly five years, I’m now in my final semester before graduation. My ability to manage this internship has been significantly enhanced by my coursework at the University of Utah. While some classes initially seemed unrelated to my aspirations, I now have few regrets. College has significantly improved my communication abilities, surpassing what I could have achieved independently. In fact, my performance at T-Mobile was exceptional enough to land me a job offer with Apple.
Regarding challenges I was able to overcome during my internship, several stand out.
First, I had to learn how to communicate effectively in various ways. Developing the
ability to read a person within the first few seconds of conversation has greatly
improved my communication skills. Individuals are unique, so I cannot convey information
in a uniform manner. Second, I learned that one should not judge a book by its cover.
Throughout my internship, I interacted with numerous individuals, and some who I initially
perceived as unkind proved to be exceptionally pleasant, and vice versa. Overall,
I had a rewarding experience with T-Mobile and am eager to explore the opportunities
that lie ahead.