If going to Washington, D.C. to complete a high-paced and high-demand public relations internship seems like a fun yet intimidating atmosphere then you might have something in common with Franklin College junior Suzannah Couch.
Couch decided to come to Franklin College and major in Journalism (News Editorial track) after she attended an Indiana High School Press Association program hosted by Franklin. “I came for an IHSPA convention my junior year and I fell in love. I decided I would go here,” Couch said.
Being an advocate and firm believer of taking chances in life, Couch jumped at the opportunity for an internship in D.C. after being selected. Coming from a small town and not going far from home before her venture to college, Couch was a little hesitant about accepting the internship where she would be working in another state under Senator Richard Lugar. But excitement vanquished her anxiety once she arrived in Washington. “I made myself go out and meet new people. I started feeling like wow I can do something like this,” Couch said.
Being a political junkie helped Couch get into the swing of things and it wasn’t long before she was writing press releases and editing clips down in the cage with fellow interns. Even the occasional tripping over the Communications Director of CNN or funny memories of working in the phone banks are all things Couch says she will remember about her internship.
Couch doesn’t regret stepping out of her comfort zone and taking a chance with her internship. “I loved D.C. it’s such a diverse and cool city. I would go back in a heart beat!” Couch said.
After returning from her internship to her fast-paced demands of her role as the features editor for the school newspaper, The Franklin, Couch felt right back at home. “I felt like I was home again. I missed it,” says Couch. While she was in D.C. she missed production night with her newspaper people and all her friends. So when Couch was eagerly welcomed back to campus it reassured her that she had chose the right school.
Couch enjoys and values good (hipster) music, good movies and good television. In her free time she likes watching 30 Rock and secretly confesses to dreaming of one day writing for a comedy show.
Her campus involvement and internship have her looking forward to her future where she can apply all the new things she’s learning. “This internship has me looking towards what I want to do in the future. I have a niche for writing. I know I want to write, I’m just not sure what I want to write yet,” Couch said.