Our second interview is with Gawoon Chung, a junior Economics major in the College of Arts and Sciences. She had the pleasure of interning at Concern Worldwide USA. Read on to hear all about her experience!
Where did you intern? And what was your role?
I interned at Concern Worldwide USA. It is the U.S. branch of an Irish humanitarian agency. I was a summer intern in the communications department for the innovations initiative. The initiative was focused on newborn and child health. I had the opportunity to design the graphic layout for a conference report using interesting programs like InDesign.
What is the mission of the company?
It’s a humanitarian agency that commits its focus primarily to poverty in poor nations.
What were your expectations going in to the internship?
I wanted to improve my graphic design skills because I did not have prior experience. I wanted to see how non-governmental organizations worked since I am an International Studies minor. I was definitely looking forward to working in New York City and I was interested to see what the office environment was like. Everyone was very passionate about the work and no one was ever bored!
What did a typical day look like?
I worked a full-time work schedule and I was able to sit in on meetings and interact with my coworkers frequently. I got to see how Skype meetings worked with different branches of the organization throughout the country. I even got to see the chairman speak about his trip to Afghanistan, which showed the hands-on nature of the organization.
Did you have the chance to interact with other people in your field?
I met the Human Resources manager, who introduced me to the newer employees. I worked frequently with the Associate Director of Communications. She gave me clear expectations and feedback, which was beneficial. I am interested in Communications, but since I am not majoring in that here at BC it was good to interact with people in that field.
Did you feel academically prepared for your internship?
Yes, I felt like some of my history classes prepared me for the internship. I also felt like having this internship before starting my International Studies minor would be motivational.
What tips would you give to someone applying to this internship?
Come in to the internship with a positive attitude and be ready to meet a team of passionate individuals. I was inspired because they showed me how exciting a work environment can be!
What was the highlight of your internship?
The highlight of my internship was definitely the improvement of my design skills and the fact that I got to meet lots of new people. I would suggest that people apply for jobs in the non-profit sector because it is extremely rewarding.
Gawoon is a wonderful example of someone who wasn’t afraid to push her limits. Instead of just pursuing an internship in her major, she decided to try something outside the box and had a life-changing experience!
Photo Sources: