This past month, the Center for Career and Professional Development hosted the Learn to Intern Panel, in which selected speakers provided insight into a diverse array of professional experiences ranging from those in the healthcare field, to public relations. Moderated by Graduate Assistant, Angelina Lanni, the panelists conveyed internships as a critical step in the college experience, paving the path for students to better understand their ambitions, career goals, and who they are as young adults. The audience largely consisted of sophomore students, all eager to connect with the experienced student panelists before them.
The panel featured six senior students, all of which featured a diverse portion of our academic and pre-professional community. Senior Emma Busch discussed her time as a Student Nurse Extern, observing and learning more about the nursing professional. She said, “As a senior nursing student, I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with underclassmen. Internships have been a pivotal part of my education, allowing me to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings and develop the clinical skills needed to become a confident and compassionate nurse.” As Sacred Heart University is home to a competitive and vibrant nursing program, Busch’s insights were essential in displaying the great experiences our nursing students can expect once they reach their upperclassmen years. Emma also touched on the importance of mentorship and inspiration to younger students, saying, “I hope to inspire them to embrace every learning opportunity along the way.”
From our School of Communication, Media and the Arts, Brianna Salegna, a strategic communications and public relations student, touched on her time at the corporate office for Revlon-Elizabeth Arden, the popular cosmetics company. Brianna described her time on the panel as “a rewarding experience,” as she described to the students the intricacies of her day-to-day life in the New York City corporate office at Revlon. Salegna reminisced about her time as an underclassmen student, saying “I remember being in their shoes, full of questions, and now having the chance to offer guidance feels like coming full circle. My hope is that the insights I shared with them help them feel more prepared and inspired as they begin their own internship search.”
The panelists answered questions regarding their internship search process, their main takeaways from the experience, and ended the discussion with their most coveted pieces of advice for their peers. Panelist Anna Macaulay, a political science student who interned at the Connecticut General Assembly, emphasized the importance of networking. “If I can offer any piece of advice to student interns, it would be to network. Set up coffee dates, lunch dates, or even walk & talk meetings around the office with people you really admire.”
The panel also included social work student, Francesca Lanni, who touched on her empowering work for the CT Department of Children and Family Services. Sports management student Anthony Demarco, who described his critical role in the promotion of the New England Knockout sports team, and public relations student Shannon Dove. Dove touched on the necessary persistence and determination one must have in the internship search experience, while joyously conveying her work in social media promotion at Dormify.
The panelists also emphasized the incredible resources of the Center for Career and Professional Development. From resume development to mock interviews, the Center for Career and Professional Development hosts an abundance of incredible resources to begin your internship and pre-professional journey. Though nerve-racking at times, the panelists displayed the endless possibilities students can have when interning. From marketing to politics, the students at Sacred Heart University will make an impact at any internship they may acquire.
